It’s that time of the year where many channels tell us what we should be looking out for. The Fox Upfronts took place in Johannesburg last week and most of the programming is very interesting.
As always, Tonight will keep you up to date about what’s hot on the box, but right now, here is just a taste of what to expect.
THE PRIDE
As expected, the hugely popular Empire is returning for a fourth season. Cookie, Luscious and their Lyons are back on Fox (DStv Channel 125) on September 28 and this season will be express from the US.
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There are a few interesting things about this go-around. First of all, Forest Whitaker joins the series as a music producer who also loves to sing. A lot. But that’s par for the course in this series. Also included in this season is an entire episode dedicated to Prince.
Keeping with Lee Daniels productions, Star also returns for a second season on Fox. With Queen Latifah and more still in the mix, there’s apparently a cross-over between Star and Empire.
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Both begin in America this month but Star will only hit South African small screens in January - to “build a hot Thursday night”, as the members of the media were told at the Upfronts.
As a part of the channel’s bid to keep the 9pm slot interesting, shows like the polarising Atlanta will be made a big deal of. Previously, Atlanta screened on Fox Life but now, Atlanta will join other scripted content on Fox.
A REALITY CHECK
In an attempt to retain more women viewers, Fox Life (DStv Channel 126) is now shaping up to be the go-to for programmes skewed towards this demographic. So, naturally, there are a whole lot of reality shows. From WAGS to Married to Medicine, reality TV will own the 7.10pm slot on Fox Life. The only problem is the seasons of these shows are rather old so even the fashion looks a little dated. Plus all the blogs have already given us the tea on old episodes that we might not have seen.
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Vintage Z is a reality show that is proudly and loudly South African. Viewers are taken to the heart of Maboneng where a fashion label called Vintage Zionist combines the love of leather with rock ’* ’ roll. That series premieres on Fox Life in October.
ON THE WILD SIDE
As someone who loves animals and history and reality, I am a little embarrassed to admit that I have been sleeping on National Geographic and NatGeo Wild recently. But that ends this month, thanks to the line-up of new shows coming up on these channels.
Dian Fossey: Secrets in the Mist takes a look at the life of the gorilla researcher and her mysterious death. It’s narrated by Sigourney Weaver. It premieres on National Geographic in December. Showing next year, Jane is a never-seen-before documentary about Jane Goodall and promises to show sides to her that haven’t been revealed before.
The first season of Genius was all about Albert Einstein. Now, National Geographic will air a 10-episode anthology season all about Picasso. Genius 2 stars Antonio Banderas as Pablo Picasso and premieres next year.
This December is Cat Month so NatGeo Wild will be screening programming dedicated to the big and not-so-big cats of the planet. Bounty hunter, Simon Keys, and herpetologist, Siouxsie Gillet are a couple who have a, er, unique vocation. In Snakes and the City, which starts on NatGeo Wild this month, the pair head to Durban to hunt snakes in regular people’s environments in this dramatic reality show.
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