New Series Alert (Rumour): Hawaii Five-O + MacGyver + Magnum Pi + NCIS: Hawaii + FBI + Seal Team And More On Universal TV Africa

Hawaii Five-O
The series covers the actions of a small, specialized DPS task force in Hawaii, headed by Lt. Commander Steve McGarrett, USNR. The task force answers only to the Governor of the state of Hawaii and is given full immunity and means. The task force has no restrictions and is always backed by the Governor. The team is able to investigate crimes ranging from terrorism to kidnapping as well as murder and robberies.

MacGyver
Angus "Mac" MacGyver is an operative of a secret U.S. government organization (cloaked as a think tank) where he uses his extraordinary talent for problem solving and his extensive knowledge of science to save lives. "With skills that are only limited by his creativity, Mac saves the day using paper clips instead of pistols, birthday candles instead of bombs, and gum instead of guns."

 

Magnum Pi
As in the original series, the reboot follows Thomas Magnum, a former Navy SEAL turned private investigator who occupies the guest house on Robin's Nest, the Hawaiian estate owned by famous author Robin Masters. Also living on the estate are Juliet Higgins, a former MI6 agent assigned by Masters to protect the estate, and native Hawaiian Kumu Tuileta, who is the estate's cultural curator.

NCIS: Hawaii
The series follows a fictional team of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents who work out of the Pearl Harbor Field Office, which is led by Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant. The team Investigates crimes related to the military and national security.

 

FBI
The series centers on inner workings of the New York office criminal division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This elite unit brings to bear all their talents, intellect, and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep New York and the country safe. Born into a multi-generational law enforcement family, Special Agent Maggie Bell commits deeply to the people she works with as well as those she protects.

FBI: Most Wanted
The series focus on the work of FBI’s Fugitive Task Force which relentlessly tracks and captures the notorious and dangerous criminals on the Bureau’s most wanted list. Overseeing the team is Jess LaCroix, a seasoned, enigmatic agent at the top of his game who uses his expert profiling skills to help apprehend the most dangerous criminals.

 

FBI: International
The series follows members of the FBI's international "Fly Team", elite operatives headquartered in Budapest who locate and neutralize threats against American interests around the world.

Seal Team
The series follows Bravo Team, a sub-unit of the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group, the most elite unit of Navy SEALs, as they plan and undertake dangerous missions worldwide with little notice, and the burden placed on them and their families.

 

Law And Order: Organized Crime
The series centers on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit character Elliot Stabler, a veteran Detective who returns to the NYPD in New York following his wife's murder. Stabler joins the Organized Crime Task Force, led by Sergeant Ayanna Bell.

The Blacklist
The show follows Raymond "Red" Reddington, a former U.S. Navy officer turned high-profile criminal who voluntarily surrenders to the FBI after eluding capture for decades. He tells the FBI that he has a list of the most dangerous criminals in the world which he has compiled over the years, and he is willing to inform on their operations in exchange for immunity from prosecution. However, he insists on working exclusively with rookie FBI profiler Elizabeth Keen.

Want To Know More About eExtra's New Series Fenix Stream Netflix's Miniseries The Bonfire Of Destiny

Before reading my intention is not to lure viewers away from Fenix as the two do have unique concepts while the original which is the French version consists of 8 episodes that can take up a week this version goes on for a couple of months again except different concepts.

Le Bazar de la Charité (The Bonfire of Destiny) begins with the depiction of a true event, the fire at the Bazar de la Charité in Paris, 4 May 1897, in which 126 people died. Planning to visit the bazaar is Adrienne de Lenverpré (Audrey Fleurot), an upper-class woman who seeks to escape from her marriage to her tyrant husband, Marc-Antoine de Lenverpré (Gilbert Melki), a candidate for the President of the Senate.

 
 

While Adrienne's niece, Alice de Jeansin, along with her close confidant and maidservant, Rose Rivière, attend the bazaar the fire breaks out. Adrienne, who had entered the event earlier but left to meet her paramour, realizes to her horror that she, too, could have been inside. From there the plot revolves around the aftermath of the conflagration and the lives of the three women.

It took a big cast to tell the story. There were corrupt politicians, investigators, cops, journalists, newsboys, anarchists, devious mothers-in-law, near bankrupt parents, philandering fake husbands, and pretend children. The costumes and opulent sets of the rich people in the story were fabulous.

