Reality low alert!
I never thought I'd feel iffy about a Big Brother spin-off reality show but I've just realised that I am. Big Brother's Mandla and Lexi have landed themselves their own reality show and I almost rolled my eyes off my face when I first heard what it's about.
The reason I'm iffy: they were brilliant on Big Brother but that's because they were
real people. Both of them were real and together they were able to entertain, shock and titillate without the intrusions and censorships of the "showbiz scene".
All that's changed now because Mandla's pursuing a music career and Lexi wants to be an actress so the show's going to follow them as they face the "entertainment industry hustle" - which makes it the same as so many of the other celeb reality shows. I would much rather have seen them back on TV in a different context or on a different show.
This is the release about it - see what you think:
Press Release
Big Brother Mzansi’s Mandla and Lexi are ready to turn up the heat on Mzansi Magic, DSTV Channel 161 with the debut of their brand new reality show.
Fans of the couple, who fell in love on the set of Big Brother Mzansi 2014, will now be able to witness the next stage in what is unquestionably the most talked-about and intimate relationship that the reality show has produced.
“Mandla and Lexi has been created for those Big Brother Mzansi fans who want to know what happened after Lexi and I left the house,” states Mandla. “But it is also for everyone who wants to get an up-close view into what it takes to make a relationship work when two people are so different. Lexi is fire and I am ice – but we are forging a life together and we want to share that with viewers.”
“Our show is original and will take us beyond being seen as ‘Mandla and Lexi – the Big Brother couple’,” adds Lexi. “We face real life challenges now, and not those set by the producers of the show where we first met. This show will showcase our relationship as we go through different avenues and follows challenging ventures and paths.”
Vaal-raised Mandla Hlatshwayo (24) walked away with one million rand when he won Big Brother Mzansi but must now use his money, ingenuity and more to make the leap from Spaza shop owner to musician. A former call centre agent based in Cape Town, 25-year-old Lexi van Niekerk (25) is now chasing her dream of becoming an actress in the competitive city of Johannesburg.
Into this mix of entertainment industry hustle comes the family and friends of both Mandla and Lexi – along with the drama, highs, lows, dreams, romance, fame and desires of the couple who caused a stir with their displays of desire whilst in the house together.
The 5 part series, Mandla and Lexi is the very first spin-off reality show from the Big Brother Mzansi reality show.
“I'm feeling super excited that the show is finally airing,” admits Lexi. “I am also a little nervous because we are in a television genre that is filled with successful shows – but I am sure Mzansi Magic viewers will be drawn into our world.”
“I’m just as excited as the viewers to see the show,” adds Mandla.
Mandla and Lexi airs from the 3rd of March at 19:00 on Mzansi Magic, Channel 161.
Based on this description I'm very concerned that the show's going to be too constructed and that it's going to force them to lose the spontaneity of Big Brother.
Your thoughts?