REVIEW. The 'old' Nicky Greenwall is back on e.tv in more ways than one with her new movie magazine show, The Big Picture.

The "old" Nicky Greenwall is back on e.tv in terms of style and delivery in her new movie magazine show The Big Picture which comes across as taking a lot of its cues from her erstwhile entertainment magazine show The Showbiz Report which she started in 2005 and ended in 2012.

Viewers will instantly be able to relate to the presentation style, voice and pacing of Nicky Greenwall in her new show which is the familiar Nicky Greenwall as viewers will remember her from The Showbiz Report, but who now - as a mother of two - is building out and focusing a whole half hour show just around movies.

The Big Picture is the next show from Greenwall Productions for e.tv, following The Ten, Behind the Name, The Close-Up and her black backdrop studio talk show, ScreenTime with Nicky Greenwall which will be back for another season on e.tv in 2014.

Splicing in iconic film leaders iconography from the movies' celluloid era as breakers between inserts, together with a throwback film noir opening theme, and clever silent movie end credit title cards, Nicky Greenwall - who now frames herself in black-and white in the show - guides viewers with voice-overs through the week's film news and releases.

Covered in The Big Picture is movie trailers and snippets, red carpet appearances and a countdown of what is showing at the South African box office.

Feeling somewhat forced is the end insert in which Nicky Greenwall takes a look at upcoming films on television by playing those trailers with trivia voice-overs.

In reality this bit only covers movies which will be shown on e.tv, in the way the similar too-quickly-cancelled M-Net Movies Show only covered movies on M-Net's DStv movie channels.

Nicky Greenwall is once again presenter and executive producer, and The Big Picture compares well to what film critic Barry Ronge successfully did with his movie magazine shows Screenplay for SABC3 and Cinemagic for M-Net.

Strangely e.tv started and slotted The Big Picture in on the e.tv schedule to start on Tuesday, although the new show will instantly be taking a break and be gone from the e.tv line-up next Tuesday, 26 November, when it gets pre-empted for soccer coverage.

Why e.tv channel bosses didn't just postpone The Big Picture to start on 3 December isn't clear.

e.tv Winter Upfront 2013: The Close Up with Nicky Greenwall back for a third season from Tuesday 9 July at 21:30.

Nicky Greenwall's celebrity interview show The Close Up on e.tv is set to return to the commercial free-to-air TV channel for a third season from Tuesday 9 July at 21:30.

The new third season of The Close Up is, as TV with Thinus previously reported, one of three TV productions from the busy mother's TV production company, Greenwall Productions.

The Big Picture, a brand-new red-carpet movie preview show will start on e.tv in November and the new 3rd season of the studio celebrity interview half hour Screemtime with Nicky Greenwall is set to return to e.tv in April 2014.

Nicky Greenwall didn't attend e.tv's Winter Upfront 2013 to talk to the press about The Close Up but a statement says "an all-new crop of famous faces [are] ready to share all aspects of their lives on and off camera," in the Greenwall Productions show.

"More celebrities are willing to trust us with their stories," says Nicky Greenwall of the weekly show in which South African celebrities reveala more personal and biographical back story to their lives, shaped and narrated through archive material such as home video and photos, as well as interview footage.

"This is by far our best and biggest season yet," says Nicky Greenwall, who says that "I think we've managed to build a solid reputation now - so more and more celebrities are willing to trust us with their stories."

"The truth often gets much distorted in the pages of gossip columns. This is the celebrities' chance to explain things from their point of view."

South African celebrities profiled in the third season of The Close Up include Siyabonga "Slikour" Metane, Bonang Matheba, Hlomla Dandala, Pam Andrews, Pearl Thusi, Zonke, DJ Ready D, AKA, Loyiso Gola and the model Joelle Kayembe.

"Loyiso Gola is one of those rare individuals who have completely made his own luck," says Nicky Greenwall in the press release. "I think his story will surprise and inspire a lot of people."


The Close Up, season 3
09 July: Pam Andrews
Pam Andrews has gone from one-time-pop-princess to one of the country’s most talked about soap stars. In the first episode of our new season of The Close Up she opens up about her childhood, previous relationships, motherhood and her thoughts on what it means to be famous in a country like South Africa.

