Top-of-the-pops Generations scores zilch at industry awards
THE South African Film and Television Awards have come and gone and South Africa's premier TV show by audience numbers walked away empty-handed.
TWEEDLEDEE: Melusi Yeni plays the smooth and suave Phenyo. Picture by Bongani Mnguni
TWEEDLEDUM: Buyile Mdladla plays Generations' suave and smooth LungileOne need not watch more than five episodes to know why Generations is trailing other soapies for industry recognition.
Of course the producers won't give a hoot - ratings still make for good reading - but the actors will bemoan the sliding standards of the art.
While this might be partly their fault, it also points to problems at the top.
Actors don't assign themselves to roles - they are either head-hunted or they audition and are chosen.
It's a major problem when one word can define all the male characters - barring Thami Mngqolo (Senzo Dlomo) - and that is: smooth operator.
The role played by Melusi Yeni (Phenyo) could have been played by Buyile Mdladla (Lungile) and vice versa; both are smooth, suave, well-groomed and pine for the attention of Katlego Danke (Dineo).
So similar are their roles that even the men look the same barring their facial features.
Interestingly, Carlo Radebe, though looking slightly shorter than the other two, falls in the same boat.
Until recently the show's male characters even used the same "damn it" expression.
Juxtapose this with their cross-town rivals in Isidingo where the character played by Don Mlangeni Nawa (Zeb) is markedly different from the one played by Vusi Kunene (Jefferson Sibeko).
Even between two business executives - Kunene and Jack Devnarain - there are still subtle differences; the devious Godfather versus the shy, straight-jacketed family man.
Skin colour aside, the only two characters that are carbon copies in Isidingo are Barker Haines and Jefferson Sibeko.
Though both bimbos, village idiot Karin van der Laag (Maggie) is different from gold-digging dimwit Tema Sebopedi (Lerato).
There is no deep, nuanced character in Generations, all are superficial and groomed to look sexy on screen.
Wanani Rantloane's shallow direction does not help. It would appear she uses one camera to save on costs hence the slow, pedantic scenes.
And she employs movement for its own sake - how often do we see characters swapping positions, leaving the discerning audience wondering why.
Small wonder then that Generations left the awards evening empty-handed.
Comments
LadyZee
F*#k cares?, Generations deserves walking away empty handed, they are duplicating international soapies eg. The Bold & the Beautiful. You can watch Generations on Monday, skip it a couple of days and on Friday still the same topic/story. And the actors' acting-skills, yhoo, pathetic.RefilweBonny
Phenyo n his mom story line is so lame, they dont even know how to act, i love generation bt is really noring latelyHlox619
I'd rather watch 50/50 than Generations..macheru
Generations e ya bora they dnt have story lines........Khethiwe doesnt give birth,Khaphela got blind coz of his evil doings ,Dineo has to sleep with every new man,Mamelas and Dlomos are 4eva fighting u dnt knw if they will get along. The only reason why i watch Generations is simply bcoz im bored and i watch it but dont listen to it. Isidingo is the best soapie in Mzanzi,they knw how to start and finish da show................ TEAM ISIDINGOMoLiz
I agree with you Macheru, Isidingo is the best honestly, their script is so flexible. They keep up with everyday's events, politics, sports, everything. Generations has really lost it's plot and if they don't watch it, their stats are gonna drop slowly but surely.thesemii
generations full of xhosas agggg rather watch isidingophumzasihlali
basekhona bantu bathetha ngoluhlobo lwakho, full of Xhosa, phila kweliphi ilizweSexyhope
i would date Melusi if he was not an actor.THANDY
I RATHER WATCH HISTORY CHANNEL THAN GENERATION I STOPPED WATCHINGT THAT BORE YEARS AGO EN I DONT REGRET IT, INKABA SEEM BETTER BUT ITS STILL EARLY DAYS.KingMa
Generation is the best soapiemhlupheki
those who feels generations is boring just go on with your 50 /50 and leave alone those who likes it. some of us are enjoying it although i am also bore by choppa and matthewRead all 11 comments