The stage is set for South Africa's biggest ever talent search,
SA's Got Talent, which premieres on SABC2 on 1 October.
Conceived by Simon Cowell's production company the 'Got Talent' format has been a major worldwide hit, with almost 30 countries adopting local versions, the biggest of which are Britain's Got Talent and America's Got Talent.
The reason for the show's success are many, but one of the features of it is unusual acts that the mainstream public would never otherwise get to see.
Being open to all ages it also produces unlikely stars who are perceived as either too young or too old to produce the performances they do.
Finally, it unearths huge talent in the most unlikely of people, which challenges our own social prejudices towards others.
The insane success of Scottish frump Susan Boyle on the latest season of Britain's Got Talent - who smashed the stereotype of herself and got viewed more than 100-million times on YouTube alone, around the world - has catapulted the 'Got Talent' format way above other such reality competitions and right into the international spotlight.
Suddenly everyone sees the immense possibilities this show offers - an anonymous street sweeper can, overnight, become one of the biggest stars on the planet.
Now that's something to aspire to...
Amidst all the hullabaloo we find ourselves fast approaching our own version of the show, SA's Got Talent. Will we unearth any strange, unusual or brilliant talents? Will we be delighted and thrilled, or horrified? Will we laugh and will we cry?
We can't answer that yet but we can hope that whatever else, we are entertained.
To give you a good idea of what's going on in international versions of the show we've compiled a bunch of videos of some acts that have already gained widespread attention, for any of the reasons mentioned above.
Some are strange, some are spectacular, and all have one thing in common: talent.
Susan BoyleA Scottish spinster of 47 became the biggest star on the planet after appearing in the first episode of Britain's Got Talent 3, in 2009, and blew everyone away with her powerful singing voice.
Her appearance and eccentricity belied the talent beneath, which until this performance had never before been realised.
She failed to win the show, coming second to the brilliant dance group Diversity (see below), but made a massive mark on global popular culture and is sure to make a ton of cash before she's done.
DiversityThis dance group won Britain's Got Talent 3, beating Susan Boyle in the final.
When we say "dance group", take it with a pinch of salt. These guys have brought something completely new to the world - a form of 'dance graffiti' which mixes theatre, performance art, dance and goodness knows what else into a heady mix, underscored by a sharp, vicious soundtrack of industrial sounds, pop culture soundbytes and music.
The sheer originality, complexity and inventiveness of their act is breathtaking. Look out for tons of copycat acts in future.
Bobby BadfingersBobby appeared on America's Got Talent, describing himself as a "Professional Fingersnapper". Which is exactly what he is.
Bobby never won, but he brought an entirely new art form to the table.
IlluminatiA group of students who appeared on the latest India's Got Talent, performing a live action version of the classic Nintendo game Super Mario Bros.
The judges appear to not have a clue about Mario Bros, and unless you are familiar with the game it may seem a little pointless.
Very cool nonetheless, highlighting once again the imagination brought by some people to the show.
Quick ChangeAnother act from America's Got Talent, who also brought something totally new into the mainstream conscious - the art of quick change.
Basically, it's impossible. You have to see it to believe it.
And all women, everywhere, should take it upon themselves to learn how to do this - it would save us all a lot of time.
Bianca Ryan11-year-old Bianca Ryan was the winner of the first season of America's Got Talent, and her very first audition gives a good clue as to why.
The voice on this kid does not belong in an 11-year-old, yet she belts it out there like any of the world's top divas.
Some have criticised the fact that kids and singers are allowed to participate in the 'Got Talent' format - auditions like this are the best way to silence such critics.
Other acts across the world have included ventriloquists, rapping grannies, animal acts, jugglers, trapeze artists, magicians, comedians, strippers, beatboxers, martial artists, impersonators, bands and many more.
Of course you also get the not-so-talented, from a British dude who farted God Save the Queen to a man breakdancing in a cow suit that shot milk at the judges in America.
All of it combined makes for a magic hour of entertainment - as long as SA's Got Talent.
LinksSA's Got Talent Show Page (includes audition details)
Meet The Judges, Hosts Of 'Talent'