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REALITY BITES Issue 5 | November 2020
AS TV’S TOP DRAMA QUEENS BOW OUT
Inside... A life lived on camera
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SA’s hottest reality show stars
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Our favourites for the ‘Idols SA’ crown
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Reality TV: Jaw-dropping & bizarre
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Fast cars & furious moves
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Shows to tantalize the taste buds
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Travel shows to stoke the wanderlust
BABES WODUMO AND MAMPINTSHA Babes Wodumo and Mampintsha (real name Mandla Maphumulo) have bagged their own reality show. Known as one of the country’s most controversial couples, more so after allegations of Mampintsha abusing his long-time partner, the couple recently got engaged live on air on Gagasi FM. In February next year, they will be seen in Uthando Lodumo, on Showmax. Shortly after he popped the question, she took to social media to share the news. “Within a blink of an eye and now I’m left speechless. The journey wasn’t easy but we stuck together through thick and thin. Ngiyabonga Mashimane.” Nomsa Philiso, MultiChoice Channel Director - Local Entertainment, said: “Babes and Mampintsha’s relationship has not been a fairy tale romance. They’ve had serious issues as a couple, yet have chosen to remain together. The show focuses on how they have overcome their challenges, working through them with their families.”
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Taking the world by storm
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The reality show curse suffered by celebrity couples Spotlight on the best and worst presenters
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Lifestyles of the rich and famous
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Set yourself up with these hotties
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Biaatches we love to hate
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Rupaul Andre Charles 31
CONTACT US PUBLISHER | Vasantha Angamuthu vasantha@africannewsagency.com EDITOR | Debashine Thangevelo debashine.thangevelo@inl.co.za EXECUTIVE LIFESTYLE EDITOR | Nelandri Narianan nelandri.narianan@inl.co.za PRODUCTION | Renata Ford renata.ford@inl.co.za BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT | Keshni Odayan keshni.odayan@inl.co.za SALES Charl Reineke | charl@africannewsagency.com Kyle Villet | kyle.villet@africannewsagency.com GENERAL ENQUIRIES | info@anapublishing.com
FROM THE EDITOR THIS month’s edition of IOL Television looks at one of the most fascinating and addictive genres: reality TV. Introduced in the early 1990s, it achieved success only a decade later with offerings like Survivor, Idols and Big Brother. And when Ryan Seacrest gave viewers Keeping up with Kardashians, he created a monster in us all. We couldn’t stop watching. Love them or loathe them, the Kardashians are one of history’s most iconic reality TV family – and the wealthiest. As their legacy draws to an end with season 20, which airs next year, we look at 20 of their unforgettable moments. The Real Housewives franchise, with its catty drama and backstabbing, continues to reel in viewers. Let’s not forget those dating shows where emotions – and hormones – run wild in trying to find “the one”. BBC Brit’s Top Gear, which is one of the longest-running lifestyle motoring shows, is back for a 29th season, and the adventures are crazier. The raw emotions, unfiltered comments and high drama provided by unscripted storytelling is clearly a winner with viewers. This edition gives Mzansi plenty to watch and talk (or tweet) about. Happy viewing!
Debashine
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2011. I mean, this was the stuff that fairytales are made of. No expense was spared. She walked down the aisle in a custom-designed strapless Vera Wang ball gown. Aside from a guest list including the who’s who in the industry, this wedding, which featured as a two-part episode in the sixth season of the reality show, wasn’t without drama as Khloé was disinvited after a heated argument with Kim. Not long after the newly-weds became a laughing stock when they decided to end their marriage – after 72 days. Rob suffered from a serious failure to launch. While his sisters were growing in their respective careers, he hopped from one bad business idea to the next. His studies also fell by the wayside. The only modicum of success he showed was when he was a contestant in season 13 of Dancing with the Stars in 2011. He was paired with two-time champion Cheryl Burke. He got to second place in the competition.
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A life lived on camera
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Celebrated as reality TV royalty, their reign ends with season 20 of ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’, on E! Entertainment. We revisit some of their most memorable moments on the show, writes DEBASHINE THANGEVELO
T’S been a journey and then some with the Kardashians. It was on October 14, 2007, when Ryan Seacrest introduced us to the blended KardashianJenner family with Keeping up with the Kardashians on E! Entertainment. Season one centred on Kris and Bruce Jenner, sisters Kim, Khloé and Kourtney, their brother, Rob, half-siblings, Kendall and Kylie as well as their respective romantic partners.
Eight episodes later, viewers were not just hooked, they were hungry for more. And so the cameras became a part of the Kardashian clan’s daily life. Fans and detractors were drawn to the scandals, breakups, hookups, personal struggles, emotional meltdowns and cat fights. Below are 20 milestone moments.
