p6 p16community - gulf times

Community‘Compulsory Breakfast’, an initiative

by Birla Public School completes its one year of introduction.

P6 P16 CommunityKumar Sanu, Bollywood melody

king and playback singer, captivates audience in a concert at Qatar National Convention Centre.

The flip sideCOVERSTORY

Newsday’s critics on the worst of the worst in TV,

movies, pop music and theatre this year. P4-5

Monday, December 31, 2018Rabia II 24, 1440 AH

Doha today: 200 - 230

BOLLYWOOD HOLLYWOOD

Khans magic failed in

experimental 2018.

4

Was this the year

that TV broke TV?

Page 15

A DUD: Christiani Pitts and King Kong — the forgettable new Broadway musical based on the classic 1933 Hollywood film.

Monday, December 31, 20182 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

Community EditorKamran Rehmat

e-mail: [email protected]: 44466405

Fax: 44350474

Emergency 999Worldwide Emergency Number 112Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991Local Directory 180International Calls Enquires 150Hamad International Airport 40106666Labor Department 44508111, 44406537Mowasalat Taxi 44588888Qatar Airways 44496000Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444

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USEFUL NUMBERS

Quote Unquote

PRAYER TIMEFajr 4.57amShorooq (sunrise) 6.19amZuhr (noon) 11.37amAsr (afternoon) 2.35pmMaghreb (sunset) 4.56pmIsha (night) 6.26pm

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have

greatness thrust upon them.” — William

Shakespeare

Thomas and FriendsDIRECTION: David Stoten CAST: Dona Adwera, Peter Andre, Richie Campbell SYNOPSIS: Thomas leaves Sodor to fulfi l his dream of

seeing the world. This heroic quest takes Thomas across deserts, through jungles and over dangerous mountains as he travels

across fi ve continents seeing sights he has never seen before. Thomas and his friends travel to the mainland to save James and show that friendship is more important than being the favourite engine. Can Thomas and the new experimental engines save James and help bring him back to the Island of Sodor?

THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall

Between Worlds DIRECTION: Maria PuleraCAST: Nicolas Cage, Penelope Mitchell, Franka Potente SYNOPSIS: Joe meets a mother who can contact spirits when

suff ocating. Her daughter is dying when Joe helps the mother spiritually contact the daughter and save her. Unfortunately, the spirit in the daughter’s body is now that of Joe’s dead wife.

THEATRE: The Mall

The Mall Cinema (1): Pretham 2 (Malayalam) 2pm; Aquaman (2D) 4:30pm; Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles (Tagalog) 7pm; Pretham 2 (Malayalam) 9pm; Pretham 2 (Malayalam) 11:30pm.The Mall Cinema (2): Thomas And Friends: Big Wolrd! Big Adventure! The Movie (2D) 2:30pm; Mary Poppins Returns (2D) 4:15pm; Mary Poppins Returns (2D) 6:45pm; Aquaman (2D) 9pm; Aquaman (2D) 11:30pm.The Mall Cinema (3): Simmba (Hindi) 2pm; Zero (Hindi) 5pm;

Simmba (Hindi) 8pm; Simmba (Hindi) 11pm.Landmark Cinema (1): Simmba (Hindi) 2:30pm; Aquaman (2D) 5:30pm; Simmba (Hindi) 8pm; Simmba (Hindi) 11pm.Landmark Cinema (2): Thomas And Friends: Big Wolrd! Big Adventure! The Movie (2D) 3pm; Mary Poppins Returns (2D) 5pm; Mary Poppins Returns (2D) 8pm; Aquaman (2D) 10:30pm.Landmark Cinema (3):

Pretham 2 (Malayalam) 3pm; Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles (Tagalog) 6pm; Pretham 2 (Malayalam) 8:30pm; Pretham 2 (Malayalam) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1):Simmba (Hindi) 2:30pm; Aquaman (2D) 5:30pm; Simmba (Hindi) 8pm; Simmba (Hindi) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2):Pretham 2 (Malayalam) 2:30pm; Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles (Tagalog) 5pm; Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles (Tagalog) 7pm; Pretham 2 (Malayalam) 9pm; Aquaman (2D) 11:30pm.

3Monday, December 31, 2018 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change

EVENTS

Pakistan Music FestWHERE: QNCCWHEN: January 9TIME: 7pm – 10pmStrings are about to rock Doha with

their nostalgic gigs and all the latest hits. Quratulain Balouch and Ali Sethi will be joining the pop band at Qatar National Convention Centre.

Archives ExhibitionWHERE: Qatar National LibraryWHEN: Ongoing till January 31TIME: 8am – 8pmThe exhibition explores the history of Qatar

through several family collections. It presents selected items from previously unseen private archives of photos, artefacts and documents to show the role that individuals within a community can play in building its identity and preserving its heritage and history.

Robotics Junior CourseWHERE: Recreation CentreWHEN: January 19TIME: 1pm – 3pmChildren are invited to build their own

robot and make it move however they want.

It will be a fun chance for them to delve deep into the world of robotics and explore how computer programming and robot design can solve all kinds of problems.

Children’s Library Winter Book SwapWHERE: Qatar National LibraryWHEN: January 1- January 5TIME: 4pm – 7pmBring in the books you do not want any

more to the Children’s Library. They can be in any language and type. Books must be culturally appropriate and only gently used. Workbooks will not be accepted.

Katara Beach - School StudentsWHERE: KataraWHEN: OngoingTIME: 9am – 12pmBy participating in the programme of ‘Our

culture is a school’, Katara Beach emphasises the Qatari marine tradition and introduces to students the meaning of Dasha, Al Qafal and various type of pearls. The students will discover all details of the Fath Al-Khair journey.

Ballet LessonsWHERE: Music and Arts AtelierWHEN: OngoingTIME: 4pm – 8pmFor more info e-mail at registration@

atelierqatar.com or call on 33003839.

Cycling: Losail Circuit Sports ClubWHERE: Losail CircuitWHEN: OngoingTIME: 5pmLosail Circuit Sports Club, in association

with Qatar Sports For All Federation, invites all cyclists, runners and walkers to train under the fl oodlights of Losail International Circuit every Wednesdays.

Heritage Library’s Permanent Exhibition

WHERE: Qatar National LibraryWHEN: Ongoing till tomorrowTIME: 9am – 8pmThe exhibition displays around 400 items

from the QNL Heritage Library collection that illustrate the spread and evolution of ideas throughout the Arab and Islamic world, as well as document interactions between Arabs and the West over the past several centuries. The exhibition features books, manuscripts, historical photographs maps, globes and travellers’ instruments that tell the story of Qatar, along with the history of science, literature, writing, travel in the region, and much more.

The Colour RunWHERE: QNCCWHEN: January 26TIME: 8:30amCelebrate the hero in you in a realm

where nothing is impossible and you are unstoppable. Soar to new heights in the all-new Super Zone and suit up in gear fi t for only the most super of heroes as you collect your medal at the Finish Line! 2019 will also include the Foam Zone. Gates will open at 7am on January 26, with our fi rst Color Runners setting off at 8.30am.

