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Best Shows At The Moment

Written by The General from the blog The BootCamp on 13 Sep 2011
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Time ago, I did an article on my favourite shows. Well, these are the shows I think are the best at the moment on free-to-air channels:

Best Actuality Show - Speak Out
A few months, years ago, 3rd Degree might have come on top, but it is slowly decreasing it's quality, due to breaking stories being investigated and aired only months later when they are no longer newsworthy. Speak Out is the most watched actuality show in SA due to their tough love hands-on approach.

Best News Bulletin - e.tv News Primetime
Even though it's never been proven there have been rumours that SABC News is favourable towards ANC news. Not that that's the reason that they aren't the best bulletin in SA, but I just personally prefer e.news, and it doesn't that the set is more pleasing to the eye than the expired SABC's...

Best Magazine Show
Musical - Club 808
It has set standards for SA music, where it's a big deal for an artist to have their music video played on Club 808. This is arguably the best musical show in SA, no wonder viewers are still pleading for a time extension to an hour.
Lifestyle - Top Billing
One of the local shows that I think are underrated. The presenters are brilliant, the content is good, and you get inspired to achieve better in life. It is one of the best produced programmes in SA.

Best Reality Show - Survivor: Tocantins
One of the best reality shows in the world, the previous Survivor season was arguably the best Survivor season ever.

Best Drama
International - Prison Break
Prison Break is arguably the best crime drama ever in the history of television. I've seen CSI: NY and Miami on occasions, and they both good to an extent. though am not a fan of medical dramas.
Local - Intersexions
I never really was a fan of Intsika. With Fallen, I was a fan in the beginning, but am slowly losing interest. Zone 14 comes close second best 'current' local drama.

Best Comedy
International - How I Met Your Mother
Am glad e.tv returned How I Met Your Mother to it's original time. Some of the other international comedies I watch and enjoy at the moment are My Family, Outsourced and The Steve Harvey Show (it's old but I try to catch the repeat).
Local - Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola
By far the funniest local show. Again, I feel it's underrated, and I would rather have Late Nite News at 8pm and have it's viewership at 7 million plus, than that rubbish of a soapie on SABC1. I have caught an episode of My Perfect Family, and must say, it's not bad. The only thing that scared me was Lillian Dube's 'nearly bald' head.

Best Soapie - Rhythm City
Isidingo: I'm looking forward to the storyline of how Sechaba will manage being the owner of Bokamoso. To be honest, there is nothing else really interesting at the moment on Isidingo.
Rhythm City: I like the current David Genaro prison storyline and Stone mashonisa storyline. I think the Kilowatt tight t-shirt storyline is just ridiculous, I mean would a man travel all the way from Orange Farm to a bar in Diepkloof just to see a bar-maid wearing a tight t-shirt. Really?!!!
Scandal: I don't watch it, have never followed it.
Generations: From the ridiculous 'club' scenes with 15 people try to squeeze in a room to the 'airport/hospital' sets. And then the worst acting extras in the history of television. Oh and Khethiwe's weave, and now the afro...
7de Laan: The thing I don't like about 7de Laan is that they recycle storylines.
Muvhango: I'm liking the James/Themba storyline. I think Themba of Muvhango has become like the Jabulani of Generations. He's hilarious and I hope he gets a longer stay on Muvhango.

I believe the best sports entertainment show is WWE Raw and the best youth show Craz-e's Frenzy. The reason there isn't 'Best talk show' genre is because I don't believe there is a current talk show that deserves to be named 'best talk show'.

What are your opinions on my selections?

