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TV REVIEW: SA's Got Talent episode 1

Johannesburg - One episode into its seventh season, and I would rate South Africa’s talent level (at least, the level of those competing on the show) at about five out of 10.

I realise I sound like a hater, but damn! The acts so far – which included tone-deaf cabaret singer Amanda Pollock, bizarre mime-ish dancer Sabatha Happiness and a terrible rapper called The Negative One – were just, in a word, bad. And not bad in an entertaining way – bad in that awkward way where you kinda feel sorry for the person and just want it all to stop.

What’s worse is that some of these cringeworthy specimens were pushed through to the next round, perhaps owing to a lack of anyone better.

What we’re left feeling is that this is an unrehearsed high school variety show, rather than a national talent competition.

What I do like about this season, though, are the judges. Jamie Bartlett is charismatic and loud, Shado Twala is the discerning and grounded one and DJ Fresh is the glue that holds it all together.

Host Mo Mahlangu (known by most of us as TolA$$Mo) is a strong enough personality to anchor it all down, and his humour is hilarious.

A ray of light was the very last act – Eagan Feb – who did a stellar Michael Jackson impersonation. But then again, are MJ acts the best we can do?

Tonight is episode two of the season, and I’m really hoping the talent level increases substantially.

The show’s production is good, the set is colourful and the judges are well picked.

If only we could have better acts on the actual stage.

Come on, Mzansi! 

Catch SA's Got Talent Sundays at 18:05 on e.tv (DStv 194).

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