New on SABC2 in December:
Noot vir Noot - Season 30 Premiere date: 7 December at 19h30
Noot vir Noot, South Africa’s longest running game show, will shortly be broadcasting its 400th episode. This is not only the 400th episode, but also the start of the 30th season, which is a milestone that few TV productions ever reach.
Over the years, the Noot vir Noot team have constantly worked on making improvements and additions to the programme, while always remaining true to the formula: money notes for musical notes. “This is the essence of Noot vir Noot”, says producer / presenter Johan Stemmet, “something that must always remain at the heart of the programme.”
To launch the 30th season, a new set has been built, giving Noot vir Noot a whole new look for audiences. The colour palette includes slick platinum tones with subtle lighting. The addition of new fabrics and materials provides depth and texture to the studio’s backdrop. The new set seats 130 guests in a circular seating arrangement, creating a feeling of coziness and warmth.
All the stops were pulled out make the 400th episode a TV spectacular. 18 top artists performed a specially composed medley for the episode, a feat that has never been achieved before on South African Television. Steve Hofmeyr, Leon Schuster, Juanita Du Plessis, Nicholis Louw, Dozi, Andre Schwartz, Carike Keuzenkamp, Jannie Moolman, Rina Hugo, Kurt Darren and Vicky Sampson, among others, performed the medley which ended with the Bala Brothers singing the Circle of Life.
Champion winners of previous seasons, Jurie Els (season I), Zelda Meyer (season 7), Dantjie Badenhorst (season 24) and Rikus Van Rooy (season 29) were brought back for a super tough challenge. Also in the audience is Liza Heystek, the man who first brought Noot vir Noot onto air at the SABC in 1991.
Close To Home Premiere date: 8 December at 16h00
Close to Home tears away the façade of suburbia to reveal that sometimes quiet and tranquil streets can hide the darkest of crimes. Annabeth Chase is a young, aggressive prosecutor with a perfect conviction record, who tries cases that come out of her own neighborhood.
Returning to work after having her first child, Annabeth is ready to take on the most difficult cases, fueled by her passion to protect her community and her family. But her new boss, Maureen Scofield, a no-nonsense lawyer who is not afraid to push Annabeth hard, challenges Annabeth's legal strategies.
Leading the team is Steve Sharpe, who is one of Annabeth's biggest supporters but is concerned about how her cases will play in the media. Annabeth's husband Jack, is devoted to their family and is a rock for her to lean on when the challenges of her job start to infringe on their home life.
Miss Teen SA & Miss SA Gala Event Miss Teen SA's on at 17h00 & Miss SA's on at 18h30
Community Builder of the YearOn: Sunday 9 December at 21h00
The Community Builder of the Year Award is an annual competition and one of the 11 Nation Building projects conceived by the late Dr Aggrey Klaaste. The project honours the heroes and heroines of South Africa, recognising their efforts in improving the quality of life of their communities in areas such as education, health, sport and recreation, environment and crime prevention. The National Awards Ceremony takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
Soweto Gospel ChiorOn: Tuesday 25 December at 21h30
Soweto Gospel Choir will be performing a new show “African Spirit" during their national tour in September 2007. This show is being produced to tie up with the release of the choir's new album of the same name and will, in essence, take on the theme of a 'spiritual journey, performed with true African spirit'.
The repertoire includes songs that deal with many aspects of the spirit, whether the religious spirit (gospel songs), the spirit of love (Bob Dylan's "l'll Remember You'), the spirit of togetherness as a unified people ('World in Union" and "One Love"), or the spiritual love of life (Dylan's "Forever Young").
As with all Soweto Gospel Choir's shows, the repertoire is not only gospel, but incorporates different styles of music to suit a multi-cultural, multi denominational audience, whether through religious, traditional or contemporary songs. The show will include a four piece band, dancers and percussionists and a set design as well as new costumes not seen before.
Summer Games 2Premieres: Saturday 15 December at 18h30
Summer Games 2, a large scale multi-media project is designed to fulfil SABC2’S local entertainment mandate through the creation of programming that reflects the diversity of South Africa in its content. Summer Games is a game show in the traditional format of elimination with two participating teams, of 10 members each competing against each other.
Summer Games 1 established the show as family entertainment. The international game show format (Intercities) has been successfully adapted for South Africa and the format features contestants in spectacular costumes from competing towns participating in huge scale games that allows for fierce competition. The format that has successfully been adapted for South Africa in terms of games, props and costumes will remain as for Summer Games I. The duration of the programme has been adapted to 48 minutes of content versus 72 minutes which allows for a high-action packed programme.
The game itself is played in the presence of the participating towns dignitaries such as the mayor. The format has great regional travel potential. It will also support the local industry on several levels as it provides opportunities for employment and skill development in the creation of sets, games and costumes in the regions. Summer Games 2 is seen as a programme that perfectly fits the channel’s positioning as a channel for the South African family in providing entertainment that is safe and responsible and which reflects the nation at play.
The Story of India Premiere date: Tuesdays 20 December at 22h00
For over two millennia, India has been at the centre of world history. But how did India come to be? What is India? These are the big questions behind this intrepid journey around the contemporary subcontinent.
In this landmark series, historian and acclaimed writer Michael Wood embarks on a dazzling and exciting expedition through today's India, looking to the present for clues to her past, and to the past for clues to her future. The journey takes the viewer through majestic landscapes and reveals some of the greatest monuments and artistic treasures on Earth.
From Buddhism to Bollywood, from mathematics to outsourcing, Michael Wood discovers India's impact on history and the world.
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