Noontime TV staple It’s Showtime has been running for over a decade, powered by a revolving door of high-profile hosts including Anne Curtis, Vice Ganda, Vhong Navarro, Ryan Bang, Kuya Kim, and the ever-present Teddy Corpuz and Billy Crawford. Throughout its 15-year run, the show has cycled through dozens of segments, some iconic, some forgettable, but one managed to outlive its own absurdity and become a cultural oddity, “Kalokalike.”
Debuting in 2012, “Kalokalike” was a recurring segment that invited contestants to impersonate local and international celebrities. It lasted until 2015, reaching its peak during the “Level Up” season. The gimmick was simple. Look like a star, act like a star, and hope the audience laughs with you, not at you. But nothing in the show’s chaotic history could prepare the world for Cristopher Diwata, the self-declared Taylor Lautner of Orion, Bataan. His now-immortal “What hafen vella” line became a viral sensation, living rent-free across meme pages and comment sections alike.
But “Kalokalike” is more than Diwata and his shredded shirt. Over the years, it has served up impersonations so off the rails, so questionably close to parody, they deserve a second look — or maybe a public apology.
Here’s a list of It’s Showtime and “Kalokalike” music contestants where they missed the mark entirely with their performance.
BINI ‘NOT’ MALOI
Take BINI Maloi from Cagayan de Oro. With the iconic brunette-colored hair, full bangs, and enough confidence to sell it, she strutted on stage ready to give you P-pop realness. Except her vocals never quite matched the styling of “Salamin, Salamin” and its undeniable pop brilliance. The audience could’ve squinted hard enough to see the resemblance with the real BINI Maloi from of Cavite, but there’s only so much makeup can do when the singing is that far off.
Discounted Snoop Dogg
Then there’s Discounted Snoop Dogg, straight out of Tondo. He had the essentials: shades, pig tails, baggy clothes, and just enough swagger to catch your attention. But once he opened his mouth to deliver “The Next Episode” in a voice that could charitably be described as off-brand karaoke, the illusion shattered. You had to admire the effort, but even Snoop Lion would’ve asked for a refund.
Bamboozled
Antipolo’s own Bamboo impersonator was a fever dream no one asked for. Dressed for the part and clearly a fan, he delivered every jump, growl, and ad-lib with manic enthusiasm. But Bamboo’s controlled chaos doesn’t come easy, and watching the contestant recycle the same vocal tricks over and over felt more like a parody reel than a tribute. You could practically hear the real Bamboo sighing in the distance.
SB19 Stell’s Long Lost Brother
Meanwhile, Cebu’s entry into the Stell SB19 clone wars was… complicated. Stell Lite, as the internet dubbed him, nailed a few of the group’s signature moves and even looked like he walked out of a bootleg dance workshop. But charisma is hard to fake. He might’ve been born to do TikToks, but a full-blown SB19 showcase? Not quite. Still, fans in the crowd gave him points for effort and memes.
Rico Blanko
Ajuy, Iloilo gave us Rico Blanco — a performance that raised more eyebrows than applause. Armed with the right outfit, such as a leather jacket, side-shaved hair, and skinny jeans, he looked convincing enough at first. But when he started hopping around the stage, the transformation unraveled fast. It stopped being Rico Blanco and turned into a live-action sketch of what your uncool tito thinks a rock star looks like.
Waz Khalifa
Then came Wiz Khalifa, or someone who probably saw a photo of him once. The Pasay City impersonator had the look down, with signature curls, the basketball jersey, and a yellow cap to match. He even went shirtless, leaning fully into the stoner-rap aesthetic. But then he opened his mouth. Let’s just say broken English and a shaky grasp of “Young, Wild & Free” made it clear the act was more cosplay than cover. The vibe was there, but the bars were missing.
