A new hourlong local South African TV special, 2 Weddings & a Superstar, will be broadcast on Monday 9 September on Lifetime (DStv 131) with the pilot episode in which the South African hip hop artist AKA surprises two couples getting married, that will serve as a broadcast tester for possible pick-up as a TV series.
With South African television experiencing Peak Wedding TV with localised wedding shows on channels ranging from Viacom Africa's BET, to M-Net, Mzansi Magic, Moja Love, VIA, 1Magic and others, Kiernan Forbes will infuse two local weddings with celebrity power similar to shows like Wedding Bashers, Our Perfect Wedding and Marry Me Now SA.
In the 45-minute 2 Weddings & a Superstar, produced by Okuhle Media for A+E Networks Africa, viewers will be shown how AKA shows up at two different weddings - both taking place in Cape Town - to sing for them.
Each couple getting married are unaware that AKA will show up but have been pre-selected because they are fans of his music.
A+Networks Africa confirmed to TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry that the TV special is a pilot episode for a possible series in which different local artists could surprise different wedding couples on their big day.
In a statement, AKA says "I have made some music and drawn some inspiration in terms of the style in some of the songs that I’ve made, that are kind of tailor-made for weddings. So, it’s a cool experience for me to be able to enhance somebody’s big day in this way".
"Hopefully for our couples, their weddings are going to be something they will remember in a really positive light for the rest of their lives."
The 2 Weddings & a Superstar pilot special will serve as a localised programming introduction entry to Lifetime's first "Wedding Week" on the channel for South Africa and Africa with stacked wedding-themed programming.
"Wedding Week is a celebration of the romance, the excitement, and the drama that is synonymous with weddings and wedding planning," says Fatime Kaba, the recently appointed A+E Networks Africa's head of programming.
"From AKA crashing weddings to a long list of brand new and exclusive wedding-themed reality shows and movies, viewers will get to experience all the highs and lows associated with tying the knot, as only Lifetime can deliver."
Lifetime's Wedding Week programming will include new seasons of Four Weddings on 11 September at 20:05 and Bridezilla on 12 September at 20:05, and the premiere of Marrying Millions on 13 September at 21:00.
Lifetime will also broadcast new Lifetime Original wedding movies during Wedding Week on weekdays from 14:35 and weekends from 19:20. Lifetime's Wedding Week will also have "wall-to-wall wedding content" all day on the Saturday and Sunday.
