BET announces new TV show BET Buzz, hosted by Tamarsha and Altovise.
By Phila Tyekana
BET has announced a new daily entertainment show, BET Buzz, which will cover entertainment news and celeb gossip from across the African continent. Altovise Lawrence, the BET Top Actor winner and Tamarsha Khanyile, who won the Metro FM black carpet presenter search via Selimathunzi, are presenters of the show. We caught up with them.
1. What is BET Buzz about and why should South Africa watch it?
Altovise: BET Buzz is a new entertainment show that brings the audience local and international content. It is not just focused on gossip. South Africa should watch this show because it is brought to them by a ground-breaking channel that is the first of its kind to develop local content. This is such a fantastic time for South African television. So what can be better than a global channel with both spanking new local and international content and fresh faces?
2. You are fresh faces on our local scene, what will you do differently that your peers aren’t doing?
Tamarsha Khanyile: Well, simply put, I will gladly be myself. I think I possess character qualities that will give the show a new edge, a fresh approach on entertainment news and I definitely enjoy taking valuable risks.
Altovise: It would be an injustice as a fresh face to attempt to emulate what has already been seen just because it is what a few people in the industry and outside of it see as being ‘acceptable’ or define as ‘great’. I will be authentic and honest with my craft. I will take this in my stride and master it, then make way for other new faces who deserve the chance to shine.
3. How would you describe BET Buzz to someone who has never heard of it in five words?
Altovise: Solid, silly, spontaneous, fresh and explosive.
Tamarsha: Captivating, progressive, sassy, fresh and great!
4. How would you describe your roles and your relationship?
Tamarsha: My basic instinct in everything I do is to learn. I play a role that places me responsible as the face and voice of a prominent brand.
Altovise: The primary role of Tamarsha and I is that we are essentially delivering a service; a service we’re both passionate about. We bring the audience fresh content and make it easily accessible and understood as well as going the extra mile. Surprisingly, get along very well. From the day we met it was all smiles and laughs.
5. Which three people would you like to interview on BET Buzz and why?
Altovise Lawrence: I’d love to have the chance to interview the Smith siblings (Willow and Jaden) because of their free thought and speech. They’re honest and uncensored. I’d also love to interview Rihanna for her daring spirit and her tenacity. I would lose my mind if I had the chance to interview Brenda Fassie. She had such an amazing character. Her energy was unexplainable and she was committed to her craft wholeheartedly.
Tamarsha: Pharrell Williams, even though I had a crush on him as a kid, I’m inspired by him as a businessman. I’m having trouble deciding the other two.
6. Is there any pressure to being in the limelight?
Altovise: I can’t say that I’m in the limelight, yet. But what I can agree on is the pressure to always look and act perfect. I reckon that pressure is felt when you don’t have a strong sense of self. There’s a certain expectation from you once you’re in the public eye and pretending to be what you’re not is a life sentence. I don’t want that for myself.
Tamarsha: Pressures are created and as an individual you allow the pressure build around you. Sometimes it’s good to be a little nervous.
BET Buzz will air daily on BET (DStv channel 129) from 1 September at 19:00 CAT and on BET2 (DStv channel 135) at 19:50 CAT (weekend omnibus on Saturdays on BET (19:40 CAT) & BET2 (20:40 CAT).
