Lasizwe needs to leyvel up

STREAMING REVIEW Lasizwe has a knack for humour but his reality show is a little too cute to be taken seriously and Phumlani S Langa feels he should look to branch out. 

Lasizwe: Fake It Till You Make It

Available on Showmax

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Lasizwe, uBabes Wamaleyvels, Mr Fanta what-what, has his very own reality show and, honestly, I laughed out loud a few times. It is two seasons deep, but Showmax has the first season available to stream for all of us who are late to the party. I’ve been a fan of Thulasizwe Dambuza ever since I saw him rock up at the South African Hip Hop Awards wearing a bath towel and shower cap, and holding a loofah. Las skyrocketed to fame after his social media videos went viral, and is currently a TV presenter, actor and radio host. He was also made Fanta’s teen marketing director last year and is a brand ambassador for Game.

In the first season, Lasizwe uses his understanding of comedy to the fullest to stretch the parameters of the formulaic genre of South African reality TV. Nevertheless, it has this knock-off feel of Being Bonang, especially when he’s in the confessional booth passing comment on his own life. The pink curtain behind him looks a bit cheaper than Queen B’s, and at times flaps around in some kind of breeze.

Anyhow, the guy himself is quite entertaining even though things seem heavily scripted. It was quite an eye-opener to get a little more insight into his relationship with his sister Khanyi Mbau. They had somewhat of a public falling out in 2018 when she called him out for flexing that he’d purchased an apartment, when she claimed he was only renting it.

The highlight of this season is Lasizwe’s brother Lungile, a taxi driver from Lasizwe’s hood of birth, Pimville. He’s hilarious and delivers his lines with conviction. He really has a flair for work in front of the camera.

There is talent, but this reality TV thing and Khanyi hosting celebrity gossip shows … that needs to stop. Just make better stuff; you have a unit of your own people who apparently have a knack for entertainment. Get some rugged writer to summon a worthwhile story and package it – easy money.

We don’t even like Fanta like that ... just saying.