Mpho Pops produced the skit alongside comedians such as Shanley Van Wyk, Tsitsi Chiumia and Thabiso Mhlongo.
Last week, a video went viral on social media in which an inmate at Goodwood Correctional Centre in the Western Cape boasted about his comfortable living conditions.
A week later, comedian Mpho “Pops” Modikoane, along with other comedians, made fun of the entire incident in a parody.
[ON AIR] Zimbabwean detainee Borneface Banks has come under fire after a video went viral in which he boasts about the good life he's having in a South African prison. Miles Boudet tells us: translation: upon #NationalPulse #sabcnews @SABCNews pic.twitter.com/tgD3pQgGRs
— SAfmRadio 📻 (@SAfmRadio) July 17, 2024
“When that video surfaced, I think it was the right time with everything going on with the prisons and the attacks,” Mpho-Pops said. Citizen.
South African prisons are great… until Sir Peter Groenewald finds out 🫣#MyDogIsASkit pic.twitter.com/YlmXftSEro
— Mpho Popps Modikoane (@MphoPopps) July 25, 2024
The inmate in question was Bornface Banks, who had been filming a video with other inmates boasting about their comfortable life behind bars.
Mr Banks was subsequently transferred from Goodwood Prison to a maximum security facility and his mobile phone was confiscated.
Mpho Pops produced the skit with a team of comedians including Shanley Van Wyk, Tsitsi Chiumia and Thabiso Mhlongo, who also appear in the video.
The skit not only highlighted Banks' case but also reflected on other high-profile figures in South African prisons, including Thabo Bester.
“What we're trying to do is Popcorn and cheese “It's about touching on what's going on in the country at the moment – politics, entertainment, life – and adding a comedy element to it – it can be satire or sketch,” Mpho Pops says.
See also: Corrections department 'appalled' by inmates bragging about comfortable life behind bars (video)
A timely viral skit
About a year ago, Mpho Popps and Robot Boii Shaka Ilembe Lead actor Lemonyag Tshipa makes a guest appearance. Popcorn and cheese And they delivered one of the funniest parodies. Shaka Ilembe skit.
In the show, Robot Boi played the role of Shaya (based on Shaka) and Mpho Pops played the role of King Dingidingi of the Sima (Slap) tribe, a parody of King Dingiswayo of the Mthetwa tribe on the TV show.
Coming soon to a screen near you… #Shayainpama 🎬
starring Robot Boy As Shaya Follow Dingy Dingy Chi Mgolisto and Follow As himself#Popcorn and cheese #Robopops #Shayainpama pic.twitter.com/DvVhXXYQsF
— Mpho Popps Modikoane (@MphoPopps) September 14, 2023
Another skit that Mpho Pops performed that went viral came shortly after the Springboks won the World Cup in France last year, when Mpho Pops pretended to be a news anchor interviewing Bok captain Siya Kolisi.
“Two World Cups after and two World Cups before. Wow! We have grown so much,” the two-time World Cup-winning captain said on Instagram.
“Hey Mpho Pops, you got me good.”
Two World Cups after and two World Cups before. Sjoe! We've been improving a lot 🙆🏾♂️
Captain, my captain 🫡cc Siya Kolisi #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/n7Ry2wnDuC
— Mpho Popps Modikoane (@MphoPopps) November 17, 2023
“I think South Africans are aware of everything that happens every day. People like to say, 'we live in movies and series'. So, I think when people start watching things that they can relate to, it becomes easier to understand, but it's also good to laugh at things that happen,” the award-winning comedian asserted.
“I think the faster you can make something topical and relevant, even with a sketch, the more attention it will get.”
Mpho Popps has previously spoken about the influence of classic sketch TV shows. Pure Monate Show (PMS) influenced him as a comedian.
But things have changed since the days when viewers would stay up until 10pm on a Friday night to watch PMS on SABC 1. Enter social media.
Related article: 'Hit him like you owe him money': Shaka Ilembe's skit leaves netizens laughing [WATCH]
“It's much quicker now. People with PMS took much longer to cook, it was shown on TV and they looked forward to it on certain days,” Mpho Pops said.
“Now we have the freedom to do whatever we want, whenever we want, so if something happens, we know the best content creators can respond quickly.”
“I think social media has changed the game in terms of how quickly you can respond to certain things. It's all down to you and your production time and how quickly you can speculate on that kind of content.”
Also read: Siya Kolisi finds humour in Mpho Pops skit
Olympic
During the Olympics, popcorn and cheese will be served at SuperSport.
“I plan to focus solely on the Olympics and engage with current and former Olympic stars and other sportspeople,” he said. “But [being on SuperSport] If all goes well, we may even have a popcorn and cheese segment on SuperSport for a limited time.”
NOW READ: Mpho Pops on the creative and comedic freedom that hosting the Comics Choice Awards gives him
