Earshot

Let's go partyTelevision is on the upswing, if the number of parties hosted this week is any indication. Here is a roundup: On Monday, Ci...

Let8217;s go party
Television is on the upswing, if the number of parties hosted this week is any indication. Here is a roundup: On Monday, Cinevista celebrated the launching of its serial, Jaane Bhi Do Paro. The party was spiced up by the presence of its director Archana Puran Singh and hubby Parmeet Sethi. Also spotted were Rakesh Bedi, Sunil Mehta and Prem Kishen. Tuesday saw a double dose of partying. At one end of Mumbai Kalpana Lajmi gave a party for the serial Dawn whereas in the suburbs, Ken Ghosh celebrated the success of Liberty Top Ten. On Wednesday, it was the turn of Himesh Reshamiyya to host a party for the serial Jaan. Bhagyashree turned up and so did Sudesh Berry with his Russian girlfriend.

Fortunately on Thurday, there were no TV parties and the press got a chance to find renewed energy for the parties to follow, epecially the Friday one hosted by Manish Goswami to celebrate the launch of Aashirwad. Half of Tellywood turned up including Arundati, Shefali and Harsh Chhaya, Bharat Vyas, Anuradha Patel, Irfan Khan, Kavita Kapoor, Nandita Puri, Sachin Khedekar8230;

Star bright
The sets were in complete darkness and then there was Farida Jalal standing in the middle with, believe it or not, one thousand candles. But Star Yaar Kalakaar Sony was one year old last week, and not as you might imagine, 1,000 years old. So why so many candles? Chetan Shashital imitated poorly Nat King Cole while singing Happy Birthday8230; in the background. If that hadn8217;t zapped you, there was Sonu Nigam gyrating to Tu8230; and Bappi Lahiri trying gamely to keep pace with Bambai se aaya mera O dost8230;As birthday bashes go this one lit up the screen!

Good goal
Doordarshan isn8217;t fast but it does get there. Last Thursday, it repeated a telecast of the World Cup final for the benefit of all those who on Sunday night had preferred beauty sleep to the beautiful bald pate of French goalie Barthes. Second time round you could tell that Ronaldo was simply a passsenger: he hardly moved in the first half and by the second it was too late to make any moves.

What a fright
There8217;s no accounting for tastes 8211; or advertising. Take the case of the latest horror on the box: X-Zone on Zee. The serial is supposed to be frightening and certainly one of the boys looked real devilish what are children doing on a horror show, anyway? Sushma Swaraj, where are you?. There were a lot of strange noises and goings-on. Cut for a commercial break and what do you see? Cadbury Break, Kotex Sanitary Napkins and Pepsodent toothpaste. You have to ask yourself why these particular products wish to associate themselves with such frightful subjects.

Not No.1
It was quite an admission. At a seminar in Delhi on the media, organised by the Indian Women8217;s Press Corps, the BBC8217;s Satish Jacob said that the BBC was no longer No.1. Previously, when Indians wanted to check out the news, especially in moments of crisis, they turned to the Beeb. No longer. Now they switch to STAR News Channel 8220;or even Zee8221; conceded Jacob. One more colonial hang-over dissipated.