Search - The Kumars at No. 42 on DVD

The best of the British comedies

M. L. Bergman | Alexandria, Virginia USA | 10/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I came upon the Kumars totally by accident, and now I'm an addict. Part chat show, part comedy improv, it is uproarious, especially when the guests "play along". The format is simple. A talk show hosted by a vain, somewhat self-indulgent British-Indian guy and his stereotype of a family: The over-nurturing mom (she always prepares food for the guests), the money obsessed dad, and the horny grandmother. There's a studio audience that the "Kumars" play off of. The guests are real celebrities- Donny Osmond, Tom Jones, Helena Bonham Carter- but the interviews are controlled by the members of "The Kumar Family" with riotous results. American improv comedians could learn well from these actors who you might have seen on other BBC comedies. It is silly, irreverent, and incredibly clever. I can rarely make it through an episode without having to replay a section because I was laughing so hard that I missed something. Unlike other BBC comedies, this one does not rely on sight gags and outrageous plotlines to get laughs. It is the interaction of the ensemble with the guests that keeps it fresh and funny."

Kumars are a riot

K. Jones-Silber | Brooklyn, NY USA | 12/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stumbled upon this wonderful BBC program and quickly fell in love with the family. Sanjeev, Mom, Dad and Gran are fantastic at heaping parental support and insults at one another, while "supposedly" living the asian stereotyical dream in London, this is very funny stuff. Check it out."

Another POV

Dr. Bombay | Houston, TX USA | 06/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have a bone to pick w/ the one star review here. This show is one of the funniest shows from the BBC stables. Letterman and his staff writers would be lucky to come up w/ something remotely this funny on the subject.

Oh, and I am an Indian."

Meet the Kumars, they are a hoot a minute

Kali | United Kingdom | 04/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You will laugh and you will cringe when you watch this. The Kumars at No 42 is one of the best talk show out, refreshingly different, and based on an Asian family giving their spoilt son his own TV studio in his back garden, we are treated to a laugh a minute as celebrities line up to be interviewed by the family, including a mother who wants to feed everyone, a father who wants to know why "everyone isn't a Doctor or a Lawyer" and a rude, but hysterically funny Grandmother played by the sublime Meera Syal who could get a laugh out of an audience of cardboard cut outs.

Very British but also very Indian, this talk show is great fun, and there is never a dull moment in the mad cap Kumar household, especially when Sanjeev, who is the talk show host tries to bring some culture and refinement to the table only to be thwarted by his well meaning but totally inappropriate family.

Well worth watching if you like British comedies with a ethnic slant."