TOP BILLING OR TOP EXCESS??????

Written by lepogo from the blog Rant and rave on 10 Oct 2008
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To be honest with you all,I normally watch this program under duress and strict conditions that I need to know whats trendy and modern,meaning I cant pass comments,cant try and sneak in a kiss,or,you know,all the things I cant do when MYSTERIO is busy kicking butt in the ring..

But yesterday's segment on a baby's christening I found to be so crass in its display of wealth and riches,and on how people impress us,the hoi polloi,with shoes made of silk,sourced in Parma,Swarkovski crystals and Mother of pearls on the little girl's shoes(but are they really shoes?)

And I am not advocating that anyone share their wealth,but do we,really have to display it in this manner?I found the whole segment barbaric and probably on the same scale as the display of Ferraris by Mthembu and his floozy whose name Im not allowed to mention by rules of etiquette and decency.

And I was left wondering if it is okay that the public broadcaster be used to display and help these self centred wenches to be so crass and help them achieve their ambitions of fame and self-aggrandisement?

Does it mean that I can be on tv displaying all my excesses,whether vulgar or not,or can anyone,for that matter,go on national tv and show us how do gays get it on?WHere are the limits?Who the hell sets them?Who keeps it in check?How do they decide what is it we need to see?

Can they now play German porn on the National broadcaster?Or even give Harambe a segment on what he gets up to on Sunday mornings??

Ride on mense,ride on...

22 Comments

lepogo
10 Oct 2008 03:30

lets fire away!?!

Toodecent
10 Oct 2008 03:44

Riding on comrade.... people love showing off and somehow the broadcaster thinks we will be inspired or whatever. Still as a young black man dont see the use of owning a R4 Million Sports car and be arrogant about it. Why cant I get a simple Audi TT and a Sedan then donate whats left to charity nje? Or pay for one students regitration ko varsity out of good.

belz
10 Oct 2008 03:45

I have always thought Top Billing is about trendy and modern, as you mention lepogo, i stopped watching when everybody's wedding was now shown on TB. If eg. Tox's wedding is on top billing and she's wearing a dress designed by awelani, is at Sun city and the cake is 6 feet tall, i understand that they are probably trying to show us, no, those who can afford it how its now done, but then having everybody's wedding does not make sense to me, or does this mean A's wedding is more trendier than B. I enjoyed the DIY thing they had going on at some stage, because it helped us see that we can make our homes beautiful in an affordable manner. Otherwise that show stopped making sense to me a long time ago.

Simmone
10 Oct 2008 03:47

Didn’t watch the show, Eishkom was busy keeping us in the dark.

I have always believed that Top Billing is about show casing the lifestyles of the rich and famous and for the rest of us LSM1’s to watch in envy and day dream about how we can score a job as a maid in those castles and be able to bask in their glory.

Life is that vain, front page of some magazine I just saw in a news stand has Uyanda Mbuli telling the whole world she just bought a dress that cost half a million.

You can either choose to be a Bill Gates or Richard Branson or you become Mthembu and tell the whole world you use a R100 note to wipe your ass. Either way it doesn’t make a difference, some television executive still gets a fat cheque for showing that.

realist
10 Oct 2008 03:50

The only time I watch top billing is when they discuss the house on display. Other than that I pass. On the whole i concur with your sentiments.

Even Oprah, she had a show displaying how many shoes, rooms of her house, panties and I mean everything that she had to the world to see. I ask myself was it really necessary? Even on channel there is this show called cribs, boy oh boy the stuff that they show you wonder if it is sustainable.

cleve
10 Oct 2008 03:54

I mean why are the likes of Mandla and his ***** on top billing, showing off!!!!

lepogo
10 Oct 2008 03:57

Tell you what,I dont have a problem with Americans doing that,but when it is done right in our backyards,but when the Public broadcaster is used to help these cretins advertise their masturbations in public,at the expense of the broadcaster,then there is a serious problem of not knowing how to spend our taxes-in fact you'll never see such excess in white families-they are used to money and luxuries-but ohoo-let TDC be rich and see how he flosses and impress mere mortals.....

But at our bloody expense?????

Toxic
10 Oct 2008 03:57

I enjoyed the DIY thing they had going on at some stage, because it helped us see that we can make our homes beautiful in an affordable manner.

me too!!!

I found the whole segment barbaric and probably on the same scale as the display of Ferraris by Mthembu and his floozy whose name Im not allowed to mention by rules of etiquette and decency.

LOL...........!!

