Why Karan Johar won't get the laughs on Comedy Nights with Kapil

It doesn't take rocket science to gauge the popularity of Kapil Sharma on the small screen. The stand-up comedian from Amritsar is currently the most-loved lad on Indian TV. Episode after episode, Comedy Nights With Kapil has the same running jokes, the same characters (with occasional changes), and the Indian viewer laps them up just fine. Kapil Sharma's tale is that of a small town boy making it big in an industry that is best-suited for just the best. Numerous aspiring comedians try their skills on TV, but seldom does one get as famous as this man.

A few days back, Kapil fans woke up to the earth-shattering news that Comedy Nights was going off air. Kapil suffered a slip-disc while working out for his Bollywood debut, and in turn, had several minds slip into a coma of sorts. While broken hearts battled with this devastating news, a report today gave them some reason to be happy. Comedy Nights, the report read, wasn't going off air after all. But it would no longer be "With Kapil". Instead, filmmaker Karan Johar is supposed to step into the shoes of the stand-up comedian, apart from three other hosts. Karan, as of now, is the only one finalised for the show. A pinch of salt and truckloads of band-aid to help mend those fractured hearts. "Karan Johar replacing Kapil Sharma in Comedy Nights? What the...?!" ran the refrain in many minds, as they grappled with the news.

Now, make no mistake. Comedy Nights is a show visited by every big Bollywood name; from Amitabh Bachchan to Shah Rukh Khan to Deepika Padukone to Karan Johar - every single B-Towner with a film-to-release queues up at Kapil's doorstep. They come on his show, sit on that famous sofa, laugh at the horribly offensive jokes. Jokes that take a dig at people's gender, complexion, sexual orientation, clothes, place of living, and what not. Once they're done with their ROFL-act in front of Kapil and his viewers, these same stars go back to their stands of but-how-can-they-joke-about-something-as-homophobic-as-THAT. Ad nauseum, ad infinitum. They praise this comedian on his show, laugh with him. And then, at him, for all you know.

Let's take Karan Johar. The filmmaker has had his share of TV: From Koffee With Karan to Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Karan has appeared on numerous seasons of numerous shows as a host, judge, etc. However, filling in for a certain Kapil Sharma will certainly be the first for Johar. It's a bit shocking to see Karan Johar, who isn't really known for loud humour, coming to host a show known for exactly that.

Kapil is the driving force behind Comedy Nights. He is the fulcrum of the show. Instead of inflicting someone else on the viewers, maybe the brains behind Comedy Nights should take a break for a while. Karan Johar is no replacement for Kapil Sharma, whichever way you look at it.