Cal Fire
Channel: Discovery Channel (DStv 121)
TX Time: 20h55
Genre: Docu-Reality, Nature
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) is dedicated to fire prevention and protection of California's privately and publicly-owned wildlands and is the lead agency battling the historic wildfires that burned across California in 2020 - the worst in the state's history.
Discovery Channel, in partnership with Cal Fire, is bringing their battle against life-threatening blazes television.
The 2020 fire season in California was catastrophic, with more than 4.1-million acres burned, 9,400 homes and structures destroyed, and 33 lives lost at the time of the making of the series.
The men and women of Cal Fire sacrifice their own lives to protect others.
Many firefighters are unable to go home to their families for weeks as they constantly put the public's needs above their own.
In the series, multiple camera crews were embedded with Cal Fire's frontline firefighters across the state - from Shasta in the North to San Diego in the South for three months, deploying cutting edge technology including fire-resistant helmet cameras to bring an ultra-immersive perspective on the blazes.
Crews had to undergo "Red Flag" training and were equipped with special protective gear in order to accompany the firefighters on the fire lines.
Cal Fire gives a first-hand look at some of California's most destructive fires including the Apple Fire near the Cherry Valley neighborhood in Southern California, the Creek Fire in the Sierra National Forest and the El Dorado Fire near San Bernardino County.
From Napa to San Diego, several fires ravaged California this year - and the worst is likely yet to come as they are in the midst of an unpredictable Santa Ana wind season.
Follow these heroic firefighters' experience during wildfire season.
Grown-ish
Channel: e.tv
TX Time: 19h30
Genre: Comedy
A half-hour comedy tackling current social issues and complexities facing both students and administrators.
It follows Zoey, Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow's (Tracee Ellis Ross) popular, entitled, stylish and socially active 17-year-old daughter from black-ish, as she heads into her freshman year of college.
In the series premiere, Zoey arrives at California University certain she will be a hot shot on campus, but quickly learns she may have a little more growing to do.
Indebted
Channel: M-Net (DStv 101)
TX Time: 19h00
Genre: Comedy
Young parents Dave and Rebecca are ready to reclaim their life after years of diapers and sleepless nights.
However, things take an unexpected turn when Dave's parents show up unannounced and broke, leaving Dave with no choice but to open the door to the people who gave him everything.
But these boomerang parents aren't great with boundaries and the question of who's parenting who quickly become blurred in this multi-generational comedy starring Fran Drescher and Adam Pally as mother and son.
In the series premiere, "Everybody's Talking about the Pilot": Young parents Dave and Rebecca end up having to take care of Dave's parents who have mishandled their finances and need help to pay down a sizable debt.
Idols 16
Channel: Mzansi Wethu (DStv 163)
TX Time: 17h30
Genre: Reality Competition, Music
The quest to find Mzansi's next Idol begins when Season 16 premieres, promising drama, fashion, tears, triumphs and unforgettable moments.
The show retains ProVerb as host this season, accompanied by returning judges Unathi, Somizi and Randall Abrahams.
This year's auditions were filmed before Lockdown in March in four cities: Pretoria, Durban, Jo'burg and Cape Town.
The return of the talent search show comes after Luyolo Yiba dropped the wooden mic to get the golden ticket, made it past theatre week and the live shows, before he won the grand prize in the 15th season.
All the judges will make their return this season and there will once again be celebrity guest judges.
While the show's production team will take the necessary health precautions to ensure the safety of the contestants is prioritised, all mass auditions were shot before Lockdown.
All the requisite health guidelines will be put in place ahead of all the live shows, and the cast and crew will ensure that social distancing, sanitizing of hands and venues with adequate ventilation will be used for this year's show.
In the Season 16 premiere: It's Idols Sweet 16 this year and the audition tour begins when ProVerb, Unathi, Randall and Somizi - along with guest judge Cassper Nyovest - search for talent in Cape Town.
TVSA Show Page: Idols 16
Dr. Pimple Popper 5
Channel: TLC Entertainment (DStv 135)
TX Time: 20h00
Genre: Reality
Dr. Pimple Popper features dermatologist Dr. Sandra Lee as she treats patients with unusual skin conditions and helps them to lead a life free of embarrassment - one needle, pop and scalpel at a time.
Pop-a-holics can celebrate because the doctor is in.
This new season of Dr. Pimple Popper will take you through the powerful and emotional journeys of each patient with skin conditions that are preventing them from feeling their best.
The episodes will feature Dr. Lee's most challenging cases to date, which were introduced in Before the Pop, which aired last year and focused on telemedicine appointments due to the pandemic.
Now, armed with her splash mask and sensitive bedside manner, Dr. Lee will roll up her sleeves and prepare to take on those cases and others, with the hope of helping them to lead lives free of embarrassment, while giving them a boost of self-confidence.
Some of the cases this season are so extreme, Dr. Lee teams up with specialists in order to provide the best outcome possible.
Some examples of what you will see in these episodes are: an adorable eight-year-old girl - the youngest patient yet on the series - with an extreme case of psoriasis who would like to be a dermatologist when she grows up.
There's also a man with severe keloids on the back of his head and scalp that are so challenging, it will take two doctors and, an incredibly rare case of nevus sebaceous that covers much of a woman's face.
Siyaya: Search for the Big 7
Channel: Da Vinci (DStv 318)
TX Time: 14h00
Genre: Kids, Wildlife, Nature
This local live-action kids' series follows five youngsters who set off into the vast Addo Elephant National Park in search of the Big Seven.
Big Seven? You read that right. The Big Seven includes southern right whales and great white sharks.
Join the gang to meet these majestic creatures for yourself, as well as explore a range of other animals that inhabit the national park.
The Garden of Eden
When a group of young explorers set off for an adventure in the vast Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa, they get more than they bargained for.
They meet buffalo, snakes and a giant lizard big enough to kill a rabbit.
The Big One
The young adventurers continue their search for the Big Seven wild animals in Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa.
They discover ancient rock art in caves and experience exciting moments with a large herd of elephants.
Whale of a Time
The explorers head for the sea on their search for the biggest of the Big Seven wild animals in South Africa - the whale.
On the way they meet giant snails, noisy frogs and dolphins. They are about to give up their search when they spot two playful whales.
Hunters of the Deep
Today the explorers are on the trail of a Great White Shark.
From the research boat they spot a massive five-meter shark, one of the biggest ever seen at Bird Island.