Anele Mdoda gets her game face on
WHETHER she’s on the airwaves or in front of the camera, Anele Mdoda’s larger-than-life personality is unmistakable.
She has this boundless energy and wittiness that is guaranteed to light up any room. It also explains why she was chosen to host Celebrity Game Night on E!
Before the second season, I interviewed Mdoda. True to form, she was a real livewire and had me in stitches.
On the show winning over SA audiences, she said: “The one thing we must all know about entertainment, TV and what Hollywood has sold us, it is that in the first five minutes there must be a challenge, there must be a (sort of) jeopardy. That is what keeps people hooked onto things. You know: Will the guy get the girl? Will she get the job? Will she become the princess? Will the king find Cinderella?
“Celebrity Game Night has done that so well. As the opening credits hit, the question is: ‘Okay, who are the teams? We know Jason (Goliath) is the team leader, we know Ayanda (Thabethe) is a team leader. But who are in their teams?’”
The overwhelming curiosity is replaced by surprise as the celebrity guests are unveiled.
Mdoda shared: “At the end of every episode, you want to know: ‘Will Team Ayanda or Team Jason win?’ Then you want to know, which leader is going to win the entire season. It’s pop culture and it’s your favourite celebrities hanging out.”
A-list personalities bring their A-game while being taken out of their comfort zone. This gives rise to side-splitting scenarios, too.
The guests this season are a dream list.
It includes comedians Schalk Bezuidenhout, Loyiso Gola, Lesego Thlabi, Celeste Ntuli and Donovan Goliath; actresses Thando Thabethe, Natasha Thahane and Thembi Seete; musicians Amanda Black, Kelly Khumalo and Moonchild Sanelly; rappers Kwesta and Riky Rick; radio host and Idols judge Unathi Nkayi; Scandal star Warren Masemola; groundbreaking model Refilwe Modiselle; sportsman Seabelo Senatla; TV star Lasizwe and DJ Lamiez Holworthy.
As for the stars who blew her away, Mdoda said: “I’ve never seen
