"The Kumars at No. 42" (2001) TV series 2001-2006

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Creators:

Sanjeev Bhaskar
Richard Pinto
Sharat Sardana

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

12 November 2001 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Talk-Show

Plot:

Sanjeev Kumar is an aspiring chat-show host. He has celebrity guests round to his house (no. 42) to talk to them...

Plot Keywords:

British Asian | Actor Shares First Name With Character | Character Name In Title

Awards:

5 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Sanjeev Bhaskar	...	Sanjeev Kumar (53 episodes, 2001-2006)
Meera Syal	...	Sushil 'Ummi' Kumar (53 episodes, 2001-2006)
Vincent Ebrahim	...	Ashwin Kumar (53 episodes, 2001-2006)
Indira Joshi	...	Madhuri Kumar (53 episodes, 2001-2006)

Runtime:

30 min (53 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Hat Trick Productions

Trivia:

Sanjeev Bhaskar says he used 42 for the show's house number because he was heavily influenced by Douglas Adams's radio series "The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" when he was growing up.

Quotes:

Sanjeev Kumar: Hello, and welcome to *my* show.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Comic Relief 2003: The Big Hair Do (2003) (TV)

Brilliantly Original Concept

One other reviewer describes this as part chat show, part sitcom and that's a good way of describing it. Where did they get the idea for this? It's a very clever idea. A young Asian guy, still living with his parents, wants to be a chat show host and his successful businessman dad builds him a studio in the back garden. But while he's interviewing the celebrities, his Mum, Dad and Granny come in to the studio and ask the celebrities questions. It's quite obvious that the celebrities on the show enjoy it. Another reviewer says it reflects the sad worship of celebrities but I don't think that's a fair comment. The show is entertaining and there is a little of the spirit of Morecambe and Wise in it. Granny Kumar (aka "Ummi") is the real show stealer but Aswan had a really good line when Sanjev was interviewing some actress from East Enders and she said the Kumars were like people on East Enders. Aswan said "Yes, but we speak better English". Very true! In the programme featuring Patrick Stewart, Ummi said she had read on a website that Patrick Stewart didn't like talking about Star Trek then Sanjev came on in a Star Trek uniform. The show is brilliant and I can see why the Americans and Australians have produced their own versions. It's a pity I'm not famous enough, I'd love to be the Kumars' guest!