What Killed ISIDINGO?
November 23, 2009 by Phathu
ISIDINGO was once the epitome of excellence when it comes to writing, acting and directing. It became what The Practice was to the American culture; it was a bloody good damn show. The storylines were gripping and the acting was superb.
While people were still engrossed in the on goings of Horizon Deep, without even presenting viewers with symptoms of a dire illness, Isidingo suffered a massive stroke and it has been battling to rehabilitate itself since. The show which once had an average of over a million viewers is now languishing at the bottom of the ratings. It has become the step child of the 6:30 pm time slot, which is now dominated by the sickening Rhythm City and the even sillier Sewende laan.
Is it time to send Isidingo to a hospice, where it can die in peace? Before the curtain falls, we must ask – what went wrong? What made one of South Africa’s most awards wining soapie lose its bubble?
The heartbeat of a soapie is good writing, and the show provided us with some good stories over the years. From Barker’s St Fernando coup d’état, Cherel killing Duncan and who can forget when Nandipha was accused of killing her abusive husband Abednego, now those were stuff soapies are made of. Those were the days, Isidingo rocked – alas, not anymore.
Isidingo started losing the plot around the end of 2007 when it committed the first soapie offence, it shifted its stories from female driven stories to male driven stories, remember the times Rajesh was in prison for whatever and Barker was in each and every bloody damn episode, yeah – that’s when they started losing it. The strange thing about soapie is that the primary viewers are women and women love drama, but dammit they adore romance and tears. Isidingo was showing more drama with little romance and the majority of their viewers tuned off. There was only so much of Barker evilness any human can stomach. It got worse when Rajesh became a different character over night, another offence that Isidingo made – in soapies characters don’t change, just look at Brooke from Bold – she has been a slut since episode one and as for Generations’ Karabo, I won’t go there – so you see my point, soapie characters don’t change. Isidingo changed them and their storylines started getting doggy by the minute, minor characters like Stella were suddenly shoved down our throats in each scene, strange new actors suddenly popped up, I smelled trouble from day one and the Greig Coetzee, the headwriter then should have seen it coming and dialed 10111.
One of the lousiest stories that the show did was that of Dineo being Barker’s daughter, we have seen some pretty dumb stories on our local soapies, remember when Anne was hypnotizing Busi – now that was a Razzie deserving storyline.
In 2008 a devastating car accident took away the life of Ashley Callie, one of Isidingo’s finest actress and a major character. The tragic event was another devastating blow to the ailing mule that Isidingo had become, scripts were written and insane changes were implemented. The sad part was that Isidingo was already ill when Ashley passed away, so we one can’t say the show started floundering after her death, but it did make matters worse.
Was the departure of Michelle Botes as Cherel the strike that broke the camel’s back? There is a saying in television that, no one is bigger than the show. I don’t believe that the departure of Michelle Botes, who was unarguable the biggest superbitch on SA TV was the reason Isidingo suffered a debilitating diarrhea. If that was the case, Generations would have died a massive stroke years ago. There was a time when South Africa’s biggest soapie suffered a massive cardiac-arrest that saw some of its leading actors leaving in droves – Pamela Nomvete, Akin Omotoso, Faye Peters, but the biggest shock was when Sello Maake-ka-Ncube quit the show amid ramous of disagreements with the producers. The man, who had single handedly popularized dreadlocks and made Jabu Stone even richer was no longer a Moroka, was the show going to survive, many insiders wondered. As you all know, Generations is still the most watched show on SA TV, see – no one is bigger than the show, even Archie. Michelle’s departure did have an impact, much bigger than Gray Hofmeyr would like to admit, but there is a bigger reason the show started floundering - Mitzi Booysens is her name.
Mitzi Booysens was Isidingo’s most prolific headwriter to date. As the show’s headwriter, she oversaw some of the best storylines that were ever created on screen; all the great stories on the show came into being during her reign. The problem started when she left Isidingo to headwrite Binnelanders, a ridiculous local version of Grey’s Anatomy on M-NET. When Mitzi Booysens left Isidingo, Michelle soon followed her and the show’s stories plummeted – a creative recession gripped the entire writing team. A scriptwriter friend who worked with Mitzi on Isidingo said to me, “that woman can tell a story about a cake in a fridge and you will watch and enjoy it”. Under Greig‘s headwriting tenure, the show lost its foam and he has since left the show. Theater great IIsle van Hemert is now headwriting Isidingo, but the show continues to wither like cornfields. From three-some stories to laawd knows what else, the truth is that Isidingo is no longer the same; Rhythm City is also making their comeback a nightmare.
My plea to Gray Hofmeyr, the show’s creator is that he must beg Mitzi Booysens to return and head write Isidingo before the current writers turn the Matabane family into coconuts, who won’t be able to pronounce Thaba’Nchu. The show needs massive changes in terms of stories to survive or the same fate that fell on Backstage might soon descend upon Horizon Deep. (If you were curious: Isidingo’s biggest rival, Rhythm City’s headwriter Neil McCarthy was one of Isidingo’s original co-creator and writer)
Lahvee on Fri, 13th Nov 2009 10:44 am
I used to love Isidingo, hell I used to do weekly recaps on TVSA. Till I got bored and stopped writing..and watching.
The longest most boring storyline was when Barker was in jail, oh my gosh, that completely put me off for good. But it definately died before then, that Jail storyline put the nail on the coffin for me!! hahaha! (dont u just love figures of speech)
I still “try” to catch up, but I struggle shem. Isidee needs serious help, but at this point it may need a miracle.
OOooorrrr maybeeee… they are spiting SABC for not paying them? haai asazi..
Kiki on Fri, 13th Nov 2009 1:51 pm
Soon the headlines will read WHAT KILLED T*SA….kwa kwa kwa,it’s heading the Isidingo Avenue….I am JUST CURIOUS from now on.
