The Wedding Bashers weigh in before tonight's second season finale as M-Net says the broadcaster is considering more of the special 'give-back' wedding episodes.

The celebrities judging the various weddings on The Wedding Bashers weighed in on the second season before the broadcast of the second season finale on Sunday at 18:00 on M-Net (DStv 101), with the pay-TV broadcaster saying that besides a possible third season, it's definitely looking at doing more of the special "give-back" episodes.

Jason Greer, who will be the host of The Bachelor SA starting on 14 February on M-Net and produced by Rapid Blue, is also the presenter of the second season finale of The Wedding Bashers produced by [SIC] Entertainment, that was filmed as a pre-recorded, live-to-tape episode on Thursday evening with a live studio audience at Urban Brew Studios in Johannesburg.

In this evening's second season finale, the top 5 couples return who got the highest scores from the bashers, with the couple who received the most votes from viewers who will win fantastic prizes including cash, jewellery and a sponsored fantasy island honeymoon to the Seychelles.

The second season of The Wedding Bashers, a hugely popular original concept production, was changed to feature one wedding per episode, as well as an amended leaderboard to show the scores from the experts with Bernelee Daniell and Zola Nene who replaced Cindy Nell and Siba Mtongana.

"I enjoyed being part of people's love stories because I love going to weddings, and secondly to have done this with the three other bashers. They are like friends that have become family," fashionista and former Miss SA Bernelee Daniell told TVwithThinus before the recording on Thursday night of the second season finale.

"When there were long periods between weddings, we would really miss each other. We would go: 'When's our next wedding?"

"I've learnt a lot about weddings - especially from the other bashers - like Zavion who taught us what an oasis, the wet floral foam, is and how you're not supposed to see an oasis, Denise with entertainment, Zola with food - I really, really learnt a lot about how a wedding should run smoothly. Heaven forbid I ever get married again, I'd know what to do," said Bernelee Daniell.

"From us travelling to weddings to the bantering that goes on in the car, to the bantering in hair and makeup, to the mischief that we get up to at weddings, I could never single out a favourite moment with any of them. I had the best time."

Zavion Kotze, wedding planner, said "we got along so well; love the two new bashers, they're like family".

About the second season following after the special give-back episodes in which the bashers organised and put together weddings for special, deserving South Africans, Zavion Kotze said "it was weird not organising weddings anymore, and I really miss them; and as for the wedding we did go to they were just so much fun."

"It was an eclectic mix of couples this season and that's what I liked the most because it was a huge variety."

Was there something new the celebrity wedding maestro learnt about weddings and doing them? "I didn't see anything in the second season that I learnt new, I often find that people do what is currently on trend and I like to think that sometimes I think ahead of trend, but all the couples did amazingly and I'm super happy with what I saw, and I think the couples had fun. I hope none of them hates me."

"The road trips were the best," said Zavion Kotze when asked for his favourite moment between the celebrity bashers.

"The jokes that happened on the road and those hours and hours spent in car rides are the best stories that you just can't retell for obvious reasons. But just getting to know each other was the best part of everything."

Celebrity chef Zola Nene told TVwithThinus that "what I enjoyed the most about this season was being part of people's love stories and just to witness their love for each other. And working with my fellow bashers has been such a ride, I had so much fun".

"I keep saying to people the fact that I can call going to weddings and having fun a job is like a dream, really, so I've loved every minute."

"What I've learnt is that people don't seem to realise how important a part the food is at a wedding. They seem to trials and taste cakes and do all of that stuff, but they never actually taste-test the food. So they're always surprised at their wedding when the food is bad which is so bizarre to me because it's an important part - it's something that people remember."

Asked about the funniest part for her this season Zola Nene said "was watching Denise reacting to the bird - I cried laughing. I mean, I'm scared of a bird too but the way that she was scared of the bird was insane. We had so many fun moment and we do have many laughs."

About the season's changes, Kaye-Ann Williams, M-Net's head of local content, said that "when you do come up with these local original productions, you're constantly tweaking it from season to season and looking at what worked and what viewers' responses were".

"We also did a focus group as well throughout the country so we got a lot of feedback on the first season of The Wedding Bashers. About a possible third season what we do is we look at the ratings, we look at our schedule, we look at our budget and then we'll make a decision about a season 3."

Kaye-Ann Williams said she was in love with The Wedding Bashers special episodes "probably because I got married as a poor student with R10 000, so you understand how difficult it is and how cash-strapped you are and how important the day is. So what the focus of the specials are is really giving a wedding to people who really need it."

"I think M-Net will definitely consider doing that again; it's such a feel-good thing to do but it's not without drama and conflict and entertainment."


ALSO READ: IN IMAGES. Photos from behind-the-scenes of the second season finale of The Wedding Bashers on M-Net.
ALSO READ: Humble Port Alfred couple, Megan and Jason Sharrock, wins the second season of The Wedding Bashers on M-Net.

M-Net's The Wedding Bashers replaces two presenters with Zola Nene and Bernelee Daniell, adds 4 specials from April before the 2nd season starts in June.

