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Revillame earned a living by becoming a drummer. But when he met Randy Santiago, who rose to fame via his trademark shades and the song Hindi Magbabago, his fortunes changed. Santiago hired him as his sidekick in the now-defunct GMA Network noontime show Lunch Date in 1986. Revillame stayed for three months on the show and was signed up by Regal Films to star alongside Joey Marquez in the movie Bobocop (bobo, meaning dumb), a spoof of the hit Hollywood movie Robocop. Since then, Revillame has been cast in movies as sidekick to other movie personalities such as Philip Salvador, Rudy Fernandez, Edu Manzano, Cesar Montano, Aga Muhlach, Dolphy, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon and when he married Princess Punzalan, daughter of broadcasters Helen Vela and Orly Punzalan.

As Revillame became the newest co-host of 'Sang Linggo nAPO Sila on ABS-CBN in 1998, he then joined his former Salo-Salo Together (SST) co-hosts Randy Santiago and John Estrada in newest noontime show Magandang Tanghali Bayan, replacing 'Sang Linggo nAPO Sila. He immediately bonded with the two hosts and the three were noted for their on-screen chemistry and comic timing.

The newborn triumvirate of Santiago, Estrada, and Revillame was noticed by the viewers. But along with Revillame's new fame as TV host came criticism. Some sectors branded the new trio as a rehashed version of the more established Tito, Vic and Joey, their rival counterparts in the other noontime show, the Eat Bulaga on GMA 7. On the other hand, some viewers and critics denounced Willie for acting like a "sex maniac" with his vulgar behavior over the Calendar Girl contestants in MTB. Despite the criticism, the new trio of Santiago, Estrada, and Revillame received immense support from the ABS-CBN management.

Magandang Tanghali Bayan started its first live episode on November 30, 1998. This was Willie's third noontime show after Lunch Date (GMA 7) and 'Sang Linggo nAPO Sila (ABS-CBN), and his first major TV show after playing bit roles in sitcoms. MTB later dethroned rival show Eat Bulaga via GMA 7 in the ratings game.

In December 2002, Willie began exploratory talks with ABS-CBN regarding a new noontime show that would replace Magandang Tanghali Bayan. ABS-CBN decided to bring back the original MTB trio, Randy, John and Willie for the new noontime show and terminate the services of other MTB co-hosts and staff, including Roderick Paulate, Amy Perez and director Edgar Mortiz. The noontime show was titled Masayang Tanghali Bayan.

Willie also revealed in an interview with Ricky Lo later on that he went on a sabbatical to the United States for a couple of months. He was contemplating on retiring from showbiz and live a quiet life there. But his plans change after getting a positive reaction from the Filipino-Americans who mingled with him during his stay. Bong Revilla. Willie ended up meeting with ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs executive Arlene de Castro, wife of Vice President Noli de Castro, who offered him a public service show with a touch of humor. The show turned out to be Willingly Yours.

Masayang Tanghali Bayan show was involved in so many controversies, some of which resulted in Willie's second suspension from ABS-CBN. Willie also did the public affairs program Willingly Yours which was also axed in mid-2003 although he won an award from Star Awards as Best Public Service Host, besting the likes of Mike Enriquez, Bernadette Sembrano and Arnold Clavio.

When Willie resigned from Masayang Tanghali Bayan after MTRCB requested ABS-CBN to terminate him due to some nasty jokes he said on air, he appeared in the showbiz talk show The Buzz and generated support for the embattled host-comedian. Gretchen Barretto, the partner of telecommunications magnate Tonyboy Cojuangco who owns the television network ABC 5, was one of them. She promised Willie that he will be hired as an ABC-5 talent, much to the consternation of other people, particularly Gretchen's brother-in-law, Dennis Padilla who was Willie's co-host on Masayang Tanghali Bayan. At the same time, songwriter Lito Camo, the hitmaker behind hit novelty songs, and Universal Records executive Bella Tan decided to repackage Willie as a novelty singer. He then started a show with ABC-5 entitled Puso o Pera.

After the axing of Puso o Pera, Willie guested in GMA 7's reality show Extra Challenge. The particular episode was shot in Bali, Indonesia, with Andrew E., Francine Prieto and Michelle Bayle joining Willie as guests. The two-week episode posted the highest ratings for Extra Challenge. Willie followed it up with another guesting at GMA 7's sitcom, the now-defunct All Together Now where his former MTB director Edgar Mortiz was one of the mainstays. His guesting in that show also rated well. It was enough for GMA's rival network ABS-CBN to call up Willie for a meeting with the help of former ABS-CBN news executive Arlene de Castro (wife of Vice President Noli de Castro). Willie then named de Castro his new business manager in place of Wyngard Tracy.

After a series of meetings, ABS-CBN decided to bring back Willie in the noontime slot with his own game show. Willie was given creative freedom in his new show and joined forces with his former directors at MTB, Edgar Mortiz and Bobbet Vidanes in thinking new concepts for the game show. Willie then christened the noontime game show Wowowee in 2005, which was made especially for Filipinos who's experiencing poverty. It was started with female co-hosts Janelle Jamer, Kat Alano and Iya Villania. The show is currently on air getting high ratings, with new female hosts Mariel Rodriguez, Valerie Concepcion and Pokwang.

While in 2008, Willie revealed on the website of Philippine Entertainment Portal that he will be making a movie comeback via Octo Arts Films' Mr. Housewife. The movie will have him portray a family man who lost his job and was force to assume his wife's duties in taking care of the house and their children. Roxanne Guinoo was slated to play his wife in the film, which has been put on hold after Willie fell ill.