Big B gets back to work by Feb-end
Will shoot two KBC episodes a day to tide over backlog. The show's Fardeen-Zayed New Year special stands cancelled
Subhash K Jha
When Star's star-attraction Amitabh Bachchan fell ill the KBC schedule was in disarray. But the good news is that Bachchan is expected to return to shoot KBC from February-end. The bad news is that the KBC New Year special with cousins Fardeen and Zayed Khan has been cancelled.
Initially, the channel had been trying to take AB's illness in its stride. Says Deepak Segal, Star's executive vice-president (Content), "We did suffer a setback because of Mr Bachchan's unfortunate health problem. But now with his expected return, things are looking up. But yes, by the third week of January 2006 we will run out of new KBC episodes. We'll continue for a while with re-runs hoping viewers won't mind," .
Bachchan is expected to shoot two episodes a day when he returns. "Initially he shot one episode a day. But now he swims through two episodes per day. Undoubtedly he's our main attraction on Star. Our big re-launch was through KBC. His presence is desperately missed," says Segal.
Further, the channel cancelled their year-end plans with a special KBC featuring cousins Fardeen and Zayed Khan. "We've to replace this special with new cuts of old KBC episodes featuring celebrities. The new celebrity episodes have all been cancelled," he adds.
On a more positive note Star One has ousted Sony Entertainment from the second spot, all thanks to Nach Baliye. "Star One has already become the No.2 channel in Mumbai. If Sony refuses to accept that, we've numbers to prove it. Star One didn't claim to be No.1 until we really reached that position. Now in last week's ratings Sony has been rated as No. 7. Actually the process started with The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. But the stir that Nach Baliye generated was unprecedented. We need to consolidate our position on the channel. The 9 pm slot is very competitive. We're hoping our new soap Dil Chahe More which replaces Nach Baliye will also do well. We will also return with the second series of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge on Star One."
Segal admits non-fiction programmes have a more sustained but briefer life-span. And if in the next year Sony has Fear Factor lined up, Star has a game show called Heart Attack in the running. "Reality television has a relatively restricted relevance in India. We can't have sex-oriented reality shows like Joe Millionaire, like they have abroad. TV in India is for family, therefore no sex and lots of singing and dancing. We hope to air Heart Attack in the second quarter of 2006." Meanwhile Star's top three Ekta Kapoor soaps Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kasauti Zindagi Kay are expected to run for at least one more year. "Reality television is like one fire-cracker that makes a beautiful design and then disappears. It's our five-year soaps which make all the difference," adds Segal.
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