African Couch Potato

Gino Shelile
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African Couch Potato is a South African perspective on all things film and television. Hosted by award-winning TV producer, Gino Shelile, it mashes up in-studio interviews with industry professionals, titles to check out each week, a current film or series review, and a look at old movies that are worth rewatching.

  1. 3D AGO

    S3 Ep39 News, Views and Reviews

    A quarter of the way through 2026 and it's another Monday morning and another episode of African Couch Potato. Welcome to the latest news, views and reviews.  Sadly, we kick off with the loss of Chuck Norris. Probably most well-known for Walker, Texas Ranger, Chuck Norris is a legend in the world of martial arts and entertainment. He inspired countless memes, jokes, alongside much admiration for his achievements and personality. Also leaving us is Showmax. Africa’s biggest streamer will end on 30 April, so you have one more month to get your binge fix. Over the last two years Gino has chatted to many guests, from both behind and in front of the cameras, whose shows or films appeared on Showmax. So, goodbye Showmax, welcome back DStv Stream. Netflix is bringing sexy back with season 3 of Tyler Perry’s Beauty In Black, and South Africa’s very own Fatal Seduction wraps up season 2. The new Bafana Bafana jerseys are out and you have a couple of months to grab yours. From 11 June the world gives it all up to soccer as the FIFA World Cup gets underway, and in the very first game South Africa will take on Mexico. You can watch all the action on SABC, so no excuses. The US v Iran might be an interesting game, if they get that far.    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 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 © SANTE MEDIA 2026

    10 min

  2. MAR 23

    S3 Ep38 Jonty Acton on “The Reconciliation” (Film)

    Over the last 30 years or so, we have seen many films and TV productions that have, in different ways, looked at the issues of South Africa's troubled past, but very few have looked from the white, English-speaking perspective.  The Reconciliation is an art-house drama about people who believe they’ve changed, until change asks something real of them. Anchored in a particularly South African context, the film explores the true costs of reconciliation when holding on to the past begins to suffocate the future.  The story unfolds over a single Christmas Day at an old family home in an affluent suburb of Cape Town, where a mother tries to bring her fractured family together for what may be their final Christmas together. Determined to keep everyone at the table and preserve the appearance of unity, she finds her belief in reconciliation put to the test. ACP managed to hook up over Zoom with independent filmmaker Jonty Acton, currently in Germany, to talk about the film, his own childhood experiences that had such an influence on the storyline, and what finally pushed him to look at "crowdfunding" as a way forward.  The film asks a simple, but perhaps uncomfortable, question: What happens when reconciliation becomes a way of avoiding real change? You can find Jonty's project at the Indiegogo.com link below. They are at over 80% of the required funding at the time of writing. Check it out. https://www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/jonty-acton/the-reconciliation----a-south-african-feature-film?ref=search 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 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 © SANTE MEDIA 2026

    20 min

  3. MAR 16

    S3 Ep37 Chaeli Mycroft on the Chaeli Campaign (Podcasthon)

    Podcasthon! What is that? It is an international collection of podcasters who over this week will be dedicatig one episode of their show to a charity of their choice. Podcasthon started in 2023 with 300 French-speaking podcasters. It grew in 2024 and hit the international podcast stage last year, which is when we got on board. As part of this year's over 1,500 podcasters doing their bit, we will be focussing on South Africa's Chaeli Campaign. Born in Cape Town in the mid - 90s, Michaela “Chaeli” Mycroft co-founded The Chaeli Campaign when she was 9 years old. What started as a fundraising initiative to raise funds for her first motorised wheelchair to help her experience more independence has grown over the last 22 years, to becoming an internationally recognised foundation. Gino chatted with the vibrant Chaeli about her life with cerebral palsy, both growing up, the eventual establishment of the Chaeli Campaign and so much more .  The Objectives of The Chaeli Campaign are to: Promote and provide the mobility and educational needs of disabled children;Use its facilities and resources to assist the disabled community in any way it sees fit;Work in collaboration with other organisations for the advancement of the disabled community;Act as a facilitator to other centres / organisations / communities. As Chaeli says, "funding is always needed" and you can get on board with this extremely worthwhile campiagn at Home - Chaeli Campaign  You don't argue with a girl who did Kili in a wheelchair 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 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 © SANTE MEDIA 2026

    37 min

  4. MAR 9

    S3 Ep36 Wesley West on Film Composition and Music Production

    There are many people who play an integral part of any TV or film production, yet are often not noticed when it comes to fame and fortune. It is part of our mission at ACP to turn the spotlight on these people. On an ever-growing list of guests that are also SAFTA nominees comes someone who's role is often overlooked but you would think something was very wrong if his contribution wasn't there. Meet film composer Wesley West. This week Gino connected with Cape Town–based composer, musician, and producer, Wesley, via Zoom, to talk about his musical beginnings, as a student and then a teacher, as well as his work, featuring over 25 movies among many other productions, notably his SAFTA nominated Reënboogrant.  Inspired by Louise van Niekerk’s bestselling 90s novels, Reënboogrant is a Pretoria-based teen telenovela centred on the Brink family. It is an exhilarating rollercoaster ride through the world of authentic teenage drama, family conflicts, love, aspirations, and fierce rivalries. Catch all the highs and lows at Hoërskool Reënboogrant, now streaming on Showmax. Wesley is also very busy planning his wedding and we wish him all the best.  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 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 © SANTE MEDIA 2026