The Wedding Bashers on M-Net (DStv 101) that is returning for a second season in June is replacing Cindy Nell-Roberts and Siba Mtongana with the former Miss South Africa Bernelee Daniell and celebrity chef Zola Nene.

The second season of The Wedding Bashers for which people can enter now, will start on 3 June on M-Net at 17:00 covering more diverse and eclectic South African weddings, but before that the show produced by [SIC] Entertainment will be doing 4 special episodes from Sunday 29 April.

The Wedding Bashers Specials ... With Love will start on 29 April at 18:00 in which the presenters do all of the wedding planning themselves for 4 couples about to get married and who hand over the reigns to the presenters for their big day.

While wedding planner Zavion Kotze and socialite Denise Zimba are back for the second season, Bernelee Daniell and Zola Nene are replacing Cindy Nell-Roberts and Siba Mtongana.

BREAKING. The Wedding Bashers on M-Net renewed for a second season, looking for wedding contestants for the new season.

M-Net (DStv 101) has renewed the adorably diverse wedding competition complete with hilarious schadenfreude commentary, The Wedding Bashers, for a second season with South Africans planning to get married in 2018 in a Batsuit, among fairies in the woods, or planning a day long cow slaughter to celebrate, who can now enter.

It's not yet clear which of the four delightful wedding commentators will be back, although socialite Denise Zimba, Food Network's Siba Mtongana, the former Miss South Africa Cindy Nell-Roberts, and the former Survivor SA Champions star and wedding planner Zavion Kotze are all likely to return after working well during the first eye-popping season in 2017.

In The Wedding Bashers, the wedding crasher foursome show up at jaw-dropping weddings across South Africa and judge various aspects. Weddings are not necessarily expensive but are definitely out of the ordinary, showcasing the flair and creativity - with mixed results - of South Africans tying the knot.

Produced by [sic] Entertainment and executive produced by Gavin Wratten, the first season of The Wedding Bashers that was a ratings and social media success for M-Net, had viewers in stitches over the wide array of eclectic and interesting South African weddings that were featured in the show.

People interested in having The Wedding Bashers come to their wedding celebration with the chance of winning prizes can now enter here for the possibility of appearing in the second season.

IN PICTURES. M-Net unveils The Wedding Bashers with the biggest flower show spectacle any South African TV show launch has ever seen.

It wasn't the Chelsea Flower Show. It was bigger and better.

M-Net on Thursday morning had a media launch for its new reality show, The Wedding Bashers, starting on M-Net (DStv 101), Sunday 17 September at 17:00.

For the event, M-Net, with the help of Zavion Kotze, created the biggest, most eye-poppingly beautiful, and totally over-the-top flower show media launch spectacle that any broadcaster or TV channel has ever put on in the history of South African television.

Besides everything dripping with gold, silver and flowers everywhere that included an unbelievable flower-wall, each guest got two hand-made, personalised flower arrangements.

Men received a boutonnière and women a corsage that were pinned on at arrival at Zavion Kotze's flower table.

When guests left, everyone received a little golden bag filled with cosmetics, some treats and personalised little cards from each of the presenters, as well as, again, a beautiful flower arrangement.

Scattered all over next to beautiful floral arrangements were portraits of wedding couples, frames from, I thought, Mr Price Home or Boardmans with the stock photography the frame comes with, to enhance and fit the theme.

"No love," I was told. "These are photos of the actual couples who will be featuring their wedding in The Wedding Bashers on M-Net".

The press - who for once actually dressed up a bit as instructed to please do in the (wedding) invitation - were so truly bowled over by the amazing "wedding day/flower show" presentation at M-Net's The Wedding Bashers media launch at the Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg, that a large number of them decided to simply stay.

More than a dozen and a half media kept socialising for at least 2 more hours after M-Net's event ended as the champagne kept flowing and the media excitedly kept chattering.

Long after M-Net did a Q&A with the press and showed a specially edited preview of the show with outtakes from several of the upcoming episodes, members of the media simply refused to leave the posh Sandhurst enclave - utterly enticed and dazzled over the magical atmosphere M-Net's The Wedding Bashers created.

The Wedding Bashers, produced by [SIC] Entertainment with Gavin Wratten and ProVerb [Tebogo Thekiso] as co-executive producers, will feature 22 weddings that are attended and judged by Zavion Kotze, Cindy-Nell Roberts, Siba Mtongana and Denise Zimba (who didn't attend the event) as the 4-some presenters.

Here's M-Net's The Wedding Bashers media launch in photos:

 

Channel O commissions its own Carpool Karaoke 'stars in cars' show, Top 5 Drive, with Denise Zimba and Tino Chinyani.

As part of rebuilding the channel's content basket, M-Net continues to restock its music-themed pay-TV channel on DStv, Channel O (DStv 320) with new original shows and is now adding Top 5 Drive as Channel O's own version of Carpool Karaoke.

In a renewed effort to revitalise the moribund and neglected Channel O, the 20 year old channel's line-up is slowly being filled by new local programming.