54 Comments

ThatDude
13 Sep 2011 06:44

umm oprah?best talk show,just the incompetent people @ the sabc need to get the rest of the season!

biggiesmalls
13 Sep 2011 08:33

I think they are paying you on etv preriod. I don't find anything amazing with Rhythm City. To see black people always being a low class does nothing for this country. Stone has always been the suffering poor kasi boy, kanti don't they move up in the world? I think RC is written by white people who view black people as losers. Generations is number one to me because it shows succesful black people somthing for young people to look up to, challenges that those rich people or their kids experience. This is what our young people should aspire to, not poverty as potrayed by rhythm ciy. I don't know why I should celebrate that. And it's amazing that you only criticise Khethiwe's afro - the girl is locked in a mantal instituion - where would she get the time to go do her hair. Think Bootycamp, think. Now that would be umrealistic to me if all of a sudden she's rocking NICE HAIRSTYLE. She walked form hossie to institution. To me it seems they know what they are doing, we must just wait till she comes out and see what she does. I seriously do not understand why we want the 'I'm so poor stories' on TV and think it's exciting - it takes us nowhere. TV is mind controlling, I'd rather control people with something positive rathere than negativity all the time.

The General
13 Sep 2011 09:09

@thatdude I'm just tired of the repeats, basically there is nothing interesting there @biggie so you would rather watch a soapie cause it has rich characters no matter how bad the storyline is? How does seeing Kenneth who stole a guy's company inspire you? Does seeing Queen making lame jokes at reception inspire you? Does Dineo sleeping with the father, the brother and the son inspire you? I'd rather watch the poor Khuses being real, than the rich Mashabas being fake.

Minah
13 Sep 2011 09:39

Isidingo is still the best soapie come rain come shine. As for mehlolo e bareng ke Generations aikhona I give up it is pure lies pure fake hle. Rich as they are still staying at Siqalo court tsek brainstorming some megazine at the shebeen in Soweto

biggiesmalls
13 Sep 2011 09:48

Kak happens even with rich people but you're not understanding me. Why are we allowing and praising stories that potray us as poor, lame and unsuccesful people? Is that what we think of ourselves? Do we hate ourselves that much? Don't take this in a superficial way, think about it deeply not on a superficila level. Rch people also have darl pasts, cruel hearts, some are nice people, educated, etc. Why do they only give this to their white characters. Think about it. Seriously. I see reverse apartheid.

babye
13 Sep 2011 10:08

i fell in Love with Fallen at the beginning but now losing interest..................................

Minah
13 Sep 2011 10:10

@biggie you now sound like malema

tizoz
13 Sep 2011 10:29

The General, do you work for the everyone channel?

sesikavincent
13 Sep 2011 10:39

Isidingo is number 1...........so is top billing and LLN
So far im enjoying our reality show "blame it on fame" good quality

The General
13 Sep 2011 10:43

@biggie I agree with you that we shouldn't always perceive black as poor. But just cause you make a story about rich blacks doesn't make it the best show ever. That's why Generations keep giving us crap and ridiculous storylines cause they just look at the ratings and see that people keep watching no matter how bad it is. @tizoz no I don't work for e.tv, does liking Rhythm City automatically make me work for e.tv? That would mean biggie works for SABC1 right?

Sobza
13 Sep 2011 10:51

I love FALLEN, good production and the acting is on point except for Yonda's XhoZulu, I am always looking forward to Thursdays episodes.

Sobza
13 Sep 2011 10:51

I love FALLEN, good production and the acting is on point except for Yonda's XhoZulu, I am always looking forward to Thursdays episodes.

The General
13 Sep 2011 10:55

Lol @Chase

caro
13 Sep 2011 11:17

honestly i have always loved rythm city, then cums tshidi and drugs stryline,star struck ,then i hoped for change after much sufferring,hatred between the khuse's and the community,then stone with the RDP houses scandal, though i like suffo' acting skills, i gave up, change is good, i got intimidated by the same thing over and over again. why use the khuse family to potray all the bad stuff,they go through it all bt without success y? the answer is out there...............

my father had always told me that in life there is failure and sometimes you fall hard bt remamber 1 thing, wenever u fall pick something up . it will be your amunation, bt with rythm city i don know, atleast generations was able to take kheti from a poverty sriken village in kzn and nw look at her success. hai gabi......

The General
13 Sep 2011 12:12

Okay caro I get your point. Does anyone watch Home Sweet Home. What do you think of it?

