[Submitted via press release]
KENNY KUNENE TAKES OVER FROM “SCHUKS” SCHUSTER IN ROASTEE’S CHAIR
Larger-than-life entrepreneur, politician, party starter, reality TV star and former guest of the government of the Republic of South Africa, Kenny Kunene is setting himself up for a comedic “Roasting” in “The Comedy Central Roast of Kenny Kunene Fired up by Nando’s” by Comedy Central (DStv Channel 122) on 3 April.
The Comedy Central Roast of Kenny Kunene Fired up by Nando’s takes place at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, on 3 April 2014. The show will star Kunene and an as-yet unnamed panel of Roasters, together with a celebrity Roastmaster.
The show will premiere on TV on Comedy Central on Monday 28 April @ 21:00 CAT.
Kunene, otherwise known as “Mr Sushi”, replaces film-maker, actor and musician Leon Schuster who has been advised to rest by his doctors following an intense work schedule which has seen him shoot two movies back-to-back, and who is awaiting a knee replacement operation.
Former English teacher and PR consultant Kunene is an entrepreneur and owner of the ZAR nightclub chain in South Africa. Kunene is also a well-known media figure thanks to his reality show called “KK - So What” and his brief involvement with the Economic Freedom Fighters, which he left to join the Patriotic Alliance.
To celebrate Kunene’s involvement in the Roast, Comedy Central has committed to supporting him in realising a vital social upliftment project in Alexandra, close to where he lives.
Following in the singed footsteps of 2012 “Roastee” Steve Hofmeyr, Kunene’s life and works will be “honoured” by a panel of peers, friends, enemies, critics, comics and entertainment personalities, as they line up to subject him to a humorous barrage of praise, criticism, abuse, jokes and downright lies.
Kenny Kunene commented, "You can never roast sushi. Don't even try. But bring it on Comedy Central!”
Commented Evert van der Veer, Channel Director, Comedy Central, Africa, “We are excited to welcome Kenny on board as our second Roastee. The Comedy Central Roast of Kenny Kunene” offers all the elements of a great Roast – a larger-than-life personality who polarises opinion and whose life and career has had many convoluted ups and downs. There’s enough comic material in Kenny to populate at least 3 Roasts and our only issue will be picking out the juiciest bits!”
Said Lindani Mnyandu, Nando’s General Manager, Marketing Communications, “Nando’s is always up for laughing with South Africa, and we commend Kenny for being a good enough sport to volunteer to be laughed at. We look forward to converting him from sushi to flame-grilled PERi-PERi chicken, served a little more conventionally, but still a talking point.”
Added Leon “Schuks” Schuster, “I’m heartbroken to be missing the Roast and so sorry at any disappointment caused to my fans, but unfortunately all those silly movie stunts and some old rugby injuries have finally caught up with me at the ripe old age of 62. I’m going to take some time out for a bit of R&R and I look forward to coming back fit and refreshed in a couple of months. In the meantime I look forward to putting my feet up and watching Kenny Kunene getting the Roasting he well and truly deserves!”