This is one of the many differences between Pakistani artistes and their counterparts in the rest of the world: the latter know when to stop a gig. Whatever may be the reason for Begum Nawazish’s success, the new format of the programme looks and sounds so mind-numbing and dreary it’s not even funny.

For some odd reason the begum has added two more hosts to her show, one of which is a man by the name of Dr Omar Adil.

This chap is irritatingly garrulous. Trust me, not even a bunch of gossipy housewives can match his skills. To boot he thinks, or so it seems, he makes witty remarks all the time and the camera likes him more than the begum. He leaves no stone unturned to hog the close-up shots. The begum too tries to keep up with him and in the process says things that only Mirza Ghalib can understand (in the wee morning hours). Both try and outtalk each other, making an utter nobody out of the third person on the programme, Muhammad Mubarak, dragging the show to lengths that are as long as the Great Wall of China. Someone tell them, you talk a lot and say less.