Anol@
13 Sep 2011 12:22

I seriously do not understand why we want the 'I'm so poor stories' on TV and think it's exciting - it takes us nowhere. @ biggiesmalls - I preffer RC. it is more realistic, the story line is very relevant .

Besides, we are not shooting Generations down because of the type of characters that are portrayed ( rich or poor ), it is the quality of the acting, set, directing and the story line is TERRIBLE!!! Finish and Klaar. It is people like you who keep watching that junk and they won't do anything to change the situation because of the ratings. GAAWWWD i wanna pull my hair out just thinking about Generubish!!!!!!!!

I'd rather watch the poor Khuses being real, than the rich Mashabas being fake. - Spot on!!

Skhuluh
13 Sep 2011 12:37

generations is boring,evry writr ther mst b fired...generations&rhythm city r nt n da same league....AR'S dnt mean anythng bcauz come award season generations is lcky if it gts one award...

biggiesmalls
13 Sep 2011 13:31

AR's mean a lot, and theirs keep going higher and higher - it means people are watching. RCs keep shrinking - what does that say? Don't fool yourselves, ask any TV person they will tell you ARs mean a lot, they bring lots of money, go and check media business they will let you know.

biggiesmalls
13 Sep 2011 13:36

If your realism is us blacks being poor then there's something wrong with you - we should be aiming higher not taking it back. And the team that writes RC is old white guys - no wonder they think that about black people, you guysdon't think very highly of yourselves

biggiesmalls
13 Sep 2011 13:37

And awards don't bring *bleep!* - no cash not moolah, what's the fuckin'point. Especially the South African ones, nada

biggiesmalls
13 Sep 2011 13:38

Go ahead pull your her, the truth is you will remain bold and porr, Gen people are still rich - you got to recognise

filmho
13 Sep 2011 13:42

the team that writes RC is old white guys

Actually, this isn't true. I'm part of the writing team, the average age (we actually worked this on our last story workshop) is 36 and the majority of our writers & storyliners are black.

Minah
13 Sep 2011 13:47

I think some bloggers are afraid of being black and poor hence the anger about RC's writers. I personally think RC is a reflection of some of our families.

The General
13 Sep 2011 14:02

@biggie you don't realise that my problem isn't with how 'rich' Gen people are, but the ridiculous storylines, bad acting (Sharon's drunkenness yesterday is an example) and general bad quality (again, the 'airport' and 'club' sets, no outdoor shots etc)

Favoured
13 Sep 2011 15:50

the above shows that you are an arrogant uneducated unintelligent black little piece of left over *bleep!*. kwa kwaaaaaaa

Anol@
13 Sep 2011 16:14

Gen people are still rich - you got to recognise - @ biggiesmalls- You do realise they are not real right. They are FICTITIOUS!! ( You go on like they are real people you are trying to suck up to ).

I give up on you and will no longer be enetertaining you and your blindness to facts. If you where defending Isidingo i would understand.

I give up #Shaking head#

biggiesmalls
13 Sep 2011 16:46

i MEANT PRODUCERS, YOU'RE THE ONE WHO IS BLINDED. Your RC is nothing compared to that. Chexk advertising, the Gen slot is number one and you can not deny that, ask eveyone in advertising or SABC they will tell you. So, ARs do count not bloody useless statues you call awards

biggiesmalls
13 Sep 2011 16:49

But if you say acting, say so - don't say the writers don't know what they are doing, the stories are good, if some actors and I emphasise some cause not all of them are bad, if they can't execute what they are upposed to do, what can the writers do. Write them out and when they do that - Sam and Sharon as eg, you say Gen always write people out, you complain, truth is like they say the tallest tree will always feel the strongest wind. You guys you will complain and critisize Gen even when they do good - Why? BECAUSE THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL AND BLACK. That is the black mentality and I don't care what you say, it is taking us nowhere

biggiesmalls
13 Sep 2011 16:51

Filmho don't lie cause I will give you names - I know who they are, they are old and white, don't lie to people and of course you do have the token coloured guy - is that who you talking about?

