'Iskul Bukol' remake pressures Kempee and the producers

As "Iskul Bukol" is coming back into your TV screen, Kempee de Leon admitted that he already felt the pressure of playing as the lead star in a remake of the TV series his father had helped popularize in the 1980s.

Kempee plays one of the big roles of the remake version of "Iskul Bukol", the situational comedy show that aired on IBC 13 from 1977 to 1988. It featured comedians Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon (collectively known as TVJ) and centered on their lives as students (Tito and Joey Escalera and Vic Ungasis) of the fictional Wanbol University.

3 becomes 7 personalities in "Iskul Bukol" remake

The original number has changed from three to seven casts of characters. The old version has only three main characters but the remake will feature seven personalities: the good-looking but nerdy Rude Valentino (Frederick Lo), the youngest professor to teach at Wanbol University; the often notorious Balidosa twins, Easy (Sam YG) and Chill (Alwyn Uytingco); the “closet gay” son of the dean, Wacky Roque (Keempee), who works as a teacher’s assistant; the student janitor Itor (Jerald Napoles); sporty chic Shawie Cunanan (Erika Padilla); and the ultra-conservative province lass Barbie Que (Regine Angeles).

One innovation on the show is the Wanbol University’s coed dormitory, where the characters encounter comic misadventures and develop unexpected friendships.

“There’s also a plan to invite TVJ to appear as guests,” says Keempee. “I don’t think they can turn this offer down. The episode with them would be like a reunion of some sort, but the script has to be really good for the three of them to agree.”

“Iskul Bukol” will premiere on Tuesday (May 24), after “Nagbabagang Bulaklak” on TV5.