I don’t have DSTV. We watch SABC and ETV in our little 1-bedroom flat in the City Bowl. Watching national programming gives me some false sense of being connected to “The People”. Like sipping a cold Carling Black Label or spotting the Vida Barista in my favourite pair of Converse hi-tops. Us twenty-million-odd South Africans who own a TV are subject to same weatherman hand-finger idiosyncrasies, Ugly Betty faux pas, and 3 whole Quarters of Jean-Claude Van Damme. But my favourite part of South African television is the Ads. I’m sure there’s a Rhodes Doctoral thesis being written right now on the perils of a media society where the advertising is more entertaining than the programming. But I’ve listed some of my favourite recent TV ads that really show the massive amount of passion South African creatives can channel into a flat 30 second flighting.

Robertsons Chicken Spices

Agency: DDB
Production Company: Terraplane
Director: Leigh Ogilvie
Creatives: Kerry Friend and Donovan Bryan

Kulula Sho Left

Other executions: The Japanese and The Swedes
Agency: King James Advertising

Nandos – Interview with ANC’s Julius Malema

Production Company: Stick (according to 10and5, I can’t find the credit online)
Advertising Agency: Black River FC (Part of Jupiter Cape Town)

Chicken Licken Singing Burger

Agency: Net#work BBDO Johannesburg
Production Company: Velocity Films
Executive Creative Director: Rob McLennan
Director: Anton Visser

Heineken – Walk in Fridge (International)

Agency: TBWA/Neboko – Amsterdam
Director: Bart Timmer

Toyota Hilux – Buddy the talking dog.

Agency: Draftfcb Joburg
Production Company: Bouffant Productions
Creative Director: Brett Morris