| MUMBAI:
Following the success that stand-up comedy had in 2007, Hindi general entertainment
channels (GEC) will try to hit the bull’s eye this year with the same formula.
After the song-and-dance-based reality shows, now it is the turn of stand-up comedy
gags.  Leading
the bandwagon is Sahara One, which is launching its second season of Comedy
Champions from 15 March at 10 pm. Comedy Champions has poached some
of the winners of Star One’s The Great Indian Laughter Challenge.
Hosted by Karishma Tanna, the show has 50 stand-up comedians like Rauf Lala, Kuldeep
Dubey, Rajeev Nigam and Parag Ansara.
The
pioneer of the genre, Star One is also launching the next season of its flagship
show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge around May. Although Star officials
have confirmed the show’s return, but none is willing to specify the exact
date of launch. A
source close to the development says, "Auditions for the next session of
The Great Indian Laughter Challenge have already started in parts of north
India and the UAE." On
the other hand, Sony Entertainment Television (SET), which had a fairly better
stint with its stand-up comedy show Comedy Circus last year, is also bouncing
back. Produced by Optymistix, the second season will feature some of the winners
of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. Sources
also inform that INX Media's Hindi GEC 9X is hunting for talents as they are looking
at the possibility of launching a stand-up comedy show soon. | 
