Article: Prime time shows get 'seasoned'

Multiple plot lines, a crowd of 'important' characters and big movie stars form the crux of most shows — daily or reality —on TV today.

While the success of a show is solely based on the longest running format, audiences today have increasingly rejected shows that fail to hold their interest for a long time. While a significant drop in TRP has forced many to shut shop, producers today are not willing to let go just yet. In a bid to salvage lost ground popular shows have gone the seasonal way to attract old and new audiences.

As far as dailies are concerned, youth-based shows like Miley Jab Hum Tum and Dill Mill Gayye launched new storylines and characters in a bid to surpass the TRP obstacle. Though it was far from the concept of a seasonal break, the makers chose to publicise the shows as such. Producer Sudhir Sharma of MJHT is optimistic that the "new season" will help bring back the old audience. "What we have consciously done is 'not to take a break' and come back with a new season. We have taken a three year leap, retained the main characters, upgraded them to trustee and professor level and added in a new generation in the college. This is a tried and tested format in many shows abroad like Gray'' Anatomy etc. So it's a mix of the familiar with the new." DMG too introduced new characters in a bid to refresh its plot.
While in the past popular shows like Khichdi and Baa Bahoo aur Baby failed to make an impact with their second coming, dailies with a new season have a big task at hand. "See we don't want to comment on whether those shows worked or not. But we are optimistic that the new season will not only retain the earlier audiences but also bring in a newer lot. That's because the audience will find a streak of their favourite characters from season 1 in characters from the new season," says Sharma.

While the task is uphill for dailies, reality and game shows on the other hand thrive when it comes to returning after a much-needed break. Most shows in this format only turn out to be bigger and better. Buzz is Aamir Khan is touted to be host in Kaun Banega Crorepati 4. Salman Khan's extremely popular Dus Ka Dum 3 will return next year, while KJo is planning a comeback with Koffee with Karan 3. Priyanka Chopra replaced Akshay Kumar in Khatron Ke Khiladi 3, Rahul Mahajan held his shaadi on camera after Raakhi Ka Swayamvar, while the lady herself is said to be returning to TV, this time to tie the knot for real in Swayamvar 3.

Though the formats have become popular it's not easy for the producers and channels to come up with a new season considering the immense expectations. Ashvini Yardi, Head Programming, of a popular channel explains that the challenge lies in outdoing oneself. "he challenge as we see it is to outdo ourselves. For example, India's Got Talent was a unique talent hunt show. The challenge now is to find an act that tops what the Prince group performed last season which was mind blowing. Finding something so unique and phenomenal is what is going to make this show so much more exciting, especially now that we have stepped up our search and made this show bigger and grander than ever before," explains Yardi.

Actor Aamir Ali who is currently dancing his heart out on Zara Nach Ke Dikha 2 feels that seasonal breaks for reality and talent shows work better because the audience gets hungrier for new entertainment. "It's like a competition which has to end. And when it ends the audience is left asking for more," opines Ali.

While the Indian audience might not be used to the disappearing act just yet, the producers are willing to give it a try. TRP ke liye kuch bhi karega.