Top 5 Drive with presenters Denise Zimba and Tino Chinyani and produced by The Bar Leader TV, will start on Channel O on Saturday, 16 September at 9:30 in the morning and is the latest new local production seeking to capture and lure viewers to the channel.

Styled along the broader themes that makes America's Carpool Karaoke with James Corden so successful, Top 5 Drive is filmed inside a moving vehicle with the presenters talking to celebrities, talking about music - in short "stars in cars".

Channel O calls Top 5 Drive "an exciting taxi pick up of sorts" with Denise Zimba and Tino Chinyani who will give celebrities a "complimentary Channel O ride", discussing the person's favourite music tracks, career highlights and industry news.

People like A-Reece, Amanda Black, Da Les and Dr Malinga will appear in the first season of Top 5 Drive.

The half hour Top 5 Drive will feature five music video selections and cater to all genres.

"Our fans love hot new music, and they love getting into their favourite celebrities' headspaces," says Reneilwe Sema, M-Net director for local entertainment channels.

"The show combines the best of both worlds. Also, look out for some cameo appearances from the stars of our popular dramas in season one."

It's 'I do' for wedding shows on SA television as new M-Net reality series, The Wedding Bashers, gets ready to judge South African weddings.

M-Net is getting in on the wedding wonderful craze sweeping South African television with its new reality show, The Wedding Bashers that's gearing up to film - and judge - various South African weddings with the show set for broadcast during September.

It's definitely a case of "I do" when it comes wedding shows on South African television.

While viewers simply can't get enough of the lavish South African celebrity weddings that continue to be featured on Top Billing on SABC3 and the buzz-worthy, spectacle prone reality series Our Perfect Wedding on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), TV channels are ramping up their wedding programming for 2017.

Despite criticism that it's cheapening the act of getting marriage, A+E Networks UK will debut Married at First Sight South Africa on 3 February on Lifetime (DStv 131), while kykNET (DStv 144) is working on Ons Sprokiesbruilof.

M-Net is now countering with The Wedding Bashers, produced by [sic] entertainment and Gavin Wratten also responsible for Idols, in which South Africans can win big by having their weddings judged by a party of celebrity wedding crashers who will weigh in on all aspects of weddings ranging from R20 000 to over R1 million.

For The Wedding Bashers M-Net and [sic] entertainment are using someone old, someone new, someone borrowed and someone blue: former Survivor South Africa host Mark Bayly as the "best man" presenter, socialite and V-Entertainment presenter Denise Zimba, Food Network chef Siba Mtongana, fashionista and former Miss South Africa Cindy Nell-Roberts, and former Survivor SA Champions star and wedding planner Zavion Kotze who also has a show on VIA (DStv 147).

The Wedding Bashers - in a cross between Come Dine with Me SA and Four Weddings South Africa - will see Denise Zimba snark over the wedding entertainment, Siba Mtongana judge the food, Cindy Nell-Roberts weigh in on the fashion, with Zavion Kotze, who recently got married as well, who will be giving his view about the decor.

People getting married have until Valentine's Day - 14 February - to enter their wedding to be judged.

'The whole idea behind The Wedding Bashers is that we've all been to weddings," said Gavin Wratten.

"We all have sat with a bunch of people that we may or may nor like. We all sit and mind our p's and q's while the wedding is on, but then when we get in the car on the way home and we go: 'Oh my goodness, did you see what she was wearing?"

"So our wedding bashers are going to be going to weddings and judging each wedding. And while the show is called Wedding Bashers, it's actually The Wedding Bash. We're not really really there to try and rip everybody's wedding apart," said Gavin Wratten.

"They're going to be honest - and they're going to love some moments of the weddings but they're also going to comment on parts of some weddings they find questionable."

Fourth actor exists SABC1's Generations The Legacy just months after the troubled Mfundi Vundla soap's reset.

A fourth actor is exiting the reset Generations The Legacy on SABC1, with Vuyo Dabula who is out just months after the show restarted with new actors when creator Mfundi Vundla fired the entire principal cast of 16 actors late last year.

Vuyo Dabula is the fourth abrupt departure from Generations The Legacy which lost its ratings dominance the past seven months.

Asanda Foji and Mary Gumede left the show a month ago. A blindsided Asanda Foji was fired and didn't even know about it, Mary Gumede couldn't come to terms and wanted out of her contract and Denise Zimba was fired from Generations The Legacy as well.

Now Vuyo Dabula who portrayed Gadaffi is also out, with the actor who also couldn't come to terms with the producers no longer prepared to stay with the weekday soap any longer since negotiations didn't work out.

The soap says "Vuyo will no longer be part of Generations The Legacy" in a statement.

"The actor requested to be released from his contract as he has other projects he would like to explore," says Gaaratwe Mokhethi, Generations The Legacy publicist in a statement.

"I think now is the right time to move on and do other things with the exposure the show has given to me," says Vuyo Dabula in the statement.

"Generations the Legacy has allowed me to take my acting craft to newer and better levels and I plan to take that into future characters I’ll be portraying."