SOUTH AFRICA'S TV WEBSITE
SIGN IN SEARCH MENU
SOUTH AFRICA'S TV WEBSITE
ACTORS | ARTICLES | NEWS SHORTS

NEW ON TV TODAY | TEASERS


charmeddudeheader


This Blog Is Dedicated To The Memory of Ashley Callie

Generations: Where to From Now?!

Written by charmed_dude from the blog Charmed_Dudes TV on 18 Aug 2014
Favourite this post

Life Isn't Looking Too Great for Generations or it's I Know How You Striked Last Summer 16-Axed Cast.
 
Life isn't looking too happy for the Generations cast
No one is smiling at Generations today.

Editors Note: Samuel L. Jackson was not fired from Generations today. He infact refused out right to sign with Mfundi and the SABC to appear on the show. He just brought the Generations cast the only joy displayed in any promo picture they've had in the last 10 months.

Well I can't say we expected it, did the SABC really have the balls to axe it's No. 1 leading show, well at least a bulk of it's majority cast - but they did. 

Whether this is related to the fact that the current SABC COO is Matric-less and evidently lacking fundemental knowledge on how to run a proper television 'empire' as they wish they were is not for me to debate or discuss here. (Please Feel Free to draw comparitive lines and discuss in the comments - I am eager to support theories!)

Who axes almost an entire cast of their highest rated soap?!

The SABC does and the sheep known as Mfundi Vundla; the SABC's biggest puppet show does. Instead of a creator and executive producer standing and supporting his cast which has made him millions and his name unrefutably recongised in the local television industry we have a coward who sides with a major corporation and completley abandon the people who have made him the very millions.

Now with Generations' revolving door of new cast members, it was  very much given than he is no team player, rather a man who sees the paycheck from the SABC at the end of whenever they decide to pay production houses (flashback: 2009 when they couldn't even afford to pay local production houses). Yet he stood firm with the SABC and last year when the original strke demanded in the media "No one is bigger than Generations!" Was that dig to Connie Feurguson who jumped ship a few years earlier to rival M-Net and boosted her career breaking out her true acting talents in M-Net's "The Wild" and moving forward her proffessional carrer to Executive Producing Mzanzi Magic's hit "Rockville" with her husband almost making a Ferguson a better powerhouse than Vundla?! Are you jealous or bitter Mfundi?

Anyway, as it may be when the bulk majority of your cast is in dispute it means the oil that was running the ship called Generations just directed them into the biggest ice-berg in local television history; firing 16 well known key cast members from the hit soap.

Disclaimer: I have not watched an episode of Generations since Connie Ferguson's exit and before then never watched an episode since late 2003, so I honestly did not know who 80% of the cast who got the axe was without help from local media. This just proves that Generations is too whore-ish with it's cast members. Where the hell is loyalty? Can you blame the cast for striking now?!!

Poor Sophie Ndaba, the only original Generations' actress too got the bullet. Mfundi has no shame. SABC has no game. *Cue dramatic Opening Titles*

The unfortuante thing is due to Generations being South Africa's No. 1 rated television program (despite autrociaous storylines and the bipolar revolving door of cast members) - this sends a very big warning sign to local industry players - namely the SABC's own entities. 

Unhappy with your job on Isidingo, don't even think about getting a cold let alone staying away from shooting - SABC will cancel your entire soap not just 16 key cast members.

In a major sense the SABC has crippled the local television landscape by sending a message to talent and veterens out there that despite false promises, thier word means nothing.

Gosh who dares get into bed, errm I mean a contract with the SABC now? Might I say the very same contract which can't even protect you from a mass firing. It's almost like it's very own nightime soap opeara. If only the behind the stories drama was remotely as interesting in current Generations then may I could comment on how they possibly CANNOT write their way out of this. Mfundi has proved - he cannot adequently write storylines. Short of a between epsiodes unseen Ebola outbreak or a YouTube clip (budget cuts) of a buliding blowing up and claiming all said cast members were in that building I do not know how he is going to get out of this mine-hole. In fact I just may watch Generations come end of October to see what he pulls out of his whimskical hat!