The General
13 Sep 2011 17:09

Are you one of the writers of Generations biggie?

filmho
13 Sep 2011 17:15

I know who they are as well. I work with them. I would say that you seem to have gotten your facts wrong but you appear to feel quite passionate about this so no sense arguing about it.

filmho
13 Sep 2011 17:15

@The General
LOL

VusiK
13 Sep 2011 17:26

I heard there was a fight going on here .... Where is it? (((Still looking ... Rubbernecking))) .... Where?!?!?!?

biggiesmalls
13 Sep 2011 18:29

I am not a writer on Gen, I work on TV industry and I know what goes on

Cnglemother
13 Sep 2011 20:21

hai-hai!what the hell are they doing to MamLILLIAN, that chiskop is wrong!i have known her ngewig all my life and now this?

The General
13 Sep 2011 20:54

Eish Cnglemother at her age, she shouldn't be seen with hairstyles like that. It looks like the hair was cut by scissors or bitten by chickens...

Slushta
13 Sep 2011 22:45

Slushta
13 Sep 2011 22:52

Eish people like biggiesmalls shud jus be left to inflate coz eventually the grow small again ....hence the name "biggiesmalls" .its all in the name really.....*shaking my big head*. .......

caro
14 Sep 2011 09:38

@Minah i personally think RC is a reflection of some of our familie
on this one i wont give my opinion based on what i think personally bt RC potrays a reflection of a family that has never met or come acrs the word "success" its sad that the khuse's neva learn or succeed on anything they do bt they are out there.RC. rythm city shud js teach us the youth that thru all obstacles, we can overcome success. show the young ones that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

morning good people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! how are u doing????????? m fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Green.arrow
14 Sep 2011 10:39

LMLO @ Vuss looking for a fight....*coughs* so am I...oh it just hit me what article makisto is talking bout on FB...I thought there was some action mo tvsa. Bummer! Okay ge....Isidingo is nyc. TV watching is suffering, not complaining, but I wanna watch isidingo atleast, the omnibus...I hope because of the rugby the omnibus is early on so I can still get to go to school....then The hub (church) in the evening.

Cande
14 Sep 2011 10:48

I will never get the hype around Rhythm City shem, like yah maybe i am not target market. LOL shem the General sounds more and more like an etv employee. I love intersexions, club 808. Loyiso's show *yawns*

The General
14 Sep 2011 11:08

Lol @Slushta @makisto Club 808 can compete with international music shows. By the way I'm talking about current shows. @Cande Have you actually thought why I would have a lot of my favs on e.tv than other channels? Maybe it's actually that they have better quality tv shows than SABC? And for the last time, I still don't work for e.tv

Biskiti
14 Sep 2011 11:22

* Isidingo is tops bathong, production, story lines, the acting (overlooking Latoya ofcourse, fak even Sechaba's GF Lerato is waaaay better than Latoya...lol). Generations is watched by many because of bad habit and not having a proper alternative on the welfare chanel. Full stop, there is nothing remotely interesting about generations Biggiewhatwhat. RC has good actors.

* Zone 14 has improved tremendously and takes the cake for me. Intersexions is a repeat so it should not steal the shine ya Zone 14. Intsika lost me at the second episode, i don't know if it has improved, but it looked hopeless.

* Club 808 is the best music show on local TV, so fresh & funky, nami i support the call for hour long episodes. Live & their presenters competing for SHINE is a yawn.

* I fully agree on Enews, they cover most news that don't even feature on SABC news. I don't know why they wanna waste our money by having SABC News Channel...frekken propaganda i tell you.

* Loyiso's show has improved, but it still does nothing for me. Yawn.

