The embarrasing production mess Generations creator and producer Mfundi Vundla created when he suddenly, without warning, pulled out of the second season of SABC1's Class Act has not just made things difficult for the show trying to put up a brave face and gloss over the shocker, but has TV industry insiders shaking their heads at the amateur way it's handled.
ALSO READ: Super producer Mfundi Vundla dumps SABC1's Class Act after signing on as a judge.
The Curious Pictures production that only starts the broadcast of its second season on 23 April is now joining the list of infamous South African reality shows and advertiser-funded productions (AFP's) that simply beg to be known more for the eventful theatrics of it's own production reality drama behind the scenes that for the story it puts on screen.
Class Act series creator Donovan Marsh had to jump into Mfundi Vundla's suddenly and unexpectedly empty chair next to Class Act judges Rapulana Seiphemo and Moonyeenn Lee since the production reeling from the news had no time find a replacement for the Cape Town auditions. In fact, on the Saturday of the Cape Town auditions filmed the Saturday before last, he was still expected to show when TV with Thinus visited the production. Leleti Khumalo was roped in at short notice to help out in Durban this past weekend, while the producers are scrambling to find people to fill the third chair for upcoming episodes. ''We're extremely excited that we will now be drawing a guest judge from the best South Africa has to offer in the industry every week,'' enthused Vukile Madlala, SABC1 publicity manager in a press release, spinning the straw into golden hay. ''This format change is sure to provide for compelling and exciting viewing.''
Of course not nearly as compelling as the class act playing out behind the scenes.
Noting that ''the mix of two permanent judges and a third celebrity judge each week will add to the valuable acting tips and comments that contestants will be exposed to'', Class Act doesn't answer what happens after the four audition episodes when contestants needs to be judged by fixed people who are able to only eliminate them because they are in a position of making an informed judgement over the span of several weeks (and not just one) of the contestants' performance.
Responding to specific media enquiries TV with Thinus made about Mfundi Vundla's abrupt disappearing act from Class Act, the production says ''the true level of engagement and time commitment only became clear to Mfundi in the run-up to the Cape Town auditions. It was then realized that he could not give the show his full committment. This gave the producers an opportunity to introduce an exciting format where weekly Class Act will introduce the best talent drawn from South Africa's film industry onto the judging panel.''
''Class Act would have loved to have someone of Mfundi Vundla's caliber as a permanent judge,'' I'm told. The Class Act nationwide audition process now moves to the State Theatre in Pretoria this coming weekend on 19 March and Shine Studios, Braamfontein in Johannesburg on 2 and 3 April. Auditions times are from 09:00 to 17:00. Contestants need to bring their ID or driver's licence to register.
ALSO READ: Class Act kicks off its second season's nationwide audition process in Cape Town.
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