So here's my suggestions to move forward:

To the 16 Generations cast of which I only know of four, captialise on this media exposure and turn the tables into your backyard. Book gigs with rivals and use it to boost the biggest bitch slap back to the SABC as possible. To the 12 cast members I do not know; go join Scandal! and Rhythm City. Let eTV finally get that edge to surpass SABC 1 --- we all know it will happen and this is the biggest "screw you" back SABC lesson that they could learn!

The other four; well jump to Multichoice because we know from M-Net's recent 'Galaxy of Stars' that they are invested to supporting local industry and driving it forward (note: SABC - not pulling it back to the dark ages of ruling with fear and mass exodus!) and will definetly draft a soap for all 16 fired cast members. Infact I would not be surprised if contracts for 3 years on a new local Mzanzi Magic soap titled 'Former Decades' directed by the Shona and Connie Ferugson is sent to all 16 tomorrow and scheduled weekdays at 20:00 as a direct hit onto Generations itself * (Note: This is not real - although an excellent opportunity for DStv and Mr and Mrs Ferugson!) Because we all know that would dent the cash cow that is SABC 1's Generations.

And to all other local industry: do not be afraid, be very afraid. Working with the SABC is now like working with the devil. You are replaceable (like a Beyonce song), and there is no strength in numbers - because clearly the SABC cannot count thier mega bucks and come December October (Generations' only films 6 weeks in advance - production is slower than it's storylines and 10-month strikes) when Generations tanks - they will be kicking themselves.

To the next Generation of Generations. Let's see what you get to do now! Maybe if the behind the scenes drama surpases the actual pathetic storylines - you may survive!
 
The Good Old Days of Generations when I watched It
The Good Old Days of Generations: No Behind The Scenes Drama just good written storylines. 


Note: This post does not reflect the views of TVSA or it's members, but rather a blogger with a bit too much wine at dinner and disgraced with the SABC's nuturuing of local talent.



 

Actors in this post: Sophie Ndaba, Connie Ferguson, Shona Ferguson, Menzi Ngubane, Katlego Danke, Anga Makubalo, Atandwa Kani, Mandla Gaduka, Seputla Sebogodi

Shows in this post: Generations, Scandal!, The Wild, Rockville, Rhythm City

Channels in this post: SABC1, M-Net

Tags: Generations

3 Comments

Onkez
19 Aug 2014 00:17

charmed_dude, you're back?! Maybe I'm the one who has been away? Regardless, welcome back!

tha - bang
19 Aug 2014 10:09

the sa and film industry needs a shake up,i hear the actors are going to court, more power to them.creatives need to get their royalities ....this should be a start of battle that will benefit the creatives for change

Minnivannilli
19 Aug 2014 15:19

The only losers out of all of this are Generations and SABC. Mfundi's arrogance and tendency to treat his actors like Chinese sweat-shop workers is disgusting and giving him a bad reputation. Firing one cast member may be nothing but sixteen is just unacceptable. I hope his show doesn't suffer the same fate as Backstage - where drastic changes, bad actors and a horrible script resulted in it losing viewers and ultimately getting canned. No show is bigger than its actors especially when they're popular characters.

Only TVSA members can reply to this thread. Click here to login or register.






LATEST ARTICLES

Smoke & Mirrors 3 Teasers - April 2025

Season 3 premiere! A handsome new stranger arrives at the hotel, capturing the attention of everyone, especially Mamiki.

Sweet Diva Teasers - April 2025

Chiclete is enchanted by Vivi, and she by him. Chiclete believes Cosme's chosen victim is Kim.

Suidooster crystal ball: two new arrivals and a bad adult influence

A former 7de Laan actress and an actor with a double barrel surname. Xtra bites on this month's drama.

