CHANNEL 2's new show, "Judy Ann Drama Special" (9:30 p.m., Mondays, starting last Sept. 13) is deemed an important show because its star is regarded as the most popular young actress in the country today. The fact that she's been given a weekly drama anthology program of her own is a feather in her cap because, on Philippine TV, only the most gifted and popular actresses are given their own shows. Thus, Judy Ann has joined the elite group of Nora Aunor, Hilda Koronel and Maricel Soriano, who have also topbilled their own dramatic anthologies.

We viewed the program's premiere telecast last Monday, hoping that it and its star would live up to their advance notice, but, sad to say, the episode turned out to be no great shakes.

In it, Judy Ann is cast as the spoiled daughter of a congressman (Robert Arevalo). She hates her father for being so strict with her. Rebelling, she decides to get married to her boyfriend (Lee Robin Salazar), a decision that her father thoroughly disapproves of. Infuriated, Judy Ann drives her car out of the family compound in a mad rush, forcing one of her father's bodyguards (Piolo Pascual) to accompany her wherever she's going, just to assure the impulsive young woman's safety.

By the time she simmers down, Judy Ann realizes that she has driven her car way out into the countryside, to an area where there aren't even any houses. Her car's wheels are mired in deep mud, so she can't head for home. That's just too bad for her because it turns out that some kidnappers have been trailing her, and they decide to make their move.

It's a good thing that Piolo is on hand to defend her. There's a deadly exchange of fire between him and the kidnappers, and for a moment there, Judy Ann's life is in grave danger. But Piolo is able to drag her to safety.

You'd think that Judy Ann would be properly grateful, but no, she keeps complaining about this and that until Piolo loses his cool. It's all he can do to keep himself from storming out of her life. Irritated by Judy Ann's whiny voice, viewers feel the same way.

The following morning, Piolo gathers some fruit for the brat in his care, but she keeps up her nagging tirade. It's only during their second night out in the wilds that Judy Ann begins to show her tender, vulnerable side, and she and Piolo exchange touching stories about their parents.

Well, at least they aren't screaming at each other--that's such a relief. But, during this long exchange of "sensitive" insights, the drama's already slim and slow plot progression completely runs out of gas, and when the next morning dawns, the show has a hard time revving up its action again.

It's at this point that the one-and-a-half-hour drama feels so enervated and enervating. We watch listlessly as Judy Ann and Piolo follow a river and finally meet an old man who invites them to stay in his hut. He mistakes them for newlyweds because they have stopped fighting and have found a lot about each other to like.

But they can't do much in the romance department because Judy Ann is engaged to Lee. In any case, they don't really have the time to bill and coo, because the kidnappers (remember them?) finally make a belated reappearance in time for the drama's finale (well, at last!) and engage Piolo in another firefight.

As usual, despite the fact that the three kidnappers are armed to the teeth, Piolo is still able to vanquish them. But it's a bittersweet victory for him, because Judy Ann still ends up in Lee's arms.

Of course, things have to end up happily for Judy Ann and Piolo, so it's only a matter of time before Judy Ann, who's now become such a warm and loving person, chooses the bodyguard over Lee, and the heretofore hesitant lovers can finally embrace, kiss and pledge their eternal love for each other.

As you can see, the episode's plot and character relationships are old-hat, so the new show has started off on the wrong foot. To make things worse, Judy Ann turns in a kneejerk performance as the spoiled female lead character.

This is very unfortunate because star-centered dramatic anthology productions of this sort bank heavily on their lead actresses' versatility and thespic range. They exploit and showcase this by casting their stars in very different roles from show to show.

However, if the lead star isn't all that gifted and versatile, her limitations will soon show and her program will have a hard time keeping viewers interested from week to week--and, more importantly, from month to month.

Piolo does well in the new show's pilot episode, but he can't do much to offset Judy Ann's predictable performance. To improve the show's chances, the people behind it should come up with really fresh and interesting stories.

For her part, Judy Ann shouldn't take this program as just another assignment. She should recognize its importance in firming up her cachet as an actress, not just as a star, so she should work much harder and come up with really strong and exciting characterizations for it.