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In
this age of packaging, hype is all. Discovery pulled out all stops to promote
a new series Planet Earth that started on Thursday. Ads in the print media,
innovatively lit up hoardings, it had it all. Except terribly great content.
The first episode definitely had some great footage of hibernations and migrations
in the animal world in the polar regions. Breathtaking visuals and a nice, coherent
commentary. But definitely not something one had not already encountered on the
channel or its sibling, Animal Planet or Nat Geo or....
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| (Courtesy:www.tribuneindia.com) |
In the
end, it was hype that marked the finale of Sony's Bigg Boss last weekend.
As with all grand finales, it was a two hour-long painful affair, interspersed
with chats and performances with all the original 13 inhabitants of the house,
with host Arshad Warsi required to fill in all the extra minutes with banter till
the simple act of opening the envelope and revealing the winner's name could be
completed. It's a wonder Carol and Rahul could withstand the torture, marking
as it did, the end of a pretty stress-filled period of their life.
Crowning Rahul Roy the winner turned out to be a pleasant surprise. If rigged,
the channel showed remarkable restraint in choosing a stable guy over volatile
participants who played to the camera; if not, the audience showed uncharacteristically
sober judgment. Unlike
CBB UK's winner Shilpa Shetty, however, it is unlikely that Rahul Roy's
sagging career will get more than a lukewarm shot in the arm. Unless, of course,
he decides to turn his full attention to the small screen, where he is likely
to find several takers.
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| (Courtesy:www.sawf.org) |
The hype
around KBC definitely helped it sail through the first week with flying
colours and glowing reviews; but the second week had an unsettling sense of sameness
accompanying it. The unmistakable energy, the spirit of bonhomie and the quick
repartees are all there. Still, the niggling feeling that the host is more absorbed
in himself than the participant persists. Perhaps it's part of the SRK aura. Perhaps,
the new host will grow on us the way the first one did. Perhaps.
While
the over-hyped shows get all our attention, let us not neglect the unsung ones,
the quiet ones that do a good job but seldom merit attention. Zee Cafe's Trendzsetters
this week had an engaging piece on designer Wendell Rodricks' life and career.
It took us through his 400-year-old home in Goa, walked with him in the surrounding
fields that are his inspiration and muse, and chatted with his confidantes about
what makes the designer stand out in the world of couture. Simply told, nicely
shot, it was a pleasure to watch. As
is the continuing Star Plus' show, Aek Chabhi Hain Pados Mein. A show with
a realistic touch, it entertains without getting on the nerves, makes you smile
and sob with the story as it gently drifts. Or, Suresh Menon on the Great Indian
Comedy Show on Star One. His little digs at Bollywood, its latest releases
and its denizens, his exaggerated effeminate style, all put this highly underrated
comedian in a different league than his slapstick colleagues. On
the other hand, Sony's Man Mein Hain Vishwaas is getting increasingly preachy.
This week, an air force officer, plagued by constantly shifting in and out of
rented flats (since when!?! doesn't the country's air force have its own accommodation?)
sought and got a home loan thanks to his guru's blessings. But when he neglected
his puja and prayers, calamity befell the family. Moral - keep those pujas going
without a break.
When is the season break for this show? If
there are two shows returning to TV and worth a dekko, they are Karamchand
on Sony and Koffee with Karan, this time on Star One and Star World
together. Let's hope the brew's strong enough this time too.
****
Couch
potato's advice of the week - to hassled mothers whose toddlers are glued
to the antics of Hungama's Shin Chan and emulating the animated brat's
rude mannerisms. Reach for the remote, folks! (The
views expressed here are those of the author and indiantelevision.com need not
necessarily subscribe to the same) | 
