It’s Okay
Funnymen David Kau and Mark Banks are dishing out the laughs on new chat show It’s Okay We’re Family.
Comedian David Kau is doing serious work in his new talkshow It’s Okay We’re Family (2017- current). It’s a mockumentary-style variety series where he interviews local celebs for a movie that he wants to do. His couch interviews are interrupted though by his fake dad and sister (Mark Banks and Natasha Thabane) and there’s no shortage of fun, explain David and Mark.
How was the show pitched? David: [Laughs] As it is – a sitcom talkshow about David Kau trying to make a movie, inviting the people he needs to make it. But with the small problem of working from home – his adoptive Jewish father and sister are living with him and try to take over his movie. Talkshows are a million miles away from comedy – so why now? David: Almost every talkshow in the world is hosted by a comedian. SA is one of the few where it isn’t because our comedy industry is still very young. Mark: David’s actually been working on it for a long time. He’s very in touch! What’s scarier: a stand-up crowd or TV? Both: TV! [Laughs] Mark: The fact that millions watch it! David: It’s not scary as such, but television makes you a little nervous because you have no idea if people are going to like it, which means weeks of anxiety. With stand-up, you know right away. How much input do you have with scripts? David: I’ve written five movies with one of the show’s writers, so she’s very close to what I would want to write. We try what they write but there is space on the set for improv, which is great. Mark: We were given quite a lot of free reign on what we did and said, which was fantastic. What was filming like – it must’ve been full of laughs and joking around? David: We shot for almost all of May, starting with an episode a day and going through to three episodes a day. Mark: It was tight but we had fun and we got people from a completely different perspectives, comedy wise. And who were your favourite guests? David: I was starstruck with Shaleen Surtie-Richards and I loved people I’ve admired like Hakeem Kae Kasim. Mark: The Goliaths, Riaad Moosa… We have some amazing surprises.