South Africa’s vibrant stand-up comedy scene gets a well-deserved spot in the limelight on Comedy Central (DStv Channel 122) as the first episode of Comedy Central Presents…Live at Parker’s, its African stand-up comedy showcase, hits the airwaves on Friday 18 May at 8.55pm CAT.
Taped in front of a live audience at Parker’s Comedy & Jive in Montecasino, Johannesburg on 28 March, Comedy Central Presents John Vlismas Live at Parker’s stars South African comic veteran John Vlismas as headliner and MC and also features guest slots from comedy giant Donovan Goliath, Italian stallion Vittorio Leonardi and Mpho “Popps’ Modikoane.
John Vlismas stands for everything that is unique, hysterical and uncompromising in South African stand-up comedy. A true original and self-described “thinking man’s scumbag’, Vlismas hilariously combines a genuine intellect with unflinching and raw outrage.
Comedy newcomer Donovan David Goliath, 29, is a Caucasian-looking coloured guy from Mthatha who speaks Xhosa (true story!). His act includes a lot of storytelling and simple insights using various characters and impersonations to get his message across. Donovan has performed at the Tshwane Comedy Nights at State Theatre, the Soweto Comedy Festival and Blacks Only.
Thirty-five year old Vittorio Leonardi is a 13-year veteran of the SA comedy scene who always tries to show audiences a new way to see the world – slightly skewed, a bit quirky and governed by cartoon law. Hailing from the streets of Welkom, this Italian-born stallion left home and successfully navigated the many pitfalls of a world with shoes and electricity in his travels around SA. From shoe sizes to the inner workings of the Roman Army, from heavy metal to relationship jargon, this comic takes the world, turns it sideways and gets us to see it as it could be if we’d all just reach behind our backs, pull out a cream pie, throw it and learn to laugh.
With three year’s comedy experience already under his belt, twenty-five year old Mpho Popps is a precocious comedian who impresses every audience he steps in front of. The sky is the limit for this young performer, who first got noticed on So You Think You’re Funny before going on the club circuit in Johannesburg, where he quickly made a name for himself and shared the stage with some of the biggest names in SA comedy, including Trevor Noah and Marc Lottering. He has subsequently appeared on Blacks Only, Mzansi Magic’s Opening Guys and Late Night with Kgomotso.
Inspired by Comedy Central’s US stand-up show, Live at Gotham, Comedy Central Presents…Live at Parker’s is the laugh-out-loud comedy fixture brought to you by Comedy Central and Parker’s Comedy Club. The live comedy gigs take place on the last Wednesday of every month at Parker’s Comedy & Jive, Montecasino, Fourways, Johannesburg, and is subsequently broadcast on Comedy Central (DStv Channel 122) approximately six weeks later.
Later episodes in the series include Comedy Central Presents Conrad Kochs Live at Parker’s, which will premiere on Comedy Central on Friday 15 June at 8.55pm CAT.
“Comedy in SA is growing and starting to become this recognised big industry, and so to be a part of a ground-breaking initiative like Comedy Central Presents is great, to be included in the first one was an honour and I give myself a pat on the back!’ says Mpho Popps Modikoane.
Donovan Goliath adds: “It felt like a big honour because it’s Comedy Central and that’s a big thing! There are also so many great comedians out there, so to be chosen for the first one was a big thing – especially with John Vlismas hosting the show – that also felt great. The show was amazing, well received, well put together, it was also nerve-wracking, but it worked out well: people laughed which is always a good sign!’
Vittorio Leonardi concludes: “I had a lot of fun at Comedy Central Presents – the crowd was up for it and it was everything a comedy gig was supposed to be…For it to be a good gig you have to make sure: can they see you and hear you? Is there good lighting and sound? The crowd brings their vibe and the venue brings their support. In addition to that, Comedy Central is a global platform and it’s going to be interesting to see what goes on air on the 18th of May. It’s great because a programme like this helps to get more people interested in stand-up comedy.’
