Mzansi Magic adds Marriage Boot Camp rip-off reality series Forever Maybe while Phumeza and Mnqobi 'Shota' Mdabe sell TV wedding rights for 4-episode special.

by Thinus Ferreira

Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) is adding a new marriage conflict reality show which is a rip-off of the American Marriage Boot Camp series which will have Lerato Kganyago as presenter, as well as a 4-episode wedding special after actress Phumeza Mdabe and music producer Mnqobi "Shota" Mdabe sold the TV rights to the M-Net packaged channel.

Forever Maybe, a rip-off of the American series Marriage Boot Camp, will start on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) on Sunday 6 October at 19:00 with presenter Lerato Kganyago who is known for her own tumultuous personal relationships, and psychologist Lindelani Magubane showing "how couples navigate through marital crisis" according to the channel.

Mzansi Magic in a press release says "Four couples will move into a house to either try and find a healthier path in their union or call it quits forever".

Shirley Adonisi, M-Net director of local entertainment channels, says "Mzansi Magic's reality shows are loved by our audiences – it's a genre that resonates strongly with them because they are authentic and relatable".

"With the addition of Forever Maybe to our Sunday slate, we know that we are providing infotainment that could also help the viewers at home take the first step towards navigating their own interpersonal relationships in a healthier manner."

Meanwhile, Phumeza Mdabe, an actress, and her husband and music producer Mnqobi "Shota" Mdabe is the next South African couple who have sold their TV wedding rights to M-Net like Somizi Mhlongo and Mohale Motaung, Dineo Moeketsi and Solo Langa, as well as Minnie Dlamini and Quinton Jones.

Mzansi Magic will broadcast it as a 4-episode special from 24 September at 18:00 titled PS: I Love You, Phumeza and Shota's Wedding Special.

The couple will show DStv subscribers their rites of umembeso and umbondo, followed by wedding.

Shirley Adonisi says "reality is one of the genres our viewers love the most, and while they enjoy the stories of everyday people being told on screen, our specials and shows that take us into the lives of public figures also fan favourites".

"September marks the start of the South African wedding season, so it's appropriate that we introduce a wedding special at this time. Phumeza and Shota are among the most private couples in South Africa, so it will be a treat for viewers to see them open up."

"We explore the couple's relationship with one another, as well as their relationships with their respective families. While love is at the centre of this special, it's also a story of cultural identity, overcoming challenges, family bonds, and friendship."

Lerato Kganyago leaves Live AMP on SABC1 after just 2 years as presenter - is the 'amazing shift happening in my life' a move to pay-TV as the presenter of Project Runway SA on Mzansi Magic?

Lerato Kganyago is leaving the magazine show Live AMP on SABC1 after just two years as its presenter, with rumours in South Africa's TV biz swirling that she's leaving after being she was asked to present the upcoming Project Runway South Africa on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), wasn't allowed to do the other show and decided to leave because of that at the same time as her contract simultaneously wasn't renewed.

The 35-year old Lerato Kganyago decided to ditch SABC1's Live AMP, produced by Urban Brew Studios and currently in its 22nd season, and might very well pop up in high definition next as the presenter of Project Runway SA produced by Rapid Blue productions and Ndalo Pictures for M-Net's Mzansi Magic channel and starting in July.

Lerato Kganyago's last on-air appearance on Live AMP will be on 18 May on SABC1.

Officially Lerato Kganyago who joined Live AMP in April 2016 "resigned" - which is true - but standing differently, the mirror shows more faces.

Word on the curb is that Lerato Kganyago was approached to be the presenter and host of Project Runway SA and wanted to front that reality sewing competition as well - a paying gig that would also be her first exposure to a pay-TV audience - but for whatever reason wasn't allowed to.

She had a choice to make and allegedly decided to pursue the Project Runway SA offer anyway, at roughly the same time as her Live AMP contract ran out anyway, and then wasn't renewed.

In a statement Lerato Kganyago says "co-hosting Live AMP has been the most incredible and fulfilling ride of my entertainment career thus far. However, two years in the same spot is a little too long for a Soweto girl like me who’s always looking for a new challenge."

"I will forever be indebted to SABC1 and Urban Brew for allowing me the unparalleled opportunity to showcase my talents," said Lerato Kganyago, noting that "there's an amazing shift happening in my life" - a shift says insiders to pay-television.

