Killing with cruelty?. That’s what I thought when I saw my three favourite Indian Idol judges ? Sonu Nigam, Farah Khan and Anu Malik ? return this week with a second innings of Sony’s watchable music contest. But must they be so unkind to the contestants. Admitted that some of them are downright pathetic. But so what? Lack of calibre isn’t a crime. I cringed when a contestant’s mother came before the judges to plead her son’s case. I cringed when Anu Malik told a wannabe singer, “Who’s your guru? Tell him to take a long holiday.” And I virtually collapsed in embarrassment when Farah gave a contestant a banana to show how bad he was. Gosh, can’t these judges keep their kela instincts in check?

These reality shows are becoming much too dramatic for comfort. Star One has a winner in Nach Baliye? I agree. But every couple’s ouster is an occasion for a soap opera. This week Apoorva Agnihotri and his wife had to bow out. All the other dancing couple’s clutched their hearts, bosoms, bellies and whatever they could get their hands on to show their solidarity and sadness. Judge Farhan Akhtar even gave the departing couple a standing ovation. He’s quite an actor. Earlier, during the week he was all tied up. And I don’t mean his workload. We saw one of the couples actually tie up Farhan Akhtar and bribe him with a pizza.

If all goes per plan, India’s favourite game show, Kaun Banega Crorepati, will become a seasonal regular on your television. Seeing the stunning popularity of KBC’s sequel Star is seriously contemplating making KBC an annual event. Explaining the modus operandi, Star COO Samir Nair says, “We plan to bring back KBC every year for a specific number of episodes from October to January. KBC Tritwiya might be on air next year. And, yes, Mr Bachchan will remain the host. What would the show be without him?” The channel has already sounded out the mega-star. In spite of his choc-a-block schedule, AB is game!

Meanwhile this season of KBC would end with the beginning of Ravi Chopra’s mega-serial, Viraasat. “It’s a TV multistarrer. But contrary to rumours, it’s not based on the Mahabharat. It goes on air after April 2006,” says Samir Nair.