Doha Triathlon 2019WHERE: Museum of Islamic ArtWHEN: February 8Doha Triathlon has opened registration

for its third edition. Those wishing to participate in the event can visit www.doha-triathlon.com to register in either the Olympic or Sprint which off ers registration for both individuals and team relays. Another choice is the Super Sprint which is only for

individuals and open for both adults and kids aged between 13-15 years old. Also, a kids’ duathlon was introduced this year for two age groups 7-9 and 10-12 years old to allow all family members to enjoy the event.

Arabic Calligraphy WorkshopWHEN: Saturday – WednesdayTIME: 6pmArabic Calligraphy workshop is back.

Come and learn the artistic practice of Arabic handwriting and calligraphy at Music and Arts Atelier.

The lessons will take place every Saturday, Monday and Wednesday at 6pm. For more information, contact [email protected]

After School ActivitiesWHERE: AtelierWHEN: OngoingMusic and arts Activities for students

taking place after they fi nish their day in school includes Group Music lessons, Hip-hop, Ballet, Drawing and Painting, Drama Theatre & Taekwondo. Ages between 5 and 10 years old after school hours.

Hobby ClassesWHERE: Mystic Arts Centre behind Al

Hilal Focus Medical CentreWHEN:Wednesday – MondayMystic Art Centre, is a holistic performing

arts institution and a one stop solution for adults as well as children looking to explore their talents in various art forms. We off er classes in Carnatic Music, Hindustani Music, Karate, Yoga, Zumba, Classical Dance, Salsa, Hip Hop, contemporary and Bollywood dance forms. For details, call 33897609.

Dance and Instrument ClassesWHERE: TCA Campus, Behind Gulf Times

BuildingWHEN: Wednesday – MondayLearn the movements of dance styles in

Bollywood, Hip Hop and also the musical instruments such as Piano, Guitar, Keyboard for adults as well kids and move in the world of music. For details, contact 66523871.


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

The worst of 2018

NOSEDIVE: A talented, hard-nosed interviewer, Megyn Kelly seemed to abandon that and lost her job while the industry and the few viewers were left thinking — what was NBC thinking!

The year ending has seen its share of turkeys, which these critics had to endure. Fortunately, they survived and they

can now report back on the worst of the worst in TV, movies, pop music and theatre.

TV1. Megyn Kelly Today (NBC).

No show — scripted, news, or otherwise — was more misguided than this one, no host more miscast. Along with a salary that could feed whole nations, Kelly arrived with baggage that had been carefully packed at her former employer, Fox News. Viewers of Fox weren’t about to forgive her for her betrayal of Fox; viewers of NBC weren’t about to embrace her either. She was left to forge a middle-course, as a morning happy talker with a glib approach to issues, other than #MeToo, in which she cast herself in a leading role. A talented, hard-nosed interviewer, Kelly seemed to abandon that, but then was

hard-nosed at the worst possible moment about the worst possible issue: Blackface. In defence of that which is indefensible, she lost her job while the industry and the few viewers were left thinking — what was NBC thinking?

2. Here and Now (HBO). This maddening series was stuff ed with fashionable “-isms,” New Age platitudes and magical mystery detours but like Matthew Weiner’s The Romanovs, was condemned mostly for what it wasn’t rather than for what it was. What it wasn’t was much “good,” and because it was created by one of HBO’s most successful showrunners, Alan Ball, that made its failure all the more baffl ing.

3. Rise (NBC). Speaking of which, this limited series from Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights) about an English teacher in a Rust Belt Pennsylvania town who takes over the theatre programme at Stanton High (from my review) “plods along as a collection of prefabricated

moments that demand viewer engagement as opposed to ones that are organically built and which breathe on their own and ultimately succeed on their own.” In a word (or two), this stage drama was stagy.

4. The First (Hulu). Visually compelling with a nicely pensive music score — courtesy of Colin Stetson of Arcade Fire and Bon Iver — The First’s first season was otherwise plodding, padded, dull, listless, weary and Mars-less. For a series that was supposed to be about the thrill of discovery and the beckoning of the Red Planet, The First mostly seemed like an afternoon spent at the laundromat.

5. LA to Vegas (Fox). Memories are funny — or perhaps memories are selective of this sitcom about a budget airline — but I remember very little of this. The few remnant shards do hint at something that was pretty awful. I do believe the shards are accurate.

— VERNE GAY

MOVIES1. Gotti John Travolta plays John

Gotti, narrating from the dead, in this abysmal biopic based on a memoir by the mobster’s son. The acting is desperately bad, the writing wretched (Google Travolta’s “fi ve boroughs” speech) and the whole movie looks like it cost about 10 bucks. Patchogue’s Kevin Connolly tries to direct, but not even Francis Ford Coppola could have saved this thing.

2. The Happytime Murders The combination of Melissa McCarthy and a cast of debauched puppets sounds like comedy gold, but director Brian Henson (son of Muppet maestro Jim Henson) goes for the lowest-hanging jokes — sex stuff , mostly, but also profanity and violence. It’s awful.

3. Vice Christian Bale’s transformation into Dick Cheney is impressive, but the actor is trapped in a biopic that utterly despises its subject. Cheney certainly isn’t Mr Warm-and-Fuzzy, but was it really necessary to mock his multiple

heart attacks? This partisan piñata-party, from writer-director Adam McKay, is exactly what we need less of right now.

4. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again More YouTube-calibre dancing and singing to Abba tunes. Total domestic gross: $120 million. If this is all it takes to make a hit, why does anyone bother with anything?

5. Venom Tom Hardy plays a journalist who ingests an alien parasite and becomes a schizophrenic superhero. It’s even worse than it sounds, but thanks to Hardy’s whacked-out performance, “Venom” is never boring. It’s almost so bad it’s good.

— RAFER GUZMAN

POP MUSIC1. 6ix9ine, Dummy Boy

(Scumgang): When historians look back on the craziness of 2018, the ridiculous success of controversial Brooklyn rapper 6ix9ine will be a prime example. His album hit No 2

Newsday’s critics Verne Gay, Rafer Guzmán, Glenn Gamboa and Barbara Schuler pick the duds


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

while he was in federal custody on racketeering and fi rearms charges and on probation for posting a sex tape of a 13-year-old girl. Yet somehow this notoriety helped him land A-list collaborators, including Kanye West and Nicki Minaj, for his mediocre rhymes about thug life.

2. Lil Xan, Total Xanarchy (Columbia): Maybe now that he has gone to rehab Lil Xan will realise how bad this album is. He wasted the major-label deal and big-budget collaborators like 2 Chainz and Rae Sremmurd for terrible rhymes like “I got tick tock, tick tock. I got Gucci fl ip-fl ops.”

3. Iggy Azalea, Survive the Summer (Island): It takes a special artist to cram so many annoying elements into a song that’s not even three minutes long. Iggy manages to accomplish that feat six times in a row, using a variety of terrible hip-hop styles.

4. Justin Timberlake, Man of the Woods (RCA): Even a rollout that included the Super Bowl halftime show could not convince people that this album was interesting. Or that the talented Timberlake actually believed his own interest in country music.

5. Thirty Seconds to Mars, America (Interscope): That multitalented Jared Leto is somehow responsible for this derivative rock — think Imagine Dragons with their passion replaced by empty sloganeering — is one of the year’s biggest mysteries.

