Koffee With Karan should not have an audience

thoughts post KwK S7 E01

I have watched Koffee With Karan ever since I was a kid. It was probably the first talk show I watched and I fell in love instantly. Here are some thoughts.

It’s funny and frivolous and it doesn’t claim to be anything but. It is so much fun to see (what seems like) Karan have the time of his life. The show's appeal is that it is celebrities doing what they are supposed to - entertain. The show is clearly highly managed …. but so what?

Now about the set. I like that it is obnoxious and over-the-top, it adds to the illusion of the other worldly-ness of these celebrities and their lives. They do kinda live in a separate world, and it’s best if we only talk about frivolous things with them. I feel like I am getting a peek behind the curtain, and I like the un-relatableness of the entire conversation. I like the mystique of the mystery gift hamper - of not knowing what it contains.

They ruin all this in the first episode of S07, which dropped exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar featuring Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh. The rapid-fire round this time is judged by a live audience of what seems like 30 people. The show does a terrible job of establishing geography. Where are they sitting? Can the guests see the audience? What the fuck are common people doing this close to these celebrities?

Alright that’s it. Bye!