GOOD LOOKS
ALWAYS known to expect drama whenever David Tlale is involved. After all, that is his modus operandi when it comes to brand David Tlale – an overload of drama.
When I watched his reality competition show, The Intern by David Tlale, where he is on the search for a new assistant designer for his atelier, I wanted to see drama – and did I get it. From the first episode, which aired in July, until now, the show has more than exceeded my expectations.
It’s shot and directed well, the challenges are interesting and force the designers to pull out all the stops, and the host (Nico Panagio) lets the contestants have their shine. And Tlale?
Forget Tim Gunn from Project Runway – Tlale makes sure he provides the dramatics, the WTF and OTT moments on the show.
From making the designers tear up their sketches, to changing his mind about a challenge, making them scramble, the show really is about him and his search for an apprentice.
He is mostly rude to the designers, which sometimes makes it uncomfortable to watch, but they have since grown a thick skin and they give as good as they get in the confessionals.
Earlier this year SABC 1 had a similar competition called Raw Silk, which was hosted by Pearl Modiadie and judged by fashion designer Ole Ledimo, make-up artist Nthato Mashishi, and style maverick Yasmin Furmie. I followed it, expecting Project Runway quality. Sadly, I didn’t get that. And the show’s format was so similar to the Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum hosted show, you could not help but compare the two.
When I heard that SABC 3 would be airing a similar show, I had fears. But I need not have worried. The Intern by David Tlale delivers. It will be interesting to see whether SABC 3 will have a second season. It’s the kind of high brow local lifestyle programming the channel has been looking for. The show is good enough to be shown across multiple territories and also showcases our designers’ talents.
The best part of the show? The challenges, no doubt. While Raw Silk showed the contestants fighting among each other, there’s no time for that on The Intern and that’s because Tlale makes sure no time is wasted on petty squabbles. The challenges push the designers and take them out of their comfort zones. They have done everything from underwear, wedding dresses for Tlale’s celebrity clients and flower garments; to designing stationery, dresses using paper and a five-piece collection that was