"LOL: Last One Laughing South Africa" is a six-part series that launched in early 2024. The show features well-known South African comedians and performers who compete to maintain composure while trying to make their opponents laugh.
Hosted by Trevor Noah, the show is the first South African Prime Video unscripted series.
LOL: Last One Laughing South Africa S01E03 | Funniest & Epic Fails Trevor Noah’s Comedy Challenge
The show is co-produced by Rapid Blue and Day Zero Productions. It is an adaptation of Prime Video's comedy franchise, which has featured more than 20 countries and global territories. Africa's first LOL series was in Nigeria, LOL: Last One Laughing Naija, hosted by Basketmouth.
The Comedians
The cast includes various notable South African entertainers, including comedians Robby Collins, Jason Goliath, Celeste Ntuli, Lasizwe Dambuza, Mojak Lehoko and Tumi Morake. The actors Nomzamo Mbatha and Thando Thabethe, director Glen Biderman-Pam and musician Moonchild Sanelly are also featured.
Collins has opened for Noah for all his one-man shows from Day Walker to Nationwild. In the show, the cast of entertainers will compete for a R1 million prize on behalf of the South African charity of their choice.
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Episodes
The series consists of six episodes, each approximately 30 minutes in length. Here's a brief overview of the episodes:
- S1 E1 - Comedians Versus Civilians: Nerves and strategy take center stage as the contenders are revealed. Alliances form as comedians plot to oust the ‘people people’ amongst them.
- S1 E2 - Of Bad Magic and Twerks: The game is in full swing, and yellow cards begin to flow. Alliances form, and underhanded plots start bubbling.
- S1 E3 - Things Are Getting 'Wors': Nerves set in after the first red card. Some contestants take a casual approach, while others try out their gags.
- S1 E4 - The Atchar Puppet: Red lights and red cards become more frequent. A surprise visit pushes repressed giggles to the brink, and Trevor Noah stirs the pot with a mischievous phone call.
- S1 E5 - You’ll Never Break Me: Trevor Noah’s antics cause chaos, and a surprise guest puts on a puppet show. Levels of reality blur as contestants head down the rabbit hole.
- S1 E6 - Holding On Four Dear Life!: The stakes are high as fatigue escalates to delirium. Trevor throws in radical curveballs, and a daunting announcement compels the contestants to pull out all the stops.
Reviews
Reviews of "LOL: Last One Laughing South Africa" have been mixed. Some viewers have found the humor to be "forced" and "cheap," while others found the show tolerable and enjoyed watching the comedians try to hold in their laughter.
Some viewers felt that the show missed the mark in representing South African comedy, while others appreciated the opportunity to see new comedians. Some reviews point out that the show could have been hilarious with a more natural flow between the comedians.
Here's a summary of some of the reviews:
- Broken humor: Felt the humor was false, broken and cheap.
- Shockingly horrible: Not even slightly amusing or entertaining.
- Shockingly unfunny: 90% of the time it's toilet humour and crass language and noise.
- I made it through: Could have been hilarious with a more natural flow between the comedians.
- It's not as bad as others: LOL South Africa was tolerable.
Overall, "LOL: Last One Laughing South Africa" presents a unique take on the comedy competition format, showcasing a diverse cast of South African entertainers. While reviews are mixed, the show offers a glimpse into the local comedy scene and provides an opportunity for viewers to discover new talent.
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