Opinion Comeback kids

Once the game began (Star Cricket),all eyes and cameras were on the man. In the first five minutes,we saw Yuvraj at least 6 times. Would have seen even more of him but for Zaheer Khan repeatedly appealing and then bowling New Zealand opener Rob Nicol in the first over and Irfan Pathan knocking back Martin Guptill’s stumps in the second. Meanies.

And then he came in to bowl over number seven. Hearts in mouths: how would Yuvi bowl after a long layoff and cancer? A single,a dot ball,beats Brendon McCullum on the third,three singles follow. “How’s that for a comeback?’’ remarked commentator Harsha Bhogle. Yuvi would score 34 off 26 balls and though India lost,Yuvi won — that was enough for everyone watching.

Amitabh Bachchan has made a comeback too. Last Friday,he played host on a new season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (Sony). He looked as if he’d never left the quiz show,so comfortable was he gently prodding his guests,joking with them,dancing with them and finally asking them questions. Nothing new there. The change is in the programme’s theme: last year,the message was that anyone from anywhere could become a millionaire. This year,it’s that if you want to become a millionaire,you need knowledge. Education. Seems Aamir Khan is not the only Bollywood star promoting a worthwhile social cause.

And,contestant M.K. Raina won Rs 1 crore on day three. In the past,we’ve had to wait several weeks before big money changed hands. Perhaps education helps you win earlier?

Soha Ali Khan did not make a return to the small screen,she made her debut. And what a debut,my countrymen. As co-host with stylist Aki Narula,she’s sassy,supersonic cool,confident,and extremely eloquent in her advice to guests about What Not To Wear (TLC). They make a fine pair of judges for a style improvement series. Where Amitabh B is careful to reassure his guests,pet them and pat them on the back,Soha and Aki,but especially Soha,do not scruple to say,“That’s hideous” and throw out a girl’s entire cherished,hard-earned wardrobe. Of course,after the female has been restyled with their help,Soha feels “like a mother”. “You have taken my breath away,” she gasped at one transformed lady. Given her loquaciousness,that was quite an accomplishment. A smart,snappy show that says the worst dressed can be better dressed.

Actress Anushka Sharma likes sleeveless tops,dunno what Soha and Aki may say to that,but she fancies them,particularly on a date with a handsome hunk. So what does she do? Why,wear that sleeveless something,but not before she has applied Nivea skin whitener for underarms,so that he won’t exclaim,“That’s hideous!” when she carelessly raises an arm to sweep her hair away. Whitener for underarms? What next? Actually,let’s not speculate. You never know where those obsessed with fairness will go next.

Meredith is making a comeback along with Mike & Molly. Grey’s Anatomy (Star World) has been advertised and promoted like Satyamev Jayate. Everywhere. Relentlessly. Like it was new or at least,all new episodes. But we’ve begun at the beginning some eight seasons after it first began. Good marketing but expected more than a repeat.

Mike & Molly (Zee Café) are going on their first date — again. You could almost confuse this with How I Met Your Mother,where most characters have new dates daily. Mike and Molly still make you laugh on that date when she ends up passing out on the toilet seat at the restaurant but please don’t repeat it,again. Okay?

shailaja.bajpai@expressindia.com