SA Rocks

This is probably one of the most random and seriously exciting things I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in this year. Last week Saturday I was sitting having coffee in Parkhurst when these two guys sitting close by whip open a laptop and start playing this TV series. I think nothing of it and carry on sipping my espresso.

Yet there is only so much you can laugh under your breath at hilarious comedy an arms length away from you at a coffee shop. So I interject and ask if I have it right and what I am listening to is actually a South African version of ‘The Office’.

Fast forward about a week and notonTV is live.

This is a homage to the original The Office series by the guys at notonTV. NotonTV is a new youtube channel providing local comedy content that you largely won’t find on SA TV because it would be deemed ‘unPC’ or too ‘sensitive’ for SA TV viewers.

I spoke with the guys at notonTV and 100% back their concept of saying what people want to hear said and doing what people want to have done.

Here’s their homage to ‘The Office’, it is incredibly hilarious and has great production values. Gone are the days of slapstick comedy and badly lit film sets.

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I’ve heard the hype, the radio and TV adverts, I’ve heard alot about this show (The Coconuts) in fact. But then I missed the first episode. Luckily I was able to watch it after the pilot was broadcast.

Let’s get right into it. I like the show. I like the idea and I am happy that the black actors don’t remain white for too long (early into the first episode). The makeup wasn’t phenomenal in spite of the 7 hour marathon to put it on, apparently.

What I do like about this show is that it is very politically incorrect. Yes there have been other shows with similar ideas, think Madame and Eve and Going up to a certain extent I suppose. But this show is different, direct and more in your face.

The Coconuts also features something a bit new, black people getting stuck in to other black people. It’s not just about race, it’s about class too! Fantastic.

However it’s not all good. Some of the jokes are old and outdated (however funny). A new approach to a relatively old experience would’ve been grand. Alas I feel as if South African writers stick to what is safe.

A Little britten has opinions about the show too, so pop over there and have a read for yourself.

Jason Von Berg from The Times managed to put together a great video on The Coconuts. Check it out:


Brought to you by: The Times Multimedia

So to end of the post let me answer the title: No, I don’t think this is a new generation of humour or Television in SA. I think this is the old generation in a new hat. Something good needs to happen, something great needs to take place in SA T.V. to make me sit back and go “wow”.

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This issue has been blogged about numerous times by bloggers in SA. I haven’t blogged about it because the poor (albeit dumb) girl has had more than enough bad exposure.

Yet there is now a reason for me to post. Khaya, an SA comedian has put Miss South Carolina’s statements in to a short parody of some sorts. Very funny to hear a smart South Africans take on the situation. Watch the two videos and make up your own mind about the whole thing.

Here’s the original video off YouTube:

And here is Khaya’s parody:

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Bullard’s heated sideswipe blistered the blogosphere ..and just blasted home another powerful reason why SA ROCKS! what?! Why in the world would I claim this as a positive about South Africa?

The constitutional right to freedom of speech that each of us enjoys today has been exercised. Regardless of whether that opinion is one we share or rail vehemently against – the RIGHT to express that opinion is something we enjoy in this country. For now.

Set in a global context, there are people are being jailed in Iran, Egypt, China, Zimbabwe for the rights we enjoy here. (For those impassioned enough to write in response consider lending your voice to the greater force for good, bloggers & ‘real‘ journalists lives are at stake for the right to banter as we do). Even if it’s hate speech or degrading polemic humans have a birthright to rant.

I heartily agree that most of the blogosphere is bogus bollocks – it’s reflective of life.

“The best argument against democracy is a five minute talk with the average voter.” -Winston Churchill

But thanks to search engines and RSS I don’t need to come into contact with unnecessary swill enroute to the good stuff. We have choice what to pay attention to, rather than being offered a slim filter of what is deemed acceptable by those who know better than you (you swarthy heaving masses who need your untamed minds tranquilised for civility).

Like Wikipedia you have the right to put up whatever crap you like, but eventually knowledge neutrality smoothes out what is flaming unsubstantiated bullshite ..and oddly enough the result is an increasingly accurate view of reality to date.

So I have the right to be irritated by the article, but the only thing that could have done with editing was the peculiar association with the Virginia Tech massacre. The right to free expression had Seung-Hui Cho flagged by his professors for his violent and malevolent spewings in creative writing classes. He was a writer but not a blogger, and that fetid association sparked the flame of fury online because it was baseless.

I do certainly agree with the headline that cowardly cowering behind anonymity online allows for the depraved and sexually-frustrated to exercise their power to disseminate fear. But oddly very FEW bloggers take the route of anonymous expression – particularly because they AREN’T paid. Humans always have to have a What’s In It For Me angle. Like David Bullard, the majority of bloggers are out there to get attention. Within an Attention Economy this can translate into being paid if you prove your expertise. Most drop their blogs when they don’t get enough attention in reward, because they’re braindrainingly dull. Natural selection. But I digress.

We are so damn lucky to have the window of opportunity to evade being muzzled in this playground of paperless publishing. Policies of control instituted when people are reacting out of fear plays right into the hands of unhealthy dictatorship – political, religious or corporate. 1 order of thought-leadership not thought-control please.

This is not about oldskool journos vs bright young bloggers, it is about seeing the potency of words to shift attention. Those with the most power are those with the biggest audiences, simple. This is why entertainers & sportstars can command surreal salaries – they can capture and sustain attention. Traditional media has earned its sway. It is evolving, but still commands the lionshare and its effect proven today.

Bullard trippingly set a trap to test the bloggy waters & found his bait handsomely rewarded. It would have been a wonderful time to translate that attention: but wait, hark! ..you think Groogle hasn’t been sharing a tip or two with the man. LOL!! Ray and teamsters have been hard at work, and no doubt delighting in David taking on the bad cop role so eagerly. Sun Tzu, nay Machiavelli would be glowing with pride.

David Bullard is a court jester among the finest of the archetype, sparing no sacred cow.

Give thanks that you woke up in South Africa today, and blog for all you’re worth. Rock your bullhorn boys & girls. Who knows, you may even refine your skills and one day rise to the hallowed domain of the pressroom, I know you all secretly long for it, now dontcha?!

PS. check Bullard’s response on video (sorry bandwidth starved South Africans, but this one’s worth it)

PPS. use your powers for good and support freedom of the press, or join ISOC’s policy-making committee on digital freedom – one day this may affect you.

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Willy and Arno in conflict about evolution. Their thoughts on how we all started off as black and turned in to white!

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