by Thinus Ferreira
SABC2 and kykNET (DStv 144) are both rolling out new locally-produced TV shows during April with SABC2 adding Melody and The Riviera that were both filmed in the Western Cape, while kykNET has scheduled comedian Casper de Vries' satirical TV return with Cas Oppie Kassie and the gospel music talk show Koortjies with Jonathan Rubain.
Melody, produced by Gemini Twins Films and The Ergo Company and starting on Tuesday 7 April at 19:30 on SABC2 revolves around a young and talented penny-whistler from Athlone named Melody (Kim Bowers) who uses music as a form of escapism from her impoverished background and abusive father.
She gets an opportunity to audition for a music scholarship but her tyrannical father stands in the way of her dreams. The Melody cast includes Aya Ngobo (as Junior, Melody's brother), Riedwaan Damon (Bevan), Moeniel Jacobs (Jack), Faldela Brown (Mrs Fredericks) and Aeesha Petersen as Nazli.
The 13-episode The Riviera, starting on Wednesday 8 April at 19:30 on SABC2 is a dramedy that explores the complexities of growing up in Cape Town during the 1980s. It was created and is narrated by Quanita Adams and produced and directed by Lucille Blankenberg.
The series is set in the year 1989 around the experiences of a 12-year-old Muslim girl, Riana Isaacs, growing up on the Cape Flats. While South Africa and the world are in dramatic upheaval, Riana innocently sets out to achieve her own personal milestones.
The Riviera cast includes Keenan Arrison (Naz), Kelly Damon (Riana), Abdul Abrahams (Reza) and Margie Pankhurst as Ma B.
"SABC2 is very excited to bring these two dramas to our audiences - stories about people and places not often seen nor heard on our screens. The channel is especially proud of the fact that both dramas have a great balance between established actors and new talent that viewers will fall in love with," says Gerhard Pretorius, SABC2 channel head.
On kykNET the comedian Casper de Vries is making his TV comeback with Cas Oppie Kassie starting on Monday 6 April at 20:00 in his new satirical comedy sketch show.
Similar to his erstwhile satirical soap insert "Haak & Steek" in his Casper Rasper Show that mocked local TV soaps, this time Cas Oppie Kassie will include an ongoing insert mocking competition reality shows like Survivor SA on M-Net, entitled "Die Laager" in which contestants partake in Die Groot Trek.
Besides the 5 to 7 different sketches per episode, there will also be an animated sketch series, "Con se Storie" about a church pastor.
Some iconic Casper characters will return like the beloved Dutch woman Greetje Appelmoes, Oom Kallie Marie, the failed entrepreneur Hanno Gelderblom and the former flight attendant with neckbrace Montelle Jansen van Rensburg, alongside Blertsie du Toit.
New characters include the Swedish Greta Donderberg and Gizelle Serfontein, a former news reader and now pornstar and sex expert.
Koortjies with the gospel musician Jonathan Rubain as host and done from Atlantic Studios in Cape Town kicked off on kykNET & Kie (DStv 145) on 5 April on Sundays at 18:00
Returning shows on kykNET in April include the 5th season of the music-infused talk show Republiek van Zoid Afrika with Karen Zoid, starting Monday 6 April at 20:00, the second season of Maak my Famous from 29 April at 20:00 with Emo Adams, and another season of the agriculture show Megaboere with Kabous Meiring from 7 April at 21:00.
The third and final season of the legal-eagle drama series Fynskrif will start on kykNET on 14 April at 20:00.
