Latest news with #TheShowmaxRoastof
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Helen Zille turns the tables: panellists become punchlines in a hilarious roast showdown
Helen Zille with the well-known panellists at her roast. Image: Showmax I can't resist watching high-profile names getting roasted. It's a therapeutic laugh at the end of a long day. Of course, there are drawbacks and not every roast fires on all cylinders. And 'The Showmax Roast of Helen Zille' is a perfect case in point. The political figure, who is also referred to as GodZille and GogoZille, is no stranger to public scrutiny. Being in the hot seat is commonplace for her. At 74, all I can say is, 'Wow!' Her youthful appearance belies her age. If fighting the good fight means ageing backwards, I'm here for it. As far as candidates go, she was a solid choice. However, I am not cosigning the list of roastees. Talk about an oddball line-up of Loyiso Gola, Bongani Bingwa, Rian van Heerden, Zwai Bala, JJ Tabane, Mel Viljoen, Coconut Kelz, Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh, Londie London, and Patricia de Lille. What the actual … never mind! Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Meanwhile, Tumi Morake returned to the host podium alongside Trevor Gumbi. Did she give them a rate reduction to return because even the panellists have run out of jibes when it comes to her? At this stage, the insults of her failed career, being a baby-making machine, and her love of African men are burned out. The panellist on the Minnie Dlamini roast has exhausted most insults. Also, as this roast progressed, the chemistry with Gumbi appeared to be running on fumes. He just looked so checked out (more like spaced out) most of the time. Now let's unpack the panellists. Bingwa, the former 'Carte Blanche' alumnus, kicked off the roast. While there was nothing wrong with his material, his execution of the punchlines fell flat. Nice guy, he may be. But tickling the funnybone is not his forte. He hasn't quite mastered the balancing act of investigation and sarcasm à la Shahan Ramkissoon or Devi Sankaree Govender. Shem. 'The Real Housewives of Pretoria' star Mel Viljoen with Helen Zille. Image: Showmax For those scratching their heads wondering why Viljoen was there, you are not alone. Talk about a deceptively flawless execution. Colour me impressed. London got more mileage for her braid business. Of course, shots were fired at her for her choice in men but it was water of a ducks back. She held her own on the podium. Mpofu-Walsh was dragged for having the privilege of both worlds: black and white. His fellow roasters didn't miss a beat in bringing up his failed music career or living in the shadow of his famous father. He proved his detractors wrong, though. He held his own under the scrutiny and threw shade right back at his haters. Tabane 'hijacked' the show as only he could. His grand entrance was met by a fleeting exit. Seriously, what was he doing there? Out of respect, I won't say much about the other politician on the panel, Van Heerden or Bala. The quips didn't meet the show's usual high standards, but the audience humoured them all the same. Loyiso Gola and Zwai Bala were among the panellists at the Helen Zille roast. Image: Showmax I take my hat off to Kelz, who delivered her playful banter via video, and Gola, who gave everyone a masterclass on how to pull no punches. Their jokes displayed sharp and powerful wit. Of course, the pièce de résistance was Zille, and she dismantled the panellists with the calculated precision and assurance expected of a seasoned politician. Her arsenal of solid intel, thanks to Google, made her burn, sting. She was a great sport and took all the transphobic and JK Rowling digs in her stride. Overall, this was a damp squib of a roast. Next… Rating: ** significant flaws but some merit.
IOL News
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
'The Showmax Roast of Helen Zille': where politics meets comedy in style
Democratic Alliance's (DA) federal chairperson Helen Zille dazzled in a pink glittery gown at her roast which was held at the Sandton Convention Centre. Image: X It was a star-studded night at the Sandton Convention Centre on Friday night as politics and comedy collided during the "The Showmax Roast of Helen Zille." The live event, which will be available for streaming from May 16 and is part of the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival, saw some of the nation's most prolific figures assemble to take a comedic jab at the Democratic Alliance's (DA) federal chairperson. They include roastmaster Trevor Gumbi who opted for a daring ensemble as he channeled Hannibal Lecter, wearing a white jumpsuit and face mask - a look that the fictional movie character has become renowned for. His co-roastmaster Tumi Morake dazzled on the black carpet in a sleeveless red gown. Meanwhile, the other panelists also came dressed to impress, including renowned journalist and broadcaster Bongani Bingwa who looked dapper in black formal pants and a navy blazer, while accessorising his look with a striking red tie and pocket square. Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille also took the formal route by rocking an all-black look while adding some spice to her outfit with a graphic red blazer. Former 'Real Housewives of Durban' star Londie London also stunned in a form-fitting blue dress while fellow reality television star Mel Viljoen dazzled in a sequined body suit. The rest of the panel includes Loyiso Gola, Rian van Heerden, Zwai Bala, JJ Tabane, Coconut Kelz, who appeared on the roast virtually, as well as Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh. But Zille was the real star of the show as she arrived at her roast in a striking glittery pink gown. She completed her look with silver heels, a sleek blond bob, dainty earrings and a pink lip which matched her outfit. Prior to the event, the politician appeared upbeat and showed no signs of nerves as the panelists were about to humorously tear into her eventful life and prominent political career. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕
