MultiChoice's subscription-video-on-demand (SVOD) service Showmax will roll out another new, locally produced TV show, this time a comedic travelogue series, Trippin' with Skhumba, that is currently filming and will debut on 28 February, releasing new episodes weekly.
In the half-hour episodes with Skhumba Hlophe that will include South African comedians including Celeste Ntuli, Tumi Morake and Siya Seya, the South African comedian, radio presenter and actor will get a tour of comedians' hometowns.
Trippin' with Skhumba will end with an hourlong stand-up special, including the comedian and guests, as well as one new comedian from each hometown visited.
Produced by Diprente and helmed by Vincent Moloi as director, Trippin' with Skhumba is Showmax' first travel show and first vernacular show.
"As much as we love South African comedians, we are only exposed to what they do on stage as opposed to their backgrounds," says Skhumba Hlope in a press statement.
"In Trippin’ With Skhumba I wanted to dig deeper into their lives and where they come from - far more than what I could ever get out of them by doing a normal interview, like on my radio show."
Towns and places visited will include Empangeni (Celeste Ntuli), Walmer township in Port Elizabeth (Siya Seya), Pretoria (Salesman), Moletjie in Limpopo (Mashabela Galane), (Moletjie, Limpopo), Bloemfontein (Tumi Morake) and Kempton Park in Gauteng (Schalk Bezuidenhout).
"Trippin' With Skhumba is flipping funny," says director Vincent Moloi, in the statement.
"It's real. It represents, to me, the ultimate exploration of South Africa’s humour in a very honest and truthful way. It has an uncompromisingly authentic texture. Be ready to laugh at our misfortunes and our greatness."
The first season will end with an hour-long stand-up special, featuring Skhumba and his guests, as well as one new comedian from each hometown visited.
"Showmax is rapidly becoming the home of South African comedy, with the Comedy Central Roast of AKA coming soon, Somizi and Kenny Kunene; Trevor Noah Presents NationWild; and stand-up specials from the likes of Barry Hilton and David Kau," says Candice Fangueiro, head of content at Showmax, in the statement.