False identities, faked deaths, and loving below your class were just a few of the plot lines that our three heroines became involved in as the story spun its magic. The guillotine situated in the middle of the frame in every episode was set to whisk off the head of one of those characters. Some characters plotted to put him on the chopping block, while others worked to prove his innocence.

 
 

Exciting things like stabbings, shootings, bonking on the head with metal pipes, and men knocking women about figured into resolving some of the problems. The climactic scenes in the final episode had the three women’s stories in a good place. It felt like the series could end after those 8 episodes and be complete. But The Bonfire of Destiny (Le Bazar de la Charité) was specifically labeled Season 1, so there may be plans to carry on with the women’s lives with new drama in the future. They were strong, willful, interesting women.

For those without a Netflix subscription can easily tune into Fenix on eExtra from 24 May at 19:30.

Credit: Virginia DeBolt

Celebrate Mother's Day With Some Fabulous Recipes

Wistful recollections of our childhood usually centre around food and baking. Nothing conjures up feelings of nostalgia better than the image of a little child, nose-pressed-to-the-oven door on a cold Sunday afternoon. With nostrils giddy with the scent of melted chocolate and eyes bigger than dinner plates, their delicate hands’ are poised, ready to grab a freshly baked cookie as soon as mom carefully plates them.


Grace Stevens, award-winning TV chef, confectionery connoisseur, and fellow mum, shares some delectable ways to ensure this Mother’s Day is the most special one yet.

 


Here Are Her Top 3 Tips:

Give the gift of food  


Food shared with loved ones always creates memorable moments. There is something wonderfully unforgettable about making and gifting special edible treats for those we love, and more so for our mums, as they do it all the time for us. Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to treat mum to treasured cakes and bakes passed down from previous generations, over a steaming pot of fresh tea or coffee.


Bring the family together 


It is so special when Moms can be celebrated by spending quality time with their families, catching up, and sharing fond memories. A delightful alternative to taking mum out for a meal is to recreate her favourite restaurant dinner at home, with all the family. We absolutely love making homemade pizza together. It’s a lovely way of getting the whole family involved. From kneading the dough to roasting the tomato paste, grating the cheese, and chopping up toppings to scatter over, there is something every member of the family can do, irrespective of their age.

 


Make mum the focus 


Mother’s Day is all about spending quality time with your mom and making her feel special. Set aside time to just hang out with your mom and do something that she enjoys. Doing a craft class, helping with some gardening, or going on an outing together is a great way to spend precious time together. If you have more than one sibling, divide up the weekend and take your mom on a few different outings. This way she can relax and not be stressed with having to try and catch up with everyone at one time. 



Here are Grace’s beloved treats to create for Mum: 



Lemon and Blueberry Cake


Nothing beats sitting down to indulge in a delicate slice of cake for afternoon tea. I absolutely love a moist cake with light fluffy sponge layers, a citrus zing, and fresh bursts of fruits. The great thing about cakes is that they are easy to make, they taste even better after a day or two when the flavours have had a chance to mingle, and the little ones can go to town with the decorating.

 


Click here for the recipe: Blueberry & Lemon Cake - Grace Stevens


Shortbread


Shortbread is notable for its crumbly texture and butter-rich taste. My quick and easy recipe for candied orange peel shortbread packs a punch of flavour and is ideal for this time of year. They make the perfect food gift if you’re popping round to Mum for a cup of tea. Simply wrap them up in brown paper and tie them with a pretty ribbon to take with you. 


Click here for the recipe: Candied Orange Peel Shortbread - Grace Stevens 


Chocolate Chip Cookies 


Who doesn’t love to walk into a house that smells like cookies baking? I adore cookies and perfectly sweet and undeniably delectable chocolate chip ones are my favourite. The perfect cookie is crispy and firm on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, and tastes scrumptious, served with a large cup of warmed hot chocolate. I love to keep a tin full of these in the house and serve them as an after-dinner treat, or late evening snack. You’ll look like a domestic goddess with minimal effort on your part.


