The Kumars at No. 42

This show is one of the finest shows on TV. It's a top class sitcom and talk show in one. If you are a fan of Goodness Gracious Me, then you should like this. The casts lines are written, as are the questions, but the guest is always genuine and spontanious.

Highlights include the dirty and rude gran and the Dads anecdotes that don't have an ending.

I was in the audience for a recording of this, and the guests really don't have any idea what's coming!

I really recommend watching this whenever it's on, you won't be disappointed.

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!

sure it is not the greatest show ever but quite funny and surely is a comic relief from wannabe comedy sitcomes, such as Everybody Loves Raymond or That 70's show or whatever that comes on Star world (TV CHANNEL) except Friends and Seinfield

i don't really watch comedy shows and I never watch talk shows....but I like this one. As others have commented, the grandmother is the star of the show, but the concept is original and funny and overall I like it.

I just wish some network in the USA would pick this up....yeah right!

Reruns of this show just started playing in the US on BBC America and I think this show is a hoot to watch. Half the show is a send-up of British middle-class values, and the fact that the family is also Indian is treated so matter-of-factly that it doesn't seem exceptional at all. It's an interesting illustration of how western and eastern cultural mores can co-exist. Furthermore, the non-sequitor type questions asked by the Kumar family members reveal how our interest in celebrities is partly a self-absorbed wish to see ourselves reflected back. However, the primary thing about this show is that it's witty and entertaining.

I especially like that the celebrity guests aren't the sole focus. The show's unusual format seems to draw a genuine and candid reaction from the guests, most of whom are bemused but are clearly willing to join into the spirit of the show. This tells us more about who they are than all those canned anecdotes one hears on the typical late night talk shows.