There is obviously something seriously wrong at SABC more so in the last few months especially with programme scheduling.

But it doesn’t end there…

Their SABC 3 Facebook page is a mess – with an obviously orchestrated campaign to get local programme Charly’s Cake Angels shown at 6.00pm during the week and complaints about programming with nary a response from SABC 3 in sight.

Then of course today they gave a media briefing to explain their turnaround strategy. And to explain that they had not spent R20million on luxury vehicles, but had instead leased said Mercs to the tune of R20million!

Maybe the fact that the acting CEO Hlaudi Motsoeneng is said to have failed matric twice and still not graduated from high school, explains a lot.

If everything had been running smoothly and efficiently at the SABC no one would question the CEO’s credentials.

But back to programming…

Some genius at SABC 3 thought that broadcasting the same videos over and over and over every single day would endear themselves to viewers. After a few complaints on Facebook (and who knows where else) this practice was stopped.

Then they started repeating episodes of prime time shows the week after the episodes initially aired! Without a word of apology or explanation.

Who will forget the show that replaced Survivor on a Monday night. Actually other than friends and family of the people featured, who watched that show about two men on horses trekking to Grahamstown, who will remember?

Someone then got a little excited or tried to relieve their boredom and changed the entire SABC 3 schedule!

Isidingo was moved to 7.30pm and adult comedies like 30 Rock to 6.30pm.

They advertised the start of a new season CSI Miami (season 2 that aired a decade ago in the USA) and then had to pull it because the episodes had not arrived.

Since then they changed some programmes back to their original slots but the website and tv guides in the media are all wrong.

And still we have to pay our tv licences!

One or two family members mentioned Colour tv on Facebook. And a friend SMSed me about the new SABC 2 programme.

So I tuned into SABC tonight at 7.30pm, the space vacated by that annoying Noot vir Noot, to see what it was about.

The start wasn’t very promising. Clint Brink and Kim Cloete, laying on the Cape Flats accent on far too thick in their ‘news bulletin’. We’ve heard them talk an Scandal and Isidingo and they don’t sound like that!

Not that I was expecting to like Colour tv. I don’t exactly like my fellow coloureds very much. And I’m sure Colour tv won’t be delving into the politics of being coloured in the Western Cape, especially.

Be that as it may, I warmed up to the format as the hour progressed. Especially when the soapie started. What can I say, I like soaps

Actually what I liked more, was the authentic sounding voices. It was funny and dramatic. Just like coloureds are supposed to be!

Tyrone, the 5Fm guy was there, as well as Quanita Adams and Terrence Bridget, amongst others. A real who’s who of coloureds.

I have never felt the need to see my ethnic group represented on tv, in quite the way some coloureds do though.

Because I don’t identify very closely with any particular group of people. Other than being Capetonian and South African. In a very broad sense, mind you.

But funny is funny. And Colour tv had me smiling in parts, which more than I can say for most South African comedies.

I’m not very familiar with the world of supermodels and stuff, but give me a reality tv show and I’m

there.

Last night SABC 3 started “Make me a Supermodel”.

 Having given that Bachelors and their sick momma’s a miss, I thought I would check out the new show, not thinking I would like it.

 I’m not really sure if I liked the show or Tyson Beckford…but enjoy it I did. But hey, it’s a reality tv show and like I said, I love those.

None of the male contestants I saw had anything on Tyson.

That man is freaking HOT!

Arghhhh… let me just start working!

I bought my 14 January 2010 You magazine today and there were the 18 “celebs” who are about to star in Survivor SA: Santa Carolina.

M-net will be broadcasting the series from 20 January 2010.

While many of the faces (if not their names) are known, I would probably describe some as B-listers. A few wouldn’t even make any lists at all.

We have a few who are reality tv whores – meaning they’ve appeared on other reality shows and would probably appear on more if given half the chance.

