Pearl Thusi dumps the SABC's Live AMP on SABC1 with immediate effect; joins MTV's Lip Sync Battle Africa as co-presenter with D'Banj.

Pearl Thusi is dumping the SABC's Live AMP on SABC1 with immediate effect to become the co-presenter together with D'Banj of the Viacom International's new African version of Lip Sync Battle that will be produced for MTV Base and e.tv.

Pearl Thusi's final appearance on SABC1's Live AMP which she co-hosted for the past 3 years will be tomorrow evening, 4 March, after which she will be focusing on the African and South African version of the show in which well-known personalities lip sing on other artists' well-known hits.

"We're pleased to have played a significant role in her growth within the SABC family," says Zandile Nkonyeni, SABC publicist, "and we wish her well in all her future projects".

"Working with Pearl has been an absolute pleasure, losing her on the show is sad but also we're extremely proud to have played a role in her growth within the entertainment industry," says Sjula Dlamini, Live AMP producer.

Lip Sync Battle will start on 14 April on MTV (DStv 130) at 20:30, on MTV Base (DStv 322)  from Saturday 16 April at 11:30, and e.tv (DStv 194 / OVHD 104) in high definition from Saturday 23 April at 18:30.

Pearl Thusi will join Afrobeat singer D'Banj on Lip Sync Battle Africa and says she's "so excited to be a part of bringing it to African audiences".

D'Banj says he is "excited, willing and ready to entertain the continent" and that he's "looking forward to seeing how well my fellow celebrities battle each other and entertain the world".

TVwithThinus asked Lip Sync Battle Africa but executives declined to reveal any names of personalities who've agreed so far to appear on the show.

"We are thrilled to translate this global franchise to Africa for the first time," says Alex Okosi, the senior vice president and managing director of Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa).

"Lip Sync Battle Africa cannot fail to emulate the success of the franchise in the United States and spin-offs in territories such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Chile".

"Lip Sync Battle Africa is guaranteed to capture the attention and affection of our audience in Africa," says Dillon Khan, head of MTV and VH1 in Africa.

"The high-energy format of the show will be complimented by the two hosts who are massive stars of the entertainment industry on the African continent," says Keshni Rajoo, the head of local productions at e.tv. The free-to-air commercial broadcaster is doing Lip Sync Battle in conjunction with VIMN Africa.

"Our homegrown talent will be given the opportunity to show off their lip sync skills alongside some of the biggest names in Africa. e.tv is proud to be a partner of Lip Sync Battle Africa."

Lip Sync Battle Africa will be mainly South African and Nigerian artists, Dillon Khan tells TVwithThinus, "but we will have a sprinkling from East Africa too".

"Once the show is established, we'd look at involving more countries and artists in the second season".

Asked if songs will all be performed in English, or also include songs in other African languages, Dillon Khan says "our only stipulation is that one of the songs must be an African hit and one an international hit - there's no restriction in terms of language".

I asked what about the Lip Sync Battle format would be different for the localised version of Lip Sync Battle Africa, and Dillon Khan says its a "tried and trusted" format "and if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

"Much of what you'll see will look a little familiar, albeit with a touch of African flavour. The set is inspired by the United States one. We will have 2 hosts, and 2 contestants singing 2 songs each. Our key differences are the use of African hosts and African contestants and the stipulation about one song being from Africa," says Dillon Khan.

Khanyi Mbau's successful talk show, Katch it with Khanyi, set to continue for a 2nd season on OpenView HD's eKasi+ from Orlando stadium.

Khanyi Mbau's successful new talk show Katch it with Khanyi starts a second season on eKasi+ (OVHD 105) on OpenView HD from Friday 18 July at 18:00.

Katch it with Khanyi moves to a new studio at the Orlando Stadium with a panoramic view over Soweto. The first season was filmed in Vilakazi Street.

Katch it with Khanyi has become "must catch" television as Khanyi Mbau, formerly the incessant subject for hungry tabloids looking for salacious stories, has managed to start a reinvention process that shows in her persona.

Khanyi Mbau has become a surprisingly good interviewer, listener and great conversation holder.

Perhaps from the pummeling from years of tabloid stories, Khanyi Mbau doesn't take things - and herself - so seriously.

Multiple TV industry insiders have remarked on how quickly she's able to disarm those she's about to interview and how she manages to make them feel relaxed and not threatened - the sign of a good talk show host enabling guests to really open up and share details in unguarded moments.

During its first season Katch it with Khanyi managed to attract big name personalities which is set to continue for the new second season - the debut episode will feature Nelson Mandela's grandson, Ndaba Mandela (30) who doesn't often talk to the media.

Alongside Ndaba Mandela in the second season premiere episode will be Kojo Bafoe, the editor of Destiny Man magazine.

Other guests in the second season include former TKZee member Tokollo Tshabalala, Nomzamo Mbatha, Pallance Dladla and Maps Maponyane.

"The talk show genre requires a strong, intuitive and colourful host," says Monde Twala, the group head for e.tv's channels division. "Engaging and probing people of different socialstandings is a mammoth task that our host, Khanyi Mbau, has come to master".

"A second season means the show has not only worked, but that it is a must watch in local programming," says Monde Twala of Katch it with Khanyi.

About the talk show's new studio location and move to Orlando Stadium says Keshni Rajoo, the manager for production and programming at e.tv that "it's not every day that a non-sport specific show is shot at a stadium".

BLAME IT ON TRASH. Blame It On Fame on e.tv with twins Hlelo and Ntando Masina cancelled after 2 seasons.

The vacuous reality show Blame It On Fame on e.tv with the twins Hlelo and Ntando Masina has been cancelled after two seasons.

TVSA first reported the news about Blame It On Fame's cancellation and I can confirm that the show is no more, with e.tv telling me that "Blame It On Fame will not be coming back".

Whereas the sparkly and extremely well-produced first season of Blame It On Fame in September 2011 was produced by the professional Rapid Blue production company, twins Hlelo and Ntando Masina suddenly upped and left.

The second season and badly produced season of Blame It On Fame was suddenly done by Black Brain Pictures where the twins also suddenly added "executive producers" titles, echoeing the show's title.

The local TV biz raised eyebrows when the twins' show suddenly switched production companies from Rapid Blue to Black Brain Pictures, and talked about the sharp and very visual difference in production values of Blame It On Fame from the first season to the second.

e.tv's manager of local productions Keshni Rajoo tells TV with Thinus that the channel is "constantly reviewing its content strategy to reflect its audience needs and requests".

"The celebrity format has proved to be very popular one.tv, and our audience wanted to see more celebs. In line with this, the channel decided to take on other celebrity reality shows to showcase different celebrities," says Keshni Rajoo.