16 July: AKA (Kiernan Forbes)
Its taken Kiernan Forbes half of his life to make a living out of his chosen career. We discover if this award-winning rapper is as confident as his music suggests, delving into his early childhood, awkward teens and life working as a sound engineer.

23 July: Khan Morbee
The front-man of South Africa’s biggest selling rock band opens up about what it's really like to be famous in SA. The usually publicity shy Khan Morbee gives viewers a rare insight into his unusual childhood and shares the many trials and tribulations that he and his band, The Parlotones, have experienced along their road to success.

30 July: Ready D
One of the country's most respected hip-hop DJ’s gives us a rare glimpse into life growing up in District 6. From his time as a member of the once-banned hip hop crew Profits Of Da City to his new role as Radio DJ and music mentor – Deon Daniels AKA Ready D has a life story that will both surprise and inspire.

06 August: Joelle Kayembe
Congolese-born model Joelle Kayembe has become one of South Africa’s most in demand faces. But while her image can be spotted in countless TV commercials and magazine spreads – she has also become a target for gossip columnists. How much of her story is fact and how much is fiction?

13 August: The Masina twins
A closer look at the rise to fame and future plans of one of South Afric'’s most recognizable twosomes – Hlelo and Ntando Masina.

03 September: Siyabonga "Slikour" Metane
Siyabonga "Slikour" Metane is nothing if not outspoken. The rapper is known for stirring controversy through his lyrics as both a solo artist and a member and founder of one of SA's biggest selling hip hop acts Skwatta Kamp. He gives insight into his upbringing and how it's shaped the way he sees the world.

10 September: Pearl Thusi
Former beauty queen Pearl Thusi is now a regular on local small screens. When she’s not appearing on reality shows – she’s also an in demand television presenter whose trademark has become her impressive head of hair. But before she became the social butterfly that she is today; this mother of one made headlines for different reasons.

24 September: Loyiso Gola
As the host of SA's most watched political satire show – Loyiso Gola has become a powerful presence on local small screens. In this week's show we explore how Loyiso went from being a petrol pump attendant to become one of the country's most respected comedians.

08 October: Zonke
Zonke Dikana has become one of the most awarded local musicians in the past three years. She opens up about her childhood, her "backing-singer" past and her relationship with her equally famous sister.

15 October: Hlomla Dandala
How did the son of one of South Africa’s most respected ministers and political leaders become embroiled in so many tabloid stories about his relationships? That's just one of the many questions put to actor Hlomla Dandala as he opens up about his past, his present and his future.

29 October: Bonang Matheba
Arguably one of the country’s most photographed faces, Bonang Matheba has risen the ranks of South Africa's social circles to become the most followed SA female celeb on Twitter. How did she forged a career for herself?

12 November: To be confirmed

The Big Picture coming to e.tv from October, as Nicky Greenwall reworks The Showbiz Report to now just focus on movies.

Nicky Greenwall, pregnant with her second child, is reheating her first solo TV venture, the longrunning The Showbiz Report on e.tv in a new guise entitled The Big Picture which will start on e.tv on Monday 7 October at 20:30.

As TV with Thinus reported last month, Nicky Greenwall's celeb studio talker ScreenTime with Nicky Greenwall produced by Greenwall Productions has been renewed for a third season set to start in January 2014 on e.tv. The new season is, as reported, being done from a new studio in Woodstock, Cape Town.

As TV with Thinus reported last month, Nicky Greenwall's celebrity profile show The Close-Up will start its third season on e.tv on 8 July at 20:30 on e.tv, and is also produced by Greenwall Productions.

TV with Thinus broke the news in May 2012 that The Showbiz Report on e.tv was over. e.tv apparently lied in May 2012 when the free-to-air commercial channel said that The Showbiz Report will be back. 

A few months later in August 2012 Nicky Greenwall revealed in an episode of The Close-Up about herself revealed why she decided to end The Showbiz Report.

The Big Picture which will start in October will be a lot like The Showbiz Report but will have its emphasis on movies and the film industry. The Big Picture will profile movie stars, directors and celebrities from the world of films, look at upcoming big screen releases and bring viewers general movie news and updates.

There's been no official announcement from e.tv about The Big Picture.