Jo-Ann Strauss returns to SABC3's Top Billing as a presenter following a busy branching out television production year.

Jo-Ann Strauss has returned to SABC3's Top Billing.

The on-screen TV talent left the Tswelopele Productions produced show at the start of 2013 to front her own beauty-themed TV talk show Glambition on e.tv.

That was followed by working on an online presenter search to find a new e.tv online presenter.

Now the telegenic star is back at the weekly glamarama magazine show and will make her reappearance on Top Billing in her first insert back, interviewing The Bold and the Beautiful's star Texas Battle in Cape Town.

Jo-Ann Strauss launches her Online Presenter Search 2013; cyber social media web TV competition will find a new e.tv online presenter.

Jo-Ann Strauss - now South African television's third most watched local TV talk show host rating wise with her e.tv talk show Glambition - is launching her own and second online presenter search competition, this time looking to find an online presenter for e.tv.

Jo-Ann Strauss who ventured out with her own TV talk show try, Glambition on Mondays at 20:30 on e.tv since earlier this year, is launching her Online Presenter Search 2013 from July. With a litany of corporate sponsor partnerships the aim is to find an e.tv online presenter.

Monday night on Glambition the guests are Bonang Matheba, Dineo Moeketsi and Nodumiso Tembe all speaking about fame and media scrutiny, which is also when the Online Presenter Search 2013, done by Jo-Ann Strauss Productions (JSP) will be launching officially.

"If you think you've got what it takes to make it in the media industry, here's your chance," says Jo-Ann Strauss, calling the cyber social opportunity for people which is taking place in an exotic locale, the chance to "learn a lot" and to "getting a fast-track into the media industry".

People who want to enter this year's competition have to create a TV presenter audition clip of 30 seconds in English introducing yourself and doing a link to camera. The clip then has to be uploaded to the internet and contestants have to enter through the entry form on the website.

Four chosen finalists will be flown to Reunion Island with Jo-Ann Strauss and a celebrity mentor where they will spend a few days at the five star LUX* Ile da Reunion resort getting media training and honing their presentation skills.

The event which will include adventure sports will be filmed for a mini-reality series which will be broadcast on www.presentersearch.com. The winner, who will be announced on 20 September, will become an online presenter for the e.tv TV channel.

People between 18 and 35 from across Africa can enter and the public will be given the opportunity to vote for their favourite.

Jo-Ann Strauss did her first online presenter search in 2012 with her good friend Bonang Matheba who is a talk show guest on Jo-Ann Strauss' show tomorrow night. The former Miss South Africa's online presenter search in 2012 yielded five webisodes and became the world's largest competition of it's kind with hundreds of entries which were uploaded.

For this year's second online presenter search Jo-Ann Strauss clearly planned to leverage online media and social media to an even larger extent as a strategic component, especially given that the aim is to find an online video personality.

Samsung which makes mobile devices is for instance the main sponsor and will supply mobile devices on the island.

The edited show will be broadcast on the web; aspiring presenters are encouraged to upload their auditions which they can record on their cellphones, smartphones and digital cameras to YouTube; finalists will continue to upload a series of clips while they're on the island; and social media such as Twitter and Facebook will be integral to not just engage the viewing audience but also to help find the winner.

The online reality talent show initiative is interesting, given Africa's growing broadband penetration and rapidly advancing mobile video capabilities throughout the continent.

The rapid growth means that millions more ordinary Africans are now able to not only watch but also actively participate, engage and coalesce around online video creation and consumption online - something which was previously not generally available, or simply too expensive.

Glambition with Jo-Ann Strauss on e.tv now the 3th most watched TV talk show in South Africa.

Jo-Ann Strauss now fronting her own primetime talk show on e.tv, Glambition on Mondays, is smiling to camera - she's been tele-trained that way. But she's also probably smiling for another less known reason: I can reveal that Glambition as her break-out TV venture is now the 3th most watched TV talk show on South African television.