Included in this list are:

1. Cindy Nell-Roberts, 28 (Strictly Come Dancing, Miss SA)

2. Ashley Hayden, 42 (Strictly Come Dancing)

3. Garth Collins, 43 (Strictly Come Dancing)

4. Sade Giliberti, 24 (So You Think You Can Dance – host)

5. Kaseran Pillay, 33 (Going Nowhere Slowly)

Soap actors :

6. Izak Davel, 26 (Scab in Egoli)

7. Christina Storm, 35 (Bienkie 2, Egoli)

8. Gys de Villiers, 49 (7de Laan, Binnelanders)

9. Sandi Schultz, 45 (Dr Adams, Binnelanders)

Also:

10. Okkert Brits, 36 (former pole vaulter)

11. Darren Maule, 37 (comedian and actor, Hard Copy)

12. Craig Jacobs, 35 (designer)

Totally Unknown (to me) :

13. GiGi, 42 (exotic dancer and actress)

14. ProVerb, 28 (hiphop artist)

15. Jub Jub, 29 (musician)

16. Lady Lea, 29 (DJ)

17. Hanna Grobler, 27 (actress and Bok van Blerk’s girlfriend)

18. Louw Venter, 34 (actor, comedian)

By now the entire planet is probably aware that the queen of talk, Oprah Winfrey, will end her show on 9 September 2011.

The implications in highly competitive US markets are said to be far reaching.

But that doesn’t even take into account what the next two years is going to do to us Oprah Show viewers, regular and otherwise!

Just imagine it…

Two years of goodbyes from actors, self-help gurus, murderers, victims of every imaginable atrocity, make-over artists, home decorators…

Two years of final of everythings.

Retrospectives of good, bad and ugly hair years, ugly crying moments…fat and lean years…

Will we be able to handle it?

Worst of all will we South Africans once again have to be subjected to Noelene of 3 Talk at 5.30pm
weekdays?

So I decided to skip the first few minutes of the final result show.

Because we all know how they like to drag things out on a normal night, never mind the final.

The top three were announced in as slow a manner as you could imagine.

First George, then Darren and lastly Cleo’s name was called.

I nearly had heart failure at the thought of an upset.

Either George or Darren…please!

After an ad break Cleo was named in third place. Mercifully for the sake of my ears.

It came down to George and Darren – as many people predicted.

The judges said more of the same…blah, blah, blah…proud to be South African.

Eventually, after an eternity the winner was announced.

Darren!

I had a Shado moment …sniff, sniff.

Happy with the final result in the end.

This morning Ian von Memerty and Shado Twala appeared on Gareth Cliff’s breakfast show to promote tonight’s final.

They said (like us) they were delightfully surprised at the extent of the talent in this country – and the variety of different fields contestants were proficient in.

When asked why Cleo was selected ahead of drummer Daniel, Ian gave the most ridiculous answer I think I’ve heard as a reason a contestant was eliminated ahead of a less talented one.

Ian said he was afraid that Daniel was taking strain. (Not that he looked like he was.) But that’s not even the kicker.

He said Daniel has had loads of opportunities already – like performing in New Orleans, USA. And he was headed to somewhere overseas later this year.

If he had all the opportunities in the world, why would the child be taking strain in a local talent contest?

Whatever, Ian!

I thought this was SA’s Got Talent, not who can/can’t take the strain in the judges opinion.

Ian also said the two favourites are Darren and George. I agree with that.

I’ll be more than happy if neither of the two children – Kalon/ Cleo wins.

For the rest, I like them all and any of them would make a worthy winner.

I will make my decision only after viewing the acts tonight though.

So I realised the result show started at 9.40pm, which would account for how fast time went by last night.

Apparently there was a mix up with the voting numbers causing lines to be closed 8 minutes later.

Once again I had to use the remote when the entertainment came on stage.

Then it was time for the judges thoughts.

Ian thought tonight’s contestant were better than last night’s.

Shado, being the show’s softie, had only nice things to say as usual. I tune her out, sorry Shado.

