Gola's show a school sketch

THERE is everything wrong with making a complete nincompoop of oneself on national television for the sake of paying bills.

That's just what I deduce from watching Late Nite News With Loyiso Gola on e.tv's 24-hour channel the other day. I love Gola to bits and I have always maintained that he is one of the best comedians this country has ever produced.

He is unstoppable on stage. I have gone back for more when he was anchoring Sunday comedy sessions at Cool Runnings in Melville and not once did I regret it. But he fails to translate the energy he displays on stage to the small screen.

I also know that it's like harvest time as far as television is concerned - everybody has a show. All you need to do is have a buddy who knows a buddy and in no time you could clinch yourself one.

Now, the private channel can be forgiven for giving a slot to a reliable and competent comedian like Gola.

The show has been hosted by various comedians. One of the reasons it was successful is that it was real and funny. Current and relevant.

The same cannot be said of Gola's show. At some point it appeared to be like a cartoon show gone wrong. At another it sounded like a school sketch featuring lousy actors, with no purpose or aim.

Perhaps the producers have to decide what kind of a programme they want to brew. They have to decide if they want to produce a comedy show or an interactive programme. Or perhaps Gola needs to save his integrity and jump ship before he damages his credibility.

We all know the scourge of corruption but for the producers of this show to actually have some pro-corruption organisation on air to perpetuate this practice on national television is downright stupid.

Granted, the sidekicks on the show might be wannabe comedians but as the anchor, Gola should steer things here.

It beats me why stations are wasting so much money on half-baked programmes that are clearly on the small screens just to make certain individuals celebrities.