— GLENN GAMBOATHEATRE1. Summer: The Donna

Summer Musical This was a hot

mess, to paraphrase some of the singer’s most famous lyrics. The biographical musical, which closes on Dec 30 after universally vicious reviews, had all the late Queen of Disco’s best songs, but the story got muddled by confusing time jumps and odd characterisations. And the show virtually dismissed major events like her abuse by a pastor and her confl ict with the gay community.

2. Escape to Margaritaville All the margaritas in the world (and there were plenty on sale in the lobby) couldn’t save this jukebox musical. Again, all the Jimmy Buff ett hits were there, but working Cheeseburger in Paradise and the like into a coherent plot worthy of Broadway didn’t cut it. The show closed in July after 29 previews and 124 regular performances.

3. Gettin’ the Band Back Together Blink and you missed it. The play about a middle-aged New Jersey man trying to resurrect his high school band started previews in July, opened on August 13 and closed on September 16. In an unusually candid blog post, lead producer Ken Davenport blamed the slow ticket sales on tough reviews, most of which agreed the show lacked anything truly memorable.

4. King Kong Your eyes do not deceive you. Yes, this was on “the best” list for the amazing spectacle of the massive animatronic puppet. As for the story and songs in the multimillion-dollar production, well, if it’s on this list, you can probably fi gure it out.

— BARBARA SCHULER—Newsday/TNS

FORGETTABLE: Forget John Travolta, not even Francis Ford Coppola could have saved the film. CONTROVERSY’S CHILD: Dummy Boy’s album hit No 2 while he was in federal custody!

MESS: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical was a hot mess, to paraphrase some of the singer’s most famous lyrics.


COMMUNITY‘Compulsory Breakfast’ completes a year at BPS‘Compulsory Breakfast’, an initiative by Birla Public School (BPS), completes its one year of introduction. The parents of the students have appreciated the programme for its contribution in improvement of academic and scholastic activities. While talking on the occasion, Principal of BPS said, “There’s a scientific reason for introducing this programme. The students start their day early in the morning and if they’re sitting empty stomach in the classrooms, from where will their brain get the energy? To fulfil this need of energy, the brain starts absorbing it from the arteries and as a result arteries are weakened

leading to severe health problems. Keeping this in mind ‘Compulsory Breakfast’ programme was introduced.”For the implementation of the programme, an orientation session was also organised for the faculty members of BPS. Initially the programme was introduced for the students of pre-primary and primary classes, but later was made compulsory for all the students of BPS. ‘Compulsory Breakfast’ session, in the supervision of the faculty members, takes place after the morning prayers for the students to take their breakfast.

Delegate from QatarDebate visits five universitiesA delegation from QatarDebate recently visited five universities, including University of Utah, University of Western Kentucky, University of Chicago, Harvard University, and New York University to discuss the forms of co-operation with QatarDebate due to the growing demand of Arabic debates among students. Abdulrahman al-Subaie, Head of Outreach at QatarDebate, said, “QatarDebate Centre plays a leading

role in spreading the Arabic language internationally through educating the art of debate”. He said that some universities expressed their wish to organise a debate competition in Arabic with the support of QatarDebate Centre, whereby QatarDebate will support the academic institutions with trainers, educational materials and arbitrators. It was also agreed with multiple universities to sign memorandums of understanding with the aim to strengthen ties with QatarDebate.

VFQ organises second season of volleyball matchesVolley Friends Qatar (VFQ), an expatriate sports organisation, recently organised the second season of volleyball matches at Wakrah. The tournament featured players from Indian expatriate community. The jersey launching ceremony was also conducted. On behalf of the participating teams, the team captains received their team jerseys from the sponsor representatives present on the occasion. The event was attended by the representatives of the sponsors of the tournament, including Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co (AAB), Transind Tama Trading and Safari Hyper Market. It was highlighted during the event that sports tournaments are a part of AAB’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. Faisal, Haris and Fasjar from Transind Tama Trading also spoke on the occasion. The event also featured a musical performance by local singers, including Mohammed Ali Vadakara, Cochin Sameer and Noushad Kummamkode.


COMMUNITYENVIRONMENT

Bacteria could be key to protect saff ron harvests from fungiSaff ron farmers in northern India have for years fought against sinking yields

due to fungal infection. Indian and German researchers are working together

to find ways to protect the valuable plant. By Wyona Schuette

An Indo-German research collaboration may have found a way to combat a fungal infestation that has

caused a signifi cant drop in the production of saff ron, the world’s costliest spice, in the northern Indian areas.

The researchers say they have identifi ed a number of bacteria showing promise in protecting the saff ron crocus, the fl owering plant that’s the source of saff ron, from fungi that causes corm rot. A corm is the bulb-like underground stem base in plants such as crocuses. “The problem is particularly acute in northern India, although farmers in Italy and Iran are presumably having problems as well,” says microbiologist Barbara Reinhold-Hurek, head of a research group on microbe-plant interactions at the University of Bremen in Germany.

Iran accounts for about 90 percent of world saff ron production. Since 2017, Reinhold-Hurek and her team have been collaborating with scientists from the University of Jammu on learning how the fungi act and fi nding an agent that protects against them. During their work, they identifi ed one of the fungi responsible. “You can look at what the fungus does to the plant, and whether there are bacteria that get the pest under control, either by damaging the pest itself or by strengthening the plant’s resistance,” Reinhold-Hurek says, adding she and her Indian

colleagues immediately realised that “scientifi cally, we speak the same language.”

Reinhold-Hurek’s research team normally studies bacteria that foster the growth of rice plants. Using bioinformatics, mutations and gene sequencing, she and her team try to determine the mechanisms with which the bacteria do this. Similar experiments are conducted with saff ron crocuses when the Indian researchers come to Bremen.

The joint research group has managed to fi nd some bacterial strains that are likely suited to combat the fungal infestation.

Whether or to what extent they will in fact help small farmers can’t be ascertained in the laboratory, since factors such as climate and soil conditions play key roles. However, initial fi eld experiments have been encouraging, according to Reinhold-Hurek, who hopes the farmers will be able in a few years to sprinkle saff ron crocus corms with a protective bacterial powder before planting. Fortunately for Jean-Frederic Waldmeyer, one of the few saff ron producers in Germany, fungi are no problem on his fi elds in Bavaria. But he’s constantly confronted with the diffi culty of

harvesting saff ron crocuses, which - along with the small amount of saff ron per plant is why the spice is so expensive. “Production is exclusively by hand,” he says. “And for a kilogram of saff ron, you need up to 300,000 fl owers.”

Saff ron is actually only the stigma, the pollen-germinating part, of the purple fl owers. Each fl ower has three red, fi lament-like stigmas. Once the stigmas have been separated from the fl owers, sometimes still attached to the pale yellow styles that join them to the fl owers’ base, they’re dried for later use as a sweet-smelling, bitter-

tasting food seasoning, fabric dye, perfume ingredient or medicine.

A lot remains to be learned about saff ron, says Stephan Clemens, a professor in the plant physiology department at the University of Bayreuth in Germany, noting that “there’s much more detailed knowledge about many other plants.”

The reason is that Crocus sativus, as the plant is scientifi cally known, is demanding on researchers as well as farmers. To study a plant, all that you normally have to do is to order the appropriate seeds, raise the plant and start your experiments, Clemens says. Not with the saff ron crocus though, which is unknown in the wild and doesn’t produce viable seeds.

