DStv Content Discovery: 2 – 8 August 2019

M-Net is dishing up a legal drama feast on Thursday nights, with the final season of the popular series Suits and its brand-new spin-off series, Pearson, kicking off from 8 August.

Suits S9 starts on Thursday 8 August on M-Net (101) at 20:10

In the ninth season premiere of the high-stakes legal drama, Harvey and Samantha fight to salvage the firm’s tarnished reputation in the wake of Robert Zane’s self-sacrifice to save Harvey. With Jessica back in Chicago, Harvey rallies the troops, including Donna Paulsen, Louis Litt and Alex Williams, in a bid to restore the firm’s former glory. There’s been much speculation about Meghan Markle’s appearance in the season 9 trailer, but whether we’ll actually get to see a Rachel cameo remains to be seen.

Pearson S1 starts on Thursday 8 August on M-Net (101) at 21:10

Following straight after Suits is the series premiere of spin-off series, Pearson, that sees the poised and once-infallible Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) start her new job in the Mayor’s office in Chicago as a fixer. Having left New York with her tail between her legs after being disbarred, Jessica hopes to reunite with her family in the windy city of Chicago.

Lovers of thrillers will find themselves engrossed in M-Net Sunday movie. A Simple Favor sees a conservative single mother being inadvertently caught up in a dangerous situation when she befriends the glamorous, wealthy mother of one of her son’s schoolfriends. The all-star cast includes Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick.

See Gordon Ramsay in a brand-new light in the adventurous new series Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted on National Geographic. As he travels around the globe, he will be pursuing culinary inspiration in a totally different way, roaring through valleys, diving into oceans, hiking through forests and scaling mountains.

Wildlife series Serengeti starts on BBC Earth this week. It follows the interconnected stories of a cast of savannah animals over one year, presented in a bold new format. From warthogs to lions, mongoose to cheetahs, a cast of our favourite African animal characters will be filmed closer and more intimately than ever before, using ground breaking filming techniques and pioneering technology.

LOCAL

Two Families and a Wedding Dress on Wednesdays on BET (129) at 21:30

Every bride dreams of the perfect wedding dress for their big day. For most, that super-expensive designer gown is destined to remain a dream, but in this show, a dress fit for a princess, worth an astounding R30 000, could become a reality. The final choice will be made by the bride-to-be’s family and soon-to-be in-laws. The show is hosted by award-winning presenter Thembisa Mdoda, with narration by the spirited Moshe Ndiki.

Idols S15 on Sunday 4 August on Mzansi Magic (161) at 17:30

The blind auditions are now done and it’s off to theatre week for the contestants. New rules mean more pressure, with the coaches and the judges raising the bar. The singers are now grouped into teams and the first round of eliminations have the contestants in a panic.

Grass Roots S1 on Fridays on 1Magic (103) at 19:30

Monwabisi and Asanda are at the mercy of the senior boys as hazing season gets underway at St. Sebastian’s. After arriving in Johannesburg to compete for a rugby scholarship, the two boys were initially rivals, both aiming for the same scholarship, but being the underdogs has brought them together.

Lui Maar Op, Belinda S3 starts on Monday 5 August on kykNET (144) at 20:00

This sitcom revolves around the staff at a general store in George, in the Southern Cape. Belinda (Brümilda van Rensburg), a former actress who daydreams about her once-glamorous life, finds naughty letters between Maggie’s things and reads them shamelessly, even while Frans cautions her to let sleeping dogs lie. Annetjie (Annelisa Weiland) tries to find a partner for Dirkie, but it’s not as easy as she thought.

Ster-status S1 starts on Monday 5 August on VIA (147) at 18:00

Women’s empowerment project, Apprentesses SA, helps women between the ages of 20 and 35 realise their dreams of being in the spotlight. Whether the candidate hopes to become a model, singer, actress, businesswoman or journalist, the project’s brand-new reality competition show will help them get a foot in the door with mentoring and confidence-building as well as establishing contacts and gaining experience in the entertainment industry.

The Queen S4 on Friday 2 August on Mzansi Magic (161) at 21:00

Brutus, Shaka and Zodwa plan their ambush on Harriet after being left behind in jail while Harriet and her kids made bail. The Maake family suffer another loss and Mmabatho takes drastic steps to protect Baby Mzi.

