SHAlINI SAKSENA talks to contestants and the host of TlC show Queens Vs Kings who tell her that a TV show on stand-up comedy is a fantastic way to explore all kinds of formats
Surf the TV channels and almost of them will have some sort of a comedy show running — be it sitcoms and/or reality laughter shows. This is because everyone needs a good laugh at the end of the day. It gives people their much needed break.
So it should not come as surprise that, TV’s lifestyle channel, TlC has come up with a comedy show based on the battle of the sexes — Queens Vs Kings. The show is hosted by Rahul Subramanian and will have people like Anu Menon who is known by her alter ego lola Kutty. She is will be leading the queens and Varun Thakur, the stand-up comic, actor and co-founder of SnG Comedy leading the kings.
Each leader will have three comedians in their team, who will be put in the spotlight in the biggest stand-off that pits them against each other to be funny on the spot. Menon’s Queens have stand-up comedians like Supriya Joshi, Kaavya Bector and Saadiya Ali while Thakur’s kings are Utsav Chakraborty, Kumar Varun and Sidhart Dudeja.
“Each team will have to make people laugh focusing on multiple issues like sexism, sensationalism, classism, tourism, professionalism and many more. I am the host of this show and I get to pick the winner of each round and episode on the basis of my whims and fancies,” Subramanian says and tells you that hosting was fun and challenging.
“Fun, because I am surrounded by eight really funny people who would keep saying things and doing stuff that would crack me up. Challenging because my job is to host these comedians by saying boring things on the show,” Subramanian says.
Despite being a comedian himself and part of various AIB videos Subramanian ended up hosting because the makers had seen his work and found him to be apt as a host. “The show comes in with an unconventional concept and when I heard the idea and the format of the show, it was so promising that there was no reason for me to say no to it,” he tells you.
Zulfia Waris, vice-president and head, Premium & Digital Networks, Discovery Communications India, tells you that the concept of battle of sexes makes the situation as well as spin offs that can arise inherently funny. “It is interesting to note how the two genders look upon the same situation. The show plays-up this aspect as the teams work hard to make people laugh,” Waris says.
Seconds Subramanian and says that the queens and the kings are the fun quotient of the show. “If you put so many comedians together with a brief saying ‘Go have fun, there is bound to be fun. These are mad, funny people with each having a very different sense of humour and that’s what makes this show work,” he says.
Menon tells you that there was little difference doing this show since it was in front of a live audience like one would have while doing stand-up comedy. “It is like one would shoot a sitcom in the West. I am the captain of the Queens teams and each contestant, who is nominated by the team, is given a topic followed by around of games. There is a bit of trash talk and fun factor,” Menon tells you and is quick to add that while they had to somewhat watch their language it was not that difficult.
“For me, per se, it didn’t really affect me since I don’t use swear words. But that is what the art is all about — the challenges and see an opportunity there,” Menon says.
While the contestants know the topic, what they end up saying is totally spontaneous. “Even though we know the topic, we don’t know anything about the games and what is to follow. It is like Whose line Is It AnywaysIJ” Menon explains.
Though the show is on a niche channel, Menon says that everyone wants a good laugh even though some people may like a certain kind of humour. “There is nobody who would say that they don’t like to laugh and sit at home reading rotlu books. We have a large population and it was only time that this genre caught on. We have always had people like Raju Shrivastav and Johnny lever, it has now just expanded. There are many more players and becoming a career option. Stand-up doesn’t need any props — you just need a mic and you are good to go,” Menon says and tells you that for a show like this on TV, there is no right or wrong way. “It is just your way,” Menon says.
“It is critical for TV to explore all formats. Queens of Comedy broke new ground by being the first ever show focused on comediennes. Queens Vs Kings takes it a step further with both the sexes fighting a bitterly ferocious and yet comic battle,” Thakur says.