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Johannesburg - Comedian and radio personality Tumi Morake has a new late-night talk show on SABC3 in which she touches on current affairs and hosts celebrity guests on her couch.
#WTFTumi is a traditional approach to late-night television, and kicks off with Morake strolling in to the applause of a live studio audience before riffing on topics that have been in the news or trending on social media.
As she interviews guests, her barman mixes them drinks that match their personalities. So far, she’s hosted DJ Sbu, Thando Thabethe, David Kau and Pearl Thusi.
Of course, the late-night recipe would not be complete without musical performances, and the likes of Shekhinah and Nick Soul have graced the stage.
In one episode, Morake had Black Coffee Skype his wife Mbali Mlotshwa.
What doesn’t work is the live studio audience. Maybe the barman, comedian Glen Biderman-Pam, should mix them drinks too because they don’t seem to be all that lively.
Biderman-Pam’s dry humour and awkwardness add a quirky edge, and the banter between him and Morake delivers a few good laughs.
But I needed more. While Morake is charismatic and easy to watch, I do feel the strength of her material could use a boost. It’s a late-night show and the kids should be in bed – why not ramp up the content a bit? Then again, #WTFTumi is on the public broadcaster, and SABC is quick to pull your show if you try anything risqué and interesting – just ask Mfundi Vundla.
This is the third show in this time slot in less than two years, so it might be a difficult one to keep going.
Jason Goliath tried it with Larger Than Life. It was cancelled and replaced by Trending SA, which, at one stage, was on every day of the week until it got chopped to just two shows a week.
I feel Morake is a good look for the slot, and perhaps it will be a show we can rely on for a while.
#WTFTumi is slightly better than Trending SA and Larger Than Life, so there’s hope. Morake just needs to say what others have been scared to.
Watch #WTFTumi on SABC3 (DStv channel 193) on Wednesday and Thursday at 21:30.
City Press gives the show 3 stars.