In the statement the SABC said "SABC1 and Urban Brew Studios announce the departure of popular Live AMP presenter Lerato Kganyago from the show. Lerato has resigned from the show to pursue other career interests after two successful years with the show".

Live AMP producer Akhumzi Jezile says "it was an absolute pleasure watching Lerato grow with the Live AMP brand. Her love and passion for entertainment kept her grounded throughout her stay. She will no doubt make a success of anything she chooses to take on".

Zandile Nkonyeni, SABC TV head publicist said "We would like to thank her for her commitment to Live AMP and SABC1 over the years".

The SABC was asked in a media enquiry about the biz talk that Lerato Kganyago was approached to present Project Runway South Africa on Mzansi Magic and was told by the SABC that she's not allowed to do both shows.

Zandile Nkonyeni said "we unfortunately cannot comment on where she is going as we do not have knowledge of it".

M-Net was also asked if Lerato Kganyago is the presenter of Project Runway SA, with Mzansi Magic that responded and told TVwithThinus that "the presenter will be announced close to broadcast. We will share the details once we have further information".

Bonang Matheba dropped, Lerato Kganyago and Pearl Thusi added as the South African talk show hosts of Moments on EbonyLife TV.

Bonang Matheba has been dropped and replaced with Lerato Kganyago and Pearl Thusi in the new talk show Moments starting today on EbonyLife TV (DStv 165).

Bonang Matheba would have been seen in the new Moments with Mo talk show spin-off simply entitled Moments, but was barred from finalising the deal after extending her existing Top Billing work on SABC3 to become one of the talk show presenters of the weekday talk show Afternoon Express which started at the beginning of May.

"We wanted to work with her but unfortunately she has a talk show on SABC3 whose format is the same as ours, so we couldn't proceed because it was a conflict of interest," says Sandra Amadio, head of entertainment at EbonyLife TV in a statement.

EbonyLifeTV turns two years old today and is launching Moments as a spin-off talk show from Mo Abudu's Moments with Mo which EbonyLife TV calls "Africa's first and only syndicated daily talk show".

Moments will closely mirror Moments with Mo in structure and style.

Mo Abudu, who is also the EbonyLifeTV CEO, will now only "appear occasionally for only a limited number of very important interviews," says EbonyLife TV. Moments with Mo will have fewer episodes as Moments become the main talk show.

Moments will be broadcast in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana. Lerato Kganyago and Pearl Thusi will only be seen in South Africa as would have been Bonang Matheba.

Earlier reports erroneously reported that Bonang Matheba would have been seen continentally on EbonyLife TV but it's not true.

Each of the four countries get their own local talk show presenters for the Moments' spin-off, with Wanjira Longaue and Amina Abdi presenting Moments in Kenya, Berla Mundi and Ama K. Abebrese presenting the version in Ghana and Bolanle Olukanni, Toke Makinwa and Michelle Dede the talk show trio of Moments in Nigeria.

Each of the spin-off's versions will also have its own guests.

"We are excited to see the Moments with Mo brand expand across the continent of Africa," says Mo Abudu.

"The purpose behind the creation of Moments is not only to connect more with audiences across the continent as well as offer a much wider and more divergent platform for truly pan African conversations, it is also calculated to be an exponential brand extension strategy targeted at delivering greater brand visibility and larger market shares," says Mo Abudu.

"With nine beautiful, intelligent and stylish presenters spread across four African countries, Moments is set to capture an even wider audience by connecting Africa like never before," says Damilola Amele, the series producer.

Lerato Kganyago added to SABC2 Venda soap Muvhango in limited contract as new character Mmasebotsana from June.

Lerato Kganyago has been added to the cast of SABC2's Venda soap, Muvhango with her character Mmasebotsana Mojalefa - meaning "she who best epitomozes beauty" - who will make her first on-screen appearance on SABC2 during the first week of June.

"Muvhango has been leading the pack with juicy storylines, surprises and plot twists over the past few years. As we evolve the story allows for new characters like Mmasebotsana," says Lebo Malete, SABC2 publicist in a press release.

Lerato Kganyago is a former presenter of the now cancelled magazine show The Link on SABC1, and also had roles in e.tv's 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls, SABC2's sitcom Skwizas, SABC1's After 9 and M-Net's soap The Wild.