Click here for the recipe: Choc Chip Heart Cookies - Grace Stevens 


Mother’s Day is all about taking the time out of our busy schedules to appreciate the selfless sacrifices and limitless compassion of our mum, which actually merits more than just one day of recognition. So, this Mother’s Day, let’s make our moms feel extra special by baking some delicious memories that will last a lifetime. 

 


For more delectable recipes, online tutorials, shop, and live classes visit www.gracestevens.co.za or follow her on Grace_stevenschef or Facebook grace_stevenschef


Roundups #49: M-Net Launches New 8 Part Series Desert Rose, Two New Shows Launch On History Africa And Aquaman: King Of Atlantis Heads To Cartoon Network Africa

Set on a remote farm in the Northern Cape, Desert Rose is an evocative, emotional, quirky and cinematic new family-centred drama premiering on M-Net on 2 June.

The eight-part drama mixes black comedy, suspense, crime, romance, and music while focusing on the unlikely reconnecting of a father and his children. The series stars Neil Sandilands, Amalia Uys, Kai Luke Brümmer, Christia Visser, Tinarie van Wyk and several others.

Desert Rose is directed by Cindy Lee (The Girl from St Agnes), written by award-winning screenwriter and showrunner Rohan Dickson (Reyka, Husk, Welcome to Hawaii ) and produced by Quizzical Pictures.

 
 

Below are two upcoming highlights on History Channel

STRANGEST THINGS S1
20 May, Fridays 19h25

Strangest Things explores the stories surrounding some of the most unusual and interesting objects ever found or created. From the most distant man-made object in the universe to a 10,000-year-old shaman’s headdress, each show will feature three riveting objects and their stories. Using the latest scientific research, photographs, declassified files and expert testimony – combined with a unique visual style – we explore the strangest objects on Earth to reveal the true stories of what they really are.

BUILT THE WORLD

24 May, Tuesdays 20h15

As the latest instillation of the HISTORY Channel’s popular “That Built” franchise, The Engineering that Built the World sheds light on the iconic structures and engineering feats that have shaped and defi ned our world. From the Golden Gate Bridge, to the Panama Canal, Transcontinental Railroad, Statue of Liberty and beyond, this series tells the stories of the brilliant visionaries behind the most epic builds of the past two centuries. Up against insurmountable challenges, these are the unknown tales of rivalries, egos, backdoor politics and the brilliant engineering innovations that made the future possible.

 

Cartoon Network enters the world of Atlantis

Aquaman finally becomes king of Atlantis, but he has never ruled before. He begins to learn the ropes of kingdom administration with the help of his advisers, Vulko, a scholar, and Mera, a water- wielding warrior.

Aquaman: King Of Atlantis is a three-part miniseries based on the DC Comics character that was produced by the director of the 2018 live-action film and its upcoming 2023 sequel, James Wan serves as executive producer.

 

As of November 2021, The series is currently streaming on HBO Max which hasn't launched yet in South Africa and will likely arrive by 2025/6. In the meantime, the series will rollout on Cartoon Network internationally with Africa scheduled for June.

Other D.C. animated projects in development for the network include Teen Titans GO! The Night Begins To Shine, My Adventures With Superman and Batman: Caped Crusader.

All Rise For E! Africa's New Series Mathis Family Matters

The legendary and honorable Judge Greg Mathis, Sr. and his family are ready to share their unfiltered lives with the world.  The Judge might rule the courtroom, but at home he is just “Dad.” Judge Mathis and his wife, Linda Mathis and their four grown children – Jade Mathis, Camara Mathis Webb, Greg Mathis, Jr., and Amir Mathis – along with their own careers, relationships, personalities, and off the wall dynamics are ready to take Los Angeles by storm. The family docu-series offers a rare look into the Mathis’ exclusive Hollywood lifestyle and family fun. Mathis Family Matters premieres with back-to-back episodes on the 31st of July at 20:00 on E!.