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Kim tied the knot with NBA player, Kris Humphries, on August 20,
Kim started dating rapper and long-time best friend, Kanye West, in 2012 when she was, technically, still married as her divorce wasn’t finalised. It was on June 3, 2013, that her divorce was finalised. On her 33rd birthday, Kanye popped the question. That was a big deal. He flew the entire family to San Francisco, where he set up a birthday surprise for Kim at AT&T Park. The couple tied the knot on May 24, 2014 in Italy. This time, her wedding gown was designed
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by Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy. This big event aired in season 9.
Remember the movie, You, Me and Dupree. Well, Khloé had to deal with such a situation when Rob moved back in with her and Lamar in season 7. While her hubby was chilled about it, she was not. In fact, she took great umbrage with him using her garage as a storage unit. They had several fights over him being utterly rude to her. Eventually, Lamar had to step in as the man of the house.
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RIES KIM AND KRIS HUMPH
KIM AND KANYE
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7 In season 10, Kim and Khloé went to Armenia to learn more about their ancestors. And in 2019, Kim returned with her family. She was baptised, along with three of her four children, at Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Vagharshapat, which is one of the oldest churches in the world. It was built in 301 AD.
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While the Kardashians have their fair share of fans and trolls, Kendall found herself the target of a stalker but wasn’t sure whether or not to prosecute the unstable fan. This was at the start of season 13. In the same season, Kendall, who was named the highest-paid model in the world by Forbes in 2017, was also worried about the impact of a bad review from Vogue on her modelling career. Interestingly, it wasn’t her last run-in with a stalker.
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Kim, Khloé and Kourtney
In 2016, Kim was robbed at gunpoint at Hôtel de Pourtalès. She was attending Paris Fashion Week. In the days leading up to the event, she was reportedly showing off her valuables. She was relieved of jewellery valued at millions of dollars. The trauma of the event led to the star going off all all social media for three months. The aftermath was documented in season 13.
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Season 15 of Keeping up with the Kardashians was one of the most jaw-dropping ones. Aside from Kris and Bruce divorcing, rumours of his transition to a female were confirmed. Towards the end of the season, Bruce came out as a trans woman in a 20/20 interview with Diane Sawyer in April 2015. Photographed by Annie Leibovitz, she made the July 2015 cover of Vanity Fair. The headline read: “Call me Caitlyn”. Prior to her 20/20 interview, a two-part special titled Keeping Up with the Kardashians: About Bruce was made. The tribe turned on her, which explains why she’s no longer a part of the show.
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Talk about unlucky in love. Khloé
THE SPIN-OFF SHOWS Caitlyn Jenner
Kendall and kylie Jenner
Kourtney and Kim Take Miami (2009) Kourtney and Kim Take New York (2011) Khloé & Lamar (2011) Kourtney and Khloé Take The Hamptons (2014) Dash Dolls (2015) Rob & Chyna (2016) Life of Kylie (2017) Flip It Like Disick (2019)
8 has the tears, angry outbursts and revenge body to prove it. She’s just never been able to find “the one”. A month after meeting basketball player, Lamar Odom, at a party, they tied the knot. But Odom’s substance abuse issues and infidelity eventually led to her filing for a divorce on December 13, 2013. Not long after filing for her divorce, she started an on-again, offagain relationship with French Montana, eventually parting ways in December 2014. Her next rebound relationship was with basketball player, James Harden. It lasted eight months. It isn’t very clear when she started to date Tristan Thompson, another basketball player (spot the trend). And it looked like she was finally happy, having given birth to their daughter, True Thompson, on April 12, 2018. Sadly, last February, she found out that he cheated on her with Kylie’s best friend, Jordyn Woods. Of all the members in the Kardashian clan, Rob is probably the most unsuccessful. He’s what you would call the black sheep of the family. He’s had several failed relationships, the first being with actress Adrienne Bailon. They dated from 2007 to 2009. In October 2012, he had a short fling with Rita Ora, which ended in December. And then in January 2016, he started dating model Blac Chyna. This is where things got somewhat murky as she used to date rapper Tyga. They separated in 2014 when Tyga started dating Kylie. So there was understandable beef between the Kardashian sisters and Chyna. Let’s just say, plenty of stuff went down in season 12. But they reached
Scott, who is also the father of her children, has been part of the ongoing drama on the show. Last year, she released Poosh, a lifestyle website.
Scott disick with Kourtney and their kids
a sort of understanding when Chyna got pregnant with Rob’s daughter. Shortly after he also proposed to her. Dream was born in November 2016. They even landed their own reality spinoff show, Rob and Chyna. However, it was a short-lived as their tumultuous relationship.
