QUOTE
It's not preachy, nor does in have an overt “message”, nor does it rely on tired old stereotypes for cheap laughs, but it does hold up a non-politically correct mirror in which South Africans from all backgrounds will recognise themselves. Imagine Third Rock from the Sun (with aliens masquerading as humans) meeting Freaky Friday (with people swapping bodies) and then put it into the suburban South African black/white paradigm.
So, why “coconuts”? “Coconut” is an urban slang term used to describe black people who act “white” - it literally means black on the outside and white on the inside. However, the Coconuts, in the case of this sitcom, are not ‘white-acting' black people, but a family of white people - the Greenes - who become trapped in black bodies thanks to offending an old man and some ancestors of the little known Zulotho tribe of South Africa.
Oh, and don't forget the family domestic, Patience, who had to accompany the Greenes on their ill-fated holiday (to do the dishes, of all things!) By some sort of overspill of the ‘spell', poor Patience, who was minding her own business sleeping on the back seat of the car, turns white over night. She's still Patience though, their Zulu-speaking helper, but she's now trapped in a white body.
So, why “coconuts”? “Coconut” is an urban slang term used to describe black people who act “white” - it literally means black on the outside and white on the inside. However, the Coconuts, in the case of this sitcom, are not ‘white-acting' black people, but a family of white people - the Greenes - who become trapped in black bodies thanks to offending an old man and some ancestors of the little known Zulotho tribe of South Africa.
Oh, and don't forget the family domestic, Patience, who had to accompany the Greenes on their ill-fated holiday (to do the dishes, of all things!) By some sort of overspill of the ‘spell', poor Patience, who was minding her own business sleeping on the back seat of the car, turns white over night. She's still Patience though, their Zulu-speaking helper, but she's now trapped in a white body.
linkage
OMG. And I thought local TV couldn't get any worse. I saw the trailer the other day and, apart from feeling slightly braindead, I honestly felt embarrassed to be a South African.
How long are we going to keep doing these stupid black and white stereotype/role reversal shows? Do people honestly still find this crap funny?
I'm not usually one to bitch intolerantly (like religious groups moaning about almost everything, etc.) but surely stuff like this is just propagating racist attitudes? Can you imagine if the family was black to begin with and they ended up white with a black domestic?
It's enough we have to endure shit like Nolene, Backstage and other embarrassments. FFS.
(Note: if, after several episodes, the show actually proves to be funny and original W@RP@T}{ shall buy everyone here a Happy Meal.)
DISCLAIMER 1: happiness is subjective and therefore no one is eligible for anything kthnx
oh noes... I am laughing AT THE show. 
lol