African Couch Potato

We are almost at the end of January and that paycheck should be coming in right now. Still plenty to watch; In this ep we have a mixed bag of local and US items.
We kick off with a mention of The Bridge Networking Soiree, a new initiative that aims to introduce Black American professionals to South African professionals, to share intellectual, social and venture capital. Unfortunately Gino couldn't make it but thanks for the invite!
Tot Siens, Selina on Showmax, pays tribute to a domestic worker and the integgral role she played in the filmmaker, Lourensa Eckard's life.
Despite his dislike of action flicks, Gino gives The Rip, starring Ben Affleck and  Matt Damon a 10/10. In The Rip (Netflix) a group of cops discovers a stash of cash, leading to distrust and corruption.
Back home, the animated bible movie David is making waves as it has ironically taken on the Goliath that is the latest Avatar offering. In cinemas now!
And finally when you thought you had seen everything; you haven't, yet! Dating Naked UK is now on DStv Stream. Single men and women bare all on a tropical island in the hopes of finding love without modern world complications getting in the way, hosted by reality celeb Rylan Clark. Now you've seen it all!
Yes? No? Send us a text
Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:
instagram.com/africancouchpotato
twitter.com/africancouchpot
[email protected]
WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews
YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube
https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato
Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd
Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)

Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting
[email protected]

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay

© SANTE MEDIA 2026

Goeie dag! Welcome to the latest episode of ACP where Gino has to take on the new boss. New boss of what? we hear you ask. Meet Flip, the manager at polony distributors Deluxe Processed Meats. Still confused? All will be explained. Our first guest of the year is award winning actor Albert Pretorius, and he is hitting your screens in the brand new Afrikaans adaptation of the world-renowned comedy series, The Office.
Albert, as Flip Bosman, the manager, takes on the iconic role that earned both Ricky Gervais and Steve Carell their first Golden Globes, as David Brent in the British version and Michael Scott in the US version, respectively. No pressure then.
South Africa’s version of The Office, has been spiced up with a distinctly local flavour. A documentary film crew is busy filming a day-to-day look into how polony is made in Klerksdorp's Deluxe Processed Meats company. However, things are about to get shaken up, as a BEE consortium has recently acquired a significant share of the business.
Gino talks to Albert about his early days and how he got into theatre, before his TV and movie career too off. And we get some insight into both Die Kantoor and Flip Bosman, the self-proclaimed Rassie of the polony business.
Yes? No? Send us a text
Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:
instagram.com/africancouchpotato
twitter.com/africancouchpot
[email protected]
WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews
YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube
https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato
Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd
Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)

Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting
[email protected]

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay

© SANTE MEDIA 2026

2026 is here and most people are already back at work and the next holiday is Human Rights Day, way away on the 21st of March. Here at ACP we never stop, and Gino has a full goody bag for this week's ep.
We kick off with a new show on Mzansi Magic, Bhelas, which follows the life of Thato - a young college drop-out who wants to become a chef.
Across the pond to the supposed "Land of the Free", we find a jail in Arizona where the inmates govern themselves. This experimental docu-series is the brainchild of a local sherrif who wants to shake things up. Check it out, Gino gives it an 8/10.  
AFCON is getting close to the sharp end, and unfortunately we (South Africa) are no longer contenders. Gino bemoans the fate of Bafana Bafana and our loss of footballing glory.
Nigerian singer/songwriter Wizkid's documentary, Wizkid: Long Live Lagos is out on Showmax. A deeply personal look at a singular musician, the film also outlines the expansion of African music to a global, mainstream stage where it's recognized as the many disparate genres and sounds it is.
And we round off the episode with an update on how things stand in Harlan Coben's Run Away , currently streaming on Netflix.