No Excuse Pay Your Papgeld S2 on Saturday 3 August on MOJA LOVE (157) at 18:30

Award-winning Kwaito musician Dr Malinga hosts this series in which parents struggling with collecting payments for the maintenance of their children are given a platform to get assistance.

Liyana on Showmax

Combining documentary scenes and animation, Liyana is described as a hybrid documentary. It follows the story of a young Swazi girl who attempts to rescue her twin brothers after they’re kidnapped and is inspired by real-life stories.

SPORT

Football: Super Diski: ABSA Premiership on 3 and 4 August on SuperSport 4 (204) and SuperSport 7 (207) from 14:50

The ups and downs that are part of league football are likely to kick in on the first weekend of this season’s premier division action. Mamelodi Sundowns start the defence of their title with a match against SuperSport United on Saturday. Pirates, who finished second last season, play Bloemfontein Celtic and Amazulu face Wits, who was third on the 2018/’19 log, at 20:10. On Sunday, Kaizer Chiefs play Highlands Park and Golden Arrows face Maritzburg United.

Rugby: Currie Cup Premier Division 2 and 3 August on SuperSport 1 (201) at 14:45 and 17:00 and 19:00

Reputations don’t count for much in South Africa’s top regional rugby competition these days. Teams that used to crowd the top of the log now face serious challenges, right from the start of the season. Last season’s champions, the Sharks, face a stiff test when they play the Pumas in an away match on Saturday before the Blue Bulls face Griquas in Pretoria. Free State Cheetahs, always hard to beat at home, meet the Golden Lions on Friday.

Cricket: The Ashes: England v Australia first Test 1 to 5 August on SuperSport 2 (202) at 11:45

England are chasing a notable milestone when they meet Australia in the first of five Test matches at Edgbaston this week. The new (ODI) World Cup champions will even the Ashes score if they win the 71st series. Australia, the present champions, have won the little trophy 33 times; one more than England’s tally. Five series were drawn. The hosts are fielding one of their most formidable and exciting teams in years, but the Aussies showed signs of returning to domination during the World Cup tournament.

Motorsport: Formula 1: Hungarian Grand Prix 4 August on SuperSport 6 (206) at 13:35

Lewis Hamilton would have banished all thoughts of his German Grand Prix nightmare when he seeks to retain his Hungarian title in Mogyoród this weekend. The Briton still leads Valtteri Bottas by a healthy margin in the championship standings. Max Verstappen, who held off Sebastian Vettel in Germany, could also enhance his position on the 4km Hungaroring track. The practice rounds will be broadcast live at 20:45 and 14:45 on Friday and 11:45 on Saturday, followed by the qualifying battle at 14:55.

KIDS

A-X-L on Saturday 3 August on M-Net (101) at 15:30

Pre-teens and teens will be caught up by this fast-paced, futuristic action-adventure movie. A teenager named Miles finds what looks like a piece of very expensive wrecked tech on a scrapheap, never suspecting the top-secret robotic dog will become his best friend. But A-X-L was designed as a weapon, and the scientists who built him want their pet project back. Now both boy and dog are in danger. Starring Alex Neustaeder, Thomas Jane and Becky G.

Disney Cook-About S3 on Saturday 3 August on Disney Channel (303) at 10:15

Disney’s fabulous, fun cooking game show, hosted by the hilarious Kirsten Mohamed and Mthunzi Ntoyi, is in Gauteng this season, putting young cooktestants through their paces as they vie for the Golden Trophy, and a R50 000 prize for their school. Along the way, kids will learn about healthy nutrition and pick up tips for preparing delicious dishes.

Teddles S1 on Saturday 3 August on CBeebies (306) at 10:55

These cute mini-stories with 2-minute songs will make the little ones laugh and help them learn about crucial life-skills like washing hands and tidying up, as the curious, confident Teddles is helped out by his kind friends when he makes mistakes. Today, Teddles doesn’t want to brush his teeth, but when he cheekily runs away, he bumps into Mr Walrus, who knows how important it is to look after your teeth.