To propagate it, the corms must be dug up, divided and replanted, generating new corms, and from them, new saff ron crocuses, after quite a long while.

“Experiments are possible only after several years,” Clemens says. “The saff ron crocus isn’t a plant you’d want to write your doctoral dissertation about.” Experiments to date suggest that saff ron might even be helpful in treating nerve diseases.

“Animal models have indicated that substances in saff ron could have benefi cial eff ects,” Clemens points out, adding that the precise nature of these eff ects and whether they’re also applicable to humans hasn’t been studied yet. “Pursuing this further will be very interesting.” – DPA

HARVEST: Women pluck saff ron in a field in India. For years, farmers there have had to fight against a fungal infection leading to lower yields.

RESEARCHER: Barbara Reinhold-Hurek, German microbiologist, is researching with her team the causes behind fungal infections that are aff ecting saff ron.

BY HAND: Dried saff ron is seen in a bowl. The costly, beautiful spice must be harvested by hand.


COMMUNITY BOOK R

Learning from 10 memoirsIt has never been easier to know everything about a star, to catch u

see baby pictures. And these carefully-crafted online personas n

Our fake friendships start with the imaginary kind as lonely children. Then we start obsessively planning a wedding to

our mop-headed celebrity crush. Then, as women, we befriend every famous lady who seems like us.

It has never been easier to know everything about a star, to catch up with Reese and Mindy on Twitter and Instagram, talk TV binges, see baby pictures. And these carefully-crafted online personas now have a major money-making outlet.

Cue the memoirs. Over the last few years, just about every woman with a brand has gotten a book deal, a trend that started with Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? in 2012 and Tina Fey’s Bossypants in 2013. It has led us here, to this holiday’s crush of reading material from everyone from Tina Turner to Chrissy Metz.

Millennials are the age group most likely to have read a book in any format, Pew research shows, 80 percent compared to 67 percent

of baby boomers. Millions of online followers have made New York Times best-sellers out of Gabrielle Union, Sally Field and Busy Phillips. Michelle Obama’s memoir Becoming is the best-selling book of the year. Adult nonfi ction sales grew in 2017, and Obama will ensure 2018 continues the trend. I was determined to read 30 books for my GoodReads app challenge this year and knew memoirs would be an easy way to reach my goal. Plus, I’d get to indulge two passions: girl talk and pop culture.

Little did I know my own life would be remarkably changing by year’s end. Since fi fth grade, I loved journalism. I kept ‘spy journals,’ recording the goings-on of my unsuspecting family. I thought I’d be a reporter, but when I was introduced to page design, I had a glass slipper moment. This is what I was meant to do. But the last few years have left me uninspired, unchallenged and stuck.

On top of that, my relationship was going nowhere. I was the one putting in the eff ort, torturing myself

for an imagined future. I knew the advice: Find a new job; let him go. But how? I didn’t want an echo chamber. I wanted to hear from other women with whom I felt kinship, yet detached. I could apply their stories to my life while being entertained.

I turned to Anna. And Sally. And Busy. Women empower other women by sharing experiences. One of many things the #MeToo movement has shown is the power of collective bravery. Union and Field used their memoirs to publicly expose their own abuse and rape. Whether it’s sexual harassment, or just the common joy of trashy TV, we’re not alone. Call them my lady gang, girl squad or whatever is trending. They’ve been my support system, inspiring me to take new career and relationship paths. So let’s see what my friends are up to. Maybe they’ll even teach us a thing or two about life.

We Are Never Meeting In Real Life by Samantha Irby

It was the cover that got me.

An angry kitten on a bright yellow background? I’ll read that. Samantha Irby is a sassy blogger, but for those of you who don’t know this foul-mouthed wordsmith, look no further than her fi rst essay. In an application for The Bachelorette, she admits to spying on her teen crush while eating a loaf of bread in her car outside his parents’ house. “I am deeply troubled,” she writes. Life lesson: You can be both confi dent and insecure. Irby writes with so much self-awareness and humour that her self-deprecation shows bravery. Her stories are unapologetically uncomfortable. I’ll call myself fat, but in no way as an insult. Know who you are and what you want. And if you don’t want to go camping because the outdoors is a sticky hellscape, don’t go camping.

Unqualifi ed by Anna FarisReally, the goofy Scary Movie

actress is giving me advice? Anna Faris hosts a podcast of the same name, and she’s much more introspective and poignant than her

characters on screen. Faris says she has “penchant for digging into other people’s personal lives.” Same, girl. However, Unqualifi ed published soon after she and husband Chris Pratt announced their separation. The book, part memoir, part advice, reads like a love letter to her perfect marriage, and it’s up to us to look beyond the 42-year-old’s cheerful charade.

Life lesson: Take advice with a side of scepticism. When we share relationship problems with friends, the storyteller picks what to tell, even if that means glossing over things or adding dollops of lies. I love to give relationship advice, but I do that as a single woman who has made many missteps in love, like Faris. I’ve fabricated parts in my journal to make my sort-of relationship sound better than it was. Faris chose to write this book as her relationship was imploding. Maybe she thought it would end diff erently. I did, too.

This Is Me: Loving The Person You Are Today by Chrissy Metz

9GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYMonday, December 31, 2018

REVIEW

s by famous women in 2018up with Reese and Mindy on Twitter and Instagram, talk TV binges,

now have a major money-making outlet, writes Brittany Volk

Chrissy Metz, star of NBC’s tearjerker This Is Us, is a natural motivational speaker. She’s compassionate and charming, complete with her own brutal life stories. After each personal chapter comes a few paragraphs helping readers be mindful/believe in themselves/learn to fl y. Once you get over the cutesy self-help jargon, Metz wins with heart and biting humour.

Life lesson: Forgiveness isn’t black or white.

You’re on an Airplane: A Self-Mythologising Memoir by Parker Posey

Parker Posey, a standout in all those Christopher Guest movies, gives us a look inside her odd-bird brain, complete with peculiar artwork scattered among each chapter. Her memoir is full of big names, some, but nothing is gossipy. She loves being famous, but not too much to lose her absurdity.

Life lesson: Be a duck among

geese. Her eccentricity sends us on a frustrating narrative, but it isn’t a Hollywood origin story or a sympathetic self-help book

I’m Fine ... And Other Lies by Whitney Cummings

Speaking of fi ne, how many times a day do we say, “I’m fi ne”? Comedian Whitney Cummings approaches her brazen memoir as a way to inform readers about mental illness. The comedian’s battle with darkness is a tale as old as time. Humour comes from pain, and Cummings has her share of it; suff ering from an eating disorder, love addiction and codependency. I’m Fine documents her journey to fi ne.

Life lesson: Lose the mental health stigma.

My Squirrel Days by Ellie Kemper

This “carefree, happy-go-lucky sweetie” had a boring but lucky life, which does not a compelling memoir make. However, Ellie Kemper is a

talented writer and her comedic detail stood out on this list. The title refers to one of her best essays, the time in sixth grade she befriended backyard squirrels after too many “Dances With Wolves” viewings. Comedians constantly lean on self-deprecation, but this 38-year-old takes genuine pride in her quirks.

