You have no idea!
At tvplus we watch an absurd amount of television. And while we might not like all of it, we do our best to give every show a fair viewing. But it’s not all work. We do get passionately attached to shows.
Streaming allows us to follow series and binge to our hearts’ delight, and also fit our favourite shows in around all the live TV viewing that we do professionally. It allows us to sit back with a sweet, funny pickme-up after reviewing intense dramas and thrillers on dark topics. And sometimes it just lets us switch off and enjoy for a moment when we’re neckdeep in season 4 of a twisty, detail-driven show with 40 different essential characters.
This issue, here’s what tvplus is watching for fun… and why.
Name: Genevieve Terblanche. Position: senior writer, reluctant human observer.
I am watching: comedy anthropology doccie series How To… With John Wilson (2020), the only season is on Showmax.
Filmmaker John Wilson has an eye for life’s absurdities.
My take on this show: New York-based filmmaker John Wilson travels around talking to strangers about self-help type things – like splitting a cheque – as a starting point to deeper issues, like figuring out what we owe each other socially. It leads to a kind of shared wisdom. As John talks, his camera captures bizarre things happening all around him (like a businessman shaking hands with a dude in a full-body lion suit in the street) and he uses these to illustrate his points in delightfully unexpected ways, making for a show that is beautiful, surreal, absurd, empathetic, exciting and moving. And funny.
My favourite moment so far: episode 6 shows off John’s exquisite skill at tying everything together as he contemplates failure, perfectionism, his relationship with his adorable landlord, and fear during the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’ll knock the air out of you.
Why I am watching it now: it’s just six episodes, you can dive in anywhere, and I’m a sucker for a show with a voiceover track. Familiar faces: not really, but you see some celebrities in the wild, like Kyle MacLachlan (Dr Frost in comedy series Carol’s Second Act, 2019-2020).
Name: Lucia Poolman. Position: editor who is fascinated by how something so tiny (my toddler) has so much energy.
I am watching: medical drama New Amsterdam (2019-now), seasons 1-2 are on Netflix.
My take on this show: Dr Max Goodwin (Ryan Eggold, Tom Keen until 2017 in action series The Blacklist, 2013-now) arrives at New York’s New Amsterdam hospital as new medical director and he fires almost every doctor in the building. He has a plan to overhaul how patients are treated, based on their medical needs rather than their status in society. Every episode is a new adventure as Dr Max somehow makes a mountain out of a molehill, then manages to make it as smooth as glass with his unconventional solutions that somehow work while secretly fighting his own battles.
My favourite moment so far: season 2 episode 1 is an utter heartbreaker – yet it’s also the start of Max’s personal growth. Why I am watching it now: season 2 was broadcast during the early chaos of COVID-19, so I’m catching up now.
Familiar faces: British actresses Freema Agyeman (Larissa in dramedy series The Carrie Diaries, 2013-2014) as Dr Sharpe, Janet Montgomery (Olivia in season 1, 2016 of drama series This Is Us, 2016-now) as Dr Bloom, and Indian actor Anupam Kher (Karim in British period miniseries Mrs Wilson, 2018) as Dr Vijay Kapoor.
Name: Andrea Lewis.
Position: scheduler and cool auntie. Yes, it’s a thing!
I am watching: comedy series The Duchess (2020) on Netflix.
My take on this show: whimsical, feminist, foul-mouthed, bad ass Canadian artist and single mother Katherine (comedian Katherine Ryan), living in London and raising her daughter, wants another child. After looking at options, she decides that she wants her ex Shep (read below), an ex-boyband singer, to be the father so that her children can be related by blood. What comes next is the hilariously shocking events to make it happen. Complicating matters is Kathy’s sort-of new romance. A lot of the jokes are risqué, so be sure to watch when kids are away or not around at all if you lean towards the prudish side. No word yet on a second season. My favourite moment so far: when, in episode 5, because of her situation, Katherine dreams that her life is like post-apocalyptic drama The Handmaid’s Tale (2017-now). Also, any time Katherine and her daughter’s dad get together – their mutual hatred brings out put-downs and insults that are hysterical and well worth remembering. Why I am watching it now: it’s British with a hint of Canadian. And the six short episodes help with my waning attention span. Familiar faces: Rory Keenan (Leo, 2018 in historical drama Versailles, 2015-2018) as Shep.
Name: Ipeleng Rakgantsho. Position: a writer who is fascinated with autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) videos on YouTube. Relaxing or outright cringe? I’m still deciding.
I am watching: comedy series Workin’ Moms (2017-now), all five seasons so far on Netflix.