    26 min

  5. MAR 2

    S3 Ep35 News, Views and Reviews

    March already! It'll soon be Christmas at this rate. Welcome to episode 35 of season 3 of African Couch Potato. This week we say Goodbye, Hello and Congratulations. We say Goodbye to Eric Dane. Best known for his roles on Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria, the American actor died less than a year after revealing he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a form of motor neuron disease. He was 53. Dane starred as family patriarch Cal Jacobs in the hit teen drama Euphoria. Before that, he was perhaps best known as Dr Mark Sloan, or "Dr McSteamy", in Grey's Anatomy. We say Hello to several series which are coming to Mzansi Magic, notably Youngins and Law, Love and Betrayal plus an extension to the popular Inimba. We say Congratulations to the freshly-announced SAFTA nominees, many of whom have been in the hotseat as guests of ACP. Gino also runs through a list of what to watch as we swing into March, including: Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight - depicts 8-year-old Bobo's life on her family's Rhodesian farm during the Bush War's final stages.  Pamela, A Love Story - Follows the life of pop culture icon Pamela Anderson, including never-before-seen archival footage and personal journals. Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model  - a documentary look at how the glamorous competition became a pop-culture phenomenon marked by explosive drama, meltdowns, and controversies. In The Moment - follows London comedian Mo Gilligan as he dishes on fame, family and being British in America. Being Gordon Ramsay - follows the celebrity chef's journey to launch dining concepts at 22 Bishopsgate, London's second tallest building.. Taylor Tomlinson: Prodigal Daughter - her fourth Netflix special, following Quarter-Life Crisis (2020), Look At You (2022), and Have It All (2024). March on! 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 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 © SANTE MEDIA 2026

    10 min

  6. FEB 23

    S3 Ep34 Tim Apter and Elle Oosthuizen on "Helderberg"

    On November 28, 1987, South African Airways Flight 295, a Boeing 747-200 named Helderberg, was en route from Taiwan, to Johannesburg with a scheduled stop in Mauritius. Shortly after midnight, the aircraft reported smoke in the cockpit to Mauritian air traffic control. Communication was lost shortly thereafter, and the plane crashed into the Indian Ocean, killing all 159 passengers and crew on board.  Helderberg is a locally produced 3-part documentary, and this week on ACP, Gino had the chance to chat to producer Elle Oosthuizen and director Tim Apter about how the series happened and just what goes into pulling together a story from almost 40 years ago.  Over the years many documents and transcripts have been lost, people involved at the time have passed on, and the failure to reach a definite conclusion in the original investigation has led to all sorts of theories and speculations as to what actually happened. The Helderberg disaster remains a significant event in South African aviation history, marked by tragedy and ongoing questions about its causes and implications. Catch all three parts of Helderberg currently streaming on Showmax. 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 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 © SANTE MEDIA 2026

    28 min

  7. FEB 16

    S3 Ep33 Rian van Heerden on “Brakpan Chronicles”

    In Brakpan if they invite you for a fight, a braai will break out. Even people from Brakpan make fun of Brakpan!  The two-part documentary series Brakpan Chronicles is due out on Showmax this Friday and in this episode Gino gets to share a brandewyn with South African radio and television personality Rian van Heerden, the man who is lifting the lid on this much-maligned, memed and mocked one-time mining town on the East Rand.  Rian chats to Gino about his, often controversial, career from his early days, to his many years of hosting intriguing conversations as a radio DJ and his move into the world of television, where he has helmed such notable successes as Sex in Afrikaans, Die Real Housewives van Pretoria and Tiek Tok Boem.  Brakpan Chronicles starts streaming on Showmax, this Friday (Closest cities to Brakpan town centre? Liquor City and Baby City) 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 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 © SANTE MEDIA 2026

    27 min

  8. FEB 9

    S3 Ep32 Aluve Mjali on a Budding Career

    Into the second month of the year and the next date on the horizon is this weekend's Valentine's Day. Two years ago saw the Valentine movie Forever Yena hit our screens. Patience, we'll get there! Playing the role of Kwanda was a young and upcoming actor named Aluve Mjali.  In this week's ACP, Gino gets to sit down and follow the budding career of this young hot-shot actor, from his school days, to his interest in sound engineering and mixing for TV, and how that led to new and exciting roles, this time in front of the camera. For someone still on their upward journey, Aluve's CV is already full of big names. Equally comfortable in TV productions, commercials or in the movies, Aluve's star is surely set to shine.    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 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 © SANTE MEDIA 2026

    34 min
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About

African Couch Potato is a South African perspective on all things film and television. Hosted by award-winning TV producer, Gino Shelile, it mashes up in-studio interviews with industry professionals, titles to check out each week, a current film or series review, and a look at old movies that are worth rewatching.

Information

  • Creator
    Gino Shelile
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    143
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 African Couch Potato
  • Show Website
    African Couch Potato