Star-studded shows, comedy acts ring in new year on TV

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New Delhi, Dec 26 (UNI) A host of star-studded 'year-end' shows, rib-tickling acts by the 'masters of comedy', popular children's shows and films as well as programmes providing overview of the events and happenings in 2006 will usher in the new year on television.

Ringing in the new year on various general entertainment channels will be a host of star-studded shows, rib-tickling acts by 'masters of comedy' like Raju Srivastava as well as the telecast of latest Bollywood blockbusters. Star Plus will, on December 31, air the live telecast of new year eve celebrations by Nokia at Mumbai which will have Bollywood actors Priyanka Chopra, Koena Mitra and Shahid Kapoor perform alongside Music maestro A R Rahman and Grammy award winner Nelly Furtado.

Earlier in the day, the channel will also air a special episode of 'Laughter Champions Special' at 1800 hrs. The new year Special, titled 'Hansta Rahe Naya Saal', will have performances by the best on the show-from Raju Srivastav, Naveen Prabhakar, Sunil Pal, to Rauf Lala, Khayali.

In the run-up to the new year, Sony Entertainment television will also telecast a 'new year Eve' special called 'Jhoom Ke Aaja'. The programme will have performances by a host of Bollywood stars like the sexy Bipasha Basu, the charming Priyanka Chopra, brilliant dancer Prabhu Deva, the actor with an excellent comic timing Riteish Deshmukh and Esha Deol.

Ushering in the new year on kids channels Cartoon Network and Pogo will be a series of films and children shows. The two kids' channels who plan to add more fun and excitement to the festive season with a unique line up of movies and shows with 'We wish you a Jerry Christmas', 'The Powerpuff Girls: T'was the fight before Christmas, Home Alone, Casper, Big Fat Liar and much more.

To ring in the spirit of Chrismas, Pogo has lined up a series of shows and movies for children for the entire day today - 0900 hrs to 1930 hrs - including 'Thomas The Tank Engine and Friends X Mas Special', 'Happy Elf', 'Pingu's Christmas Special'. Also scheduled for telecast during the day is the popular children's films 'Home Alone', 'Big Fat Liar' and 'Casper'.

Encapsulating the main events of 2006 will be a series of special year end shows being aired on various news channels in the run up to the new year. On the eve of the new year, the news channel IBN 7 will air a series of special shows capturing the most defining moments of 2006 from the world of politics, cricket, entertainment and business.

While 'Cricket 365', on December 30, will be an opportunity for the 'cricket-crazy' among Indians to look back and reminisce on the year's highs and lows in the world of cricket, 'Top events show', the same day, will feature the biggest news events of the year as judged by the viewers. People will be able to rank the top 10 news stories via SMS and ibnlive.com from an option of 20 stories put online and on the air.

'World 365', to be telecast on December 31, will re-live all major happenings from around the World, that occurred over the past year - from the developments in Iraq to the death of Pinochet while 'Sports 365' will take the viewers through a re-cap of stories and events that occurred in the world of sport throughout 2006.