It’s Kinda Funny…
October 30, 2012 by fizicss
Looking at how our little entertainment playhouse, or rather, the SA entertainment industry has worked out throughout the years, it’s well…. kinda funny. Here’s why:
How about we go back to the 90s, millennium… along those lines, you know?! The days were few had DSTV but jonga, your TV was always on! This was the time when you’d never miss the Duku Duku awards just to see Boom Shaka vs Bongo Maffin vs Trompies vs anything else that was showbiz. It actually reminds me of KC’s one-leg pants. Remember?! Probably around the same time when a group of women launched tomatoes at Generations worst villian at that time, Ntsiki Lukhele.
And the Simunye continuity presenters? How cool and hot were they? Talent, I swear. Speaking of talent, Fridays were made better with Jam Alley. Vinolia was just HEAT. The best energy money could ever buy. *sigh*
Still on about energy….YOTV!! YOTV!! YOTV!!! If you’re reading this and you’re younger than 25, chances are, there was a point when you wanted to be a YOTV presenter. Hoarse-voiced Mandisa, Crazy Lu, Sade, Sphiwe all made it look so fun and also fun was definitely Disney Cartoon Cafe. And while the children were asleep, the grown-ups were treated to the best in local series, I’m talking Yizo Yizo, Hlala Kwaba Fileyo, Streaks, Going Up, Velaphi…tempted to mention “Passions”, but it wasn’t local 
. H.E.L.L.O, let’s not forget about open time on MNET at 5 *hides*
Before I get carried away, let’s quickly fast track to 2012.
Local TV is good right? Don’t we postpone partying till after 8 on Fridays to make sure we catch Generations? Hahaha. Well, if only that were a reality. Look, let’s be frank here, without DSTV and Top TV these days, many would basically be screwed.
However on a positive note, I’m excited at how there are good quality local films being released, slowly putting us on the map. Some soapies are also doing well…take a look at Isidingo. Great cast. Interesting storyline. Good production.
We also can’t deny that one of the best local series we’ve ever had in SA, was Intersexions which was just last year. There’s also the likes of Bonang, Jeannie D, Dineo Ranaka that have this presenting thing on lock down.
But besides all of that? How many times do you catch a face on local TV while browsing through and think to yourself, how did this Bob or Jill end up on TV? Or listen to radio and can’t help but think, how drunk was the station manager to hire her…or him?!
Do kids these days look up to YOTV presenters? And oh well…we can’t really blame them if they don’t. As for Generations, you’d watch to look at how silly the extras look in the background or just to reassure your predictions of what’s going to happen next. Then there’s iNkaba….wait, I’ll give that one a chance.
But no seriously, a lack of talent in the industry is definitely visible and as each day goes by, a new celebrity is discovered because s/he knows him who knows her who knows the producer of a certain variety show. Over and above, the awkward few that try to put a couple words together then call it a song and we call them artists.
I guess this is the part where you ask what my point is…
Well, in our past, lies a very strong entertainment industry. Those who were involved gave us an idea of what presenting should be like. An actor was one who’d play around with your emotions. Radio was different…a good different. Passion and respect for their respective crafts was definitely visible. And it gets deeper…they were not paid much.
Few had an idea about branding and endorsements are all about. Opportunities were limited for them. However, they gave us something profound to reminisce about because many were not in it for the fame and popularity, but they just merely love what they did.
Today is different. More money is made in the entertainment industry. You’re appreciated more by being in it. The term “celebrity” flies around loosely. #MustBeNice . So in terms of making a business out of this art, we could say SA has come a long way and it continues to blossom…BUT core talent; gripping stories, exciting TV; the best productions and the true essence of what entertainment is; have all become foreign concepts to our local industry.
Then again, these things happen when we classify ourselves as A list celebrities, when we’ve done naught to shape the face of the industry. *waves at Lupi* 
Kinda funny right?
Sefiso Hlongwane
Monei on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 10:26 am
phew! a breathe of fresh air.
u speak truth. tho i’m not sure if it’s coz i’m older and we livve in a “faster” time that my loyalties to tv aren’t as strong. when i do watch i channel surf galore. or opt for series on laptop.
Jellytot on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 10:41 am
Lovely points being made. great!
Solomon.Mahlangu on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 10:54 am
i loved this piece… an A for you ! even nerds like me can relate
Nqobile on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 10:54 am
Aah this post brings so many good memories of a great era gone by umuntu esabuka ama power rangers, galooby, pule and friends no captain planet for edutainment, rushing home after school to catch dcc, wishing i could be a yotv presenter like Entle my favourite at the time before i switched to Tshepi from Ktv lol, watching Egoli with my family during open time aah those were the days.
Mathaz on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 11:08 am
Now Entle,talk about talent!Where is she vele.Do you remember recess?Those were the days.
