Colors to 'roast' celebs in 'Comedy Nights Bachao'

Using the format of insult comedy, the new show will see comedians and actors 'roast' weekly celebrities on Saturday's prime time slot.

Colors is set to expand its offerings in the comedy genre with a new show called 'Comedy Nights Bachao'. To be launched on September 5, the show will be aired every Saturday at 10 pm.

The show, in the genre of insult comedy, will have actor-comedian jodis take jibes at famous and infamous celebrity guests. It will be produced by Optimystix. 'Comedy Nights with Kapil' will continue as a separate show.

Commenting on the extension of the 'Comedy Nights' franchise, Raj Nayak, CEO, Colors, says, "They say comedy is a serious business and we have realised it is indeed a serious one. As a progressive channel, we keep a tab on the evolving taste of our viewers and, thus, have identified the various elements of hilarity that makes them tick. Through 'Comedy Nights Bachao', we are foraying into a new genre of comedy which is getting extremely popular. We are thankful to all the guests who have been sporty enough to participate in the show and laugh at themselves without bothering about their public image. With this new brand of humour, we hope to redefine the comedy genre altogether. The laughter quotient will just double on Colors now, with 'Comedy Nights Bachao' and 'Comedy Nights with Kapil'."

Colors will use both BTL and ATL activations to promote the show. The digital activities will primarily revolve around 'Bachao' and 'Bajao'. On Twitter, viewers will be asked to share mean jokes about the hosts of the show. The best jokes will then be recorded in a minute-long video and posted on Facebook. Viewers will also be asked to send in their innovative ideas of welcoming and handling unwanted guests with the hashtag #MehmaanNawazi. On the Dubsmash app, a section of famous insult dialogues from Bollywood/Hollywood movies will be created which the users can use to 'bajao' someone. After the celebrity guests have been 'bajao-ed' by the comedians on air, the audience will be given a chance to add to it on Twitter via the hashtag #JalePeNamak. On Instagram, users will be asked to send in their own original 'insult' for a celebrity.

Every week, 'Comedy Nights Bachao' will bring together celebrity guests whose feelings, personality traits will be ripped apart by five jodis - Krushna Abhishek, Sudesh Lahiri and Sara Khan; Bharti Singh, Karan Wahi and Pritam Singh; Anita Hassanandani and Mubeen; Shruti Seth and Shakeel Siddiqui; and Pooja Bose and Naseem Vicky.

Elaborating on the show's format, Manisha Sharma, programming head, Colors, says, "Comedy as a genre has yet to be exploited to its full potential in India, and a new brand of comedy is the need of the hour. There is a whole new rapidly-developing genre of insult comedy which has been grabbing eyeballs lately. Through 'Comedy Nights Bachao', we are looking forward to curate a daring enterprise adding a new dimension of wit. We will be putting an eclectic mix of celebrity guests in the spotlight as actor-comedian jodis target them with carefully put together comic gags, while raising the laughter quotient on a weekly basis."

Vipul D Shah of Optimystix Entertainment, says, "Distinctive and sustained comedy is our strength at Optimystix. We feel we are a bunch of jokers who love to make people laugh. 'Comedy Nights Bachao' is a unique show and will prove to be an extremely entertaining one. With a huge platform like Colors, we feel this genre of comedy will get its apt viewers."