"We felt that Lerato Kganyago perfectly fit the bill to play the role of Mmasebotsana. She brings a wealth of experience even though her contract is limited. We trust our viewers will warm up to her charisma and great personality on-screen," says Lebo Malete.

SAFTAS RED CARPET DISASTER: Utter incompetence on full display as inexperienced and amateur red carpet 'presenters' are let loose.

The pitiful and pathetic red carpet pre coverage of the 7th South African Film and Television Awards broadcast on Saturday evening on SABC3 with clearly unqualified and unprofessional live television "interviewers" was once again a jarring and eye-popping example of South African television's embarrassing and shameful refusal and inability to get it and do it right.

South African television, production companies and spotlight-seeking telenalities refuse to accept and work from the most basic premise of so-called red carpet award show coverage: investing in, and finding properly skilled people with experience who know what they're doing, can work under pressure, and can juggle the live demands and various simultaneous processes of red carpet coverage and make it look natural, smooth and easy.

Anyone cannot do it, and anyone shouldn't be doing it. Having watched Ryan Seacrest or Giuliana Rancic on E! Entertainment do red carpet coverage, isn't your "academic qualification" for thinking you're suddenly able to.

The gaffe-filled 7th Saftas red carpet coverage on Saturday evening with a meek Lerato Kganyago and a tragically inept, unprofessional and unqualified Nthato Mashishi was another sad display of exactly what happens when people who don't know what they're really doing - or who haven't done it for years and can't deftly adapt with live TV cameras rolling - try to do so-called "red carpet coverage".

What a national shame. And even more ironic that it keeps happening at a so-called awards show dedicated to honouring the best of television.

The numerous mistakes - especially of Nthato Mashishi - beamed into viewers' homes on Saturday evening by the producers as part of the 7th Saftas are simply too numerous to mention and was complete and utter failure television. Lets take just one cringe-inducing example:

Celebutant Jen Su in the yellow is talking, but viewers can't hear anything because neither of the vapid red carpet co-host, all smiling and apparently over-awed, can't be bothered or isn't technically focused enough on holding an actual mic immediately, and steadily, in front of her. And it happens multiple times, constantly.

Interrupting interviewees after they were just asked a question, sound here, sound there, sound gone, crazy and uncontrollable big windmill hand and arm movements and wholly uninformed interviewers is what viewers are shown.

"Are we seeing you playing a role, a cameo maybe?" asks Nthato Mashishi after Jen Su mentions she hopes soap Isidingo wins.

"I have actually before in the past. I've done a cameo role in Isidingo and I hope so again maybe again in the future," said Jen Su, nicely answering diplomatically and trying to lessen the obvious embarrassment.

"Okay. Thank you Jen Su. You look amazing."

If you do red carpet interviews - especially live - you need to know you're production information and the background on the TV talent walking the carpet inside out. You're get paid to know everything because you're supposedly better than the viewer watching. You don't ask questions if you don't know the facts.

If you're co-host mess up, you need to step up and smooth it over and cover for the other person's problems  - delicately - because you're a team. You don't just stand there.

You are also able to present to the camera (and the viewer) whilst simultaneously connecting to the person you're interviewing, while you listen to the director or floor manager, and as you keep an eye on the cameraman to adjust your standing angle and floor mark, and look for cues about what to do next, or how long to continue.

What on earth were the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), the Saftas organising committee and the production company thinking by using utterly inappropriate and unprofessional people not versed in red carpet coverage to do it - red carpet coverage which is also live?

People study, learn, qualify and work their way up for years in order to do skilled television presenting work like this - presenting work which is some of the hardest and most technical to pull off successfully.

The 7th Saftas red carpet was once again substandard trash television and an unmitigated disaster.

The black full wall curtain in the back like last year with "emptiness" stretching into the background? Another fail. The organisers probably haven't yet heard of pop-up banner screens with your award logo and that of the sponsors as a backdrop for your red carpet put up not randomly, but exactly behind your red carpet where the TV interviews are taking place - which is how real award shows do it.


