Generations – The Legacy cast members are out the door just seven months after joining the soap with the show now asking viewers to please stay tuned to the reset show watched by millions less viewers than before.
In October 2014 the beleaguered Mfundi Vundla
soap Generations on SABC1 abruptly
shut down production and restarted in December under a new name after firing
the entire principal cast of 16 actors for demanding better contracts.
The shocking derailment of the SABC's biggest
show and money-spinner as the public broadcaster's top executives failed to
successfully intervene and keep the show on the air, sent shockwaves through
South Africa's TV industry and inflicted big brand damage and reputational harm
on the SABC, creator Mfundi Vundla, as well as the soap.
Generations – The
Legacy
has since been overshadowed by Uzalo,
the Duma Ka Ndlovu and Gugu Zuma Ncube produced telenovela set and filmed in
KwaMashu and on a Newlands sound stage in Durban.
Last month Uzalo for the first time started to pass Generations – The Legacy in the ratings race in an upward climb
while Generations – The Legacy is
still millions of viewers below its erstwhile perch as the most watched TV show
in South Africa, a title it held for almost two decades.
Now the Generations
– The Legacy producers, in a statement, are imploring viewers to stay tuned
to the SABC1 weekday soap, saying "we promise new and exciting story
developments will be taking place".
Asanda Foji, criticised by viewers for her
stilted acting in the role of Simphiwe, has been cut with her contract which has
not been renewed, with Mfundi Vundla expressing "well wishes for the talented
actress".
Jaqui Archilleas, Generations – The Legacy commissioning editor, "praises Simphiwe
for the value she brought to the show" in the statement.
Also out is Mary Gumede who played Denise
Zimba and who wanted to be released from her contract. "Her professionalism in
aiding us to mount a new show was exemplary. We wish her the best in her
endeavours," says Mfundi Vundla.
'We ask that our
viewers stay tuned'
Generations – The
Legacy
is now asking viewers to please stay tuned to the soap.
"Our goal is in advancing the story and
keeping our viewers entertained and that's the reason we keep introducing new
and fresh stories," says Generations –
The Legacy publicist Gaaratwe Mokhethi.
"We promise our fans stories that are filled
with high drama and intensity, stories that will leave them begging for more."
"As we near the second half of this year, we have new and exciting storylines.
Twists and turns that weren't expected are still set to take place. We ask that
our viewers stay tuned to see how the story keeps developing."
The soap says Lebohang Mthunzi who plays
Angela and Ivy Nkutha who plays Gog' Flo are not leaving.
"These two actresses will still be part of
the upcoming season of Generations – The
Legacy."
'Pity that Generations has failed to deliver'
"Uzalo has garnered a great following in a short time," Cheryl Dube, media strategist
at Carat SA tells TV with Thinus.
"It's important to note that these two shows
do not fall into the same timeslot, so it's not necessarily that Uzalo has taken viewers from Generations – The Legacy," she says. "It's a shock but definitely not a surprise that a new show has surpassed Generations."
"Viewers that Generations had lost have opted to watch other shows like Ashes to Ashes on e.tv as they both
compete in the same timeslot and we have seen that Ashes to Ashes has also built up a strong and loyal following," says Cheryl Dube.
"The storylines for Uzalo and Ashes to Ashes
reflect our society a lot better than Generations
– The Legacy does at present."
"The characters are more relatable and
exciting and it's such a pity that Generations
– The Legacy has failed to deliver on this because it is something that
they used to do well," says Cheryl Dube.