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As far as success go, Kylie set a 11 stories benchmark with hers. The model, socialite and businesswoman – along with sister Kendall – was named most influential teen by Time Magazine in 2014 and 2015. This isn’t surprising, though. At age 14, along with Kendall, they partnered with PacSun and launched their own clothing line. Kylie then launched her own cosmetics line, Kylie Cosmetics. She’s also partnered with her sisters on the cosmetics line. Let’s not forget Kylie Skin, which launched last year. It was a great year for her, clearly, as, according to Forbes, her net worth made her the youngest self-made billionaire
at just 21. After her public split from 12 Tyga, Kylie started dating Travis Scott. They met at Coachella, where he was performing on tour. A month later, suspicions of the two being a couple were confirmed when they were spotted at the Met Gala. What really threw fans and the media for a loop was how well Kylie hid her pregnancy. In fact, it was on February 4, 2018, when the couple announced their daughter, Stormi, was born at the beginning of the month. Even though Kylie and 13 Travis split up, when Covid-19 hit, they were found to be. While she claims they were just coparenting, perhaps there is more to this. We will probably have to wait until season 20 to find out. The first-born in the 14 family, Kourtney’s rocky relationship with bad boy
Kris is the mother of She’s been 15 momagers. managing her daughters’ careers with military precision and care. She is the glue that holds the clan together. There’s no two ways about it. But she’s had her fair share of controversies. In season three, she was upset when Khloé got a DNA test to confirm that Kris is her biological mother. Of course, that was not the only question mark. Fame doesn’t mean 16 freedom to do whatever. That was the lesson Kendall and Kylie learnt when they launched a vintage Rock vs Rap T-Shirt line, where they put their superimposed faces over images of icons like The Notorious BIG, Tupac Shakur, Metallica, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Ozzy Osbourne, and Led Zeppelin, in 2017. This didn’t go down well at all. They got serious backlash from fans and celebrities alike. Sharon Osbourne was among those seriously displeased with the line. The sisters eventually apologised and pulled the shirts from retail. Scott is a rich playboy. He has been a part 17 of the lives of the Kardashians since their early days of fame. However, his relationships with family members have not always been easygoing. He’s had his fair share of runins with Kris, Khloé and Kim. But he’s not a bad boy in every sense of the word, despite his issues with substance abuse. He’s a great father.
He’s also tried to be there for Rob. And he shares a pretty close bond with Khloé, too. Where he did seriously rock the boat, though, was in season 15 when he introduced Sofia Richie to the family without Kourtney’s consent. Ouch!
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Bruce, Kris moved on with Corey Gamble after meeting in Ibiza at Tisci’s 40th birthday party. However, it wasn’t easy for him to be openly accepted into the clan. In fact, in season 16, Khloé didn’t trust Corey while on a family trip to Palm Springs. Aside from this making things pretty awkward, it left Kris terribly hurt.
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2020 for everyone, the Kardashians were not spared either. After concerns about contracting the virus, Khloé tested positive in season 19 of the series. South Africans are currently watching this season. What was
Kris and Bruce Jenner
harder for her was the fact that she couldn’t be present for the birth of her bestie Malika’s firstborn. The talk of the current season 19 has been around sisters, Kendall 20 feuding and Kylie. Even though Kris tried to ease the tension by planning a trip to Palm Springs, these two couldn’t seem to put their differences aside. What was the fight about? Apparently, the two sisters really got into it after Kylie refused to drop Kendall off after a night out in Palm Springs. But there were underlying issues between the two, some accredited it to tardiness and others to a clash over an outfit. Sadly, Corey found himself trapped in the middle of it, trying to pry these two off each other. Of course, this isn’t the first time, things got physical with the sisters. Remember the altercation between Kourtney and Kim last season?
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SA’s hottest reality show stars KEDIBONE MODISE
Khanyi Mbau Her show, Mbau Reloaded, Always Rise, gives viewers a glimpse into the life of Mzansi’s queen of entertainment and her day-to-daylife. Viewers are also introduced to Mbau’s 13-year-old daughter, Khanukani aka Cannes. In the show, Mbau addresses issues about her choices in men, skin lightening and her relationship with her daughter. “I am hoping that they (viewers) leave after each episode with a better understanding of how strong, smart, kind, beautiful and hood I really am. I want viewers to see what is beyond the perceived ‘Barbie doll’, and get to see the girl who grew up in Mofolo, Soweto, and her rise to being ‘Mbau Reloaded’,” she said. Mbau Reloaded, Always Rise airs Saturdays on BET Africa (DStv 129) at 7.30pm.
Kelly Khumalo “The woman that you see in front of you is self-made,” says Kelly Khumalo in the opening of her Showmax original reality show, Life With Kelly Khumalo. One of Mzansi’s most talked-about celebrities, Khumalo gives viewers a front-row seat to her life as a single mother of two as she juggles that with a hot music career. Currently streaming on Showmax.
Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung Dinner At Somizi’s sees Somizi MhlongoMotaung open his home for candid conversations with industry friends while he showcases his culinary skills. Guests include Rami Chuene, Siya Kolisi, Dr Rebecca Malope, Molemo ‘Jub Jub’ Maarohanye and DJ Zinhle. The show was recently hit by a scandal when Mhlongo-Motaung and his team were accused of intellectual property theft. The Idols SA judge insisted he stole no one’s show. “I was inspired by a whole lot of shows,“ said Mhlongo-Motaung. Dinner at Somizi’s is currently streaming on Showmax.
