Throwback Thursday
Season 2 SABC1 (*191) 19:30 Lifestyle
The chemistry between Skhumba Hlophe and Gabisile Tshabalala on comedystyled talkshow Throwback Thursday (2017-current) is perfect for the series, where the co-hosts take a minute to laugh at the week’s funniest online videos and photos. So how does it all come together in one seamless production? Throwback director Wanani Rantloane is also the content producer and makes it sound easy: “Because the show isn’t live, we need to ensure that the episode theme stays relevant, no matter when it airs. We also make sure that each show has a lasting shelf life so that they are relatable and relevant for repeats.”
There’s so much to choose from online. How do you decide what will feature? It has to be funny. We look for local and African content for viewers to connect with. We also have an in-house social media team member who works hand-in-hand with a comedian named Ignatius Khumalo to source relevant footage. It’s a rigorous but fun process. What is your episode preparation like? We have a weekly workshop that includes Skhumba and Gabi to brief everyone about the theme and feel for the episode. This gives us the chance to get other opinions that we may not think about and make the episode better. So what don’t viewers know about your job? It never ends – even when I walk out of the office, I’m constantly thinking about ways to improve the show. What are some of the challenges you go through? There are so many! We have to ensure that we don’t push things too far so that we don’t offend viewers while commenting on their photos and videos. Humour is a tricky and subjective concept, so we have to entertain without hurting anyone’s feelings.