Mpho S on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 11:21 am
LOL but its no different with bloggers too mos who feel they’re doing something to contribute to build the industry when uv infact “done naught to shape the face of the industry”, You No different to uLuphi, all feel like you’ve made it and feel the need to be celebrated, worse when bloggers think are experts in the field and know what’s best, right or wrong with your “expert knowledge or advice” who ordained you?? Haaha just saying.
Loulou on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 11:27 am
Verrry nice! *In my time* all I wanted inlife was to win that Reggies Trolley Dash on K-Tv! kwaaaaa
Nqobile on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 11:27 am
@Mathaz last i checked and that was last year, Entle was somewhere in Durban living her life like its golden.
Solomon.Mahlangu on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 11:33 am
Mathaz i recess was too dope… i loved it !
i also wonder what happened to Enhle, u Mandisa i saw her doing some money show on E-tv ebsuku shame i was so hurt.
Solomon.Mahlangu on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 11:35 am
Loulou kwaaaaaa !!! i was really obessed with Reggies yoh.
Toffolux on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 11:41 am
Iyo Solomon< I also saw her doing some stupid game on Etv, the way my heart sank. Speaking of people being on Tv without any talent, im scratching my head as to how that boy who plays Nqaba on Rhythm City got that gig, he grates my tits to no end
Fez on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 11:50 am
Oh Nkosi that boy Toffolux! He cant act for shit!
Makgotso on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 12:15 pm
Those were good old days *in my best Lira’s voice*
Most of the things I watch on TV these is to laugh noqhuba iskhathi nje ’cause ngihlala ngedwa otherwise when I’m home I hardly watch it shem. Anyway since I can’t contribute anything to make it better let me hire movies or kanjani but imali yeTV licence bayifuna la mnxiiimmmm uSABC uyasijwayela noMultichoice naye uyamlandela ama repeat.
Okay I’m looking forward to uSeason 2 we reality show yamaTwin bandla I think iqala this week let me google it.
showville on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 12:57 pm
The only thing I miss about the nineties are the vernac dubbed cartoons. Can’t remember all their names but iiMpuku ezivela kuMars (AKA Biker Mice From Mars) were my favourite. I watched the English version but I still prefer uLimburger speak Xhosa.
Mokgethwa TheChosenOne on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 1:20 pm
Never mind the municipality tendencies of SABC, I take my hat off for VUZU, besides the Nonhle Thema saga they do outstanding work. We should avoid falling in the “Back in my days” trap, remember back then there were no reality shows were we could vote for our own superstar musicians and TV presenters. @Fez ya ne your avatar iyenza ma’ada
Eyh2Jee on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 1:57 pm
Am I the only one who is irritated by the presenter of “Ispani” (Career show on SABC1) …hahaha that guy has Jafta’s (Rhythm City) personality.Hay uyang’dina yazi.
Cinnabon on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 2:45 pm
@Fizicss…Thank you and well done on this piece.
I guess it is kinda funny because that’s why some of us still aspire to be in the entertainment industry, because we know how good it can be. I am a Yeovillite and I was in the midst of the great artistic boom of our entertainment industry…when Yfm started…so I guess that’s why I still have faith in the industry.
Thanks for taking us down memory lane and reminding me why I love this industry.
vumaaa on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 6:04 pm
Eish yha nhe.
I survived almost 3 months without TV kwam. Then i found comfort on Radio.
Yes TV might not be good but ke at least we have something to talk and laugh about.
Lmao poor Lupi….. Fizics sukugezela abantu abadala tu
nontombi on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 6:38 pm
Thank you BS for my password! (((((HUG))))
lejazz on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 7:09 pm
Oh Lord Kideo TV was something out of this planet Jizaaaas!!!! The kids were dishing out awesome fun for their peers and we loved every second of it. SABC2′s pay off line was once “Come alive with us”….Simunye oh we are one..one nation..one station #singing
Jam Alley with “Jamblaster”….oorkant option….the jingle was also damn awesome.
Ezodumo presented by Thuso Motaung et.al was a great traditional music show on TV God who canned it mara a tlisha some low budget roots.
Alikho on Wed, 31st Oct 2012 9:53 pm
Dude, I still remember all those Simunye ads they did with the presenters, Angela Ludik, Claire, Thembi x2 …also YoTVs ads as well…times have changed at that time we had never seen anything like that we did not have access to international TV for comparison so everything was big…but they also spent good money Shem like how could they have 16 Simunye presenters nje…today’s youth is difficult to please and akho mali
samlicious on Thu, 1st Nov 2012 2:41 pm
Ndivele nje ndafunda ndanxapha ndaphela ndiyeka.
Buhlebonga on Thu, 1st Nov 2012 5:17 pm
Great piece. It’s something that a colleague of mine and I were discussing two weeks ago about how the industry is nor about talent anymore, but about who you know, the director’s couch and also how pretty/handsome you are.
I can list more than 10 so called actors and presenters who are in the entertainment industry and given A-list status but don’t really deserve it.
It’s frustrating for us who have to write about these people because we are almost always seen as ‘haters’. South African artists and thespians should start being able to handle criticism. Whether constructive or otherwise.