With virtually no pre-launch publicity support from e.tv and basically zilch in terms of ongoing publicity support from the channel, the weekly Glambition, from Spaghetti Meatballs Productions, executive produced by Jo-Ann Strauss, Mike Varalla and Gerry Jennings is racking up a respectable viewership of around 340 000 viewers.

Glambition is only outnumbered by Motswako (SABC2) and Three Talk with Noeleen (SABC3) in the talk show genre - both co-incidentally also female-skewed and female presented talk shows.

Since it's launch a few weeks ago on e.tv, Glambition has consistenly ranked as the 3rd largest talk show in terms of audience on South African television every week - one episode surpassed the 600 000 audience mark.

The talker centered around topics of health and beauty pulls close to similar numbers of an international reality show such as Skin Deep on e.tv about cosmetic procedures.

Jo-Ann Strauss left SABC3's Top Billing where she was a TV brand name as one of the revolving corps of telegenic presenters, to try her hand at her own local TV foray in a format playing to her strengths and experience as a sought-after South African MC and public speaker and globe-travelled media maven.

MISSING PERSONS REPORT. Top Billing's photoshoot and billboard 'with all the presenters' will have no Jo-Ann Strauss, no Ursula Stapelfeldt.

Every photo tells a story, and the recent Top Billing photo shoot for new billboards for SABC3's weekly lifestyle magazine show is as noteworthy for who's not in it, as the six people who are.

Top Billing's photoshoot, with Tswelopele Productions and SABC3 constantly hyped up that the fact that "all of the Top Billing presenters are together" in one room.

"For the first time under one roof to have all the Top Billing presenters doing a photoshoot," said Basetsana Kumalo, chairperson of Tswelopele Productions.

The photoshoot included Janez Vermeiren, Jeannie D, Bonang Matheba, Lorna Maseko, Simba Mhere and Jonathan Boynton-Lee.

Where then does that leave longtime Top Billing presenters Jo-Ann Strauss and Ursula Stapelfeldt who were both conspicuously absent from the photoshoot which will be made into billboards to celebrate the show's 21st anniversary on South African television?

Well, I couldn't ask on the specific day since South Africa's press - specifically TV critics and writers who are writing and being read nationally but who are not based in Johannesburg were completely dissed by Tswelopele Productions and SABC3's marketing and publicity team who couldn't communicate and even just tell that the event would be happening. (And if you don't know, you can't plan or make a plan.)

When Top Billing says "with the press joining us" what it actually means and underlies is unequal access to a non-exclusive event - one which the production punts as a "milestone". It's actually just Johannesburg-centric press who were informed and invited to attended the photoshoot at the 54 on Bath hotel.

So why is Jo-Ann Strauss and Ursula Stapelfeldt excluded?

Jo-Ann Strauss has of course started her own primetime TV talk show on another South African channel, Glambition on Mondays on e.tv.

Jo-Ann Strauss who is off Top Billing could possibly return with Tswelopele saying "we will be regrouping to discuss Top Billing with Jo-Ann in July".

Last week I also made a media enquiry to Tswelopele and SABC3 about the situation regarding Ursula Stapelfeldt and which wasn't possible to do at the "milestone" event.

"We chose the six presenters for the billboard shoot who are most featured on the show, now and for the past six months," says Tswelopele. "We needed to give Ursula Stapelfeldt a chance to do Bar-One Manhunt. We do this from time to time in order to allow presenters to do different things that add flavour and variety to their careers and personal interest."

"Now that Ursula Stapelfeldt is no longer going to do Bar-One Manhunt, Top Billing will continue to use her services as the need arises," says Tswelopele Productions.

BREAKING. Jo-Anne Strauss starts own TV talker; moves from Top Billing on SABC3 to Glambition on e.tv starting on 8 April at 20:30.

You're reading it here first. 