** I don't know what's worse between Wrestling and Generations.

The General
14 Sep 2011 11:31

Biskiti I think WWE is better. Generations is getting more and more ridiculous by day. Bonang Mathemba? Kenneth shouting in Afrikaans to Thai police? Really?!

biggiesmalls
14 Sep 2011 11:54

But they still have over 7 million people watching, they had 6.5 mil two weeks ago - what does that say. And the excuse of having nothing at 8 is rubbish, people have Dstv packages ebven the cheapest ones, even in shacks, drive around and see there's dishes for satellite TV. So why are those people switching onto Generations if it sucks, no one is there evryday, every night forcing them to press their remotes - Why do they watch if it's such crap? You all are just haters but you have no valid answer. Someone says they stopped watching Intsika because it do it for them, meaning you switched off or changed channels, why are people not changing channels then if Gen is so bad - That's because you are just haters - it is not bad, it's good, and you secretly watch and pretend to hate it, the ARs don't lie. Whatever you say - I will keep saying - ARs don't lie.

LemonTwist
14 Sep 2011 11:54

Say what you will, Rhythm City has more viewers than Isidingo. That's why Isidingo is moving to 19h30. That says a lot - RC has nailed its market.

biggiesmalls
14 Sep 2011 11:57

And people say it's good - why are they running from competition. You've never heard of Orlando Pirates saying we are cancelling a game because it's Chiefs or any other club - You face your competition - But shame you still say it's a good show - to who? Why are those people not watching? Why are they running from the competitive spot - 6:30?

The General
14 Sep 2011 12:52

biggie they changing the timeslot cause there are some of us who like Isidingo and Rhythm City, but can't watch both cause they aired at the same time. As for Generations it's a waste of time arguing cause people will still keep supporting crap and the producers will keep feeding us crap

LemonTwist
14 Sep 2011 13:09

Biggie, the problem with you and the rest of these TV people is that nicabanga ukuthi you know it all. You forget that TV is made for the people. Us. Not you guys in your big window offices, chowing our tv license money. I'm out. Sowuyangi khinya.

Ntlewame2
14 Sep 2011 13:25

helloo...long time!.....howzat??? (house crashing)...
Ok! Generation........we watch it because its in our system........i lost interest in TV for some time.....but i find myself switching to the soap operas* as a routine check even tho the tv will be watching me..........
Its like buying Vaseline petroleum jelly while better more advcanced creams are now manufatured by same brand!

I must admit the Generation storyline.........is really disapointing.....we switch on religously only to be pissed off at 8:30 u realize u just wasted your 30minutes.......but personnaly it goes for most....
I find the new stuff (mzanzi stories etc) more interesting.......

Pinkpoodle
15 Sep 2011 10:59

I used to watch generations religiously , even if when i didnt have dstv and would visit friends with Dstv i would beg them to change the channle @ 8 so i could watch.
Then when i did have my dstv i still found there is nothing to watch @ that time in most cases anyway...
at the end of the day people still watch genrubbish out of loyalty and lack of competition @ that time say another channel decides to show movies i am sure that viewership will be taken.......
Its all about brand loyalty how many times have you walked into a shop and bought the same brand out of habit ....yes generations is dead !! but its out of habit/no choice that we subject ourselves to it..

ms.tebby
15 Sep 2011 11:39

eish im too lazy to read all the comments now, so maybe my comment has been highlight already... ~>
Muvhango: I'm liking the James/Themba storyline. I think Themba of Muvhango has become like the Jabulani of Generations. He's hilarious and I hope he gets a longer stay on Muvhango.
is it only me or what... i think also Pearl is slowly becoming like Queen of Generations ?! ...and why this character has to happen to receptionists i dont know, LOL!

biggiesmalls
15 Sep 2011 12:56

iT SHOWS HOW THEY TAKE AFTER gENERARIONS. lIKE i SAY AND i WILL SAY IT AGAIN - Generation are the trendsetters - others are followers. No matter what you say haters, inside you know it is true - Even the abuse story line with Sonke, first it was on Generations then Muvhango followed with the Sonke thing.

The General
15 Sep 2011 16:34

Pinkpoodle good point. I also watch Generations repeat at 11 when am at home doing nothing cause there is nothing else to watch, not cause am a fan. Just type #generations on Twitter and see people's comments, and biggie your opinions will change dramatically...

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