Bonang Matheba The two-part reality show, A Very Bonang Year, gave viewers a glimpse into Bonang Matheba’s daily life and global adventures. From Prague to London, Manchester, New York, Los Angeles, and back to South Africa, this has been Queen B’s most powerful year. In New York, Matheba attended a screening with Angelina Jolie and a red carpet event with Trevor Noah. In LA, she was a guest of Oscar-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou, at a gala for environmental organisation, Wild Aid. Bonang also became the first African talent to pick up the E! Entertainment “African Influencer of the Year” Award, and then go apartment hunting in New York.
Faith Nketsi aka Queen Twerk After a successful first season, where Faith Nketsi made history by becoming the first female celebrity to have her own reality show on MTV Africa, she returned with season two of Have Faith. The show offers a close-up encounter with one of South Africa’s most controversial and most talked-about personalities. The socialite rose to fame as the lead dancer of the all-girl dance group “Pro-Twerkers”, building a massive following on social media. Season 2 of Have Faith airs on MTV (DStv channel 130) on Monday at 9.30pm.
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Our favourites for the ‘Idols SA’ crown KEDIBONE MODISE
Songbirds Zama, Ntokozo and ZanoThando have all proven to be performers of note
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1. ZAMA Her journey started off very shakily as she was seen as very shy. But she proved, with her vocals, to be a strong contender. Not only has she garnered a strong support base, she has also held her own – singing different genres week by week. Showcasing her strong vocals has made her a fan favourite – which is a plus in a competition such as this. 2. NTOKOZO She is a strong contender. She has proven to be very consistent and her strong vocals remind me of singer and songstress Kelly Khumalo. Her technical training (as a member of the Tshwane gospel choir) really shines through as she performs effortlessly. 3. ZANOTHANDO His journey left viewers filled with admiration. Of course, there’s no denying his versatility as a singer, too. If anything, he’s definite Idol material and, going by his performances to date, he could easily walk off with the title this year. Aside from that mesmerising voice, he is a fashionista of note, which won’t hurt him when it comes down to the wire with the votes.
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Reality TV: Jaw-dropping & Bizarre KEDIBONE MODISE
IZANGOMA ZODUMO This is one of the most controversial shows on Mzansi Magic to date. It follows the lives of two traditional healers. After they initially ignored their calling, the pair find themselves having to juggle their newfound gifts, larger-than-life social lives, relationships and professional careers. The show invites viewers to experience the day-to-day lives of Prudence “Ngwe” Magagula and Makgotso “Gogo Maweni” Makopo. Aside from shining
a spotlight on traditional healing, it explores the complex demands of training practices, family dynamics, love and friendships. The show recently caused a stir on Twitter with many South Africans, including local poet Ntsiki Mazwai, calling for it to be canned. Mazwai expressed her rage and disappointment at the show’s producers for creating content that “discriminates” and undermines African tradition and traditional healing. Izangoma Zodumo is on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161), every Wednesday at 8pm.
YOU PROMISED TO MARRY ME
opportunity to come face to face with the men who “promised to marry” them. The confrontation is done in a rather bizarre way: the woman arrives with her entourage, fully kitted out for her wedding day. Catch You Promised To Marry Me on Moja Love (DStv channel 157), every Sunday at 9.30pm.
INGANE YAM
get a sense of belonging and identity. The reasons behind this painful decision and the reactions by their family certainly make for interesting viewing. The impact on the children, who are kept a secret, is also addressed.
After the success of his debut show Uyajola 9/9, Molemo ‘Jub Jub’ Maarohanye embarks on another journey to fix South Africa, a call-out to people who were promised marriage but it never happened. The women who were promised marriage but didn’t get to the alter are given the
Mzansi Magic’s Ingane Yam got tongues wagging since it first aired in October. The show, is hosted by Real Housewives of Johannesburg star Lethabo “Lejoy” Mathatho. It includes heartbreaking tales of parents who, after years of procrastination, introduce their children to their spouses and families to help the children
Don’t miss Ingane Yami on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) every Tuesday at 8pm.
DEBASHINE THANGEVELO
DR PIMPLE POPPER The TLC series with dermatologist Dr Sandra Lee is a hit. As the title suggests, she treats patients with unusual cases of growths on their face or body. Do note, some of the cases are not for sensitive viewers. Season 1 and 2 are on the channel. For those who have a morbid fascination with bizarre health conditions or plastic surgeries gone wrong, check out My Feet are Killing Me: First Steps on TLC and Botched on E! Entertainment.
BANGED UP ABROAD
The series will leave you speechless. When people travel to beautiful destinations, the last thing they imagine would happen to them is getting arrested or being kidnapped or captured. Some Hollywood movies have included these true-life stories. A perfect example is Argo. Be sure to tune in to the story of company director Robert Pringle, who is sentenced to seven years in a South American lock-up after being pressured by his dealer to smuggle drugs. Then there is Vivian Carrasquillo, whose attempt to raise funds for gastric bypass surgery by becoming a drug mule backfires. Season 6 is on National Geographic (DStv channel 181).
