The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema The Big & Small Screen
TREVOR Noah is easily one of the most polarising figures in entertainment.
His rags-to-riches tale blends well with his underdog tag. And when you mix that with shades of “Coming to America” and a sharp wit, you get a celeb comedian.
Others are offended by his racial jokes, political barbs and unashamed neo-liberalism.
The past two years have been very good to Trevor Noah, culminating in one company saying his “The Daily Show” attracted over 1,5 million viewers in February 2017.
This was the highest viewership stat for Trevor since he took over the show in September 2015.
With “Born a Crime” rated a bestseller, Trevor is also billed to make his feature film debut this year after signing on for “Ferdinand” alongside fellow comedians Adam DeVine, Gabriel Iglesias and Kate McKinnon among others.
Based on the children’s book “The Story of Ferdinand” (Munro Leaf), the film will be released on December 15.
The hallmark of every comedian is to identify one’s niche.
For Australian Jim Jeffries, it is Christianity; Iglesias and Kevin Hart love fat and short jokes; Bill Burr simply shouts. Carl Joshua Ncube is yet to find himself, but maybe that is his thing.
Noah’s niche is relevance.
The South African comic’s specials are usually defined by what is going on around him at the time, whether socially, economically, politically or just pop culture.
His three main stories of 2016 were Donald Trump, Brexit and James Bond, and it is these things he deals with in his latest special, “Trevor Noah: Afraid of the Dark”.
Yeah, everyone is making Trump jokes these days, but Trevor knows how to do impressions better than most. Watch if you are not yet tired of laughing at a man who controls the world’s largest nuclear arsenal.
Noah also mocks Britain’s stance on immigration, using the old but still funny skit of how the UK sailed the world looking for countries to illegally migrate to (read colonise).
Then there is Mr 007. One of the biggest stories in cinema today is whether or not Daniel Craig will return for the 25th (his fifth) instalment of the James Bond series.
No one even knows the title, date of release and plot of the next Bond film, but word has it that everything hinges on if Craig returns.
The rumour mill has it Craig isn’t happy with the pressures of the role, prompting speculation on possible replacements.
Three names standout: Tom Hardy, Tom Hiddleston and Idris Elba.
I don’t think one of them will become Bond. History has taught me never to speculate on who will get the call, for the iconic role usually goes to someone no one expects. I remember Googling Daniel Craig when he was announced as James Bond.
But hey, go watch Trevor Noah’s take on the whole debate for yourself.
