Addicted to telly realies
In 2015 some shows raised the bar while others divided public opinion
INTERNATIONAL and local reality TV shows invaded Mzansi living rooms in 2015.
If some of the shows’ successes were anything to go by, then there will be no slowing down this year.
Producers and other creatives might have had sleepless nights during the festive period thinking of new ways to entertain viewers this year.
Some of South Africa’s foremost shows in the past year included Our Perfect Wedding, Date My Family, Idols and SA ’ s Got Talent. It was during the broadcast of these shows on many nights that social media networks like Twitter and Facebook would go into overdrive with viewers expressing their opinions.
This proves that reality TV has all the ingredients to make for public discussion, whether heated or mild.
The controversy that always accompany public voting has added to the tension and suspense among loyal fan bases.
Heart-wrenching and unscripted stories that unfold often give viewers opportunities to make a feast of these real-life scenarios.
Our Perfect Wedding, which is aired on Mzansi Magic on Sunday nights, almost reached an iconic status captivating viewers one episode after another. The show reflected a roller coaster of emotions experienced by black South Africans before and after their wedding day.
But the popular show took a knock towards the end of last year when in one of their episodes, a groom boasted about his experiences of dating underage school girls during his life as a taxi driver.
The show’s producers felt the full might of the viewers’ anger with other interested parties calling for the arrest and prosecution of the man, prompting two major sponsors to pull out.
As if that was not enough, the show had to deal with another questionable groom on December 20. Sunday World reported how Wanda
Mhobo was arrested and spent several nights in police holding cells on allegations of fraud and forgery. It is alleged that Mhobo falsified bank deposit slips to his wedding planners.
The episode showed the bride, Neria, and a horde of guests and priests being denied access into the wedding venue after Mhobo had allegedly failed to pay for the venue.
He had also allegedly cooked up a hijacking story and failed to pitch up at his own wedding.
e.tv ’ s SA ’ s Got Talent found a gem in three-year-old DJ Arch Jr from Alexandra township who rocked the stage and earned himself a whopping R500 000 cash prize in the process.
The toddler DJ was temporarily caught up in controversy when Twitter users questioned whether his decks had been plugged in or not. He became the youngest contestant after the emergence of Botlhale Boikanyo who at the age of 11, became the youngest winner.
Given the manner in which people received the news of a toddler becoming a hit, the new season of the show will surely attract thousands of entries as every youngster now believes that it can be done.
Colourful choreographer and socialite Somizi Mhlongo joined Idols
SA Season 11 as the fourth judge and immediately set the scene ablaze. He coined the trending phrase “Whoo shem” and his candid commentary, outrageous outfits and hairdos won him a great following.
The show amassed a record 80 million votes in 2015 and indications are that this year’s will be bigger and better.
Emile and Razia Samson, originally from Cape Town but now residing in Joburg, were crowned the first Power Couple SA.
After weeks of gruelling challenges, heightened emotions and surviving three eliminations, they were voted SA’s ultimate power couple. The show was somewhat a low-key affair.
The Hustle was the first reality show focusing on hip-hop and featured hip-hop heavyweights AKA, Tumi Molekane and Khuli Chana as the judges of the inaugural series.
The show failed to live up to expectations and it remains to be seen if it will be given another chance this year. The tried and tested Big Brother
Mzansi produced a winning couple when Nkanyiso “Ace ” Khumalo and Ntombifuthi “Ntombi” Tshabalala walked away with the R2-million prize money.
The Soweto couple wasted no time and started working on their own reality TV show that reflects their lives and background. Now with the festive season behind us, Mzansi’s couch potatoes can look forward to be entertained by some of these reality shows.
Other interested parties called for the groom to be prosecuted