NAKED AND AFRAID: XL
A spin-off of Naked and Afraid, the series takes the survivor hook to the extreme. The show follows a group of people who brave the wilderness for 40 days. Should any cast member feel like they can no longer go on, they are allowed to withdraw from the competition. Each survivalist is on their own. Season 6 is on Discovery Channel (DStv channel 121).
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Fast cars & furious moves
‘Top Gear’, one of the longest-running and most popular shows for petrolheads, is back for a 29th season. DEBASHINE THANGEVELO got Paddy McGuinness, Chris Harris and Freddie Flintoff to go full throttle on this season’s highlights. THERE was a time when Top Gear fans were concerned about the future of the show after Jeremy Clarkson’s forced exit, which was followed by the resignation of his co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May. But the show did go on with Chris Harris, Sabine Schmitz (2016-2020), Chris Evans (2016), Rory Reid (2016-2019), Matt LeBlanc (2016-2019) and Eddie
Jordan (2016-2018) stepping behind the wheel, so to speak. It was a tricky juggling act but I believe the Top Gear creatives have finally got the character dynamics down to an art form with Chris joined by Paddy McGuinness and Freddie Flintoff. What’s great about the show is that it is immensely entertaining as the boys try to one-up each other. They love
pulling a fast one, too, but it’s done in the name of good fun. This season proved a little trickier thanks to the unforeseen arrival of Covid-19. As such, they filmed at a drive-in studio on the Top Gear test track. One of the talking points this season is the Mr Nippy episode where Paddy rescues a traditional ice cream van, which is dying out. He decided to use an electric-powered ice cream
van for the 21st century. A chuffed Paddy added: “When you see it in the flesh, you think ‘Oh my God, the amount of engineering that goes into something like that…” Chris laughed: “It is something to behold.” With travel restrictions in place, Chris managed to sneak into Italy. He said: “I was lucky enough to drive the Ferrari SF90 and that involved going to Italy. I was a bit nervous about getting on to a plane. Turned out Italy was beautiful and sunny and the food was amazing.” Other stand-out moments for Chris include getting to drive
one of his favourite cars of all time – the Audi RS6 estate – as well as GTs on big open Welsh roads. “It reminded me we don’t have to go around the world looking for great driving roads. We’ve got many here in the UK,” Chris added. Whatever the stunt, Freddy throws himself into it on the show. “So far, there is nothing that I have said ‘no’ to but that might change. From doing the bungee in the last series, it seems the challenge is getting more and more bonkers.” As for Freddy’s highlights, he shared: “I enjoyed driving the Jaguar XJ220, a 30-year-
old supercar, trying to get it to 200mph on a runway. There’s a place called Alton Towers in Stratford-upon-Avon. We got the chance to take electric cars there and race around because everything was closed.” Yes, there are restrictions this season. But the range of rides from exotic supercars, written-off rides to Honda’s new electric car and its rivals, combined by the characterdriven personalities of the presenters, makes it a not-tobe-missed season. Top Gear season 29 airs on BBC Brit (DStv channel 120) on Thursdays at 8pm.
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Travel shows to stoke the wanderlust CLINTON MOODLEY
Global travel restrictions don’t mean you can’t explore destinations. Thanks to streaming platforms, a great escape awaits...
Shows to tantalize the taste buds BUHLE MBONAMBI
Great Brtish Bake-off SO I’LL just be honest and say I miss Mary Berry, Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins. That has affected my enjoyment of the current iteration of the show with original judge, Paul Hollywood, with Prue Leith, Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig. (Matt Lucas has replaced has Sandi Toksvig in the current season of the show). But the hosts and judges are just that - the furniture. The true stars of the show are the amateur bakers who show off their skills, while also trying to beat their competition. It’s probably the nicest food competition show and the contestants have a great rapport with each other. It’s no surprise that we we get obsessed with many of those who have stood out over the years and have gone on to be famous foodies and influencers.
MasterChef It must be tough for the Brits to introduce a show to the world and then have it eclipsed by the Australians. But that’s what happened. MasterChef Australia changed the way food competition shows were produced and also showcased just how many brilliant home cooks there are in Australia. The show being aired in various territories led to more than 200 countries.
Come Dine With Me I am probably one of the few people who can’t finish an episode of ‘ Come Dine with Me’, unless the cooking is brilliant and the contestants are interesting and fair. But it’s rarely the case now, is it? But that’s just me nitpicking. The show is a resounding success because it pits ordinary people, from different walks of life who happen to live in the same city, against one another.