ALSO READ: 7th Saftas massive mistake with best writing for a TV drama category creates huge embarrassment and confusion.
ALSO READ: Saftas judging: "No doubt there's room for improvement," says Nodi Murphy, judging chairperson for the 7th Saftas.
ALSO READ: Reeva Steenkamp not included in the "In Memoriam" tribute of the 7th Saftas; segment done properly for the first time ever.
ALSO READ: Nik Rabinowitz bring real funniness for the first time ever as co-host of the 7th South African Film and Television Awards; staccato Connie Ferguson fails.
ALSO READ: Review. Sail Away: The 7th South African Film and Television Awards once again a sinking ceremony; a how-to NOT of disaster coverage.

REVIEW. The Link on SABC1 with Lerato Kganyago on Thursdays at 18:30 is sparkling pink, frothy filler - and surprisingly filling.

The biggest surprise, and may one add a pleasant one at that, is that The Link on SABC1 which started on Thursday at 18:30 with presenter Lerato Kganyago is of such (surprising) quality that the frothy pink entertainment magazine show would actually fit well and belong seamlessly on more upmarket channels such as SABC3 or even M-Net.

Kudos therefore to SABC1 for bringing to air a brand-new show with not just an actual modicum of quality in terms of production values, but a show that will help to lift the channel's early primetime line-up to more respectability within South Africa's TV industry.

The Link produced by BonNgoe Productions is above average well (already a huge plus in the constant and large cestpool of "failure television" on South African TV) in terms of watchability, and Lerato Kganyago, formerly from SowetoTV, comes across as remarkably natural, grounded and really interested in her guests.

Lerato Kganyago is too obviously reading her script from the teleprompter (look more generally up, girl) if you closely follow her eyes, although in time and with experience she'll hopefully improve with this aspect.

Otherwise she's definitely on the right track - calm, friendly (without being overly emotive) and not (and this is a huge positive) sassy. Too many presenters overact and try to be fake-friendly. Lerato Kganyago gets it right because she's just herself.

There is a little bit too much talking with the hands (Nonhle Thema was never a role model to be emulated people), but hopefully some floor manager can eventually help Lerato Kganyago to tone this down a little. Otherwise, she's marvelous, making only small technical mistakes, and feels genuine.

The Link as a pink magazine show, bubbling like a pleasant glass of rose champagne, is filled with froth but doesn't come across as overly carbonated - and even to get that half-right is a difficult thing to achieve.

 The Link shows what SABC3's dismally plastic Flash! could and should have been and that it is indeed possible to make entertainment magazine shows which don't overhype and underdeliver. The Link's DNA is Flash! done right.

The Link feels like a video version of the female-skewed magazine Cleo and now Grazia - light and fluffy, yet topical pop culture packets neatly stacked in easily digestible video snippets. You won't remember them tomorrow, but you're not supposed to.

From micro studio interviews, to event vox pops, local and international gossip with snide commentary, glam event coverage and an obligatory "hunk of the week" insert blatantly pandering to a female viewership by having a man strip to show some muscle for perving female eyes, The Link is a sweet television treat - filler that's filling.

When a show loses its creative force, planned presenter or showrunner - The Link was Bonang Matheba's baby - it often goes pear shaped. Quickly.

Yet despite frantically looking for a replacement presenter as late as last week, The Link is actually interesting and above average television. Now we'll never know: Would The Link have been even better with Bonang Matheba, or is the show actually luckily that she's gone clashing with choirs and is actually good because she's not the presenter?

The Link's biggest drawback is the histrionic Sinazo Yolwa doing the gossip titbits and who appeared in a what resembled a white tennis bra and halfcut black leather bodice. When the lecturer talked about not wailing and flailing with your hands and arms in the middle third of what is a TV screen because sudden quick and constant movements distract the viewer and your presentation, Sinazo Yolwa was asleep or skipped class.

The erratic head turns to non-verbally emphasise what is being said is too distractingly much; the shiny patches on the neck, cheekbones and face because of too much make-up and too little powder under the lights are too distractingly little.

The Link is clearly geared to a young hip female audience, yet Sinazo Yolwa seems to think she'a kindergarten teacher talking down to toddlers who needs to be overly-animatic, instructed to go make a poopey.

Otherwise The Link is sparkling, clean, clear (although there's a bit of a video compression problem but not so technically distracting that ordinary viewers will notice) and fun to watch. It's not the best champagne out there but when you just want a party and a bit of fun, the bubbly doesn't need to be. The Link on SABC1 neatly manages to do the trick.