Randall wouldn’t pick a winner, although he said he had an idea who would win.

After the break the viewing public’s votes were announced.

The public voted for Darren and sent him through to the final.

I have to admit to getting a bit teary eyed when Darren thanked everyone who voted for him.

Same as last night the judges were given two acts with the second and third most votes from the public to choose a second finalist from – Cleo and Daniel.

Ian said he couldn’t choose immediately, so Shado had to choose first.

She chose Cleo.

Randall gave a speech about long careers and then chose Cleo as well.

I of course disagree as Daniel was a favourite and a real talent.

Cleo’s cuteness shouldn’t be regarded as a talent, in my opinion. Her singing tonight didn’t impress me at all.

One more semi-final before Thursday night’s final.

Tomorrow night the singing brothers from Stellenbosch and Kalom the 12 year old dancer will be on.

After last night’s first semi-final, I looked forward to tonight’s show.

Especially as 3 of the talented kids and Darren the deaf dancer, were on the menu.

First up were dancers, the Show Stoppers with the interesting hairstyles.

They were good, but will they stand out against the younger lot who will undoubtedly get a few cute factor votes?

The crowd loved them. Randall warned that the other 6 contestants had a lot to live up to.

Inexplicably he told Anele that Beyonce had nothing on her.

(I must admit the three judges and presenters Anele and Rob cleaned up good.)

Ian and Shado both gave high praise to Show Stoppers too.

Daniel Petersen, 6 year old drummer and his dad followed.

The cutest face ever and he sure has talent!

Ian said if he was playing on pots, he would be cooking. He also called him a prodigy.

The other two judges liked him too.

Next were ventriloqist Adino and his puppet Astro.

I loved this act first time round.

They were as sweet second time around too.

Shado and Ian liked the act, but who knows what Randall was saying. Not sure if I missed something about him liking/disliking puppets.

After the break were Soccer Mania from Khayelitsha.

Their entertaining magic/comedy/soccer act had the crowd cheering, but it seemed very short.

A good sign!

Randall said they did our country proud and the other two judges agreed.

Next was 8 year old Cleo Filander who had the judges bawling first time out.

The sound was lost for the first few seconds, but she kept going, singing One Moment of Time.

The crowd went absolutely crazy throughout the song and after.

The judges mentioned her personality more than her singing ability. I have little doubt Cleo will go through, if the crowd’s reaction is anything to go by.

Then it was Darren who you would never imagine is hearing impaired by watching him dance.

Ian called him electric, Shado said she wants to see him win the competition.

Final act of semi-final 2 were singers Umbumbano.

They were not as spectacular as the children, but I enjoyed them.

Ian said their act was uniquely South African. Randall thought them doing a Ladysmith Black Mambazo song might count against them.

My two favourite acts were Daniel Peterson 6 year old drummer and ventriloqist Adino and puppet Astro.

One of them might make it through…might.

I’m not confident that my choices are going through to the final.

In fact I think Darren and Cleo might go through.

I’m voting for drummer Daniel tonight, but might add one or two for Astro the puppet.

I’m glad the result show takes place an hour after the main show. None of the Idols voting syndicate nonsense.

I hope.

Watching the recap made me sure of my original choices. Louwtjie, George and Roses still stood out for me.

Loyiso entertained the crowd, but I had to use my remote at this point.

The judges refused to name a favourite at the start, except Randall who told Jody not to worry (as if).

When all seven semi-finalist came on stage for the results, the in-studio audience chanted Jody’s name (I think) for some reason.

The public voted George into Thursday’s final, unsurprisingly.

He really does have the full package.

Then it was up to the judges.

They paired it down to Louwtjie and the dancers Cameron and Natasha.

When it came down to it Randall and Ian chose my favourite Louwtjie (who’s writing matric exams) and Shado opted for the kid dancers.

The result show flew by, unlike Strictly Come Dancing, Idols and othe reality talent shows.

I’m happy that the two best performers on the night went through.