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The
weekends are getting interesting, at least for the educated
urban elite who have no plans other than television viewing
for the two days they don't go to work.
 While
the more serious news channels pick the hot issues of the
week to debate over on their talk shows, CNN IBN and Times
Now have near perfected a pot pourri of assorted programming
that can be relished at leisure. It's ideal when you are not
looking for hardcore news, just want to lie back and get treated
to some fluffy news presented by good looking anchors, shot
in locales that touch that nerve of longing and aspiration
in you. All presented with a dash of informality and a sprinkling
of irreverence.
 CNN
IBN's Weekipedia, the weekend gyan show, is one such.
From adventure spots, book nooks, hobby classes to eating
joints, it has anchors like Bikramjit, Paras Tomar and Shefali
who are good in their respective arenas and make the show
a worthy watch. Saturday nights can be topped off with the
channel's Week That Wasn't, with the inimitable Cyrus
Broacha doing what he does best. Sometimes, only sometimes,
the script falters and the jokes appear a trifle stretched.
Still, in the absence of too many news spoofs (NDTV's Gustakhi
Maaf and Vir Das' snippets are the only ones that come
to mind), Broacha will do nicely.
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 Across
on Times Now, which seems to be tackling a similar
TG, weekends seem to be the time to talk spiritual
stuff to the stressed out executive. Last week, it
also took viewers on a journey with Travelling
Lite Australia. While MTV's On The Job had
another interesting episode, this time making aspiring
advertising professionals go through the grind, with
admnan Ravi Deshpande and Cadbury's Bhatat Shastry
helming the judges' panel. The show's plus point is
its ability to get the top guns of the industry on
board - among the judging panel as well as the companies
that are selected for the internships.
And for those who have loved Vir Sanghvi's columns
on food in Hindustan Times every Sunday, here's something
to sink your teeth into. A Matter of Taste,
that airs on Travel and Living every weekend, has
Sanghvi in his element, traveling the bylanes of Benares
and crannies of Kolkata in search of the perfect dish
and recipe. Interspersed with his witty insights,
last weekend's edition was a delight to watch as the
host picked an unusual topic - milk products - and
explored all kinds of foods that can be made out of
them across the country.
Sanghvi
is neither patronising nor preachy, he takes each
gastronomical experience as something to be savoured
in its individuality. If he is at home talking about
how wasabi should be cooked, he's equally comfortable
eating malaiyo, a desi souffle, off a leaf from a
roadside vendor in Benares.
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On
the weekdays, it's National Geographic's jaw dropping videos
each night that have the power to engross without getting
tedious. A minimumn of commentary and some real jaw dropping
footage ensures that this one is adequate competition to
similar shows across on AXN.
Times
Now's refurbished two hour morning show (which kicked off
this week) does not seem designed for those who want a slow
start to the morning. Its reds and blues are too striking,
the pace is a tad too zippy and the anchors continue to
stand through the two hours, making your feet hurt after
a while. This is no comfortable chat over a cuppa with the
viewers, it's a snappy hold-all of news, current affairs,
sports and entertainment (none of it too heavy) for the
exec on the go.
Couch
potato tip - Ugly Betty arrives on Star World
next week. This may not be the original Betty La Fea, but
it should be interesting to watch how Jassi has been interpreted
in the US as well. The promos look delightful enough.
(The
views expressed here are those of the author and indiantelevision.com
need not necessarily subscribe to the same)
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