A combination sitcom, talk show, and improv comedy experiment, this BBC2 staple follows the exploits of an idiosyncratic Indian family living in London who turns its back garden into a soundstage and launches a chat show. Sanjeev Bhaskar leads the cast as deluded host Sanjeev Kumar, an ignorant layabout who fancies himself a suave celebrity. Fellow
Goodness Gracious Me veteran Meera Syal portrays his frisky grandmother, while Indira Joshi and Vincent Ebrahim play his long-suffering parents. Each episode, two or more real-life celebrities arrive to chat with Sanjeev and field less-than-professional questions from his family; frustration and embarrassment abound on all sides. Over the numerous full seasons and specials that have aired since 2001, the Kumars have played host to Hollywood celebrities such as
Minnie Driver and
Patrick Stewart and more U.K.-centric stars such as Richard E. Grant and
Ismail Merchant. Other memorable guests have included '60s pop singer Lulu, ex-Spice Girl
Emma Bunton, and the cast of long-running British soap opera
EastEnders. In addition to airing stateside on BBC America, The Kumars at No. 42 has spawned a U.K. number-one hit in the form of a comic relief single with pop star Gareth Gates. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide