It's been coming up with some pretty interesting reality show concepts in the last year, but Sahara's shows haven't really struck a chord with viewers yet. Jjhoom India might just change all that. It's like a Jhalak rolled into a Nach, with a dash of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, and a sprinkling of Idol as a garnish. The perfect recipe? One doesn't know yet.

But the inaugural episode didn't have one reaching for the remote. And that says a lot, considering that you needed a lot of patience to sit through properties like Bathroom Singer and Biggest Loser Jeetega. The first episode of Jjhoom had zing and zest, and some prominent names from the music industry shaking a leg to songs, and some luminous ones from telly world trying out their vocal chords. The result, though not brilliant, was engaging.

Suresh Wadkar and Shweta Tiwari going 'Aati Kya Khandala' wasn't really a treat for the ears, but appealed visually. And with Wadkar's wife Padma in the audience expressing her wide eyed surprise at hubby's dance steps, the makers got that right dose of celeb voyeurism in too. The others weren't bad either. Of course, neither guru Sanjeevani and disciple Shekhar Suman could get either the vocals or the dance moves right. But that's another story. The eliminations aren't all that far off.

Getting in Rahul Vaidya (remember him? Indian Idol second runner up in season one?) isn't a bad idea either. Vaidya in his new avatar is doing a competent job anchoring the proceedings, but Sucheta Khanna could do more than read off the teleprompter. Perhaps she will improve.

As has Suresh Wadkar (who is suddenly all across channels) on Zee's Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs. This week, instead of behaving like the elderly mentor judge he appears to be, Wadkar actually got up a couple of times to dance in step with the tiny participants. That, coupled with Sonu bhaiyya (Sonu Nigam)'s easy camaraderie and host Aditya Narayan's friendly demeanour, should ease frayed nerves.

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There's a lot of crying going on among the 'lil' participants who don't score well, and the camera lovingly captures every teardrop. Ease up, folks! It's just a TV show. The kids participating on the show are brilliant to say the least, and making them compete for the scores seems to be killing their spirit.

****

Ranvir, Vinay aur Kim

Star One's promos for Bol Baby Bol with Adnan Sami are enticing enough. This is going to be one show with a difference, with participants required to get the lyrics right rather than the tunes. Worth watching out for. On the same channel, Ranvir and Vinay love making mincemeat of unsuspecting guests like actor Kim who didn't know the 'bakra' she was made out to be by the brilliant funsters. Take care guys, or you could be stepping on the fine line of defamation one of these days.

Couch potato tip - Can't Star One bring back the Sarabhais? The brilliant show shines even in its re-runs!