Trippin’ with Skhumba
Down to Earth with Zac Efron
IF YOU want to laugh out loud while exploring vibrant South Africa, Trippin’ with Skhumba is the show for you. Skhumba Hlophe and six of his comedian friends go back to their roots, travelling to their home towns. Among the stops on their road trip are Kempton Park and Empangeni. Watch the first season on Showmax.
High School Musical fans will appreciate this show, especially if they swooned or idolised over Zac Efron’s character, Troy Bolton. The Netflix series takes Efron across the world as he “finds some new perspectives on old problems”. Efron and wellness expert Darin Olien, are “on a mission to explore sustainable ways to live”.
Dark Tourist Dark Tourist isn’t for the faint of heart but delves into a world of tourism that would keep you at the edge of your seats. Journalist David Farrie describes dark tourism as a “global phenomenon where people choose to vacation in places associated with death and destruction”. He travels to Chernobyl and Fukushima.
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Melbourne
Taking the world by storm
The Real Housewives of Melbourne has five seasons under the belt and has been nominated for, Best Reality Television Series (season 2) at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards. Season five, which is set to air soon, will star Cherry Dipietrantonio, Kyla Kirkpatrick, Anjali Rao, Gina Liano, Janet Roach and Lydia Schiavello.
LIAM KARABO JOYCE
Like a cult (the good kind), The Real Housewives franchise has taken over the world, literally. If you have not heard of at least one franchise, I respectfully ask: What rock have you been living under? Our list is of the most successful ones you have to watch
Atlanta
Cheshire
Atlanta is the highest rating franchise with the highest-paid cast. With its 13th season set to premiere next month, some of its cast members, such as former Miss USA Kenya Moore, take home a whopping $2 million (about R31m) a season. The drama behind the scenes is just as good as it is in front of the camera, with the ladies always getting into arguments on social media and, of course, making spicy comments about one another during press tours. Season 13 will document the lives of Kandi Burruss, Cynthia Bailey, Kenya Moore, Porsha Williams and Drew Sidora.
The women of Cheshire are nothing like the image of poise and sophistication we get from the British royal family. Cheshire is a county in northwest England, known for its villages of half-timber and red sandstone buildings and for its Industrial Revolution heritage. Twelve seasons later and viewers know Cheshire is also known for its rich elite, plastic surgery, shopping sprees and high tea.
Beverly Hills Cartier diamonds, gulf stream jets, private shopping sprees and bizarre catfights are what comes to mind when thinking about the Beverly Hills housewives. Season 11 will see the first Asian-America wife, Crystal Kung Minkoff, join, Beauvais, Erika Girardi, Dorit Kemsley, Kyle Richards, Lisa Rinna and Sutton Stracke.
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The reality show curse suffered by celebrity couples ALYSSIA BIRJALAL
Celebrity couples love flashing their romance on camera. As such, some of them bagged their own reality TV shows. Sadly, as entertaining as these shows were, it was also the death knell for their relationship Khloé & Lamar: Keeping Up with the Kardashians star Khloé Kardashian was never the popular sister until she met NBA player Lamar Odom. After a month, they married. Their whirlwind love turned into a reality TV show, Khloé & Lamar, which ran for two seasons. The reality show showed a seemingly genuine side of the two. Unfortunately for Khloé, Lamar’s substance abuse and run-ins with the law got the better of him and their relationship ended in divorce. Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica: After three years of dating, America’s sweatheart couple Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson decided to marry in 2002. A year later their reality show hit MTV and they shared what it’s like to be a young married pop star couple. It had three successful seasons until 2005 when the couple split. They officially divorced in 2006. Lachey is still part of reality TV, this time with is current wife, Vanessa Lachey, by his side. The two co-host Netflix’s Love Is Blind. Rob & Chyna: Former couple Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna were once the stars of their own hit reality TV show, Rob & Chyna. The series documented their engagement, Rob’s personal health and fitness journey and, most importantly, their journey to becoming parents to their daughter, Dream Renée. This was Rob’s first highprofile relationship since Rita Ora in 2012. Unsurprisingly, given their tumultuous relationship, the show ended along with their relationship.
Tamar & Vince: The youngest Braxton sister had no problem showcasing her life with husband Vince Herbert in their reality show. The show ran for five seasons since 2012, documenting Tamar’s struggle with her music career, the birth of their only boy child, Logan, and Vince’s health issues. Viewers were hooked on the show, especially with the way Tamar and Vince played off of each other’s personalities. Sadly, the couple divorced in 2017, after nine years, of marriage and ahead of their season five premiere. Tamar said they were “living a lie” during their “broken” relationship. Total Bellas: While the show focused on sisters, Brie and Nikki Bella, a major part of the show was with heart-throb and ex WWE superstar, John Cena. Nikki and John dated for six years and shared every bit of their lives with viewers. They eventually split in 2018 after wanting “different” things in life. Nikki said she did not want John to be uncomfortable with starting a family and decided to end things. It took a long time before Nikki dated again, but now she’s a mom after giving birth to a child she shares with dancer Artem Chigvintsev. The two met on Dancing with the Stars. John has also moved on. He recently married 31-year-old, Persian-born engineer, Shay Shariatzadeh.
