Extreme television

Bigg Boss has lost its edge. You know Bhaktiyaar and Tanaaz Irani will walk off to the lawn to argue, Poonam Dhillon will dole out mind-calming tips, and Shamita Shetty will crumple into tears. The others are happier without Kamaal Rashid Khan, but frankly, the show's become a lot duller since he was sent packing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not for the bottle-throwing 'superstar' who drinks 'France ka doodh', but face it, he was the Rakhi Sawant of the season unpredictable, loud and thoroughly entertaining.

Every TRP-grabbing show on the tube has one. The extremely badly-behaved character who makes you want to tear your hair (or their hair) but for some strange reason, keeps you glued.

Take Uttaran for instance. Recently, one of the leads, Tapasya (Rashami Desai), folded her hands, went down on her knees, then lay on her stomach, screeching all the while that she wanted to marry the hero. We tched-tched as we watched it! Ditto for evil Ammaji of Naa Aana Iss Des Laado, who contemplates giving in to strange male guests who have the hots for her bahu-betis. If she rolled her eyes anymore, Ammaji wouldn't be able to see. But she's responsible for Laado's top ratings.

The bimbette vamp played by Sukriti Khandpal in Zee's current hit Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya hi Kijo, is a scream. That she employs the same expression used to convey longing when she played a medical intern in Dill Mill Gayye in Agle Janam, only makes it more annoying and ummu2026 funnier.

Coming back to reality, Rakhi Sawant notwithstanding, the other star of Pati Patni Aur Woh, is the disinterested and forever frowning Juhi Parmar. Whether it's her snapping fingers at husband Sachin Shroff in the kitchen, or her complaining to one of the mothers about her son's eating habits, her sulky demeanor grates. But to rant about it, you've got to watch it, right?

Occasionally, there are the soft-spoken, more realistic characters in say a Radhaa Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhaayengi or Hindi Hai Hum, but the fates of these shows say it all. As far as hitting-your-head-on-the-wall goes, Bidaai and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai are exceptions too but they're a minority.

Lastly, I'd like to draw attention to a precocious 12-year-old who in her ready-to-cry voice constantly gets on her poor dadisa's nerves. Then again, it's a TRP scorcher.

Janaki Viswanathanis Senior Sub editor, Sunday MiD DAY