Bonang’s new show - not so young or fresh
IT’S yet another strike off the bucket list for TV darling Bonang Matheba.
On Monday this week her TV show Afternoon Express debuted on SABC3 to replace the longrunning and now defunct 3Talk with Noeleen MaholwanaSangqu.
Matheba shares the hosting duties with TV personalities Bonnie Mbuli and Jeannie D. It’s more than a talk show, more lifestyle with different elements.
It’s set up in a loft in Cape Town, and moves around the place – from the lounge where Matheba interviewed musicians Zolani Mahola and Karen Zoid and actress Terry Pheto to Mbuli cooking in the kitchen with a chef, and Jeannie D in another room exercising with soccer star Ryan Botha.
The flow and feel of the show have elements of Expresso, the breakfast show on the same channel. Matheba said they felt the pressure because it’s an important slot.
“To introduce something young, new and fresh is always difficult in a slot Noeleen ruled for years. Change happens.
“More than giving me a job, SABC3 and the production team made a dream come true, one I’ve had since I was 22.”
The pilot episode
showed minimal interaction between the presenters. Terry Pheto was featured in a sit-down interview talking about her Oscar winning moment for film Tsotsi 10 years ago and her role on the American soap Bold and the Beautiful over three years ago.
The pre-recorded show is meant to bring something fresh to afternoon television but it did little different to that presented by Maholwana-Sangqu.
While Maholwana- Sangqu was not exactly a fashion trendsetter, the new presenters were glamorous – Jeannie D wore a short black jumpsuit that showed off her toned legs.
Mbuli was left in the kitchen to man the cooking segment and Jeannie D’s squats seemed to be the obvious reason as to why Maholwana-Sangqu was sacked. The twitteratti was scathing. @i–am–zandym: The interview with Zolani Mahola almost put me to sleep this show resembles expresso too much #afternoonexpress
@ZuluGoddessHun: Why is the #AfternoonExpress prerecordered? We want to interact with guests and hosts.
@NomMkhize1: Not feeling this #AfternoonExpress show on SABC3. Too much of cross between Top Billing, Expresso, Hello Dr, Man Cave & Travel. Formatting :(
@SbuTshigabe: Quickly got bored. Only watched for about 15min.
This is the SABC3 so they’ll make the #AfternoonExpress work no matter how wack it is.
@JessBlack92:#AfternoonExpress I need conversation!!! Not a repeat of Espresso!
@Bandilemthalane: Can we not compare 3Talk and #AfternoonExpress. New show, new hosts, fresh faces, young ladies #KweensSlaying. Change is good. #NewTimes — DDR