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Spotlight on the best and worst presenters DEBASHINE THANGEVELO
We look at the presenters who nailed their roles and those that did not on three of SA’s popular shows
SURVIVOR SA
BEST Nico Panagio (seasons 3 - present) Blessed with the looks of a Greek God, Nico (full name Nicolaos Panagiotopoulos) is best remembered for his role on SABC2’s 7de Laan. And he’s in his element as a presenter. He’s also an affable person with a great sense of wit. WORST Mark Bayly (seasons 1 - 2) When you meet him in person, Mark is an easygoing and really lovely person. And he certainly ticks the box in the looks department with his chiselled features. But he didn’t work for the show. And it’s not because of the format – he hosted All Access as well. He was just wooden and dry in front of the camera. Unfortunately, his affable traits did not come through when the camera was on.
IDOLS SA
BEST ProVerb (seasons 7 - present) Interestingly enough, ProVerb (real name Tebogo Thekiso) bagged the hosting gig on the back of him being a contestant in season 3 of Survivor South Africa: Santa Carolina.
If anything, ProVerb rubbishes the cliché, “Nice guys finish last!” He has a warm and infectious personality. He is charming, too. And the camera loves him. And his humility makes him even more endearing. This break on Idols SA didn’t only open more doors for him, it was his anchor as he continued to grow in his career. WORST Liezel van der Westhuizen (season 5) Anyone who has met her walks away as a fan. The leggy Liezel has beauty and brains. It was probably why she was chosen to be the face of the fifth season. But she was just awful. Her faux pas while presenting the show live were too many to ignore. The stylist didn’t do her any favours, either. Her hairdo and outfits were so outrageous, it was as if they were yelling at the camera. As I said, she is a genuinely wonderful person. But presenting, especially a show like Idols SA, where a dynamic personality is your compass, just wasn’t for her.
THE VOICE SA
BEST Anele Mdoda (seasons 3 - present) This radio and TV personality is unstoppable. In fact, I think Anele has the energy of 10 people rolled into one. She’s loud, funny, cheeky and a ball of fun on stage. And she’s mastered the art of presenting, where you have someone constantly talking to you through an earpiece while reading your lines as well as ad-libbing where needed. WORST Stacey Norman (seasons 1 - 2) Honestly, I held out so much hope when the announcement of Stacey joining Lungile Radu as the host of The Voice SA, was made. But whenever I saw her interviewing contestants on the show, I would cringe. There was no emotional connection whatsoever. I kept holding out hope that it would change. It didn’t. Sometimes the transition from radio to TV fails. This was a case in point.
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Lifestyles of the rich and famous LIAM KARABO JOYCE
HAVE you ever looked at your screen and wondered if the reality bug had bitten everyone? Well, you would be right in doing so. Reality television is no longer just about introducing the world to interesting people, it now also takes us into the lives of the rich and famous. From models like Kimora Lee Simmons to hip hop stars like T.I. Here is our list of reality shows that showed us just how hip hop stars live and how they come up with those songs we can’t stop dancing to.
LOVE & HIP HOP This franchise consists of several reality television series broadcast on VH1. The shows document the personal and professional lives of several hip hop and R&B musicians, performers, managers, and record producers residing in various metropolitan areas of the US. The original franchise version, Love & Hip Hop: New York, premiered on March 6, 2011. Its success resulted in spin-offs based in Atlanta, Hollywood, and Miami. The series is known for its sprawling ensemble cast, with over 200 cast members. Many are notable figures in hip hop, including Jim Jones, Remy Ma, Soulja Boy, Waka Flocka Flame, Lil Scrappy, Trina and Trick Daddy, as well as R&B artists like Ray J, Keyshia Cole and Stevie J. The franchise is also known for launching the careers of previously unknown artists, including Joseline Hernandez, K. Michelle and Cardi B.
K. MICHELLE: MY LIFE This reality television series featuring musical star K. Michelle premiered on November 3, 2014, on VH1 . It is also the first spin-off of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta. In January 2015, VH1 renewed the show for a second season, which premiered on January 25, 2016. It chronicles the everyday life of the singersongwriter while several members of K’s inner circle appear as supporting cast members in confessional interview segments throughout the series. The arrival of the earliest spring produce is absolutely thrilling – at least for me. But then I lead a pretty tame life. Even if seeing those first spears of asparagus and cherubic radishes doesn’t send you into the same paroxysm of joy, there’s still a reason to celebrate. After a season full of heavier and more heavily sauced foods, I think it’s best to keep things relatively light with spring’s initial offerings.
T.I In 2009, T.I. created a reality show, which aired on MTV, titled T.I.’s Road to Redemption. The series, which documented the 45 days before rapper T.I.’s March sentencing on federal firearms charges, aimed to discourage teenagers from going down a similar path. On December 5, 2011, T.I.’s new reality show T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle premiered on VH1, after the first full episodes were leaked on the internet.
