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You’ll remember that I wrote about who I think should judge South Africa’s got talent here. And a little more here.

Well much to my dismay I’ve just read that the self proclaimed music maestro of South Africa, Randall Abrahams is going to be a judge on the new show.

How sad is that?! I can only imagine how Seth Rotherham over at 2oceansvibe.com is going to react to this disturbing latest development,what with his well known public humiliation spat with Randall here.

Seth 7 – Randall 0

We had a chance to do something different on this show and we blew it.

Tonight is carrying this article:

From a frumpy 40-something Scotswoman and a 16-year-old street dancer to a Texas-born ventriloquist and an insurance-selling male opera singer, the British and US versions of the Got Talent? franchise have proved to be a true testament to the natural gifts of “the everyman”.

But while the likes of Susan Boyle may suddenly find themselves thrust into the full glare of the showbiz spotlight, it’s the men and women seated at the judges’ desk who are ultimately responsible for a reality show’s make or break factor. So much so, the folks affording contestants the yay or nay verdict have been known to become celebrities in their own right.

Just ask Simon Cowell.

Thanks to his cutting (and often controversial) criticisms of contenders on American Idol and The X-Factor over the years, he of the man-boobs is now a recognised name the world over. Would that Cowell’s South African counterpart, Randall Abrahams, could someday find himself in a similar position.

Having only recently vacated his adjudicator’s seat on Idols V, we can exclusively reveal that Abrahams (with Ian von Memerty and Shado Twala) is again poised to offer up his trademark dead-pan expression as a judge on SA’s Got Talent.

You can read the rest of the article here.

Love the manboobs chirp. Nice!

The rest of the judges are pretty cool I guess. It’s nice that Anele Mdoda is compering, she has a sharp wit. Can’t say I know too much about the rest.

The UK took it upon themselves to show us the grace and beauty of Amanda Holden week in and week out.

We choose Randall.

Can’t say Im enjoying that vibe. Let’s Recap… and little liked judge, no eye candy, lack of wit… hmmm this is sure to be a winner! I hope I’m wrong!

Oh wait  I just remembered I only do DSTV, cos thats the way I like to roll.

This is going to be interesting!

So SABC 2 have got the South Africa’s Got Talent format show. It’s a wonder Mnet and co didn’t snap it up as usual. Maybe they know something we don’t.

As entertaining as it is, there is a lot of kak out there and maybe that’s why this show went to the generic broadcaster. The fact it’s on SABC 2 also points to it maybe being a lower funded event. Wouldn’t it be fun though if Mara and co got totally upstaged by this?

We all know the power of the viral market a la Susan Boyle, so who knows we might have our very own Internet Super Hero soon. I certainly hope so, it would be a lot of fun to watch Idols get a rude awakening with a competitor.

Sadly I don’t think this will happen. Think Coca Cola Popstars (who?)

The show starts Thursday 13 August. Don’t bet against the usual suspects in MTN, Vodacom and Coca Cola having their name prefixed to the thing, in that peculiarly South Africa way.

Telkom SA’s Got Talent is produced in SA by Rapid Blue (website doesnt work in Firefox) The show calls for anyone with any kind of talent to enter to show it off. Any kind of talent? I can wriggle my tongue pretty well.

Dancers, acrobats, comedian’s, speciality acts, magicians, poets, singers, etc can enter for a chance to win the pot, R250 000.

The winner will also the opportunity to perform at the President’s Command Performance at the end of the year. I guess that counts out a lot of folks, most particularly the guys at Laughitoff. They’re a pretty talented bunch.

You’ll remember that I theorised on who the judges may be in my last post [here] but now I’m thinking we are going to get the ‘obscures ones’ in on this thing. Hell Mara even made it onto Idols, what can we REALLY hope for with SA’s Got Talent?

Repeat after me folks. Hot chicks, proper talent scouts, people who we have actually HEARD of please. That’s the mix I want. Oh and Zola and Zamajobe can compere the thing.

Talking of hot chicks, Amanda Holden almost fell out of her dress. Lovely!

Ok so South Africa is ‘Getting Talent’

So not only do we have to be content with the knobs on Idols [here], we now also have to follow every move Simon Cowell ever made and get SA’s Got Talent. Are we going to find our own Internet phenomenon like Susan Boyle? Only time will tell.

I’m guessing this is going to be a gumboot dancing, pantsula, boereorkes cheesefest.

The show will premiere on August 13 (not April 1 as it probably should)

SA’s Got Talent calls for “any age, any act” (from singers, dancers and comedians to variety acts, animal trainers and acrobats) to compete for the top prize of R250 000, as well as the opportunity to perform at the new President’s Command Performance later this year. The WHAT???!!!

Maybe JZ should get in on the act, and that dude who acted in the Latest Nandos Election advert, the identity protected fella (we all know who you are)[here]. Hell maybe they should try find space for the Intellectually Challenged One [here], she of the ‘offended nature’.

“The real appeal of SA’s Got Talent is that there are no restrictions on who can enter and what your talent has to be. Anything goes,” said Nivasha Naidoo, SABC2′s marketing manager.

The Got Talent format is apparently the most successful international talent show ever created.

Jerry Springer, The Hoff and Sharon Osbourne (guest starring Simon Cowell) judge the USA version.

Piers Morgan, The Talented Amanda Holden [here] and Simon himself (oh and lately that ever delightful Kelly Brook) judge the UK version.

“We will be appointing a host as well as a panel of judges for our series, and will be making announcements in this regard soon,” added Naidoo.

The entry process for SA’s Got Talent works as follows:

# Applicants can register to attend an audition by calling 083 913 1120 and following the voice prompts.

# Applicants may also register by sending an email to talent@rapidblue.com.

# Registering to audition secures a place at the auditions. Auditions will take place in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Durban and Joburg.

Contestants who have registered will be contacted with a confirmation of the date, time and venue for their audition. Contestants who supply an email address or fax number will be sent the full entry form, which they can complete prior to their audition to save time on the day. Registration for national auditions is currently open.

So who would our judges be? PRAY TO GOD NO PLEASE NOT RANDALL OR MARA.

I’ll vote for DJ FRESH, GARETH CLIFF and some hot totty like Lee-Ann Liebenberg.

Fresh can be the bad guy.

Hosts can be John Vlismas and Genevieve Morten [here].

I’d watch that.

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Joe Social