Life lesson: Talent isn’t everything; hard work pays off . I read this book while waiting for a job off er. Would I be turned down, yet again? Kemper’s isn’t an underdog story, but a journey made of more smart choices than dumb ones.

Everything’s Trash, But It’s

Okay by Phoebe Robinson Phoebe Robinson, co-host of

podcast 2 Dope Queens and author of two books of essays, is the queen of relatable content. In Everything’s Trash, Pheebs demands we don’t shame our ‘trash tendencies,’ such as watching reality shows. By laughing at her mistakes, we’re really absolving our own. Be warned it is full of her dope dialect.

This Will Only Hurt A Little by Busy Philipps

With her acting career not where she wanted to be, Busy Philipps took to social media to conjure a career. Naturally, a memoir came next, just as the E! network launched her late-night talk show Busy Tonight.

Life lesson: Failure is constant. But so is laughter. She recounts many times Hollywood brushing her off .

My Love Story by Tina Turner We know how the story began.

Tina Turner triumphed, emerging from a most brutal situation, chronicled in her fi rst memoir, I, Tina, and the movie What’s Love Got To Do With It. But in My Love Story, Turner, with help from two professional writers, shows us her life of peace and contentment with love Edwin Bach in Switzerland. Her adoration toward her fans is something I wish more stars would adopt. And amid a serious health scare recently, Turner reminds us, yet again, of her inspiring strength.

Life lesson: The bad doesn’t

defi ne you. This is her complete memoir, starting from her humble Nutbush, Tenn., beginnings, to her rise with Ike, and her record-shattering second act.

In Pieces by Sally Field Is it possible to like Sally Field

more? With a career spanning generations, Field’s literary memoir chronicles her 71 years with tender wisdom. It’s a timid tribute to a happy maternal upbringing that also taught her to repress her needs to those of men. An early depiction of child abuse permeates the story, as Field recognises her personality fragment as her Hollywood career soared. This was before #MeToo; before women would openly recognise the problem wasn’t necessarily their fault.

Life lesson: It doesn’t matter if you’re liked. Her famous Oscar speech is often misquoted, but it often leads us to think of Field as just another celebrity starving for attention.

– Tampa Bay Times/TNS


COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC


COMMUNITYLIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE

ARIESMarch 21 — April 19

CANCERJune 21 — July 22

LIBRASeptember 23 — October 22

CAPRICORNDecember 22 — January 19

TAURUSApril 20 — May 20

LEOJuly 23 — August 22

SCORPIOOctober 23 — November 21

AQUARIUSJanuary 20 — February 18

GEMINIMay 21 — June 20

VIRGOAugust 23 — September 22

SAGITTARIUSNovember 22 — December 21

PISCESFebruary 19 — March 20

It may be hard to resolve anything today, Aries. It could be that there’s

an overwhelming resistance making it diff icult to act according to

plan. Today isn’t a good day to fight. If things don’t seem to be going

your way, don’t push it. Trying to strong-arm the situation will only

aggravate things and make them worse. You may need to make some

compromises in order to maintain the peace.

You may feel extra self-confident today, Cancer, making you more able

to say and do the things you might normally keep inside. Be warned,

however, that you’re apt to run into some powerful, unexpected

opposition. The genius in you wants to come out and show others

what you’re made of, but other people may have reason to find fault.

Don’t let others’ disapproval hinder your progress.

Things that you thought were obvious may not seem quite as clear

as you’d like them to be, Libra. Be aware that there may be some

intense opposition to your plans. Take care of other people and their

emotions. You will find that a wall might suddenly go up, putting a

harsh barrier between you and your goals. Consider your heart as well

as your head.

There may be tension and opposition today, Capricorn, so be

prepared. It could seem like everyone wants to rattle your cage. Stand

strong. There are forceful opinions crying out to be heard. The more

stubborn you are, the harder it will be for important information to

flow freely. Protect your interests by standing your ground, but make

sure you don’t step on other people’s toes in the process.

Intense emotions are apt to dominate the scene today, Taurus. Don’t

do anything halfway. It’s time to give it your all or nothing. You have

the power to cut to the heart of the issue. Don’t hesitate. If you meet

opposition, stay strong. There’s a valuable lesson to be learned. If

you’re being true to yourself, you should have no trouble overcoming

any obstacle that stands in your path.

You might find that others’ strong opinions dictate today’s actions,

Leo. The atmosphere is quite intense, so you might want to lay low

and let others have their way. Don’t try to put up a fight. Unexpected

opposition may come out of nowhere and take control. There’s a

powerful force at work asking you to do things with more passion

than usual.

Other people may tend to snap under the emotional pressure of the

day, Scorpio, but you’re well suited to soar through with flying colours.

You’re ruled by your emotions and you have no problem navigating

rough waters. Other people may look to you for strength and support.

Trust yourself and try not to get lured off course by conflicting

opinions that don’t seem to sit right with you.

What ails you now can be eliminated if you’re willing to stand up and

say exactly what needs to be said, Aquarius. Going with the flow may

be an easy route to follow, but it might not always take you down

a path that leads to the fulfilment of your dreams. Be a bit more

aggressive about your position today and outwardly project yourself

as the true master of your destiny.

There’s an overwhelming intensity about the day that might make it

diff icult for you to maintain the peace, Gemini. Strong opinions and

courageous emotions are clashing in a climactic fashion. You might

find yourself in the middle of conflicting forces if you aren’t careful.

Make sure you take care of yourself and your needs before you try to

patch up things for everybody else.

Create your own reality, Virgo. It could be that you have the puppet

strings in your hands, but you’re too afraid to use them. Don’t shy

away from responsibility. Take your time and don’t lose sight of your

goals. The stakes are extra high today, and you will find that the

slightest movement is magnified several times over. Be careful how

you use your words. They won’t be taken lightly.

There’s a need for decisive action today, Sagittarius, and you’re the

one fit for the job. Strong wills and forceful opinions will win out.

Others aren’t likely to be easily manipulated. Everyone has a voice and

they won’t be afraid to use it. Make sure that you speak up on your

behalf or your best interests may be lost. Stand up for yourself. It’s

now or never.

It takes two to tango, Pisces. Remember that life isn’t a one-way street.

There needs to be a bit of give and take if you expect others to treat

you the way you want to be treated. Don’t let people take control

when it comes to taking charge of your own life. Others may be

emotional and stubborn. Don’t waste your breath with useless drivel.

Say something meaningful.

Work wear essentials for wintersT

he winter season brings with itself fashion woes for daily offi ce goers. Acing your style game in winter can be tricky, especially

when it comes to work-wear. However, it does not mean you have to give up on your personal style to adjust to the temperamental climate and swap them for unappealing alternatives.

To clear the confusion, Ayushi Gudwani, Founder and CEO of FableStreet, a professional wear brand for women, and Carl Virk, Director, Carlton London share their pick of work wear essentials (apparel and footwear) for this winter season.

A do-it-all stole: Multi-functional pieces are a sigh of relief amidst the bulky winter clothing that takes up major space in your closet. A warm stole that can double as a neck warmer and cardigan is your best bet this season. Invest in a neutral piece that can be paired with the comforting palette of winter clothing and is warm enough to keep you cozy.

