‘MZANSI COMEDY WEDNESDAYS’: THE HUNT IS ON TO FIND OUT JUST WHO IS THE FUNNIEST IN THE LAND
DESPITE the South African comedy scene steadily growing, there are not many new names popping up. We keep seeing the usual suspects on comedy stages and after a while we know all their material because they keep repeating it.
This could soon be rectified with the introduction of Mzansi Comedy Wednesdays, a local TV show that started last week on Mzansi Magic. There aren’t many local TV shows that promote our comedians. So, in most cases, these comics only have the people who attend their live shows as their loyal fans, a rather sad scenario. If you look at Trevor Noah’s trajectory, there was a time when he had to hit the small clubs and perform to small audiences. Crossing over to other things like radio and TV helped him to build his brand.
Mzansi Comedy Wednesday provides relatively unknown comics the chance to not only perform for the few people in the room, they also get to tap into the millions of viewers across the continent thanks to the show.
Comedian Robby Collins is one of the people you should look out for on this show. You might not know of him, but he has been in the industry for a few years and his best is yet to come. Adding acting to his repertoire, Collins has appeared on Scandal and, more recently, Rockville. While he played a gangster on Scandal, Collins brings his comedic skills to Rockville, showing just how versatile he is.
Mzansi Comedy Wednesdays is the perfect showcase for Collins’s talents. It will explain why, in 2011 and 2012, he was nominated for the Breakthrough Award in the Comic’s Choice Awards. Even Noah agrees, as he hand-picked Collins to be part of his opening set for one of his shows.
Let’s forget Collins for now as he is already on his way up and let’s focus on the other people who will be featured on Mzansi Comedy Wednesdays.
A year from now, one of them will be elevated to another level and might be involved in acting, like Collins, or shooting commercials, like Mpho Popps.
Comedians have room to do more things with their counterparts in the arts industry. A good comedian can MC, would be great on radio and can think on their feet so they generally know how to work an audience on any platform. Who do you think has potential to be bigger on Mzansi Comedy Wednesday?
Mzansi Comedy Wednesdays, Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161), Wednesdays at 8pm.