Current Affairs:

1998 began as it would end. In January/February TV was dominated by general elections (giving birth to STAR News Channel, resurrecting Zee India and TVi). By November/December, after state assembly polls, TV was speculating about the next general elections.

Television was a temptation few resisted. K R Narayanan granted the box its first ever Presidential interview on August 15. He inspired A B Vajpayee. Some say, the PM's performance on TV was as lamentable as it has been in office. Difficult to know which are longer: his verbal pauses or those between blinks. Sonia Gandhi: seen seldom heard. 1998 was all about bombs: in Pokharan, Washington and Baghdad. The April blast created a new TV character: the defence analyst. Former foreign secretaries and experts peered gravely at the crater in Rajasthan and wereeither excited or dismayed by what they foresaw.

In Washington a sex bomb ticked away until it finally exploded over Baghdad. On TV it inspired a crude home video, Starr-ing Monica-Lew-d-insky, Wild Bill Clinton, Hillary-stand-by-my-man, a skirt and that obscure object of desire: a cigar.

Ministry of I&B/DD:

It was Swaraj until the BJP thought Raj Niwas, New Delhi was a better address for Sushma. Her battle of wills with S S Gill, CEO Prasar Bharati, left her accused of a personal vendetta and him out of office. An ordinance on Prasar Bharati was her only victory. Now we have Pramod Mahajan, who is still to get accustomed to his place.

The Kill Joys:

1998 saw thrillers lead TV channels down a nerve-tingling spiral of suspense : Aahat, Anhonee aur Woh in the X-Zone of Saturday Suspense. For `real' kills watch India's Most Wanted take on Bhanwar -- those Ajeeb Dastayein of real Apraadhis.

Honey, it's funny:

Comedy comebacks(like MTV), are enjoying. Incredibly, Hum Paanch is still going through hoops of laughter. But there are others too, okay for a few smirks: Jaane Bhi Do Paro, Idhar Udhar, Mungeri Lal ke Bhai...have lightened Doordarshan's load, while Hum Sab Ek Hain, Family No.1 on Sony and Zee's Chashme Badoor, Baat Ban Jaye and Hud Kar Di, etc., are fooling around.

High Drama:

Hold your Saans: Neena `Pooja' Gupta's marital woes have created, possibly, the best serial of the year. Otherwise, tradition has been battling modernity on the box. Amanat (its director, Sanjiv Bhattacharya died, tragically), Ashirwad, Jaan, Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka, Tere Mere Sapne, Challenge trace the clash between generations in urban India.

Bombay Talkies:

Archana Puran Singh and Shekhar Suman, Big Mouth and Loud Mouth of the year (Sony). In the case of Archana Uncensored, have tongue will talk. Movers and Shakers Suman was as snug in his anchoring as inthe underwear he advertises.

Sporting Spectacle:

The football world cup. One month of soccer on DD beat a year of cricket. Will television clean bowl the latter?

Channel Chatpatta:

Zee-STAR: The merger was always happening but never happened. Goel was preoccupied with valuations, Murdoch with the girl in his soup, sorry life.

AXN: Has more action than Arnold Shwarznegger's gym work-out. National Geographic: Has given Discovery a fright, viewers a treat.

MTV-Channel V: Every TRP is music to their ears. When they could tear themselves away from composing press releases, they made stars of Celine Dion and Daler Mehndi.

BBC: Acquired an Indian belt. Question Time India, Mastermind India, Wheels were goodly but the others required some Hard Talk-ing.

Repeat Raj: Swabhimaan, Shanti, Circus, Fauji, Hum Log, Idhar Udhar, Malgudi Days, Tamas, A Mouthful of Sky are on reruns. Don't they make good NEW serials, any longer?

Fill'em with phillums: ........Happy New Year.