African Couch Potato

Welcome to the Season 3 Finale of African Couch Potato, still the number 1 place for what's going down in the world of SA's TV and movies. We have also recently hit number 8 in Million Podcasts' Top 100 African Podcasts. 
So what has been happening? last week Gino got the invite to a VIP screening of The Shards, a new series on Disney+. 17-year-old Bret finds his whole world changing with the arrival at his prestigious L.A. prep school of enigmatic new classmate Robert Mallory, that just happens to coincide with the appearance of a serial killer called The Trawler.
With 3 years of episodes done and dusted, Gino looks back on what we have acheived since we began.
One streamer that we all forgot about is eVOD, free to air broadcaster e.tv's viideo on demand platform. Gino gave the free version a whirl. 
In other news, Season 3 of Tyler Perry’s Beauty In Black returns to Netflix on the 27th of August, while, later in September, fresh from The Polygamist, Kenneth Nkosi hits the silver screen in a local comedy adventure. Timmy The Kid also features Lillian Dube, Celeste Ntuli and Sandile Mahlangu. 
Spider-Man: Brand New Day broke records with the biggest box office opening ever seen in SA cinemas. And, finally, to bring it home, Gino raves about The Odyssey, and why he rates it so highly.
Till next time.

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gino.arlechino@gmail.com
WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews 
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Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd
Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)

Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting
ted@aten.co.za

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay
CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7

© SANTE MEDIA 2026

“A Bartender is the aristocrat of the working class.” So goes the line from Tom Cruise's Cocktail. 
The latest ACP is dialling in to Vegas to find out what went into the mix of Shaken & Stirred: The Story of Flair Bartending which is currently streaming on Apple TV.
4 x Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, and flair champion herself, Deborah Richards, directed this documentary with the help of Emmy-nominated producer and documentarian, Patrick Wirtz. Gino grabbed a Zoom call with the award-winning duo to find out how this all came about.
Shaken & Stirred is the first full length documentary that covers the sport and art form of Flair Bartending. This is all about performing tricks with cocktail shakers, bottles, and other bar tools to entertain the patrons while making drinks. It combines elements of juggling, flipping, and sometimes even bar-magic, such as manipulating flaming liquors or performing choreographed routines, to enhance the overall guest experience and add excitement to bartending. 
Shaken & Stirred: The Story of Flair Bartending recently won Film Threat's 2026 Best Sports Documentary and you can catch it right now on Apple TV.
The Official Site for Film Director, Deborah Richards
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
x.com/africancouchpot
gino.arlechino@gmail.com
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
ted@aten.co.za

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay
CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7

© SANTE MEDIA 2026

The end of July and thoughts are already turning to spring and warmer temperatures. Hi and welcome to ACP, still your number one spot for what's happening in the world of film and TV.
In this ep, Gino casts his eye across the latest in the dating world as season 3 of Married at First Sight hits DStv Stream, and, adding some local flavour, Mageza Wants A Wife - follows a taxi driver who spends time with 10 young singles in the hope of also finding a forever connection. So good to have something that showcases the township side of SA, rather than the usual "yawn, yawn" places.
Gino also takes a quick look at what you can look forward to on Netflix, which has a whole stack of stuff coming up:
Mourinho - documentary about Jose Mourinho
72 Hours - comedy with Kevin Hart
Various Comedy Specials - look out for Rory Scovel, Kelsey Cook and Mary Beth Barone 
Umthetho - SA drama with Nqobile Nunu and Tony Kgoroge 
Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy - Mo Gilligan leads a documentary look into the fried chicken industry
Let's Marry Harry - Dating show with Harry Jowsey
The Last House - a psychological thriller 
The Idaho Murders College Nightmare - a documentary murder investigation 
It's not often that you get something for free, but Amazon is running a 30-day free trial, which Gino used to check out Project Hail Mary  and, would you believe it?, Tyler Perry's Finding Joy.
And finally, we mourn the tragic passing of 18 year old actress Kaylee Hottle, known for the last two "Godzilla" movies, where she played an orphaned girl named Jia who sees beyond Kong’s threatening appearance and learns to communicate with him through sign language.
Next time we hook up with the director of Shaken & Stirred, a flair bartending documentary.
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
x.com/africancouchpot
gino.arlechino@gmail.com
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
ted@aten.co.za

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay
CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7

© SANTE MEDIA 2026

A mixture of highs and lows in the latest episode of African Couch Potato. We reflect on the loss of actor and gospel singer, Seputla Sebogodi, and footballer Jayden Adams. 
Best known for his role as Kenneth Mashaba in Generations, Seputla Sebogodi appeared in many well known productions, including Scandal! and Suburban Bliss, among others. as well as releasing a number of gospel albums. Only weeks before his passing, he premiered his new play Black Moon, at the National Arts Festival.
And we also pay tribute to Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana midfielder,  Jayden Adams, just weeks after he helped South Africa reach the World Cup knockout rounds for the very first time.
And speaking of the World Cup, it's done - Viva España!
So, next up are the Springboks, who have already soundly beaten England, Scotland and Wales over the last few weeks, but on the horizon is the incoming All Blacks tour. Gino reflects on where best to watch Bok rugby.  
And for something completely different, head for Disney+ to get up close with Hammerhead Sharks, and find out why it all reminded Gino of Moana. “You will board my boat, sail across the sea...”
And don't forget our crowdfunding campaign to bring you ACP in all its technicolour glory, so you can watch as well as listen. There's a heap of rewards, depending on your donations. Check that out at  Thundafund - African Couch Potato. You know it's the right thing to do!  
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
x.com/africancouchpot
gino.arlechino@gmail.com
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
ted@aten.co.za

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay
CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7

© SANTE MEDIA 2026

Welcome to African Couch Potato, SA's top audio podcast celebrating African film and television, according to Feedspot.com. 
Music has long been celebrated for its power to inspire, but for Thulani “Fosta” Headman, it became the foundation for rebuilding a life, a life now featured in a new documentary. 
Premiering at the Durban International Film Festival on 24 July, FOSTA follows Thulani's story from former Langa gang member and Pollsmoor prisoner to internationally recognised DJ, mentor, and community leader. Gino joined Thulani, via Zoom, to get some insight into how this documentary came to be, and to give you a taste of what FOSTA is all about. 
Thulani talks of his early family life growing up in the company of some of South Africa's top musicians, and how that background became such a driving force for him, through his experience in Pollsmoor, to his part in the creation of a learning space in Langa, the Bridges Academy, that has helped transform opportunities for young creatives in the community, offering access to world-class technology, mentorship and education.
Thirteen years in the making, FOSTA premiers at the Durban International Film Festival on 24 July. 
And before we go, a reminder of our crowdfunding campaign to bring you ACP in all its technicolour glory, so you can watch as well as listen. There's a heap of rewards, depending on your donations. Check that out at  Thundafund - African Couch Potato. Every little bit helps.  
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
x.com/africancouchpot
gino.arlechino@gmail.com
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
ted@aten.co.za

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay
CHqjHqS2RAMkVSeydGo7

© SANTE MEDIA 2026