Comedian Long Mejia still pines for a starring role in the movies

Comedian Long Mejia is happy that he's part of TV5's roster of talents. He thinks it's fine that he's been given a chance to showcase his comedic timing thru its new sitcom Hapi Together.

"Nakakatuwa ito dahil ito yung sitcom na sinabi ngang hindi...pero pangkaraniwan, pero kakaiba yung dating. Para talagang napanood natin yung a...lalong-lalo na, laki tayo sa kanto. 'Yan, makikita uli. Masang-masa yung show natin," Long told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) during the press conference for Hapi Together last September 1 at Max's restaurant on Roces Ave., Quezon City.

Long said Hapi Together and his previous TV5 sitcom Everybody Happy, brings back memories of his iconic sitcom in GMA-7 during the 90's, Kool Ka Lang.

"Kung anong kinagusto noong araw ng fans ng Kool Ka Lang, nakikita nila uli ngayon. Nagtatawagan sila sa akin, binabati ako, sabi, 'Long, maganda kasi parang binalik mo yung Kool Ka Lang, kayo ni John [Estrada],'" he said.

16 YEARS OF LAUGHTER. Long is among the few comedians who had toured the country's top networks. He started in GMA-7 then moved to ABS-CBN, before staying now with TV5. In all of those times, he's praised for his good comedic timing.

"Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, simula nang nag-umpisa ako ng pa-extra-extra, siguro mga 16 years na ako sa showbiz," he said. "Siyempre, linya ko comedy. Pagka comedy, talagang at home na at home akong igalaw, e."

But what the people does not know is that he has been awarded for acting in a drama in 2003.

"Sa kaalaman ng lahat, puro sitcom ang ginagawa ko. Pero sa totoo lang, nag-drama ako. Sa Maalaala Mo Kaya, e, naging best actor ako diyan, nung gawin ko yung istorya ni Rene Requiestas," he said.

STAR IN HIS OWN MOVIE. Still, Long believes he still can do more if he's given a chance to star in his own movie. His utmost dream, he said, is to be like his idol Dolphy.

"Siyempre, lahat naman ng tao may hangga't ano may dream. Sa showbiz career ko, unang-una, sana mabigyan ako ng break as bida. Oo, 'yan ang gustong-gusto ko. Siyempre, alam mo naman ang idol ko, si Dolphy. Gusto kong sundan ang mga pelikula niya talaga, e. Sana may awa ang Diyos, may makapansin o may magtiwala sa akin na producer na bigyan ako ng pagkakataong magbida sa pelikula," he said.

He particularly wants to star in "loverboy" type comedy films.

"Mga gusto ko, parang ang dating ko yun bang para, yung gigolo, ganun ang dating. Yung guwapong-guwapo, may mga chicks, yung ganun ang dating. Like Chiquito, Dolphy, di ba? Mga loverboy ang dating na pero comedy," he said.

Long added, "Alam mo, ako, araw-araw, pinaghahandaan ko 'yan, e. Kasi naniniwala ako balang-araw, may tatawag sa akin na magtitiwala sa akin na gawin akong bida."

But how does he peddle this dream to producers?

"Sinasabi ko, maski pabiro sinasabi ko, 'Direk, puwede ako diyan,"' he replied.

For now, Long revels in being a reliable sidekick.

"Okay, masaya na ako, sidekick. At least sidekick ka, lalo na sa mabibigat na artista. Nag-sidekick na ako sa mabibigat na artista, like Dolphy, Bong Revilla, Eddie Garcia... Siyempre, napaksaya ng ganun, pero hinahanap mo pa rin na mabigyan ka ng pagkakataong maging bida," he said.