Jo-Ann Strauss is moving from Top Billing on SABC3 to e.tv and her new talk show Glambition which will start on e.tv on Monday 8 April at 20:30.

Jo-Ann Strauss who's been a very recognised face for years on SABC3's weekly glam lifestyle magazine show, is now going to be seen on e.tv for the 13 week duration of Glambition and will no longer be on Top Billing as she talks about various facets "of being a woman in today's competitive business world" in her new local show.

Glambition - an amalgam of glamour and ambition - got a primetime spot on e.tv's schedule where Jo-Ann Strauss, besides being the presenter, is also producing the half hour weekly talk show together with Gerry Jennings who she's worked with for years at Top Billing.

Glambition and the former Miss South Africa will cover topics over the coming 13 weeks ranging from competitive beauty, beauty and power, hair, being photographed naked, cultural beauty, weddings, plastic surgery, ageing beautifully, metrosexual men, fitness freaks and the latest fitness trends, fame and celebrity power couples.

Because of the switch to a new channel and a new TV show, Jo-Ann Strauss will not be involved with Top Billing while she's doing Glambition on e.tv and which is currently in production. It's to be seen whether Jo-Ann Strauss would be returning to Top Billing in the future.

"We will not be using Jo-Ann on Top Billing for the duration of her show on e.tv and Jo-Ann is aware of this," says Patience Stevens of Tswelopele Productions, executive producer of Top Billing.

"We have enjoyed a very long and happy working relationship with Jo-Ann - so are wishing her all the best with this venture into production, and will be regrouping to discuss Top Billing with Jo-Ann in July."

PICTORIAL. The My Top Billing Dream reality show on SABC3 has a fashion show challenge.

The My Top Billing Dream reality show Tuesdays at 20:00 on SABC3 had a fashion show challenge which took place this evening at Canal Walk in Cape Town. With 8 contestants left (but one on a secret assignment after she won, leaving  for this challenge) the episode will be broadcast on 31 July.

The charming Top Billing presenter Jeannie D, also a judge on My Top Billing Dream looked stunning and dazzled the crowd with her MC'ing skills, even making a thinly-veiled reference to her called off engagement, saying "everyone knows when you work for Top Billing your work is your marriage".

She even joked by walking over and blatantly grabbing contestant Jonathan Boynton-Lee's pecs who wore an open cut T-shirt, saying "Jonathan, on this show everyone knows I'm the one who has and shows off the cleavage!"

The remaining contestants in the reality show looking for a new presenter, as well as models, modelled everything from casual wear, evening wear and swimwear on the red carpet as opera singer constestant Linelle sang; Good Luck provided techno-disco infused music; and the gumboot dancing troupe Happy Feet made a surprise appearance. 

The Top Billing presenters Jo-Ann Strauss and Lorna Maseko were terrific. The duo's constant delightful and really funny banter was wonderful to witness - well-experienced public speakers who know exactly how to move a show along, keep the audience focused, and make hard work look like play.

At one point all three were on the stage together holding handheld microphones. During feedback due to monitors and with Jeannie D flanked by Jo-Ann Strauss and Lorna Maseko on either side she instantly retorted to a laughing crowd: "As you can see we can't really stand too close to each other - it's not the microphones, its the ego's!"

Most heartfelt moment was when an audience member asked Zama Ncgobo a question on who inspires her. "I'm just standing here. I'm just dreaming. I was actually an orphan for a large part of my life. I was raised an orphan. I try to live an inspiring life and to keep on dreaming. I'm my biggest fan and motivator. I had to motivate myself. You can do anything if you believe in yourself."

Exclusive sit-down interview of Top Billing's Jo-Ann Strauss with the bride-to-be Charlene Wittstock this coming Tuesday on SABC3.

I broke the news RIGHT HERE last week that Top Billing will have an exclusive interview with bride-to-be Charlene Wittstock as a primer for the Royal Monaco Wedding broadcast that SABC3 is planning, and now there's more information and these photos from the SABC3 glam magazine show broadcasting the interview next week.

