Late night local TV comedy has found a refreshing, sparkling, irreverently apt and fearlessly funny show in the satirical Late Nite News (LLN) with Loyiso Gola that will be back for a second season on e.tv and the eNews Channel (DStv 403) from Wednesday, 16 March at 21:30.
Where many have tried (and are still trying) in the notoriously difficult genre of late night comedy/satire/talk to crack in South Africa, Loyiso Gola is spot on great with his satirical faux news show that will return with a new set. Loyiso Gola is already successfully starting to look very much like South Africa's version of Jon Stewart - ripping news makers, news institutions, the media and headline making stories and politicians with just the right measure of jabs that's smile-inducingly funny. Late Nite News is a joy - devoid of the overacted antics, forced jokes, stilted dialogue and unfunny comedians who've tried before and feel so self-conscious of their efforts (and don't really know the news) that it all falls flat.
Even the press release e.tv issued about the new second season of Late Nite News brims with tone-perfect humour, coyly teasing: ''The new season won't be any different. Some classified information has been leaked, and has indicated that viewers can expect to see old and new faces, a brand new set as well as a focus on the upcoming municipal elections and all the behind-the-scenes shenanigans. But this is all hearsay.'' Quite indicative of the strong, courant relevant, yet tongue in cheek approach viewers get to see in Late Nite News.
"We developed Late Nite News out of the need to see satire on South African TV, and to create the platform to comment in this way on current affairs and politics,'' says Tamsin Andersson, Late Nite News producer. ''Season two is so exciting because of all we learnt during the training ground of season one, and the incredible creative talent who have come to be involved in the show. We have some of the best comedians in the country today writing and performing on Late Nite News and Loyiso Gola as the host of the show has such a strong voice.''
The regular cast of Loyiso Gola, David Kibuuka, Riaad Moosa and Chester Missing will all be back for the ssecond season. ''We are going to hit harder. We are bringing a new energy to this season,'' says Loyiso Gola. ''We've added a couple of awesome new characters and Dave and Chester are definitely going to pull a couple of surprises.''
Besides the Wednesday 21:30 timeslot Late Nite News will repeat on the eNews Channel on Thursdays (10:30), Fridays (09:30), and Saturdays and Sundays (10:30).
