MTV base turns up the heat for winter

Player is a new weekly news show presented by MTV base VJ Sizwe Dhlomo. The program, a ‘hard-hitting’ mix of the latest international and African music and entertainment news, will also showcase new video and album releases from established and emerging artists. Premiere: Thursday 19 April at 19:00 CAT, with repeats every Friday at 20:00 CAT, and Sundays at 08:30 CAT.

Get your FIX

Winner of the 2006 MTV base World Chart Express with Fanta MTV base VJ Search, Fikile Moeti (aka ‘Fix’), is the host of MTV base’s new magazine show, FIX. Fikile will be travelling throughout the African continent to interview celebrities, musicians and sports stars, giving viewers VIP access to ‘what’s hot’ – on the streets, in the clubs, or even in viewers’ homes. Premiere: Tuesday 1 May at 19:00 CAT with repeats every Friday at 07:30 CAT, Sunday at 16:00 CAT and Mondays at 08:30 CAT.

Stay off the grass

Alternative music gets its own dedicated slot on MTV base for the first time from June 2007, in the form of Stay off the Grass. The surreal comedy/music hybrid is fronted by Crazy Monkey funnyman Brendan Jack. Combining left-field comedy with new African and international alternative sounds, the show will feature Jack revelling in a new and unfamiliar character as ‘Headrick’ – a hopeless, music-loving drop-out who can’t hold down a steady job. Along the way, our loser anti-hero and his sidekick ‘Kevin’, introduce us to some of the hottest alternative videos on the planet. Stay Off the Grass airs weekly every Wednesday from 6 June at 21:00 CAT.

Taste the love

MTV base’s new reality dating show, Flavor of Love is imported from the USA, where its popularity made it the #1 non-sports telecast in all of basic cable for the whole of 2006! Hosted by the legendary Public Enemy hype man, Flava Flav, the show follows Flav in his quest to find true love – by sharing his mansion with 20 ambitious young ladies who leave no stone unturned in seeking his affections. Premier: Tuesday 12 June at 22:00 CAT, with repeats every Sunday at 22:00 CAT.

Other programmes premiering on MTV base as part of its autumn/winter season include:

Dancelife: A-lister Jennifer Lopez is the executive producer of this new reality dance competition where six dancers compete for their big break. MTV base takes you inside the super-competitive world of professional dancing where heart, gumption and strength of character, or lack thereof can make or break your career. Premier: Wednesday 2 May at 16:00 CAT.

Juvies: Filmed at the Lake County Juvenile Center in Indiana, this reality series follows under-18 first-time offenders as they experience what life is like in lockdown, and how it feels to face the judge. Premier: Thursday 3 May at 21:00 CAT.

Adventures in Hollyhood: Set in Los Angeles, Adventures in Hollyhood is a comic reality series that follows controversial Academy Award winners and rap artists, Three 6 Mafia in their quest to become Hollywood ‘players’. Premier: Tuesday 8 May at 21:30 CAT.

Celebrity Death Match (Series 4): Iconic satirical comedy that uses the latest claymation techniques to pit today's hottest celebrities against each other in no-holds-barred fantasy fights. Complete with pre- and post-battle activities, one-on-one interviews, press conferences and behind-the-scenes locker room moments that parody the worlds of film, television, music and politics, Celebrity Death Match 4 features life-or-death battles between opponents such as Lil’ Kim and Little Richard, and George Clooney vs. Mark Wahlberg. Premier: Monday 14 May at 22:30 CAT.

Hogan Knows Best (Series 2): This popular reality series revolves around the daily life of the family of WWE superstar Hulk Hogan. Living with wife Linda, 15-year-old Nick and 17-year old aspiring pop star Brooke can tend to be a bit challenging, but they make it through. The Hulk might be immune to pain when he's in the ring, but there is one pain that even Hulk cannot escape - growing pains! As daughter Brooke continues to pursue her dream of stardom, and son Nick straddles the fence from boyhood to manhood, Hulk and his wife Linda continue to flex their parenting muscles as they get body-slammed in the art of raising teens. From Brooke's boyfriends and Hulk's wrestling, to Nick's revolving bedroom door and the multitude of Hogan pets, the show proves that even tough guys have to be sensitive. Premier: Wednesday 16 May at 19:00 CAT.