ALSO READ: SABC3 will be broadcasting the Royal Monaco Wedding of Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock on 2 July.


Top Billing (Tuesdays, SABC3, 19:30) will broadcast its exclusive interview with Charlene Wittstock this coming Tuesday, 14 June with Top Billing presenter Jo-Ann Strauss doing a sit-down interview in the prince's palace in Monaco.

The Top Billing interview was conducted in an elegant room in a private area usually reserved for heads of state, overlooking the courtyard where Charlene Wittstock and prince Albert II will get married. ''We chatted about braai's, rugby and the open spaces of our country which she loves,'' says Jo-Ann Strauss.

Did the Top Billing presenter search happen because Michael Mol left for SABC3's new Expresso? ''The timing was just good,'' he says.

You're reading it here first.

Did Top Billing decide on doing the Top Billing presenter search because the Top Billing presenter Michael Mol decided to move over to the new weekday morning show Expresso on SABC3? Or would the Top Billing presenter search have happened anyway to find and add a new presenter (I can tell you it will be announced om December 9) even if Michael Mol didn't change his TV routine from primetime to early mornings?

''It wasn't done to co-incide with each other,'' Top Billing presenter and Top Billing presenter search judge Jeannie D tells me. ''Michael Mol isn't replaceable anyway.''

''I think the timing was just good,'' Michael Mol, tells me. ''But I think also the Top Billing presenter search generates huge interest and it does give somebody new the opportunity to be on this amazing show.

ALSO READ: Top Billing presenter and hot doc Michael Mol set to join SABC3's new breakfast show Expresso.
ALSO READ: The Expresso presenters on the highrise set of SABC3's new morning show Expresso.

Jo-Ann Strauss hosting Sunday's Miss SA 2009 pageant - 'It really IS a full circle moment for me'.

The beautiful Jo-Ann Strauss who won Miss SA 2000 is the host of the Miss South Africa 2009 pageant broadcasting live on Sunday evening on SABC3 from 19:30 to 21:00 from the Sun City superbowl.

Jo-Ann is very busy with rehearsals for Miss SA and all the behind the scenes work for tomorrow evening's LIVE broadcast, but still took a moment to have a chat with me about her ''full circle moment'', what viewers can expect from tomorrow night's live broadcast, and some advice for the girls.


How is hosting something like Miss South Africa different from your other TV presenting work like Top Billing?
Well, Miss South Africa is a live TV broadcast. You get once chance and obviously you don't want to make any mistakes. Hosting Miss SA this year is also very sentimental for me. It was exactly 9 years ago when I won and when – if I can call it that – my ''journey in media'' started. So I'm very, very excited.

That's actually what I wanted to ask you about next. You've gone from winning Miss SA in 2000 to now hosting Miss SA on Sunday evening. How do you feel about this full circle moment?
I think it's fantastic. It is a full circle moment for me. And I have the same designer! The top South African designer Gideon who dressed me in 2000, has dressed me again for Sunday evening – so it really is a full circle moment for me. And it's the same team I'm working with again as I did then 9 years ago. I think it's totally the right space, the right time, and the right moment.

What are some of the stuff viewers will see in Sunday's broadcast?
Viewers can get ready for some great performances from some of the most amazing South African artists. And it's a diverse range of performances. Also the ladies are looking fantastic, I'm standing in the rehearsal room right now as we speak – and they're dressed by some of the top SA designers as well. And the pageant is also taking a much more modern approach this year – I'm sure viewers will enjoy it. And I mean, Miss SA is an institution! It's always so much fun to watch. I remember growing up and watching it with my mom - it's a TV tradition.

Any advice for the girls for after Miss SA?
Just to enjoy every moment on stage and just to enjoy the year ahead and to make the most of the opportunities that comes your way.

Miss South Africa 2009 pageant, live on Sunday, SABC3, 19:30 - 21:00.