The solo hip hop dancer who used a sign-language interpreter during and after his performances in the show, received the most votes from viewers to win the title in the live broadcast of the finale on Thursday evening.
SA's Got Talent suffered in my opinion as a new TV property, it being a new TV format for local audiences that neither SABC2 nor the producers did any favours by a fast paced scheduling blitz. The show also suffered some technical glitches earlier this week during voting and simply had no big Susan Boyle-worthy break-out buzz building around a specific star to thrust the show into the popular consciousness. The foreign scheduling system that saw the show culminate in four live consecutive shows since Monday to build up to the final also detracted from what the show could have been. Much more could have been done to tell the viewing public how the show will end and what is required of them. Otherwise the live shows should simply have played out with one episode per week.
I've asked widely and TV experts agree that the show lacked real talent and break-out stars, which the producers could possibly improve on during a possible second season (and beyond) by allowing potential contestants (1) a longer time period to enter as well as (2) employing more devices to canvass wider for possible contestants.
Personally the one redeeming quality of the show was the producers' brilliant choice of pairing up Anele Mdoda and Rob van Vuuren as co-hosts. Their combined chemistry on-screen shined and the production company and SABC2 would be well advised to not just make use of them, but reign them in for even more potential TV work as well as other possible marketing opportunities for the channel. Ian von Memerty also deserves recognition for his smooth transition as Strictly Come Dancing host to TV judge. He did well.
I wrote some stories about acts who tried to enter but couldn't, and that after the producers promised that every entry would get a chance to audition. They should try again, should there be a second season. SA's Got Talent has talent, the TV show just needs to finetune and improve on what it can do and be, and showcase it better.