Zog on Showmax

Zog is a young dragon determined to do well at Dragon School, where he learns about flying, roaring and breathing fire. But poor Zog experiences a few challenges along the way, many caused by his clumsiness. This is based on a brilliant Julia Donaldson best-seller (over 1,5 million copies sold) classic and was produced in South Africa by Triggerfish Studios as an award-winning 27 minute animated short with an all-star cast including Kit Harrington, Lenny Henry, Hugh Skinner and Tracey Ullman.

MOVIES

A Simple Favor premieres Sunday 4 August on M-Net (101) at 20:00

Described by Variety as a “clever, naughty suburban noir”, this slick thriller stars Anna Kendrick as suburban widow/vlogger Stephanie Smothers, and her bizarre relationship with fellow mom Emily, a power-dressing, enigmatic and cruel upper-class Blake Lively. As their friendship evolves over Martinis and oversharing, Emily asks Stephanie a simple favour – to collect her son from school one day, only to mysteriously vanish on the same day.

American Animals premieres Saturday 3 August on M-Net (101) at 21:30

This crime drama is based on a real-life event in which a group of college students hatched a plan to rob their Kentucky university library’s rare book section, which included some of the most valuable books in existence, like a copy of Darwin’s Origin of the Species. Evan Peters (American Horror Story) and Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale) star in this movie, which Empire magazine calls a “knowing, blistering mix of heist flick and true-crime documentary”.

ATL on Friday 2 August on 1Magic (103) at 22:00

Nominated for a BET Hip Hop award for Best Movie, this coming-of-age-in-the-hood movie follows four friends as they try to make the most of their last few weeks of high school in their inner-city Atlanta neighbourhood before facing the challenges of looming adulthood. Featuring rapper T.I. and Evan Ross (son of Diana).

Lean on Pete on Showmax

If you remember shedding happy (or sad) tears during famous horse-and-child movies like Black Stallion and Flicka, prepare your tissue stash for Lean on Pete. Fifteen-year-old Charley befriends a retired racing quarter horse bound for the slaughterhouse and, in an attempt to escape his own unhappy homelife and save his new friend’s life, the two set off from Oregon to Canada in search of a new life together.

INTERNATIONAL SERIES

The Goldbergs S6 starts on Saturday 3 August on M-Net (101) at 17:30

Oddball 80s family, The Goldbergs, is back! The sitcom revolves around overbearing mom Beverly, deadbeat dad Murray, over-confident daughter Erica, quirky son Barry, and youngest son, geeky Adam, from whose viewpoint the series is told. The show is based on the real-life memories of show creator Adam F. Goldberg. The first episode of Season 6 sees Adam turn 16. He’s expecting his mom to make a huge deal about it but instead, he gets … nothing.

Departure S1 starts on Monday 5 August on Universal TV (117) at 20:00

When a passenger plane mysteriously disappears over the Atlantic Ocean, aviation investigator Kendra Malley (Archie Panjabi from The Good Wife) is called in to find out what happened. The trail soon leads her to investigate her former boss and mentor Howard Lawson (Academy-award winner Christopher Plummer). Claire Forlani (Hawaii Five-0) also stars in this conspiracy thriller that’s been described as a “thrilling, high-octane drama”.

Snowfall S3 starts on Tuesday 6 August on 1Magic (103) at 21:30

AV Club calls this crime drama series “one of the most stylish, well-written shows on TV right now.” Revolving around the drug industry in Los Angeles in the 80s, this crime drama follows three characters on a violent collision course: drug dealer Franklin Saint, Mexican wrestler Gustavo ‘El Oso’ Zapata, and CIA agent Teddy McDonald.

Sweet Bitter S1 on Showmax

Tess moves to New York, eager to experience new things. She lands a job at a top restaurant and has to navigate life in the Big Apple along with the crazy world of the restaurant business. Based on the novel.

FACTUAL

Serengeti S1 starts on Sunday 4 August on BBC Earth (184) at 16:00

John Boyega (Finn from Star Wars) narrates this dramatised six-part natural history series that traces the interconnected stories of the Serengeti’s most iconic species. Using the latest ground-breaking technology and filming techniques, including drones and multiple static cameras, the series gets up-close and personal with the unique wildlife in this unspoilt pocket of the African savannah. In this episode, Kali, a brave lioness, has broken the golden rules of family life by having cubs with an outsider.