New on TV today: Wednesday 2 April 2025

Reality show Coming from America debuts on TLC and Netflix serves up more Love on the Spectrum.

Evil Witch Teasers - April 2025

Rocky becomes suspicious of Rani's brother's photograph, and Pavithra tries to reveal the truth.

Soapie Digest: April 2025

Tap here for this year's April Fool's moral of the story, with all your teasers in case you've missed your faves.

Kelders van Geheime Teasers - April 2025

Allison's Alzheimers progresses, Athandwa has reservations about initiation, and Joey and Nenna's big day arrives.

New on TV today: Tuesday 1 April 2025

The only new show today is a run of Delicious Miss Brown starting on Real Time.

Smoke & Mirrors 2 Teasers - April 2025

Season 2 finale! Caesar's malevolent plans inch closer to their gruesome conclusion as he prepares to sacrifice Thandiswa.

New! Inimba Teasers - April 2025

A choice made 20 years ago haunts Zoleka Mabandla. Your first tease of Mzansi Magic's new 21h00 'novela

LATEST SITE ACTIVITY


More activity at TVSA Central



LATEST SOAPIE TEASERS



LATEST SOAPIE TEASERS




Notice Board


After a few years of being on hiatus, we're looking at offering you various re-caps and indepth reviews on certain shows, issues and other TV gargle blargle which might tickle your remote's button. Keep your eyes peeled here.


My Fav Shows

CHARMED
(Off Air)

THE GOOD WIFE
(Mondays 20:30, M-Net)

REVENGE
(Off Air)

FRINGE
(Off Air)

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
(Comedy Central)

COUGAR TOWN
(Returns July)

THE BIG BANG THEORY
(Comedy Central)

SCANDAL (aka The Fixer)
(SABC 3, M-Net)

THE WILD
(Sundays 6:00pm, Mzanzi Wethu)

THOLA
(Tuesdays 9:30pm, SABC 2)


Coming Up


Under The Dome 2 - 
Tues 8 July, 8:30pm M-Net 
[SEASON PREMIERE]

Believe 1 - 
Thur 24 July, 8:00pm M-Net Series Showcase
[SERIES PREMIERE]

Cougar Town 5 - 
Wed 9 July, 7:30pm M-Net Series Showcase
[SEASON PREMIERE]

Thola 1 - 
Tuesdays, 9:30pm SABC 2
[LOCAL DRAMA]

The Wild 2 - 
Sundays 6:00pm Mzanzi Wethu
[REPEATS]




isiDayso RHC

The next episode of isiDays-o will be out soon.

Catch Up with the Blogisodes:

Episode 1: Trial and Retribution [View]
Episode2 : A Write Days Journey Into Wrong [View]
Special: All About IsiDays-o [View]

Support Group For Addicts:

Be sure to check out TVSA's Hit Support Group for Days Addicts, DOOLA: Days of our Lives Anon. Started up by TVSA Celeb, Brown Shuga and Soapie Sluts, Charmed_Dude and Cloud9.

DOOLA is going into it's second season (year) boasting over 3,000 Posts and 21,000 hits. It also boasts being TVSA's biggest thread as well as having more parties that Tinseltown!



My Other Blogs

Be sure not to miss my other blogs and read them too:

Charmed Recaps and Reviews) >> Back Online with the Latest Magical Happenings! Catch up on all the latest Charmed news and episodes with Episode Reviews and Previews.

7de Laan with Dane >> Read the 7de Laan Updates, News and Some Recaps on what happened in the Laan.

Tribal Talk Party >> View the pics and goss about what went down at the M-Net Survivor SA Tribal Talk Party in Durban at 80s featuring Gareth, Lezel and Brigitte.

US TV Ratings >> Read about how your fav shows are faring overseas, what number of viewers or demographic are they pulling in, close cancellation or close to a renewel?


×
×

You browser doesn't have Flash, Silverlight, Gears, BrowserPlus or HTML5 support.