Solid knits: Knitted pullovers in solid colours are a must in your wardrobe as they are versatile in nature and compliment a variety of looks, if paired appropriately. Choose

knits with a delicate texture in various colours. This is a great way to add edginess to your outfi t while keeping it offi ce appropriate. You can further accentuate your look by layering these with structured jackets / coats, cardigans, shrugs and much more.

Trench coats: Trench coats are ‘it’ this winter season. After being all the rage in western countries, the trench coat trend has also appeared in the Indian wardrobes. Their timeless appeal makes them one of the most sought after winter friendly garment for offi ce goers. Trench coats not only add form and structure to your attire but also are eff ortlessly stylish.

Wool blend lowers: Layered leggings may sound like fun in winters, but they hardly qualify as formal wear in most offi ces. To reduce your distress of wearing regular lowers during the winter months, you can indulge in wool blend trousers and skirts that keep you warm. Select pieces in deep colours such as grey, burgundy, navy, etcetera and pair them with classic knits, silk shirts and blazers.

Knee-high boots, the classics that never go out of style rise to the knee, or slightly there under. They are generally tighter around the leg shaft and ankle and fi t easily at the

top. They are mostly made of leather and are also available in suede. Pair up these boots with a pullover and a formal skirt to jazz up your work wear.

Ankle boots are the most commonly worn fashion boots and are usually paired with trousers. These are available for both men and women. These boots are a perfect combination of style and comfort, and can easily be paired with dresses, skirts, jackets and blazers.

Oxford shoe is a lace up shoe that has the bottom of lacing section sewn closed and one that also has the eyelet facings stitched underneath the vamp (front section of the shoe). These shoes are extremely popular amongst both men and women and are always recommended to pair up with a formal set of outfi t for your work place.

Pumps are the most preferred shoe style amongst the working women. These shoes are available in both wedges and heels which perfectly go with any outfi t. Pumps are also known as Court shoes, a shoe with low-cut front line with either quilted silk or plain leather mostly trimmed with braid at the opening. Pumps can be paired with skirts, dresses, trousers and are perfect for work meetings, weekend brunches or Saturday nights. — IANS


COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Adam

Pooch Cafe

Garfield

Bound And Gagged

Codeword

Wordsearch

Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. Squares with the same number in have the same letter in. Work out which number represents which letter.

Puzz

les

cour

tesy

: Puz

zlec

hoic

e.co

m

Sudoku

Sudoku is a puzzle based

on a 9x9 grid. The grid is

also divided into nine (3x3)

boxes. You are given a

selection of values and to

complete the puzzle, you

must fill the grid so that

every column, every anone

is repeated.

Garden Flowers

ALYSSUMBEGONIACAMOMILECANNACROCUSDAHLIAFOXGLOVEFUCHSIAGERANIUM

GLADIOLUSHOLLYHOCKHYACINTHIRISLILYLOBELIAMARIGOLDNASTURTIUMPANSY

PETUNIAPRIMROSEPYRETHRUMSTOCKTULIPVERBENAVIOLETWALLFLOWERZINNIA


COMMUNITYPUZZLES

Colouring

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword

Across1. Frames top sporting trophy

(6)

5. Soften wax (6)

8. Let a pupil down (5)

9. Dan, for one, takes a bow (6)

10. Having become hardened, I

run over a chap (6)

11. A rich man takes the plunge

(5)

14. Give ring to a girl in a

handkerchief (8)

16. Anger observed about

record being overturned (6)

18. Paid many hands to

transport the old friends

(5,3,7)

20. Lovesuit (6)

22. No reason to stay in, in a

temper (8)

25. Compare a figure with

President North (5)

27. People don’t get any younger

in this household (6)

28. It’s crazy to go back and

enquire for this material (6)

29. Standard type (5)

30. Rod’s back to pick up a bit of

silver (6)

31. One beginning to discover a

writer in past poetic style (6)

Super Cryptic Clues

Yesterday’s Solutions

Across: 1 Scrap paper 6 Coop 10 Prairie 11 Itemise 12 Attribute 13 Since 14 Sling 15 Satinwood 17 Regarding 20 Loser 21 Nicks 23 Preferred 25 Extends 26 Attract 27 Saps 28 Celebrated.

Down: 1 Sepia 2 Real thing 3 Parting present 4 Avenues 5 Evident 7 Onion 8 Pretender 9 Personal letter 14 Springers 16 Observant 18 Impasse 19 Grenade 22 Cut up 24 Dated.

Down1. Mark left behind Jack’s

amulet (6)

2. Strong wine-container (4)

3. Where it’s said rain-storm will

appear (8)

4. Quick as a footballer? (5,3,7)

5. Tangles the strands (6)

6. Knocked back too much

French wine (4)

7. Colour left Kelly when upset

(6)

12. Put off by modern day

French way (7)

13. Object when a student heads

the assembly (7)

15. Not out following a trail (5)

17. Force otherwise represented

as ‘the old Bill’(5)

19. An ambiguous response

Donne, say, aroused (3,3,2)

20. He’s the husband of that

women over there (6)

21. Pick out the Spanish faction

(6)

23. Delivery made by the

Archbishop to the Queen (6)

24. Arms laid back, appearing

nice and comfortable (4)

26. Secure a covered wagon (4)


COMMUNITY BOLLYWOOD

Katrina opts out of Varun Dhawan’s dance fi lm

Actress Katrina Kaif has opted out of Remo D’souza’s upcoming dance fi lm, which also features Varun Dhawan.

She had to let go of the project due to the

hectic schedule for Bharat. Katrina’s offi cial spokesperson on Saturday shared the update on the project with a statement.

“Katrina Kaif had to opt out of Remo D’souza’s upcoming dance fi lm owing to her hectic schedule for ‘Bharat’. Katrina has always been a thorough professional. She decided to step out of the fi lm as her dates were clashing with Bharat, which she is currently shooting for. She wishes the team all the best,” read the statement.

Touted to be India’s biggest dance fi lm, it also stars choreographer-actor-fi lmmaker Prabhudheva besides Dharmesh Yelande, Raghav Juyal and Punit Pathak.

At the moment, Katrina has put all her focus on Bharat, which stars superstar Salman Khan. She joined the project after Priyanka Chopra’s exit.

Being helmed by Ali Abbas Zafar, Bharat is an offi cial adaptation of a 2014 South Korean fi lm Ode To My Father. It is produced by Atul Agnihotri’s Reel Life Production Pvt Ltd and Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series. It is slated for an Eid release in 2019. – IANS

Khans magic failed in experimental 2018

CHALLENGED: Richa Chadha says the movie has been one of her most challenging roles todate.

By Radhika Bhirani

Content is king, not the Khans – the year 2018 proved this with the success of fresh and high concept fi lms like

Stree, Badhaai Ho and AndhaDhun, embraced by the audience over the Khans-led Race 3, Thugs of Hindostan and Zero, which had set high expectations but fell fl at at the box offi ce.

Sanju, Padmaavat, 2.0 (Hindi version), Baaghi, Raazi, Gold, Raid and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety are some of the other titles that did good business, and high hopes are pinned on the just-released Simmba, which is likely to draw the mass audience.

