Stealing several elements from the videography history of other soaps such as Binneland, The Bold and the Beautiful and Dynasty, Generations- South Africa's most watched TV soap and most watched soap opera - debut a new, yet looking extremely derivative, opening title sequence on Monday night to mark the long running programme's 20th anniversary on television.
Saxophone infused melodies in the opening theme song reminiscent of Binneland and turning-twirling characters reminiscent of both Dynasty and The Bold and the Beautiful ertwhile opening sequences now infuse the new 45 second Generations opener which is trying to re-establish a high-gloss feel for the soap's audience.
The new Generations opener also contains Downton Abbey-esque scenes which looks almost lifted from the British period drama, seemingly to signify the aspirational aspect of the show: the help has to position crystal glasses at a dinner setting and dust the family heirlooms on the mantlepiece.
Sam Mpherwane, the acting SABC1 channel head, spoke on SABC2's morning show Morning Live on Monday morning, saying "Generations amazes us" as far as the viewership is concerned.
"Generations remains heavily in demand - the repeats, the omnibus and across the SABC's three channels where it repeats. Generations amazes us in terms of the number of audiences it attracts."
"Normally we just focus on the number of viewers it attracts on the 20:00 every day on SABC1, but collectively when we look at the repeats and the Generations omnibus we get amazed."
"The creators and the different people who have been working on Generations from the SABC's side have always made sure that this is one series that talks to the real South Africans. The fact that it's been on SABC1 which is essentially the biggest channel in South Africa has gone a long way in ensuring that this can be a pioneering series that sets trends and from a storytelling perspective continues to make waves," said Sam Mpherwane.
Regarding the risque storylines - gays, gays adopting, domestic violence where the woman is the abuser - Sam Mpherwane said "SABC1 is a youth channel" and that "we have to tell bold stories".
"We have to tell stories that would normally not be told, but we have to do it in a responsible manner, and that's the one thing that Generations does so well. It tells what would normally be termed controversial stories, but it does so in a responsible manner in a way in which you as the viewer feel that you can relate to the stories. It resonates with my world."
Sam Mpherwane says SABC1 is happy to use Generations as a TV show "to challenge the norm". He said the show wants to make an impact in viewers' lives.
He said SABC1 and Generations is happy to "create new stars". "Generations lives within the universe of SABC1 as 'Mzansi's biggest storyteller'. It's not an isolated brand," said Sam Mpherwane, saying Generations will try to continue to tell big stories.
"As a channel the next 20 years are looking bright for us. Generations continues to be a key pillar in the plans that we have as SABC1, so we're looking forward to the next 20 years of nothing but the absolutely greatest story telling," said Sam Mpherwane.