Yes? No? Send us a text
Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:
instagram.com/africancouchpotato
twitter.com/africancouchpot
[email protected]
WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews
YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube
https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato
Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd
Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)

Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting
[email protected]

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay

© SANTE MEDIA 2026

Happy New Year and welcome to the first episode of African Couch Potato of 2026. We kick off the ep with Gino's top 26 movies to look out for over the coming year. He has a look at the whirlwind African tour of American YouTuber iShowSpeed. Staying with the African tour theme, there's a review of the totally crazy Tiffany Haddish Goes Off currently streaming on Showmax, and we end with a first look at the new Harlan Coben thriller now on Netflix, Run Away.
Here is the movie list with their expected release dates
Top 26 anticipated movies for 2026
People We Meet on Vacation - Jan 9
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple - Jan 16
The Moment - Jan 30
Send Help - Jan 30
Wuthering Heights - Feb 13
Scream 7 - Feb 27
The Bride! - Mar 6
The Breadwinner - Mar 13
Project Hail Mary - Mar 20
The Drama - Apr 3
The Devil Wears Prada - May 1
Mandalorian and Grogu - May 22
Disclosure Day - Jun 12
Toy Story 5 - Jun 19
Supergirl - Jun 26
Moana - Jul 10
The Odyssey - mid Jul
Spider-man: Brand New Day - Jul 31 
Resident Evil - Sep 18
Whalefall - Oct 16
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping - Nov 20
Meet the Parents 4: Focker In-law - Nov 25
Narnia - Nov 26
Jumanji 3 - Dec 4
Doomsday - Dec 18
Dune: Part Three - Dec 18
A stack of diary dates to keep you going through 2026.
Yes? No? Send us a text
Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:
instagram.com/africancouchpotato
twitter.com/africancouchpot
[email protected]
WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews
YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube
https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato
Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd
Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)

Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting
[email protected]

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay

© SANTE MEDIA 2026

The last episode of ACP for 2025! With only a few days left of the year, Gino takes time to reflect on the amazing guests we've had the pleasure of hosting; where we are all over the world and how you managed to listen in. 
In a move that took many people by surprise, Netflix is planning to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, which, if successful, will make it possibly the largest media company on the planet. The downside for us is that we may lose several channels from DStv, as  well as some shows from Showmax. 
Now, here's Gino's top 25 for '25: 
Love and Wine - A rich guy working for his dad's company falls for a student. 
Man vs Baby - Rowan Atkinson is looking after another un-asked-for companion.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story - A series chronicling the stories of infamous killers.
Bad Influencer - A single mom partners with an influencer to sell counterfeit designer bags.
aka Charlie Sheen - The actor discusses his rise to fame and public downfall.
The Thursday Murder Club - Retirees spend their time solving cold case murders.
Building The Band - 50 contestants form bands without meeting.
A Minecraft Movie - 4 misfits are pulled through a mysterious portal.
Unseen (S2)  - Zenzi's new reality brings with it enemies and alliances.
Forever - Two high schoolers in L.A. navigate first love and intimacy.
The Diamond Heist - London criminals plan an audacious heist.
Black Mirror (S7) - Satirical tales explore techno-paranoia.
Ralph Barbosa - Cowabunga - Cheeky stand-up special.
Million Dollar Secret - A player starts with $1m, while 11 more try to capture them.
Con Mum - A chef's world turns chaotic when a socialite appears, claiming to be his mom. 
Andrew Schulz Life - Comedy special about starting a family and going through IVF treatments.
GO!  - A young sprinter has to overcome past trauma as he attends a prestigious school.
Adolescence - A 13-year-old is accused of the murder of a classmate.
School of Chocolate - Professionals test their skills under chocolatier, Amaury Guichon.
Apple Cider Vinegar - Wellness guru Belle Gibson, who pretended to have cancer.
The Kings of Tupelo - Small-town Mississippi's jaw-dropping scandal.
Shaka iLembe - The making of the iconic African king.
Inimba - A business woman gives birth, but chooses her career over her child.
The Chair Company - A man investigates a conspiracy.
Married At First Sight: Mzansi - Singles agree to marry partners chosen by experts. 
Yes? No? Send us a text
Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:
instagram.com/africancouchpotato
twitter.com/africancouchpot
[email protected]
WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews
YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube
https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato
Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd
Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)

Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting
[email protected]

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay

© SANTE MEDIA 2026