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Set yourself up with these hotties ALYSSIA BIRJALAL
Dating shows have taken on a new meaning. For couples, it’s an escape from their own troubles; for singletons, it’s a cautionary tale as well as great entertainment
Love Island UK S6: Set in Constantia Winelands, Cape Town, in a beautiful villa, this Bafta awardwinning show follows the journey of 10 loveseeking individuals. They fight tooth and nail to complete hilarious tasks with a partner they keep swopping until they find the love of their life. But that’s not all, there is also €50 000 (about R1 million) up for grabs, catfights and love triangles, that makes it one of the best seasons yet and a must-watch.
90 Day Fiancé franchise: This TLC megahit and its many spin-offs have fans hooked. The original show is an emotional roller coaster as couples get to know each other better, meet family and friends, plan a wedding and discuss their hopes, dreams and desires in just 90 days. The couples stories and backgrounds are varied and interesting. Some have huge age gaps, religious differences, language barriers, meddling mothers and cheating allegations.
The Bachelor and The Bachelorette: Not your conventional way of finding love but we love it. The show documents a house full of women or men vying for the heart of the chosen “bachelor” or “bachelorette”. The contestants are wined and dined and all they have to do is make sure the bachelor or bachelorette falls in love with them at the end of the show. It sounds easy, but along the way there are heartaches, catfights, plenty of backstabbing and scandalous kisses. The original show started in America and will soon be heading into season 25 with its first black male lead, Matt James. At home, we’ve had two seasons of The Bachelor SA and the first season of The Bachelorette SA coming up in 2021.
Darcey & Stacey: This 90 Day Fiancé franchise spin-off looks at the loveable Silva twins and their respective relationships. Viewers get to witness them deal with life, family as well as their complicated romances with a much younger Georgi, a Bulgarian model and masseur, and Florian (Stacey’s husband), an Albanian model. No matter how tough it gets, one thing is for sure, the Silva sisters are always side-by-side, supporting each other every step of the way.
The Single Wives SA: Based on the popular Australian format, this zooms in on six previously married women who have been unlucky in love. They embark on an expert-led journey of selfdiscovery and transformation which will give them real-life tools to possibly find love. Experts Justin Cohen and Mapaseka Mokwele coach them. And in every episode we see them shed their fears and face stumbling blocks that have kept them from enjoying a healthy relationship.
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Biaatches we love to hate...
RUPAUL ANDRE CHARLES Drag performer, actor, TV host, author and recording artist
MARCHELLE ABRAHAMS
Christine Quinn and her backstabbing ilk make docusoap irresistible TONE deaf, anti-inclusive and offensive. These are ways I could describe Selling Sunset and yet I binge-watched the entire three seasons of the Netflix reality show over one weekend. Like every other pop culture vulture, I was drawn to the docusoap when Chrishell Stause’s messy divorce from Justin Hartley found its way into my timeline, and was instantly hooked from the first episode. The US reality TV series first aired with eight episodes on March 21, 2019, and revolves around the high-end residential properties in LA marketed by the Oppenheim Group’s real estate brokerage firm. Sexy, sleek and smelling of
SELLING SUNSET Netflix ★★★★✩ money, these are the things Architectural Digest dreams are made of, and we’re just talking about the properties here, which are only one aspect of the show. It’s the women selling these properties who have made the series one of the top reality shows. I’m convinced that Jason and Brett Oppenheim auditioned employees to work at their firm. If you’re not female, tall and sexy, there’s no way you’ll even make it through the front door. The women who work for the Oppenheim Group are the epitome of the Hollywood glam lifestyle
– over the top, nasty, not a single authentic bone in their body. And that’s what I love about this series. It’s not about current affairs, it’s not about being inclusive and it’s definitely not about reading the room. It’s about the drama, backstabbing and constant betrayals. Because who needs a loyal friend when you have Christine Quinn as an enemy? This is where I confess that Christine is my spirit animal. She might be a biaatch but you know exactly where you stand with her. And don’t mess with a woman in Christian Louboutin and vixen red lipstick. Bring on season 4! Selling Sunset is currently streaming on Netflix.
“Fulfillment isn’t found over the rainbow — it’s found in the here and now. Today I define success by the fluidity with which I transcend emotional land mines and choose joy and gratitude instead.” RuPaul Andre Charles is the legend behind the hit reality series, RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Fortune magazine described the iconic host and judge as “easily the world’s most famous drag queen”. If you haven’t caught the season 12 of the show, it is streaming on Netflix. Spoiler alert: Sherry Pie was disqualified and edited out of the show following several allegations of misconduct. Guest judges included: rapper Nicki Minaj, actress Thandie Newton, comedian and actress Leslie Jones, singer Chaka Khan, actor Jeff Goldblum, actress and TV personality Whoopi Goldberg and singer Normani, to name a few.
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