Mathis Family Matters follows Judge Mathis and his wife, Linda as two of their adult children move back to Los Angeles to all find their way and join the rest of the family. Judge Mathis has had great success helping others, but when it comes to his family, his opinions and being an “expert on everything” sometimes falls flat as he helps to guide his children through adulthood. Linda, the matriarch of the family, has a fabulous quick with personality and since this is the first time the family has been under one roof in long time, it’s her mission to keep everyone together through  the ups and downs. The firstborn, Jade is living life to the fullest on both coasts, as she decides if her dreams of being a full-time motivational speaker outweigh her career in law. Camara can do no wrong in the eyes of the Judge, and with the nickname “Mother Mathis” she has started a family of her own along with her husband, Ryan and daughters Nora and Zara. Camara is trying to manage it all as she works on balancing family life and her law career. Greg Jr. and his long-term boyfriend, Elliott are busy working on multiple real estate ventures, and as they take their relationship to the next level, they struggle with sharing their true bond with the world.

 
 

The youngest, Amir is building his own production empire, and after a recent divorce he jumps right back into another serious relationship causing his siblings to intercede with a love intervention. The Mathis crew is ready to shake things up with fun, big laughs and family love at the core.

Meet The Mathis Family:

Judge Greg Mathis, Sr.

Judge Greg Mathis, a national figure and father known for his advocacy campaigns for urban youth and equal justice, is the longest-running African-American male host on television. His inspirational life story of a street youth who rose from jail to Judge has provided hope to millions who watch him on the Emmy Award-winning television court show Judge Mathis and now he is sharing what life is like with his family on E!’s Mathis Family Matters.

Judge Mathis’s public service career began in college where he led Free South Africa and voter registration campaigns on campus, while also working nights at McDonalds as a swing manager. After graduating from college in 1983, he joined the staff of Detroit City Councilman Clyde Cleveland and continued to work as an advocate for equal justice with Reverend Jesse Jackson’s PUSH Excel, where he currently serves as chairman. Judge Mathis has also served as a national board member of the NAACP and the Morehouse School of Medicine.

 
 

In 2018, Judge Mathis proved his passion for public service when he organized a caravan from Detroit to Flint, Mich., where he led a rally challenging Flint city officials to fix the water pipes. He then delivered 10,000 bottles of water carried by 18-wheeler trucks to the people affected by the ongoing crisis. He campaigned extensively to get the word out for the cause, appearing on national and local programs such as The View and Detroit’s Michigan Matters.

In his efforts to reach out to youth and l ex-offenders both in and outside of the courtroom, Judge Mathis opened the Mathis Community Center in Detroit and has assisted thousands of youth with his non-profit agency Young Adults Asserting Themselves (Y.A.A.T.), an agency that provides career, business start-up and job opportunities, as well as job training and college enrollment assistance. In honor of his years of work and commitment to his hometown of Detroit, the city named one of the streets, Mathis Avenue, after him. The street is part of a new housing development, which replaced the housing projects he grew up in.

Judge Mathis has received numerous awards and keys to the city from government officials and is the recipient of honorary doctorates from both Florida A&M University and Eastern Michigan University. He has been recognized for his efforts by numerous newspapers, magazines and television networks, and has appeared on such shows as The View, The Real, The Tonight Show, Today and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In May 2022, Judge Mathis will be awarded a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, an honor bestowed on luminaries of the entertainment industry. He is also executive producer of the BET+ series American Gangster: Trap Queens.

Judge Mathis is married, and the proud father of four children, and two adorable granddaughters.

Linda Mathis

Linda Mathis is a mother, entrepreneur and wife of Judge Greg Mathis, Sr.

Linda was raised in Detroit and the surrounding suburbs of Oak Park, Mich., along with her two sisters and grew up with a very loving and close-knit family that always spent quality time together. She graduated from Oak Park High School and followed her sister to Eastern Michigan University. While in college majoring in education, Linda met Greg and their four-year courtship continued throughout college. After graduation, Linda and Greg got engaged and married. They raised their family in the suburbs of Detroit, where Linda pursued her career as a teacher with the Board of Education, and a few years later she opened several educational centers.

 

In 2005, Linda and Greg had several goals and decided to relocate to Los Angeles with younger sons Greg Jr. and Amir while daughters Jade and Camara were in college. As the matriarch of the Mathis family, Linda transitioned her career to dedicate all her time to focusing on the children, household and family life. As their kids grew into adults, Linda found a new passion and created She Social with Camara. She Social is an event that unites women from different backgrounds to network, grow together, support each other and celebrate sisterhood.

When Linda is not planning her next event, she enjoys power walking with friends, traveling the world with her family and spending time with her grandkids.