“The landscape is changing,” Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios, said how the star-led industry is transforming. “Content is evolving at a huge rate. Filmmakers are investing more and more time in developing scripts. This year truly belonged to great concepts and scripts and audiences have showered their love wholeheartedly.

“It is all about a narrating a powerful story in an engaging way. Star power remains important but can only help open a fi lm – fi nally it’s all about a great script and a brilliant fi lm,” Singh said.

That explains the reception to a Badhaai Ho – about a 50-plus pregnant woman’s emotional struggle, to AndhaDhun – a quirky thriller, to Stree – a horror comedy, or a Raazi – about a woman spy.

Overall, it has been a good year for the industry after a couple of disappointing years.

Film and trade business expert Girish Johar pointed out that 2018 has witnessed the maximum entertainers – around 15 – to surpass the Rs100 crore benchmark, which has given a fi llip

to the year-round business by 10 per cent as compared to last year. He estimates a business of around Rs3,500 crore this year.

“The Khan starrers drew a fantastic response on Day 1, but Day 3 onwards, they fell fl at. People are outrightly rejecting mediocre, half-baked movies, and we have to make

something extraordinary to draw them into theatres,” Johar said.

There were also movies like Mukkabaaz, October, Hichki and Pad Man that were appreciated.

According to Shibashish Sarkar, Chief Operating Offi cer, Reliance Entertainment, it is important to cater stories to the right audience.

“There is an audience for every kind of fi lm, so long as your story is correct. Where will one classify a Padmaavat, or Sanju or Raazi – are they star driven fi lms or content driven fi lms ? When you have correct content, and you have a star, the fi lm implodes and explodes,” Sarkar said.

Singh said the year established that the viewers like content which has relatability, likeability and virality. But high ticket prices, in Johar’s view, are turning out to be deterrents for the audience to visit theatres.

A movie viewing experience for a family of four at a multiplex can cost anything between Rs3,000 to Rs5,000 including food and beverages.

Also, With stiff competition from regional fi lms, Hollywood and especially the vast variety of digital content, Bollywood needs to step up its game with scripts being the focal point, and by allotting the right budget.

“It’s a norm nowadays to say ‘movies don’t fail, budgets do’,” Singh said, adding that fi lm and OTT will co-exist and will result in a larger pool of writers, directors, actors and technical talent.

However, Sarkar said OTT platforms, which are bringing international content closer to Indians, will continue to consume more and more audience time.

“I will not be surprised if in a medium to long term, fi lms are made straight for digital. Who would have thought Mowgli launching on Netfl ix a few years back?” – IANS

Richa Chadha-starrer Cabaret to premiere next month

Actress Richa Chadha’s delayed fi lm Cabaret will fi nally premiere on January 9 next year on a digital platform.

“The movie (Cabaret) celebrates dance and love in the most unique way possible,” Pooja Bhatt, producer, Cabaret, said in a statement.

“We are thrilled about premiering it on a digital platform, ZEE5, and are sure that their phenomenal reach will take Cabaret to a much larger audience who are seeking cutting edge content on the go,” she said.

Directed by Kaustav Narayan Niyogi, Cabaret is a musical, unique love story and thriller starring Richa, Gulshan Devaiah, S. Sreesanth and Gulshan Grover, among others.

Richa said Cabaret has been one of her most challenging roles to date.

She had earlier said that Cabaret is her “fi rst typical commercial outing and I did it for the love of song and dance and as an experiment”.

The fi lm features songs by veteran singer Usha Uthup, as well as Sunidhi Chauhan and Neeti Mohan.

Manish Aggarwal, Business Head, ZEE5 India, said: ‘Cabaret is an exceptional love story with an equal mix of thrill. It is the type of content that our audiences across India and the world will appreciate and watch.” – IANS

WAVE OF CHANGE: Content is king, not the Khans in 2018 Bollywood.

BUSY: Katrina Kaif had to opt out of the project owing to her hectic schedule.

Monday, December 31, 2018 15GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYHOLLYWOOD

Usher fi les for divorce from Grace Miguel

Singer-songwriter Usher has fi led for divorce from wife Grace Miguel after three years of marriage.

In a court document obtained by people.com, the singer, 40, fi led for divorce on Friday in Georgia. His fi ling comes nine months after they announced their separation in March.

The pair previously confi rmed the break-up with a joint statement.

“After much thought and consideration, we have mutually decided to separate as a couple. We remain deeply connected, loving friends who will continue supporting each other through the next phases of our lives,” the statement read.

“The enormous amount of love and respect that we have for each other will only increase as we move forward.”

They were last photographed together in late June during a dinner outing in Los Angeles. – IANS

Oscar-winning composer Norman Gimbel no more

Oscar and Grammy-winning composer Norman Gimbel has died. He was 91.

Gimbel, an Oscar and Grammy-winning composer whose lyrics graced hit songs such as Roberta Flack’s Killing me softly with his song and Jim Croce’s I got a name, passed away on December 19 at his longtime home in Montecito, reports variety.com.

His death was confi rmed by BMI, which paid tribute on its website, noting: “BMI was greatly saddened to learn of the passing of renowned songwriter Norman Gimbel, a truly prolifi c and gifted writer who will be greatly missed by his many friends and fans here.”

The Brooklyn native wrote the words to both The girl from Ipanema and the Happy days theme, earning an Academy Award with David Shire for Jennifer Warnes’ It goes like it goes, the Best Original Song winner for 1979’s Norma rae.

Gimbel is survived by his sons Tony and Peter and daughters Nelly and Hannah. – IANS

By Lorraine Ali

The fl at screen on your living room wall, the cable box below it and the digital program guide that help you fi nd your way through an increasingly congested universe of

shopping networks, reality show repeats and the eight channels you actually watch might as well have been inhabitants of a dying star in 2018.

Television, already bursting at the seams with peak programming and lots of fi ller, fi nally blew apart this year, fragmenting into a dizzying constellation of nearly 500 new original series and destinations we’ve yet to explore (the forthcoming launch of subscription streaming services from Apple, Warner Media, Disney and, yes, Costco and Walmart), plus a whole lot of space debris that includes Terrence Howard’s Fright Club, a Fox Nation cooking show and 98 percent of the off erings on YouTube TV.

A record 495 original scripted series dropped this year, and for the fi rst time, streaming platforms such as Hulu and Amazon Prime delivered more original series programming than broadcast and cable networks.

Forget arguments about when and how peak TV will peak. Judging from the last 12 months, it doesn’t appear we’re anywhere close to the summit. More interesting is what’s been happening below those lofty heights. After a decade or more of seismic shifts across the industry, 2018 became the year that television broke TV. The very structure of the medium morphed and changed so rapidly over the last year that we still haven’t wrapped our heads — or attention spans — around exactly what it is we’re watching.

Was the YouTube live stream of Beyonce’s performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival a TV event or something else? And, what about the wonderfully bizarre formatting of Atlanta’s second season? It was shown on FX, but the series’ self-contained episodes resembled nothing else on TV.

Cord cutters and moreThe fragmentation of America’s most

popular medium seemed to fi t the popular mood — excitement and confusion as the usual order lapsed into unprecedented chaos. A record number of viewers became cord cutters in 2018. From July to September, 1.1 million subscribers opted to sever ties with their longtime cable and satellite TV providers for the cheaper subscription models off ered by Netfl ix, Apple TV, Sling TV and many more. It was one more way in which viewing habits and industry norms were up-ended in such a dramatic fashion that it made the premium cable revolution of the early 2000s look quaint.

