REAL A-LISTERS OF JOZI!
MEET THE “CELEB” STARS!
the real jozi a-listers Season 1 Fridays Vuzu AMP 19:00
w hat does it take to get onto the celebrity a-list? four celebs reckon they’ve got being famous aced: since friday 31 october, tv personality and model maps maponyane, actor and comedian trevor gumbi, musician da l.e.s and presenter, producer and comedian tol a$$ mo have played an unlikely quartet in a reality show that doesn’t take itself too seriously. the real jozi a-listers, which they say is an effort to debunk preconceptions about jozi’s celeb elite, is a fly-on-the-wall look at their comical – and often fictionalised – antics. it’s heightened reality, they say, so don’t take everything you see as gospel… it’s like a local version of scripted us reality show real husbands of hollywood (2013-current) with comedian and actor kevin hart and singer robin thicke.
tol a$$ mo (aka mongezi ngcobondwane – 28)
what defines an a-lister? someone who’s progressed far enough in their career to make something of it. they’re at all the events and everything that they put out there goes viral. so why did you become part of the show? i’m not just a comedian, but a tv producer as well and i loved the idea. we researched who these a-listers could be; the diversity between the four of us just worked. what does each guy bring to the show? da l.e.s is an international musician, maps is a successful male model and managed to step out of his dad’s (soccer legend marks maponyane) shadow. trevor is insane, impulsive and a great writer – he’s the headwriter. there’s unity in our diversity. and what’s in store for us? we’ve put legends together both in front of and behind the camera. oh, and maps is hilarious as the shy, prim and proper guy with an answer to everything.
da l.e.s (aka leslie mampe – 29)
what does being an a-lister mean to you? someone who respects themselves, their job in the industry and takes their work seriously – like i do. is that why you joined the project? the concept’s really cool as a parody of what people think of us. the last time i did tv was tropika island of treasure in 2013 and that experience was enough to excite me about doing reality tv again.
what do you think of the other guys? onscreen, maps is humble and respectful, while in character he’s mr know-it-all. trevor’s creative, talented and very funny, both on and offscreen. mo’s family values offscreen are commendable, while he sets the scene for humour no matter what the situation onscreen.
and what about you? i’m an easy-going person who adapts to situations easily. i don’t want to say i’m funny then turn out not to be [laughs].
trevor gumbi – 34
what’s your definition of an a-lister? someone who’s surviving and thriving and making joburg work for them and not working to stay in joburg. they get invited to all the cool parties. now we get a peek into that life… and i’m glad to be a part of it. it’s right up my alley.
what’s the best part about working with the other guys?
i get to live vicariously through maps and l.e.s because i’m married now and can’t date all these girls. mo and i are both comedians, so we get along well.
is there anyone you’d like to have added?
choreographer, dancer and socialite somizi mhlongo. he lives an amazing life if his instagram account is anything to go by…
masego “maps” maponyane – 24
so you’re on the a-list now… it’s actually a term i’m not very fond of. i’m not usually concerned with that kind of stuff.
but how would you define such a person? they lead the pack, make waves and get attention for what they’re doing. they’re at every function with the who’s who of the industry. for me, it’s about the quality of my work as opposed to the fame.
so why did you join the show then? it’s funny and completely different. it’s basically us making fun of ourselves and ridiculing the notion of “celebrity” instead of taking offence to how people see us. for example, i play a self-obsessed ladies’ man.