Munya Vomo
Before you yawn, hear me out. This year’s season of SA’s Got Talent (SAGT) is nothing like what you have seen before. While you might argue that all the seasons are unique, this time all the stops have been pulled out to make this one an unforgettable experience.
The best news, perhaps, is the return of judges Shado Twala, Lalla Hirayama and DJ Fresh. There was speculation that the judging panel would again be shuffled, but from what we know the crew from last year is set to return. They have had time to get used to each other from past experiences so we expect nothing but stellar interactions from them.
But we do not watch the show for the judges. They just help to sift through the chaff. We watch because we want to see what real talent looks like. Unlike other shows where we watch to mock those who lack talent, SAGT puts down no one. It takes everyone seriously and that is encouraging, especially given that it takes a lot to get up on a stage and face the entire country.
You might have seen incredible acts over the years on SAGT, but nothing will prepare you for what is in store this season. As the show starts with the auditions across the country, we get to understand why this show keeps getting commissioned.
Justifying the show’s catch phrase: “Any Act, Any Age”, we meet DJ Arch jr who is a phenomenal DJ, but with limited DJing experience. Why? Well, perhaps it’s because he is only three. The boy can barely string together a proper sentence, but is already a sensei on the turntable. All three judges were impressed because they happen to have some radio experience, but DJ Fresh was the biggest fan. He probably wondered why he didn’t start at that age.
If that’s not your thing, perhaps you will enjoy some serious muscle work. There is a woman called Ashley who will put a lot of men to shame with her amazing strength. You have seen those strongman shows where big men lift heavy objects to see who is the strongest. For Ashley’s set, we have to step outside because she will attempt to pull a car with her bare hands. This is reminiscent of an old man who did the same on America’s Got Talent and it became obvious that people enjoy these extreme outdoor events.
The last highlight has to be The Fire Goddess, a feisty young woman who is an incredible fire genius. She does everything from spitting balls of fire to dancing while juggling huge flames. It’s such a dangerous act that obviously had Twala uncomfortable and she doesn’t hide it.
With McDonalds as a sponsor, the winner of the show gets to walk away with R500 000.
l SA’s Got Talent: from September 6 on e.tv and e.HD (channel 104 OpenView HD) at 6.05pm.