Jade Mathis

Jade Ellis Mathis is the firstborn of the Mathis children and referred to by the Mathis crew as the most similar to Judge Mathis. Jade is an attorney, public speaker and mental health advocate who has experienced several obstacles and setbacks on her challenging road to becoming an attorney.

After receiving a life-changing mental health diagnosis while in college, Jade was determined to change the way the world views mental health. Jade’s bold, authentic, unapologetic and unashamed approach to addressing mental health is admired and respected by many. In 2016, Jade captured the attention of millions across the world by sharing her story of resilience and perseverance in her “Don’t Quit, Anything Can Happen” viral testimonial video, changing countless lives. 

Dubbed the “Expungement Guru,” the former non-traditional prosecutor observed firsthand the disparities and deficits in the criminal justice system and created unique diversion programs as alternatives to incarceration. Also known as “The Resilient JEM,” Jade has been featured in media outlets and serves as an influencer, moderator, panelist and keynote speaker for national organizations.

 

A strong believer in her faith, Jade is active in her church and dedicated to a life of service and motivating others to remain resilient in the face  of adversity.

Camara Mathis Webb

Camara Mathis Webb was born in Detroit and is the second child of Greg and Linda Mathis. She’s affectionally known to the family as “Momma Mathis,” because as a big sister growing up she always had a big heart and nurturing qualities.

Camara is a natural-born leader, and this has followed into her career. Camara attended Michigan State University, and after graduation, she pursued a career in the legal profession and is currently an entertainment attorney in Los Angeles, CA. Camara has been practicing law for nine years as a business and legal affairs executive.

In addition to nurturing her family, Camara is also passionate about uplifting and nurturing other women. That passion inspired Camara, alongside her mother, to create She Social, an event that unites women from different backgrounds to network, grow together, support each other and celebrate sisterhood.

Camara is a boss in every sense of the word, as she is a wife and mother to two beautiful daughters — 5-year-old Nora and 8-month-old Zara. When she’s not managing her family’s real estate ventures and bringing them together for game night, Camara is committed to a lifetime of continuous learning and loves traveling the world with her husband and children.

 

Greg Mathis, Jr.

Greg Mathis, Jr. (also affectionately known as “Bobby” to his family) is an entrepreneur and longtime political advocate. Greg was born in Detroit and spent nearly a decade living in Washington, D.C. He manages multiple successful real estate ventures alongside long-term boyfriend Elliott Cooper. In addition, Greg previously worked as a political staffer for close to a decade in Washington, D.C., and remains dedicated to many political and charitable causes.

Greg’s career in politics includes several years as a senior advisor in the United States Senate, as well as previous work for two members of the United States House of Representatives and the President of the United States. During his time there, Greg worked directly to advance several key initiatives he is passionate about. including funding for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, increasing direct mental health and general healthcare and support services to LGBTQ individuals, and authorizing the nation’s first national program to better identify victims of human trafficking in health care settings.

Most recently, Greg is now managing his family’s various talent and business endeavors, his real estate businesses and engaging in LGBTQ advocacy.

Greg currently lives in Los Angeles with Elliott and their two French Bulldogs – Knox and Dax. When he is not busy at work, Greg enjoys traveling, working out, trying out various restaurants and spending time with family and friends.

Amir Mathis

Amir Mathis is the youngest of the Mathis kids and is often referred to as “the baby” and free spirit of the family. While seen by his siblings as the child who uses his charm to get anything out of his parents, he’s also seen by his peers as an established television producer and great networker with an eclectic group of friends.

 

Growing up in the entertainment industry, he recognized from an early age that he wanted to be a producer. He got his start in television working as a production assistant on his dad’s show and has since worked on multiple Emmy Award-nominated shows. After more than 10 years in the industry, he recently started his own production company and is an executive producer.

When not working on new TV projects or trying to persuade his dad to cover club tables that he sees as a “networking expense,” he enjoys long hikes, Malibu beach days and taking advantage of any moment to travel.

Mathis Family Matters is produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Shed Media, Telepictures and Cube Five with Lisa Shannon, Dan Peirson and Charles Davis, Bridgette Theriault, Greg Mathis Sr., Amir Mathis and Simone Spira serving as Executive Producers.