My take on this show: the Canadian comedy, which follows a group of friends who’re preparing to return to work after their maternity leave, finds humour in the stresses and challenges attached to motherhood. These characters are going through the most! Besides juggling their roles as moms and their careers, there’s a mother who’s struggling to make peace with her “new” body, another is battling post-partum depression, and another is having a hard time emotionally connecting with her newborn, to the point that she abandons her family.
My favourite moment so far: the mommy-and-me classes add a great touch to the storylines as we get to see the mothers unwinding together.
Why I am watching it now: season 5 started airing in Canada this month and I thought that it would be a good idea to watch past episodes.
Familiar faces: Catherine Reitman (Lucy, 2015-2020 in sitcom Black-ish, 2014-now) and her real-life actor hubby Philip Sternberg (Dennis in comedy film Southland Tales, 2006) play power couple Kate and Nathan – they’re the producers too.
Name: Craig Falck. Position: deputy editor who is still hoarding a stash of marshmallow Easter eggs.
I am watching: season 1 of comedy series Mr Mayor (2021now) on DStv Catch Up. Season 2 is coming later this year.
My take on this show: Ted Danson (Michael in fantasy comedy The Good Place, 2016-2020) is Neil Bremer, a bored businessman who uses his influence and business flair to become mayor of Los Angeles in this comedy by Tina Fey (executive producer and character Liz Lemon in 30 Rock, 2006-2013). While Neil seems hapless and far out of his depth from the outside, he is a man with a plan and a team who somehow make their aloof boss’s decisions work out while highlighting real-life issues that include deportation.
My favourite moment so far: episode 2 when Mayor Neil eats a space cake – a brownie laced with cannabis. Watching him eat the burrito at an elementary school is hilarious.
Why I am watching it now: it wasn’t advertised properly so I missed half of the terrestrial broadcast. Season 1 is also only nine episodes, so it’s a quickie. Familiar faces: besides Ted, there are loads. Some are cast members like Holly Hunter
(Sally Yates in 2020 biographical drama The Comey Rule) as vindictive deputy mayor Arpi Meskimen, while others are cameoing as themselves, like Andie MacDowell (Carrie in comedy film Four Weddings And A Funeral, 1994).
Name: Kashief Achmat.
Position: scheduler who’s eaten way too many apples and docs say I can stay away for good.
I am watching: reality cooking show The Big Family Cooking Showdown (2017-now) season 1 on Netflix.
My take on this show: cooking shows are something you can learn from and with The
Big Family Cooking Showdown, you get to see how other families make their favourite meals in their own homes. It’s great seeing the family dynamics and drama when the grandmother decides to just talk to the hosts Zoe Ball (Zoe in musical movie Still Crazy, 1998) and Nadiya Hussain (see below) or a pair of siblings are cracking under the pressure of making risotto for the judges.
My favourite moment so far: watching the families do their final challenge where they must make their favourite family recipe. Sometimes they’re great, sometimes you’re watching a disaster unfold. It’s all great fun and kind of reminds me of reality show The Great British Bake Off (2010-now).
Why I am watching it now: in the build-up to Ramadaan, I wanted to get a few more cooking tips before I started making meals for my family. Familiar faces: the winner of Great British Bake Off season 6 (2015) Nadiya Hussain makes a turn as one of the hosts. I like how she always seems so personal and down to earth when interacting with the families.
Name: Tumi Kunene. Position: senior designer who’s seriously considering mowing her own lawn from now on.
I am watching: new reality show Pastors Wives, Fridays on HONEY (*173) at 17:00.
My take on this show: Some of the wives are sipping saints. My shock when one pulled a half-empty bottle of gin from her handbag and passed the bottle around! One gets the feeling that they’re only on the show to be famous. Except they’re far from the Housewives franchise calibre (2018-now). I shouldn’t judge, right?
My favourite moment so far: when Inno and Phume planned a ladies’ party, complete with male strippers and naughty toys. I couldn’t stop laughing – why are pastors’ “better halves” doing this? They should be hosting bible studies, right?! And then there is mother-offive (and wishes to have more) Nadipha Mlombi, who wants to launch her car wash with bikini-clad ladies, not forgetting that she wants a nose ring and a nude photoshoot too. And the time Inno and her hubby openly spoke about their sex life and her pastor hubby revealed a little too much.
Why I am watching it now:
I blame it on my mom, who’s taken to these… Wives shows. But this one is entertaining. Familiar faces: Innocent “Inno” Sadike (Sthoko on soap Skeem Saam, 2011-now, see p24) and her twin Millicent, presenter One Gospel (2007-now).