When I read the press releases on Kgomotso Matsunyane’s brand new talk series titled Late Night with Kgomotso. I thought they were kidding, because this is a genre which is dominated by man for very good reasons. Although I don’t mind a women hosting a late night show, in fact I think if one could be found, “that is if we haven’t already in Kgomotso – which I doubt”, I say go for it. But experience has taught me that such shows need someone who has a very strong background in comedy, as in either a “working and successful” comedy actor or stand-up comedian. You also can’t host such a show or format worried about your public image and perception, unless its for the protection of your obvious talents in that show.
The format for a successful late night show is based on the very reliable, yet often stupid approach men have to life and everything else. Given the audiences for late night television, chances for women hosting a long-running successful late show are like NEVER!
Most people just don’t think women aren't funny, especially funny every week at night for 26weeks on Saturday. Who is watching? Is it people who are at some hospital at night waiting for treatment or emergency surgery? Scheduling people!
I personally do not think women are not funny because if you look at women such as Tina Fey and Amy Poehler behind SNL's ''Weekend Update'' they are really funny. But the difference is that those ladies are comedians and that’s all they do. Just because you have your friends in stitches once in a while and your employees (they laugh because you pay their salaries – not because you are funny), it does not mean you should show the rest of us that you are funny. Take up stand-up comedy first and if you survive that then we may have something to talk about. I am not in any way saying that in order to host a late night show you have to be comedian, but we all know the format is based on the host being funny.
Lizz Winstead was quoted as saying ''There's plenty of women who have great mass appeal,''. She co-created The Daily Show for Comedy Central. I will reiterate the point I made earlier, those women do funny as their business, not occasionally. Its their passion, its their life.
It is a known fact for any television professional that late-night is watched mostly by the young men advertisers crave — and young men don't think women are funny. I am sure you can guess, what those young men think about when a women is in the picture. Here is a hint, it has nothing to do with you talking... not unless you are nasty! Hence we have that pornographic infestation over at ETV and everybody knows that young men from every corner are watching. What are these boys going to find funny about this old gogo talking at night (who probably looks like some of these kids parents) whilst they are waiting for their e-porn fix after being robbed by Brainbox.
Now I decided to torture myself and kept on reciting “
it’s a first episode”, “
it’s a first episode” and I thought my mantra was working until she started missing her cameras. I immediately had a Felicia Mabuza flash-back. Here is what I am talking about:
(NO THE OTHER WAY.....)
(NO, MAN.... THE OTHER WAY)
(FORGET IT, THIS DOG AINT HUNTING.....)
Television history teachers the following - Cynthia Garret had a short late-'90s stint as host of NBC's Later; Whoopi Goldberg made a failed attempt at a syndicated show. But the only woman to make a major nighttime network break is Joan Rivers, first as Johnny Carson's permanent guest host in the '80s and then with her own short-lived Fox show (1986-87). On the other side of the coin you have guys like Phat Joe who had a great show whilst on ETV, although it could have used a better budget but he was following a trend of those male hosted late night shows. Greed and whatever else just swallowed that cool show into nothingness. If there was someone to become a long-standing late-night show host, it was Phat Joe. He had the personality, popularity and comic excellence to be a late night show super power. As for Paul Viv, that was a TELEVISION STROKE right in front of our eyes. My goodness, it gives me pains in my back just thinking of that laxative experience.
NBC's VP of late-night and prime-time series Rick Ludwin was quated as saying ''The fact is that over 50 years of late-night television, there has not been one successful late-night show hosted by a woman.'' Perhaps Kgomotso may just be the one. I would not bet on it, especially in this economic climate.
In order to make something a success, you need to be willing to invest in it. Firstly, the set of this show looks like they are taping from someone’s garage. Kgomotso is laughing so loud, the sound engineer must intervene, she might have learned from Noeleen. This genre needs a huge audience and a great production team of writers, producers and creative staff. Most people don’t know that late night shows go through the same production cycle as soap operas. They have more or less the same type cast except for the actors…. Well late night has actors but they either do sketch segments or are interviews by the host.
Kgomotso kicked off her show with what seemed like a five hour long never ending speech which I found out later that it was supposed to be a variety of jokes based on current events. At one point she actually told the audience, “that was a joke” and they laughed. I don’t know if they laughed at her or at the joke.
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An extract from the synopsis of the show on TVSA reads:
Both cheeky and celebratory in tone, the show will feature a balance of talk and entertainment, showcasing the country’s hottest creative talents, from musicians to comedians.
This show screamed daytime talk show. Granted the lady has a character which makes her unique but what came though for me whilst watching was a fun loving executive who could hold a conversation, but not a television conversation. Its still early days maybe she has something planned around episode 18 or so.
The most interesting thing about the show, in between my channel hoping, was that the first guest comedian (forgot his name) was funnier and sort of held the show together. He had more jokes that the host had question to ask. That was down right embarrassing, they should give the show to that guy maybe we would be more entertained. This is what you get when you try to stay at home and relax with your TV. You end up being bombarded by crap. “26 weeks” my goodness, it is going to be rough ride. All we can do is hope that it will improve or something new will catch our interests in the world of Dstv. Alternatively, plan your party route for the next 25 weeks and you can leave your house at 9pm or 10pm.
The Observers Reviews
A DISAPPOINTING premier!
Lets HOPE there is SALVATION!
Adapt to it if you DARE!
By The Observer
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