I stopped watching Top Billing about two years ago cause i just felt all this wealth was being thrown in my face. i appreciate that it gives us a glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous, or at least that's what i thought it was doing, but then at some point we were seeing how the rich/wealthy spent their money.

Again, once you've seen one Tuscan home you've seen them all. i grew tired of their visits to all these seaside/beach houses.

realist
10 Oct 2008 03:57

Even on channel there is this show called cribs,
Meant to say Channel O

belz
10 Oct 2008 04:02

I have always believed that Top Billing is about show casing the lifestyles of the rich and famous and for the rest of us LSM1’s to watch in envy and day dream about how we can score a job as a maid in those castles and be able to bask in their glory.> LOL!!!!

Nonny
10 Oct 2008 04:04

I also don't even remember when I stopped watching Top Billing.

I have always believed that Top Billing is about show casing the lifestyles of the rich and famous and for the rest of us LSM1’s to watch in envy and day dream about how we can score a job as a maid in those castles and be able to bask in their glory.
LOL

cant try and sneak in a kiss,or,you know,all the things I cant do when MYSTERIO is busy kicking butt in the ring..
LOL

I don't enjoy these kinda shows where it's like ama celebs are rubbing it in our faces ukuthi what I earn every month, is less than equilvalent to a Zim dollar to them.

carino
10 Oct 2008 04:24

Good one, lepogo...
I also stopped watching Top Billing but for me, it was very much about wealth flashing thing....
I think became just another Selimathunzi.... same things over and over again... we going to X's house, we show you Y's wedding/matric dance.. Z cooks for us.. over and over again.

Dimago
13 Oct 2008 04:30

Yep, i also don' watch top billing anymore...for the same reasons as most of you...flashing wealth, making me feel like i'll never get there and how the whole show is presented/potrayed (like this is the only life in the country)

Amaka
15 Oct 2008 10:36

Nice topic!

I saw that segment and i could only conclude that it was the lady's way of making it rain on the absent father, she did say she was a single mother. I hope the one who's name we cannot mention didn't see it though, otherwise she'll have gotten a flash of inspiration to do something way over the top as well or she would ask herself why she didn't think of that.

Nonny
15 Oct 2008 10:39

I also stopped watching Top Billing but for me, it was very much about wealth flashing thing....
I think became just another Selimathunzi.... same things over and over again... we going to X's house, we show you Y's wedding/matric dance.. Z cooks for us.. over and over again.
Yep Carno, same reason I don't watch anymore. If only the Top Billing people could see Lepogo's article and the bloggers' responses here, they would realise change is needed.

Shuga babe
15 Oct 2008 10:46

The last time i watched Top Billing, it was Mandoza's wedding and the presenter was Chichi 4got her surname (she played Zandi on Genrubbish).

Mathaz
16 Oct 2008 04:57

I enjoy Top Billing, i know at times at seems like they are showing off but for me it serves as some form of inspiration. The decor and the recipes gives me an idea about things that are way beyond my budget. That particular Thursday i actually thought that Gavin Rajah was showcasing his new christening range and that child was used as a model. I forgot the mother's name but i remember i the surname Majola, if someone remembers the name please holla i want to google her.

lepogo
16 Oct 2008 05:15

Her name is Toy-there nothing on her or any of her apparent Designs or any sound bites on her,or even her websites.Must say It felt like a cheap publicity stunt that can only be rivalled by Sbu's self serving ways...

felfel
16 Oct 2008 05:40

I don't particurlay like Top Billing but i always find myself watching it...especially those houses which don't look like anyone lives in, they are like hotels....anyway its their money.
As for Toy Majola and her baby's over the top christening, i did think it was a complete waste, i mean how about putting all that money in a trust fund for the poor child, whats next for the 1st birthday, yho i can't imagine......but then again its her money, and i do hope she didn't take out a loan....cash.

The show hasn't changed one bit over the years, its missable, what ever happened to the new presenters kanti.............mxim..........

Lifestyles of the rich and shameless...i mean famous........
Some die with a name, some die nameless............

Cheecky
28 Jan 2009 10:26

It's very sad to hear and read about negative comments from fellow South African. Toy work hard for her money, she can do what ever she want's to. She got a shelter for baby Nzulu, And I'm saying the sky is the LIMIT for those who doesn't support our fellow sister's and brother's.

Cheecky
28 Jan 2009 10:26

Lessie
28 Jan 2009 12:26

I totally agree with you Cheecky. I mean if people can spend the same amount of money for weddings, why can't they do it for their kids or whatever else they feel like spending their money on. It is all about what you prefer. Yeah, they should contribute to charity whilst spending the money that they work hard for.