TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. Next week you'll see a unicorn on kykNET - here's why.

It's not impossible, it's not a first, but it is extremely rare and next week you'll see a unicorn on kykNET.

Next week not one but two brand-new locally-produced TV series starts on MultiChoice's Afrikaans channel from M-Net, that co-incidentally are both extremely well-done.

While the debut of an excellent TV show happens from time to time across a range of premium TV channels, it's extremely unusual for not just one but two instantly highly-regarding new series to start at the same time on the same channel.

Lui maar op, Belinda kicks off on Monday, 8 July at 20:00 on kykNET (DStv 144), with Alles Malan a day later, starting on Tuesday, 9 July at 20:00.

Both quality series absolutely get top marks for acting, writing, directing and editing based on preview screenings that happened ahead of their debut next week on kykNET, with both production companies that showed episodes to TV critics and the press for review purposes beforehand.

In another co-incidence both are single-camera shows - the one produced by Homebrew Films, the other by Red Letter Day Pictures. 

Journalists and critics who are generally muted in exhibiting emotion during screenings and are deliberately guarded and shy away from giving instant-feedback immediately after press previews, laughed out loud during the Atlantic Studios filmed Lui maar op, Belinda while the Paarl-set Alles Malan elicited spontaneous applause from the press when the credits rolled.

Lui maar op, Belinda, written by Chris Vorster, stars the iconic Brümilda van Rensburg and Annelisa Weiland, hamming it up with perfect comedic chemistry and who stand out as two of the ensemble cast leads in hilarious typecast-breaking roles, together with newcomer Wian Taljaard as Dirkie.  

The comedy details the antics of a fading famous actress forced to work the till - although she rarely does - inside a general dealer in George, and the comedic coterie of staffers.

Alles Malan, from the husband and wife filmmakers Corné and Renée van Rooyen who also co-wrote the series with Corné as director, is an instantly warm and relatable family drama, frontloaded with a beautiful Growing Pains-type opening theme montage of the various characters and a pitch-perfect theme song by Herman Kleinhans.

It stars Albert Maritz, Elsabe Daneel, Ivan Zimmerman, Nicole Fortuin, Marius Weyers and Sean-Marco Vorster as part of the ensemble cast with newcomers Matheo Olivier and Greteli Fincham as viewers are taken through a year in the extended family's interwoven lives.

Both shows absolutely sparkle and deserve early renewals for second seasons.

Annelisa Weiland leaves SABC2’s 7de Laan and her Hilda character for kykNET’s Suidooster after 19 years.

Annelisa Weiland has exited SABC2’s weekday Afrikaans soap 7de Laan after 19 years switching to the Suidooster weekday soap on kykNET (DStv 144) with her longrunning on-screen character Hilda van Zyl who will be making her last appearance at the end of September.

Annelisa Weiland will appear in Suidooster from November, and from July in the new kykNET Afrikaans comedy series, Lui Maar Op, Belinda which TV critics are already raving about.

Annelisa Weiland joined 7de Laan, produced by Danie Odendaal Productions, in 2000 and earlier this year celebrated her 70th birthday there but decided to quit. According to insiders it was quite a juggling act behind-the-scenes to get the actress to move from 7de Laan to Suidooster and Lui Maar Op, Belinda.  

In a statement 7de Laan confirms Annelisa Weiland’s departure, saying that she “has decided to exit the soapie after 19 years on the small screen, portraying the beloved character of Hilda van Zyl”.

“Hilda, a sweet, caring, albeit a bit naïve, middle aged woman, was first introduced to audiences as a receptionist and has since held many jobs including a cashier at T&T, and has been a waitress and chef at Oppiekoffie amongst others."

"Over the years her character has grown in leaps and bounds, and so has the public’s love and affection for her.”

“Hilda became famous in the Laan for her adventurous cooking and especially her elaborate, over the top wedding cakes. She is also synonymous with the dance of the seven veils, which she performed for her former husband, Oubaas, on special occasions."

"Falling in love and marrying Oubaas van Zyl was one of the biggest defining moments of her life. Although the marriage sadly ended in divorce years later, it remains one of the highlights of Hilda’s life. She embraced her new role with gusto and enjoyed many years of happy companionship.”

Annelisa Weiland in a statement says “Hilda has been a part of my life since 2000 and what a privilege to have been part of the supportive environment that 7de Laan has provided."

"It has been a pleasure to have portrayed quirky little Hilda with her terrible dress sense, the unavoidable serpies and subjecting everyone to her terrible cooking. I have also enjoyed discovering the more serious and sophisticated side of Hilda and I have been fortunate to have interacted with so many interesting characters over the years.”

“Sadly, it is time to bid Hilda farewell and to discover new challenges, opportunities and horizons in my old stamping ground, the Cape where I was born,” says Annelisa Weiland who is also known as the Afrikaans TV voice of Heidi.

“Annelisa remains one of the most talented people I have ever worked with.  I have loved working with her and have always been impressed with her unique talent, commitment and consistency,” says Thandi Ramathesele, 7de Laan’s executive producer.

“Annelisa has without a doubt been a major contributor to 7de Laan’s success over the years and how South African audiences have received, loved and supported her is testament to that. I wish her continued success.”