12 December 2017
SuzelleDIY meets Tali Babes
- Tali_babes co-stars in new SuzelleDIY video, ‘How To Make A DIY Wedding Cake’
- Suzelle and Tali don’t get on. At all.
- ‘Tali’s Wedding Diary’ videos approaching two million views
- Mockumentary launches this Thursday, 14 December 2017 on Showmax
Interest in Tali’s Wedding Diary, the first Showmax Original, is reaching fever pitch. Promotional videos for the show have generated nearly two million views in less than a month, with the trailer trending on YouTube for the week of its release. As Channel24 wrote last week, “Her show hasn’t even aired yet but Tali is already a star.”
Sign up to Showmax now to watch Tali’s Wedding Diary, coming on Thursday, 14 December.
While @Tali_babes has been an undeniable hit on Instagram, she’s still not as popular as SuzelleDIY, whose YouTube channel has more than 23 million views. Not that it’s a competition, of course…
SuzelleDIY has been very supportive of Tali_babes, following her on Instagram and inviting the bride-to-be onto her YouTube show for an episode called How To Make A DIY Wedding Cake, released today. But while Suzelle starts the episode praising Tali as “gorgeous” and “fabulous,” things quickly get tense as Tali and Suzelle disagree over, well, everything, really.
Suzelle and Tali are both played by actress Julia Anastasopoulos and co-created with her husband, Ari Kruger, who directs both shows. Ari is also known as one of only three South African directors to have directed two Vimeo Staff Picks, the short films Jakkals13 and Focus.
Premiering this Thursday, 14 December 2017, Tali’s Wedding Diary follows a self-obsessed Sandton princess (Julia) who’s moved to Cape Town and is filming the build-up to her wedding to her property-agent fiance Darren (Anton Taylor, star of the popular web series Jozi Shore and the award-winning short Money, Keys, Phone).
At last week’s three-episode cast and crew premiere at The Labia in Cape Town, the packed audience was in hysterics from start to finish, with TVPlus tweeting afterwards, “Great news. Tali’s Wedding Diary is AWESOME. So funny… She’s a monster. Shrieking with horror and laughter… We can’t wait until 14 December to binge the rest…”
Tali’s Wedding Diary also stars Lara Lipschitz, who just won Best Actress at NYC Web Fest for her series Chin-Up; three-time Savannah Comics Choice nominee Glen Biderman-Pam; Fleur du Cap Best Actress winner and 2017 SAFTA nominee Kate Normington (Those Who Can’t); and two-time Fleur du Cap winner Guy De Lancey (The Pervert Laura). Look out for cameos from the likes of Top Billing host Lorna Maseko; Nic Smal from Derick Watts and the Sunday Blues; Nicci Saint Bruce (Push Push); members of Al Bairre; and, of course, Gina Collins (Marianne in SuzelleDIY).
Tali’s Wedding Diary is the debut Showmax Original, building on the success of this year’s acclaimed co-productions: iNumber Number with Mzansi Magic and Waterfront with kykNET. “We’ve already seen a spike in subscriptions directly linked to Tali’s Wedding Diary,” says Showmax Africa head Chris Savides. “It’s further confirmation that hyper-local content like this is a key differentiator for us.”
The eight-episode mockumentary will be available to binge-watch from this Thursday, 14 December 2017 on Showmax, which was just included in the App Store Best of 2017 list. Save the date; as Tali says, “It’s going to be the best day of your life!”
What social media is saying
“Counting down the days til’ #talisweddingdiary. I think I may be more excited for this than Christmas…” @thesocialitesa on Twitter
“Won’t say I have too high standards but I am a bit jaded. One of the really enjoyable parts being a TV critic is going to a preview & having my expectations & opinion changed. Tali’s Wedding Diary on @ShowmaxOnline is clever-funny & a VERY pleasant surprise.” @tvwiththinus on Twitter
“Months ago when I first heard of this, i started following Tali on Insta. Legit best decision ever. Had me rolling ? Can’t wait for this! ? “ Siobhán Kyla Clark Madden on Facebook
“Totally obsessed with Tali’s Wedding Diary ?❤️ “ Raeesa Sader on Twitter
“I legit cannot wait! I love her sooooowwww much! ? ” Carly Jo Solomon on Facebook
“So have to watch this! The trailer is hysterical!” Simone Stanford on Facebook
“Still living for the Tali’s Wedding Diary trailer. @ShowmaxOnline I can’t wait for this show!” Michelle Govender on Twitter
“These characters are way too familiar :’)” Julia Paton on Facebook
“I need to get showmax just for viewing Tali” Bonnie Lynn Moffat on Facebook
“100% switching from Netflix to Showmax just to watch this!” @meggiefayeZA on Twitter
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bcl90ppFrR5/?taken-by=tali_babes
About Sketchbook Studios
Sketchbook Studios is an award-winning production company specialising in video production for online, film and television.
Founded in 2004, the team have created short films, music videos and branded content, with SuzelleDIY being their breakthrough original hit series.
Sketchbook prides itself in creating innovative, creative and memorable work, with a strong focus on comedy and performance. With a full in-house creative team, they have also become experts at utilising social media as a platform for original content.
For more information, visit https://www.sketchbookstudios.co.za/
Original African stories by local talent
The ABC Killer
The ABC Killer is a twisty true-crime documentary series about serial killer Moses Sithole. Stream from 22 July on Showmax.
Made in South Africa
What if we believed the best can come from here?
Let’s rewrite the rules of what it means to be local.
Untied S1
Untied explores the deeply personal and often complex experience of divorce, told through the voices of women who have lived it. Stream now, with new episodes every Tuesday.
Made in South Africa
Reckless S1
Reckless follows a pair of young brothers who find themselves at a crossroads when a tragic accident changes their lives forever. Stream now, with new episodes every Monday and Tuesday.
Made in Kenya
The Mommy Club NBO
The Mommy Club NBO is the fifth instalment of the record-breaking Mommy Club franchise. Stream now, with new episodes every Friday.
Made in Kenya
Empini S1-2
Empini is a high-stakes, action-packed drama set in the ruthless, corrupt world of private security. Season 2 is now streaming, with new episodes every Tuesday.
Made in South Africa
Youngins S1-2
Stream Tshedza Pictures’s first teen drama, Showmax Original Youngins. S1 and S2 are ready to binge.
Made in South Africa
The Real Housewives of Durban Seasons 1-5
Our eThekwini queens are back with a brand-new season. Stream Season 1-5 now, with part one of the reunion now streaming and part 2 landing on 11 July 2025.
Made in South AfricaSA celebs open up about divorce on Untied
The action heats up on Empini
More Mzansi gold
The Mommy Club: Van Die Hoofstad S1
Stream the reunion of the hit Showmax Original reality show, featuring five dynamic, wealthy women from Pretoria as they manage relationships, families, businesses, and busy social lives, on 27 June and 4 July 2025.
Made in South AfricaEye-opening homegrown documentaries to stream
These unmissable South African shows and movies deliver surprising insights on the country we’re living in today.
Made in South Africa
20+ addictive South African reality shows to stream
Stream The Catch, The Real Housewives of Durban, The Mommy Club, and more of South Africa’s best reality shows on Showmax.
Made in South AfricaMaBlerh returns to host The Real Housewives of Durban reunion
MaBlerh returns to host The Real Housewives of Durban reunion for the third year in a row. The Season 5 reunion drops in two parts on 4 July and 11 July 2025.
South African