The fl ood of fresh content and platforms in 2018 didn’t necessarily equal a drop in quality, though it arrived with the usual complaints that this year could never top the one before it: Killing Eve is no match for The Handmaid’s Tale’s fi rst season. There were so many must-see shows that it was physically impossible to watch them all and live a life outside the confi nes of pajamas, unless you possessed

the combined powers and stamina of Jessica Jones, Daenerys Targaryen and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

And when it came time to honour TV’s top-shelf entertainment at the Emmy Awards, the usual recipients faced some fi rsts of their own. It was Netfl ix, not NBC or FX, that tied HBO for the most wins, ending a winning streak for the cable network that dated back nearly two decades to the golden age of The Sopranos.

The year ahead2019 is already shaping up to be a battle

between media giants for control of wherever it is that we’re heading. Apple will compete with Netfl ix by spending way more than it should on originals by big-name producers such as J.J. Abrams and top-tier stars like Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston. Netfl ix has a plan of its own and it involves pricey production deals with Ryan Murphy, Shonda Rhimes and the former leading couple of the free world, Michelle and Barack Obama.

CBS All Access, which already has half a dozen original series, including The Good Fight and Star Trek: Discovery on the streaming platform, is going big in 2019 with a Twilight Zone reboot executive produced by Oscar winner Jordan Peele, who will also narrate and host. A big budget, live-action Star Wars series starring Diego Luna is expected to launch Disney+ into the stratosphere.

And we haven’t even began sorting through what’s on the books for the networks and services we’re already watching. Expect lots of reality show reboots, the return of water cooler shows like Game of Thrones and Stranger Things and the pros-pect of never feeling caught up with what TV has to off er.

At least 2018 did away with any residual guilt that may have existed about watching

too much television. It was replaced by a solider-like duty to consume as many premium shows as possible or risk being called out by one’s peers: Have you watched The Little Drummer Girl yet? How about Succession? Not even The Great British Baking Show?! Oh, the shame of taking time out for career, family, grooming and sleep. We’ll have to work on that in 2019.

We have an excuse, though. Half of the year was spent trying to fi nd all those weird little networks and services — Ovation, Britbox, Acorn — and the search required at least three remotes and three failed password-recovery attempts. Sorry, you’ve been locked out.

Network telecasts still boast the highest ratings, according to Nielsen, and football was at the top of 2018’s most-watched list, followed by the short-lived Roseanne reboot. But that’s likely the next convention to be broken by the great fragmentation, especially given that this was the year that an estimated 147.5 million people in the US watched Netfl ix at least once a month, followed by Amazon Prime Video (88.7 million), Hulu (55 million) and HBO Now (17.1 million).

Netfl ix hopes to kill off that old ratings standard by introducing more and more original series and fi lms, an approach that Saturday Night Live recently satirised in a fake ad for the streaming service. The breathless “commercial” promised a new year with even more content to choose from.

“That’s right, we’re spending billions of dollars and making every show in the world. Our goal is the endless scroll. By the time you reach the bottom of our menu, there’s new shows at the top. And then singularity will be achieved.”

A joke that makes perfect sense in the fragmented universe of post-everything TV.

– Los Angeles Times/TNS

RESPECT: Usher says the love and respect between the two will remain.

NEW TREND: Streaming platforms delivered more original series programming than broadcast and cable networks in 2018.

VETERAN Norman Gimbel.

Was this the year that TV broke TV?


COMMUNITY

Revisiting ’90s with Kumar Sanu

By Mudassir Raja

Kumar Sanu, Bollywood melody king and playback singer, in a recent concert at Qatar National Convention

Centre (QNCC) captivated a big gathering, mainly Indian expatriates, with his melodious voice and a gripping conversation.

Kedarnath Bhattacharya, better known as Kumar Sanu entertained the audience with his evergreen soundtracks of the 1990s. During his performance, people of all ages kept dancing on the euphonious lyrics of their choice. The concert started at 7:30pm and continued till 11:00pm with a break of 15 minutes in between.

The concert was attended by Indian ambassador P Kumaran and prominent community fi gures.

Sanu had a strong stage presence. Well, strong enough to keep the audience dancing and waving their hands in the air for constant three hours.

He not only sang the most cherished songs for the audience but also grabbed their attention with witty comments. Sanu took the stage for a number of our favourites, including Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha, Sochenge Tumhe Payar, Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Pagal Hey, and Dheere Dheere Se Meri.

“This is my second time in Doha and I love to be in Qatar. I have performed in UAE but I fi nd

the audience in Doha much more loving and appreciative towards my music and soundtracks. I have sung about 20, 000 songs. If you will ask me, I will certainly sing all for you here,” the singer said as people kept shouting ‘once more!’ after every performance.

“Wherever I go, I see people loving romantic songs from the ’90s era and after all these years it makes me believe that only worthy music can last this long and forever. I am happy to see the younger generation also enjoying the melody and poetry

of the songs and can relate to it, even today.”

The ambassador presented a bouquet to the 61-year-old singer. Kumaran said, “We all are privileged to have Sanu amongst us in Doha today. We all have grown up listening to his songs during 1980s’, ’90s and beyond. It is wonderful to listen to him live today. I want to thank the organisers for their eff orts in making this possible. We need a brilliant start to India-Qatar Year of Culture 2019. We look forward to many more wonderful performances

in the coming months. We have been trying to fi nalise the list of activities with Qatar Museum and Katara for 2019 and I request to all of you to be patient and wait until we release the fi nal list of the upcoming events.”

Talking to Community, Subramanya Hebbagelu, former Vice President of Karnataka Sangha Qatar (KSQ), a community organisation affi liated with the Indian Cultural Centre, said, “It was a wonderful musical night for the Indian expatriates. There were families and children, all dancing

and enjoying to the most. Though the songs are from ’90s era, the community enjoyed listening to the evergreen soundtracks live by the singer himself. I am very happy to have had revisited the ’90s with this concert. I believe many people had a kind of nostalgia while listening to Sanu again. The auditorium was fantastic. The seats were really comfortable and the ambience was amazing.”

Sanu has won numerous fi lm awards and other recognition for his illustrious career as a singer. He was awarded the Filmfare Best Male Playback Singer Award for fi ve consecutive years. In 2009, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, in recognition of his achievements. Sanu notably holds the Guinness World Record for most songs recorded by a singer in 24 hours with 28 songs.

The concert was a part of the ongoing Shop Qatar Festival’s third edition. Organised by Qatar National Tourism Council, the festival’s other activities off er special off ers for the bargain-hunter, the style-savvy and the fashion-forward. Shop Qatar, the country’s only nation-wide shopping festival, brings a host of new features for the residents and the visitors to enjoy until January 20.

Besides off ering discounts and promotions, the festival’s 14 retail partners will also host exclusive entertainment and roaming mall shows for families and children.

ON SONG: Bollywood singer Kumar Sanu during the performance at the QNCC. Photos Supplied

APPRECIATION: Indian ambassador P Kumaran praising the veteran singer.

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