Battle of the Judges is a 2023 Philippine television reality talent competition show broadcast by GMA Network. Directed by Rico Gutierrez, it is hosted by Alden Richards. It premiered on July 15, 2023 on the network's Sabado Star Power sa Gabi line-up. The show concluded on September 30, 2023 with a total of 12 episodes.
Cast
Host
Judges
Format
This show is a spin-off of the Got Talent franchise. The format of the show is based on the French version of the show with the same name. The competition between judges begins as they mentor and prepare their squad members for the three levels of competition: Battle of the Best or the elimination round, is the thrilling encounter of 24 squad members who will fight it out in 12 Battles.
Battle to the Top is the semifinal round where the four judges will continue to guide the remaining 12 performers who will compete against each other in 6 battles in order to move forward to the final level, The Ultimate Battle, or the Championship round. Here, the remaining six performers will face each other to conquer the battle stage and be voted as the one and only ultimate champion of the competition, who will receive one million pesos.[7]
Teams
Boy Abunda
Bea Alonzo.
Jose Manalo
Color key
Winner
Runner-up
Third place
4th-7th place
Eliminated in the Wildcard
Eliminated in the Battle to the Top
Eliminated in the Battle of the Best
Withdrew
Judges
24 squad members
Boy Abunda[8]
Shammah
Kathy Hipolito Mas [a]
Brenan Espartinez
Clyde Basbas [b]
Nocturnal Dance Company
Shaneya
Bea Alonzo[9]
Joseph Erwin Valerio [c]
Amazing Duo
Jay-R Siaboc
Erwin Reyes
Moses Gozun [d]
Roni Mariano
Annette Gozon-Valdes[10]
Power Impact Dancers
Ver5us
Vianna Ricafranca
Kendal Fabroa
Nomer Lasala
Shadow Arts Theater
Jose Manalo[11]
Marvin Peralta
JB Dela Cruz
Steps of Gold
Electro Groovers
Roxor Beat
Marlou Mangeron
Note: Italicized names are eliminated squad members who were selected by their judges to compete in the wildcard round.
Battle of the Best
In this round, 24 squad members of the four judges will fight it out in 12 battles. The winner for each battle will be based on the votes of the two non-competing judges and 100 studio audience.[12]
Color key
✔
Judges' and Audiences' Choice
Squad member won the battle and advanced to the Battle to the Top
Squad member lost the battle, but was picked by their judge to compete in the Wildcard
Squad member lost the battle and was eliminated
Episode 1 (July 15)
Battle
Order
Team
Participant
Voting result
Boy
Bea
Annette
Jose
Audience's Vote
1
1
Boy Abunda
Nocturnal Dance Company
—
✔
—
–
✔
2
Annette Gozon-Valdes
Shadow Arts Theater
–
✔
–
2
1
Jose Manalo
Marlou Mangeron
–
—
✔
—
–
2
Bea Alonzo
Moses Gozun
✔
–
✔
Episode 2 (July 22)
Battle
Order
Team
Participant
Voting result
Boy
Bea
Annette
Jose
Audience's vote
1
1
Jose Manalo
Electro Groovers
—
✔
✔
—
✔
2
Boy Abunda
Shaneya
–
–
–
2
1
Bea Alonzo
Jay-R Siaboc
–
—
—
–
–
2
Annette Gozon-Valdes
VER5US
✔
✔
✔
Episode 3 (July 29)
Battle
Order
Team
Participant
Voting result
Boy
Bea
Annette
Jose
Audience's vote
1
1
Annette Gozon-Valdes
Nomer Lasala
—
–
—
–
–
2
Boy Abunda
Shammah
✔
✔
✔
2
1
Bea Alonzo
Amazing Duo
✔
—
–
—
✔
2
Jose Manalo
Roxor Beat
–
✔
–
Episode 4 (August 5)
Battle
Order
Team
Participant
Voting result
Boy
Bea
Annette
Jose
Audience's vote
1
1
Annette Gozon-Valdes
Kendal Fabroa
✔
–
—
—
–
2
Jose Manalo
Marvin Peralta
–
✔
✔
2
1
Bea Alonzo
Roni Mariano
—
—
–
–
–
2
Boy Abunda
Kathy Hipolito Mas
✔
✔
✔
Episode 5 (August 12)
Battle
Order
Team
Participant
Voting result
Boy
Bea
Annette
Jose
Audience's vote
1
1
Jose Manalo
Steps of Gold
–
–
—
—
–
2
Annette Gozon-Valdes
Vianna Ricafranca
✔
✔
✔
2
1
Boy Abunda
Clyde Basbas
—
—
✔
–
✔
2
Bea Alonzo
Joseph Erwin Valerio
–
✔
–
Episode 6 (August 19)
Battle
Order
Team
Participant
Voting result
Boy
Bea
Annette
Jose
Audience's Vote
1
1
Boy Abunda
Brenan Espartinez
—
✔
–
—
–
2
Jose Manalo
JB Dela Cruz
–
✔
✔
2
1
Annette Gozon-Valdes
Power Impact Dancers
✔
—
—
–
–
2
Bea Alonzo
Erwin Reyes
–
✔
✔
Battle to the Top
In this semi-final round, 12 remaining squad members of the four judges will fight it out in 6 battles. The winner for each battle will be based on the votes of the two non-competing judges and 100 studio audience.
Color key
✔
Judges' and Audiences' Choice
Squad member won the battle and advanced to the Ultimate Battle
Squad member lost the battle and was eliminated
Episode 7 (August 26)
Joseph Erwin Valerio replaced Moses Gozun due to his competition in WCOPA 2023.
