SA’s Got Talent's top 21

SA’s Got Talent is the phenomenon that’s taken the country by storm. The judges have made their decision from thousands of entries received and it’s now down to the public to select their winners from the 21 semi-finalists and crown South Africa’s most talented performer.

SABC2’s line-up next week will be an entertainment extravaganza with each show featuring seven contestants going head-to-head on Monday, November 9; Tuesday, November 10 and Wednesday, November 11 from 7.30 to 8.30pm. Each show will be followed with the live results show from 9.30 to 10pm where one contestant voted for by the public and one by the judges will be put through to the final of SA’s Got Talent which takes place in a not-to-be-missed spectacular on Thursday, November 12 at 7.30pm.

This year the SABC2 talent show has seen everything from a duo of dancing dogs to performing pensioners and an egghead comedian! But the judges – Randall Abrahams, Shado Twala and Ian von Memerty - have now chosen their 21 finalists.

They are certainly a diverse bunch as the show’s mantra “any age any act” proves. The acts range from eight-year old ballroom maestros Cameron Lombard and Natasha Jacobs to the crowd pleasing beat boxer George Avakian; Ingrid and Yvonne’s musical freestyle dogs Dezi and Ruby; Jody Kleinhans who wowed audiences with his hilarious Michael Jackson/Tom Jones routine; Louis van der Merwe who with his brother Willem sang opera to win his girlfriend back and the fabulous Ubumbano whose lead singer is a full time security guard!

Thirteen-year-old Adino Trapani stunned the judges with his ventriloquism for dummies and his Astro Dinosaur even made fun of Mr Nasty, Randall Abrahams which brought the house down. Hearing impaired hip hop dancer Darren Rajbal left everyone choked up while the energetic dance group Show Stopaz blew the crowd away.

The person or act with the most votes from the public each night will automatically go through to the final six, but the judges will decide which of the contenders with the second- and third-highest viewer votes should go through as well. This process is sure to stir heated debate, since one of the top three will be left stranded each night – deservedly so or not.

Thursday, 12 November, sees the live broadcast of the finale, during which the final six will slug it out for top honours during the performance show between 7.30pm and 8.30pm. The inaugural winner of SA’s Got Talent – who will walk away with R250 000 – will be chosen by public vote only and will be announced during the results show, from 9.30pm to 10pm.

To vote, audience can only start once the presenters announce that “the lines are now open” and when all 7 acts for the night have performed. Viewers can vote either via SMS or by calling the IVR line. SMS ‘talent” followed by the number 1-7 which represents the act each night. Send the SMS to 34768. Each sms will be charged at R2.00 or call 083 913 4768 (IVR line) and follow the voice prompts. Calls charged at standard cellular rates. VAS rates apply.

Commented Zandile Nkonyeni from SABC 2, “as we get closer to unveiling our next SA’s Got Talent superstar, for SABC 2 it is more than just another reality show, it is the thrill of presenting SA with a new untapped talent. It is the first of its kind for our viewers and we look forward to an exciting four night live show extravaganza.”

“It’s remarkable how ordinary people have come out to show their talents with such great effect! The show has proven that South Africans definitely have ‘Much, Much More’,” enthused Mike Middleton from Cadbury Lunch Bar. “Has SA’s Top 21 got talent? Oviaas!”

Executive Producer Kee-Leen Irvine says “it is interesting to see how the acts have upped their game since the auditions, coupled with a lot of pressure for the production team who will be staging these live shows back to back, four nights in a row, which is a first for SA.”

 

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