Lue on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 3:23 am
I don’t remember being a fan of Isidingo mara from what i just read…isindingo is aspiring to be like backstage!
Ty-e on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 7:59 am
Iyho I enjoyed reading this….I have not been watching Isidingo for the past year now. How the days when Tina Jaxa was Zeb’s makhwapheni, Georgie’s shebeen at Horizon Deep and the mining disaster which made me cry…was the best storyline. They have really lost it now.
GA on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 8:36 am
Mining disaster also made me crnge as did the strike this week….BUT generally,i watch Isidingo when i see some kinda commotion upon channel flipping….as i do with other soapies.
Mara they are doing much better ka di awards mos…..
Balunga on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 10:14 am
I was also never a fan ya Isidingo my heart was broken when Manaka Ranaka left the soapie. Its going down its need a new scriptwriter or they should just replace it with Home affairs as a soapie.
Sponono on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 11:04 am
great writing Phathu.now I’m JUST CURIOUS..I agree with most of your observations, particularly the change in storylines…the Barker-in-jail and the whole Rajesh story and currently the toytoying of shack-dwellers and all that jazz about barker wanting the hotel back. I have since then stoped watching…whereas I used to watch this soapy everyday..
They should ask the ladies that wrtie Society to take over..or beta yet Society should be turned into a soapy..
Cleve on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 11:07 am
Eish nami I never bother myself with this soapie. i try to tell my hubby that Isisdingo is dead but he doesn’t want to except it.
Peter on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 2:20 pm
Ja agree de soapie has lost its touch, bt l stil feel lyk the storyline is far much better dan Rhythm city. Bt der is a rum 4 improvements, it can stil receive a bit of facelift n dat culd attrct a lot of viewers. This is our local soapies lets gve dem our support. Ta
Bobo on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 3:14 pm
Looks like I’m the only one who still loves Isidingo in the house, LOL
Phathu Makwarela on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 4:13 pm
I used to love this show, now its a pain to watch…
Monchooza on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 4:45 pm
i think Rhythm City killed isidingo, because the last time i watch isidongo was before the inception of Rhythm City
Kem Moc on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 8:43 pm
Genaro killed Barker..
Esaia Molimola on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 8:43 pm
I still think compared to what we currently have on the telly Isidingo is still tops!
OPT on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 8:39 am
I only watch the omnibus on Sundays becoz I’ve got nothing better to do. Otherwise, is so dead shame……Stopped watching when Rajesh went to jail, then Barker, boring!!!
Phumla on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 10:07 am
Personaly I think Isindingo lost the plot years ago, when people like Hlomla Dandala; Rapulana Sepemu; tony kgoroge left the soapie. Nowdays you get people like abo Jonny,biaca,maggie, oh and Jessica, my word.
Deza on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 3:08 pm
u r crazy
testing
Kazisongo on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 3:56 pm
If they bring back Tony Kgoroge, I’ll watch every episode
Dimago on Sun, 29th Nov 2009 6:24 am
interesting read. I am on and off Isidingo. I am currently enjoying the Barker, Horizon Deep take over story…but on the other hand am not getting the Faro/Daniel saga…
we’ll see how long they’ll have me tuned in
ntsiki on Mon, 30th Nov 2009 12:50 pm
Yesterday episode? WTF! Vusi? umzabalazo? No they trying too hard!
jay on Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 12:32 am
it still has time to get a more intriguing storyline, to streamline its cast. It was once the top show of sa and even if it does go off air it still has legendary status as one of the best ensemble casts and show to ever air in this country in my opinion.
jay on Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 12:35 am
i remember lahvee from tvsa . you wrote good blogs about the show. if it gets good again maybe you could write again your blogs were good.
Boodah on Thu, 10th Dec 2009 11:57 am
Is it having Zuma’s daughter in the show that makes them write stories that justify Govt’s stance on many things (e.g. service delivery strikes are not what they appear. They are simply driven by a select few with their own agendas)?
Isidingo = propaganda
Phathu Makwarela on Thu, 10th Dec 2009 12:00 pm
kwakwakwa Boodah
Boodah on Thu, 10th Dec 2009 12:12 pm
Ridiculous doesn’t begin to describe the show now.
Top Ten Reasons why Isidingo needs ARVs now then later:
1- No romance. Only Lesedi caught between Vusi and the ada guy.
2- Nandipha. Shouldn’t we start seeing some changes by now in her with her HIV status?
3- Unhealthy and poor Barker. Need I say more?
4- No more black gangsters. Where is Georgie? In Portugal with Manuela writing her poetry?
5- The tenants at Maggie’s house. Farrow(sp), Goth chick, Frank’s son, Lolli, etc – do they serve some purpose in the storyline.
6- Stella. She is the virus sucking killing the blood cells and sucking life out of isidingo.
7- Barker’s former secretary. Isn’t she R150m+ rich? Could’ve sworn that she lives in Alex where Barker picked up Joey.
8- The Matabanes. Just as Phathu said: they are becoming coconuts.
9- The Le Roux. Is this 7de Laan with whiney bitchy kids who are oblivious of all that surrounds them? Well, sure there is the kid with an IQ of 140 who seems like the next super-villain.
10- Rajesh Kumar. Doesn’t he own India’s media & has shares everywhere? Is he living in a flat, about to raise another man’s child with a woman whom he shares no screen chemistry with?
The Mitzi Booysen Interview! | Just Curious on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 12:57 am
[...] over a decade – Egoli, Isidingo and Binnelanders. An article I wrote for Just Curious titled, What killed Isidingo found its way to her desk, courtesy of a writer friend at Generations, who also offered to hook me [...]