Matthew Krouse Down the tube
There are about three instances of home- brewed humour on television these days, most of them old hat. Suburban Bliss, Khululeka and Vetkoekpaleis are the resident local acts, in programming that includes well over 20 imported sitcoms.
While comedies like Frasier and Seinfeld have become national treasures, the dearth of local humour is testimony to the fact that while we love to laugh at others, we’re hopeless when it comes laughing at ourselves.
The SABC’s latest programme though – called Off the Record – makes a much-needed and welcome break. Broadcast on Sunday nights at 10.15, it’s a 40-minute revue that’s barely received a mention in the press.
Strange, since it forms an important part of the SABC’s Election ’99 programming. More importantly, Off the Record offers rare glimpses of the true potential of the medium.
This lack of mention, however, can be attributed to the corporation’s slovenly publicity machine, as well as its inconsistent programming. While the first episode of this 10-part series was aired in its correct time on March 28, the second episode somehow disappeared from the airwaves on April 4.
Rumour had it that the programme played at approximately 11pm that night – one hour after its scheduled time!
Directed by Brent Quinn and Soli Philander, Off the Record satirises the SABC news format, placing special emphasis on pre- election politics. Unlike SABC news, the programme employs four presenters: Philander, Gilda Blacher, Ramolao Makhene and Tselane Tambo.
While the series seemed to kick off with some sticky patches here and there, it did show some strengths. Funnily enough, these reside in the tacky edges that give the programme a distinctly home-made feel. Chroma key, canned laughter, poor impersonations of major political figures like President Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, and coarsely improvised interviews with real politicians do what satire is supposed to – take the mickey out of everything sacred.
That said, it’s my feeling that the first programme didn’t go far enough. Interviewing a representative of the African Christian Democratic Party about morality, for example, Blacher challenged him on the party’s outlook on “gays”. Without waiting for his answer, Blacher rolled her eyes and clutched her mouth, and the studio technicians hit the canned laughter button. This made the conservative member of the ACDP look more of a reasonable guy than he probably is.
While little moments of bad comedy timing like this fell flat, it’s only a matter of time before the presenters become more fluent and astute.
This kind of television should be playing at least once a week. And, though the makers are green, it deserves to be watched. If the SABC could just get with the programme.