East Or West, Comedy Is The Best! (Ellen vs. Kapil)

            Comedy is something, which can only come naturally. A punch-line here, a quaint facial expression there, and bam! The two superstars of comedy, who have climbed to the pinnacle of their success come from opposite parts of the world. From the west, Ellen DeGeneres holds the title of the ‘funniest woman in America,’ transitioning from a live comedienne to a talk show host. She has been in the business for over 15 years now, and is currently filming the 11^th season of her hit talk show, ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show.’ Matching up to her, is Indian comic superstar, Kapil Sharma, who has won millions of hearts in India and abroad by launching his very own show, ‘Comedy Nights With Kapil.’ Although poles apart culturally, both shows draw some very interesting parallels that will make you continue laughing your hearts out.

            Although both shows have managed to grab the highest TRP ratings primarily through the wit and charm of the host and the content, they differ greatly in their structures and timing. The Ellen Show airs as a daytime talk show, everyday at 3pm for just one hour. It is short, crisp, and pretty straightforward following the general talk show, and ‘interview’ format. Commercial breaks are also timed every 15-20 minutes, resulting in about 3-4 breaks. CNWK serves to be a bit different. Airing only on Saturday and Sunday nights, the show lasts anywhere from an hour and a half, sometimes extending beyond. Unlike a typical talk show format, CNWK incorporates creative elements, such as a skit, followed by celebrity interviews, audience interactions, sprinkled along with goofy dances and crazy characters.

            Because CNWK tends to focus more on the comedic angle (thus the name), there are fictional elements to it. Perhaps what keeps the Indian audience primarily entertained is the craziness throughout the show. The show opens with Kapil’s monologue, followed by a few audience interactions. Depending upon the celebrity guest, it may cut straight into a flashy Bollywood dance number, or a musical flourish welcoming the celebrity guest. Other times, it cuts straight to a skit of his overly animated Punjabi ‘family,’ or as he likes to refer to them as ‘lunatics.’ The craziness is evident through the flamboyant characters and bizarre storylines.

            Then comes the setting. Set place in a grand 2-story house, ‘Bittu’ (Kapil’s character’s name) invites guests into a lavish living room for his magazine’s interview. A fake road lies directly in front of the living room, inviting lone passer-byes to join in on the fun. There is also a cardboard cut out of a goat resting by the petite kitchen to the right. A live band continues to provide a comic effect throughout the show.

            The Ellen Show is much less elaborate in the costuming, characters, and setting, mainly because it is a talk show. The calming California palm trees are laid out as a backdrop against the red, velvet sofas for Ellen’s guests. The audience is seated slanting upwards directly across Ellen. There are a few flat screens arranged throughout the set. Similar to the Kapil Show, Ellen begins with a monologue, welcomed by a loud, cheering audience.  After some punches and laughs from the audience, she dances through the audience, with the DJ blasting the hottest tunes to the max. Highlighting her motto, ‘Laugh, Dance, Ellen,’ Ellen makes sure to do it all. There is a bit more interaction with the DJ, and then the show flows into interviews. The unique element of her show is that Ellen invites both celebrity and non-celebrity guests, adding a sense of realism along with the glamour. From talented child prodigies, to beauticians, to military families, Ellen seeks to make everyone happy.

            Both shows succeed in making their audiences happy. Perhaps that is the biggest similarity between the two shows and the way they’re carried out by their hosts. A generous person at heart, Ellen proves it by helping others out. Whether it’s through giveaways, fun games, contests, and prizes, Ellen seeks to reach out to her audience and give. Aside from her comedy, Ellen has many different segments in her show such as ‘Cash for Kindness,’ in which she sends her staff members to display acts of kindness and affection to everyday citizens.

            Kapil succeeds in bringing the same joy to his audiences in a different manner. More appropriate for the Indian context, Kapil has lively audience interactions, in which he gently teases his audience members, getting them to laugh along. He allows fans to interact with their favorite celebrity guests, by dancing, singing along, hugging, or simply asking a question. The compliments and expressions of enjoyment prove Kapil’s ability to make people happy. Both shows have personalities whose laughter is contagious for all. For Ellen, it’s her DJ, and for Kapil, it’s legendary cricket personality, Navjod Sidhu, who he affectionately refers to as ‘PaJi,’

            There is not a hint of similarity in the physical appeal of Ellen and Kapil. But what makes them both click is their wit, charm, and humor attracting millions all over the globe. Ellen signing off with her usual ‘Be kind to one another,’ and Kapil’s signature ‘Keep laughing and watching CNWK’ strike a common chord in the audience’s minds. Despite continents apart, both countries, India and the US, have brilliant treasures in the field of entertainment, who will hopefully continue to spread joy and love throughout the world.