Battle
Order
Team
Participant
Voting result
Boy
Bea
Annette
Jose
Audience's vote
1
1
Annette Gozon-Valdes
Vianna Ricafranca
-
-
—
—
-
2
Jose Manalo
JB Dela Cruz
✔
✔
✔
2
1
Boy Abunda
Nocturnal Dance Company
—
—
–
✔
-
2
Bea Alonzo
Joseph Erwin Valerio
✔
–
✔
Episode 8 (September 2)
Battle
Order
Team
Participant
Voting result
Boy
Bea
Annette
Jose
Audience's vote
1
1
Bea Alonzo
Erwin Reyes
–
—
–
—
–
2
Jose Manalo
Marvin Peralta
✔
✔
✔
2
1
Annette Gozon-Valdes
VER5US
—
–
—
✔
–
2
Boy Abunda
Shammah
✔
–
✔
Episode 9 (September 9)
Battle
Order
Team
Participant
Voting result
Boy
Bea
Annette
Jose
Audience's Vote
1
1
Boy Abunda
Kathy Hipolito Mas
✔ [e]
–
✔
✔
–
2
Boy Abunda
Clyde Basbas
–
✔
–
–
✔
2
1
Jose Manalo
Electro Groovers
–
—
–
—
–
2
Bea Alonzo
Amazing Duo
✔
✔
✔
Battle to the Top Wildcard Edition
In this wildcard round, 4 previously eliminated squad members of the four judges will return to fight it out in one battle and be part of the Ultimate Battle. The winner will be based on the voting of the judges and the studio audience. In this round, five battle stars will be given: four from the judges (with the judges aren't allowed to vote on their own squad member), and one from the studio audience. In the event of a tie, the studio audience will vote again to break the tie.
Color key
Squad member won the battle and advanced to the Ultimate Battle
Squad member lost the battle and was eliminated
Episode 10 (September 16)
Order
Team
Participant
Voting result
Boy
Bea
Annette
Jose
Audience's vote
1
Annette Gozon-Valdes
Power Impact Dancers
✔
✔
—
✔[f]
2
Bea Alonzo
Jay-R Siaboc
—
✔
3
Boy Abunda
Brenan Espartinez
—
✔
✔
4
Jose Manalo
Steps of Gold
—
Ultimate Battle
In this 2-part final round, 7 remaining squad members of the four judges will fight it out in 1 ultimate battle. The winner will be determined by the number of battle stars to be given by the judges and the studio audience.
Color key
Winner
Runner-up
3rd Place
Episode 11 (September 23)
Order
Team
Participant
Voting result
Boy
Bea
Annette
Jose
Audience
Total Battle Stars Received
Placement
1
Annette Gozon-Valdes
Power Impact Dancers
–
21
—
–
–
89.05
Runner-up
2
Bea Alonzo
Joseph Erwin Valerio
–
—
–
22
–
77
5th Place
3
Jose Manalo
JB Dela Cruz
–
–
–
—
18.78
73.78
7th Place
Episode 12 (September 30)
Order
Team
Participant
Voting result
Boy
Bea
Annette
Jose
Audience
Total Battle Stars Received
Placement
1
Boy Abunda
Shammah
—
–
–
–
21.54
86.54
3rd Place
2
Jose Manalo
Marvin Peralta
20
–
–
—
–
91.52
Winner
3
Boy Abunda
Kathy Hipolito Mas
—
–
–
20
–
74.05
6th Place
4
Bea Alonzo
Amazing Duo
–
—
18
–
–
84.4
4th Place
Ratings
According to AGB Nielsen Philippines' Nationwide Urban Television Audience Measurement People in television homes, the pilot episode of Battle of the Judges earned an 11.8% rating.[13]
Notes
^Won the toss coin tiebreaker.
^Lost the toss coin tiebreaker.
^Chosen to be Moses Gozun's replacement.
^Withdrew due to his competition in WCOPA 2023.
^Judge Boy Abunda chose a toss coin to break the tie.
^Voted by the audience in a tiebreaker.
References
^Calderon, Nora. "Boy hirap kalabanin si Annette!". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
^Vibas, Danny. "GMA's new Battle of the Judges: Who's the 'most dangerous' judge?". Tribune. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
^Olea, Jerry. "Annette Gozon-Valdes says her position as GMA top exec not at play in Battle of the Judges". PEP. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
^Jusay, Annalyn S. (July 10, 2023). "Competition leads to better things - Boy Abunda". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
^Calanog, Dale. "Team Bea Alonzo is 'almost ready to go' ahead of Battle of the Judges premiere". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
^"New offerings mark GMA 73rd anniversary". BusinessMirror. June 6, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
^"The judges are ready to battle beginning July 15 on GMA Network". GMA Network. June 11, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
^"Heto na! Kilalanin ang buong Squad ni Judge Boy Abunda! ✨". Facebook. July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
^"Paparating na! Kilalanin ang Squad ni Judge Bea Alonzo! ✨". Facebook. July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
^"Magpapasiklaban na! Kilalanin ang Squad ni Judge Annette Gozon-Valdes! ✨". Facebook. July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
^"Lalaban na! Kilalanin ang Squad ni Judge Jose Manalo! ✨". Facebook. July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
^"About The Show". GMA Network. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
^CC, Je (January 19, 2024). "Philippine Entertainment in 2023: The 10 Highest-rated TV debuts of the Year". LionhearTV. Retrieved January 21, 2024.