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Got talent? Let them judge
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July 17, 2009
By Lara de Matos
From a frumpy 40-something Scotswoman and a 16-year-old street dancer to a Texas-born ventriloquist and an insurance-selling male opera singer, the British and US versions of the Got Talent? franchise have proved to be a true testament to the natural gifts of "the everyman".
But while the likes of Susan Boyle may suddenly find themselves thrust into the full glare of the showbiz spotlight, it's the men and women seated at the judges' desk who are ultimately responsible for a reality show's make or break factor. So much so, the folks affording contestants the yay or nay verdict have been known to become celebrities in their own right.
Just ask Simon Cowell.
Thanks to his cutting (and often controversial) criticisms of contenders on American Idol and The X-Factor over the years, he of the man-boobs is now a recognised name the world over. Would that Cowell's South African counterpart, Randall Abrahams, could someday find himself in a similar position.
Having only recently vacated his adjudicator's seat on Idols V, we can exclusively reveal that Abrahams (with Ian von Memerty and Shado Twala) is again poised to offer up his trademark dead-pan expression as a judge on SA's Got Talent.
Randall emits an exasperated sigh at what he obviously deems to be the now-tired comparisons drawn between him and Cowell, rejecting the suggestion that he was chosen as an "ode" to his British equivalent (Cowell also acts as one of the three arbiters on the UK version of the series).
"I don't go out of my way to be rude or condescending. What I do and how I behave (on television) is not an approximation of myself. And I'm certainly not trying to impersonate anyone else. It's just me," he explains.
"I've actually been exceedingly nice to some (Idols) contestants, but I am unapologetic about being honest, especially if people are wasting my time."
As for any notions that Von Memerty is somehow meant to be representative of one of the other remaining British judges, he laughingly states: "I'm certainly not a Piers Morgan and I don't have Amanda Holden's breasts!"
Nevertheless, he and Holden do share a commonality. The primary criticism (from the public, that is) levelled at Holden when her selection was announced, pertained to what viewers described as "not being famous or experienced enough on television" to merit being tasked with the job at hand.
And while it may be true that she had limited small screen experience, Holden is actually a prolific (and award-winning) West End actress.
Likewise, von Memerty's TV work is mostly restricted to his role as co-presenter for the hit show Strictly Come Dancing. But anyone who has followed South African theatre over the years will be well aware that he has no match as a stage actor, producer and director.
"I don't know how anyone who doesn't have a background in theatre would be able to judge on a show like this. To be able to truly identify real, all-around talent, I believe you have to have a background in the performing arts," he says.
"I think the biggest challenge for me is that viewers know me as 'Mr Grinning and Chirpy' on Strictly, where now I'll have to be more cutting."
Twala's is also a name TV audiences are not likely to recognise immediately.
Having mostly worked in the media and public relations sector (which includes a stint as the PR for the Premier of the Western Cape), with a number of gigs across various radio stations, Twala is set to carve her name across the small screen. And she's certainly not deterred by what some may regard as her lack of expertise on the entertainment pitch.
"I've always worked within the arts and culture sector and what many people aren't aware of, is that I actually run my own artist management company, so I know what to look for and I'm hoping my input will be regarded as valuable" states Twala, adding:
"Our country has a diversity of talent and it's about time we had a show like this to highlight it. I'm hoping to discover some of the more understated and uncelebrated art forms, like mime."
The lovable Rob van Vuuren takes up the presenter's mic for the show, with the vivacious 5fm jock, Anele Mdoda, as his co-host.
Auditions start tomorrow, Sunday and Monday at the Alexander Theatre in Joburg, then head to Durban on July 28 and 29 at the Sibaya Theatre, and finish up in Cape Town on August 10 and 11 at the CTICC. For more details, e-mail Diahann@ total-exposure.co.za
SA's Got Talent starts October 1 on SABC2 at 19.30.
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