I've seen almost all the episodes of this show. Couple of my friends like it a lot. While it has its moments, its certainly not a laugh riot. The studio audience seem to be the most easily excitable bunch of people. They laugh at anything and everything. It's good for Indian TV though, 'cause at least they're trying something different.
Let's start with the title. 'Comedy nights' ? That has to be the most uninspired name for a comedy show anyone could come up with. It's like calling Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, 'Dance nights' or Saavdhan India 'Rape nights' or Satayameva Jayate 'Aamir khan has something really important to say nights'.
The characters are extremely one dimensional, except for Kapil who is actually pretty talented, but could probably use better writers and producers. A lot of people keep telling me that he is very witty with his comebacks and one-liners and comedic timing, but I think it's pretty formulated (The show is scripted) and relies more on being really loud and talking very fast. But he's a funny guy no doubt.
The alcoholic granny is the most annoying, Ali Asgar is the opposite of funny and tries too hard with over the top performances which are often depressing more than anything else.
Gutti and Palak were funny the first 5 or 6 times they came out and did their bit, with their running jokes and catchphrases, but it gets really old really fast, and the fact that this show is on 11 times a day, everyday, does not help. Sunil Grover (Gutti) has left the show and has joined the cast of 'Mad in India' (A show so bad, it's like if someone wanted to produce a replica of comedy nights but hired a bunch of schizophrenic chimpanzees for writers.) But Sunil Grover's departure allowed Kiku to step out of his shadow and do his own thing. Kiku's really funny and does not need to rely solely on fat jokes for humor. But the show needs better writers to utilize his talent.
The wife, is actually quite attractive and a lot of the jokes about her appearance don't really fit the profile, but the audience laps it up for some reason. Cause, she's really not funny looking. If anything, she's probably just short, but apart from that she's alright, but does not contribute to the humor in any way, except for being a bulls-eye for Kapil to make wife jokes. And while she is good looking, she's not really TV-standard eye candy either.
Siddhu, is the most pointless character on the show. While he is a fun Shayari-spouting Sardar and all, i really think the show could do without him. Sometimes his comments kill some of the jokes. I know he's not doing this on purpose but it's like he inadvertently ends up killing... never mind.
The other recurring characters are easily forgettable and also just serve as human props for Kapil.
The music on the show is God-awful. The band guys on set often miss cues, and often play stuff that doesn't match the punchline or situation or whatever. They get it wrong, right from the show's opening, with the title theme which lacks the energy or pep that you would associate with a sketch comedy show. Sounds more like something from a government sponsored ad from the old Doordarshan.
The show features celebrity guests who come to promote their upcoming movies. It's almost the same routine every time with the guests. Probably the least funny part of the show, especially when they get some spastic audience member to get on stage and dance with the celebrity guests. That's all there is to them.
That covers it I guess. Based on the comedy alone, I'd give it 3/10 but for actually trying to produce a different show and considering all the other shows on TV, 2 extra stars. 5/10