Murder Loves Company S1 starts on Tuesday 6 August on Investigation Discovery (171) at 21:00

This chilling new real-life murder mystery series looks at crimes that have happened within close-knit groups of people, from co-workers and friends to neighbours in a tight-knit community. Each case unfolds to reveal that someone in the group will be murdered … and someone in the group is the killer. The series opens with a girls’ movie night that ends tragically for a group of college roommates, leading police to search halfway across the state for the killer.

Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy on Showmax

American exchange student Amanda Knox is convicted and eventually acquitted for the 2007 death of another student in Italy.

Out There with Jack Randall S1 starts on Wednesday 7 August on Nat Geo Wild (182) at 18:00

Zoologist Jack Randall takes a walk on the extremely wild side, searching for rare, endangered, iconic and exotic species in some of the most unforgiving environments on Earth. In the season premiere, Jack ventures into the remote Northern Territory of Australia to search for six dangerous pythons.

REALITY

Gordon Ramsay Uncharted starts on Wednesday 7 August on National Geographic (181) at 21:00

Get out of the kitchen and onto the unbeaten path to follow the Michelin-starred chef and Ironman athlete Gordon Ramsay as he meets indigenous locals around the globe to learn about the cultures, dishes and flavours unique to each far-flung location. From South America to New Zealand, Alaska to Morocco, each episode concludes with Ramsay putting his newfound skills (and ingredients) to the test as he cooks up an exotic feast with a local legend.

Race Across the World on Friday 2 August on BBC Earth (184) at 19:00

Upping the ante on the reality travel shows we’ve seen before, contestants have to make their way from London to Singapore … without setting foot on a plane … or with the help of a smartphone, or card payments, and on the meagre budget of what a one-way flight would have cost them.

The Hills: New Beginnings on Thursday 8 August on MTV (130) at 15:00

There’s drama at the crystal party as Audrina confronts Justin about that little “goodbye” kiss, while Brody has some honest conversations about his failed relationship with father Caitlyn, as well as with his one-time best friend, Spencer.

Seann Walsh – Seann to be Wild on Tuesday 6 August on BBC Brit (120) at 20:00

With his trademark deeply personal observational humour, Walsh dishes on the life of an incapable 21st century male, from dealing with the crippling self-consciousness he suffers from in public spaces, to his love-hate relationship with alcohol.

BOXOFFICE

The Grinch (2018) premieres on Monday 5 August on BoxOffice

Cindy-Lou Who and the people of Who-ville love everything about Christmas, but The Grinch cannot stand it. When he realises they want to make Christmas three times bigger than ever before, he devises a plan to steal it from them. The only person standing in his way is that outrageously happy girl, Cindy-Lou. Pharrell Williams narrates and Benedict Cumberbatch stars in this latest animated comedy adaptation of the Dr. Seuss children’s classic.

Sew the Winter to My Skin premieres on Monday 5 August on BoxOffice

Ezra Mabengeza, Nomhle Nkonyeni, Antoinette Louw, Brenda Ngxoli and Kandyse McClure star in this emotionally charged and beautifully filmed action-drama by acclaimed controversial South African filmmaker Jahmil X.T. Qubeka (Of Good Report). Set in the 1950s, it reimagines the historical 12-year manhunt for “the Samson of Boschberg”, John Kepe, a mid-century Robin Hood and stock thief, dubbed an outlaw by the ruling apartheid government, but a hero to the poor.

What Men Want premieres on Thursday 8 August on BoxOffice

Inspired by What Women Want, the 2000 romantic comedy that starred Mel Gibson, What Men Want sees the roles reversed as a dynamic sports agent (Taraji P Henson), undermined in her male-dominated profession, gains an unexpected advantage after she develops the ability to hear men’s thoughts.

What They Had premieres on Monday 5 August on BoxOffice

When Bridget’s mother falls victim to Alzheimer’s, her brother pleads with her to come home to help with the caregiving. Upon her return, she finds that not much has changed and her father’s refusal to accept the situation doesn’t make matters easy. Oscar winner Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon, Blythe Danner and Robert Forster star in this insightful drama with moments of authentic humour that will make you recognise your own loved ones in its poignant study of a family in crisis.

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb