The year belonged to the plain Jane who overshadowed the diva. It also belonged to a slew of programming innovations that sank without a trace, unable to face up to the stiff competition offered by the family drama opiates on primetime. A few experiments clicked, only to be followed by cheap imitations, which naturally, flopped.

Regional television continued to churn out quality software, but on the national horizon, weepy soap sagas continued to hold their own, although viewer fatigue is gradually seeping in.

Not many touched the reality genre, scorched by the aftereffects of the Madhuri Dixit anchored 2002 bloomer Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai. Shows for children did surface sporadically, but none left a mark. No satire, no subtle comedy, no science fiction.

Some thrillers which did reasonably well, but were nothing to write home about.
And an adaptation called Jassi, which may just turn the tide for programming in the coming year.

Sigh, nothing, nothing really that you would have pined for had you missed an episode.

THE TOP DOGS
Jassi belongs to the top of the heap and generated the most media noise. But the surprise package prize should go to Star Plus' Kaahin To Hogaa, another Balaji late night soap with more doe eyed damsels and one hunk who was immediately noticed for his looks. Kaahin... looks like turning out to be the real "lambi race ka ghoda" and was a surprise winner although cast in the 11 pm slot.

As for an ambitious launch Saara Akash has just about managed to stay within the top 20 in the ratings game. Thanks probably to Star Plus loyal viewership.

Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and Kkusum were both forced to take 20 odd year leaps to fight viewer ennui and generate some interest. Not that Kahaani needed it desperately, it still stayed within the Top 10.

One show from the regional channels, Alpha Marathi deserves mention here. Ghadlay Bighadlay, a daily spoof on topical, particularly political issues, was fetching good TRPs in the range of 1.0 in the first week of launch in December. But what really got it the eyeballs was the episode on 22 August which resulted in the Zee offices being attacked by Chhagan Bhujbal's supporters and later to the deputy Maharashtra chief minister's resignation. One of the few programmes that could shake viewers out of their lethargy.

Extraaa Innings, Max's masterstroke got even those completely disinterested in cricket to log on to Mandira's chatter and discuss her clothes.

ChausathPanne was a programming experiment that did not do badly. The first series, Dil Na Jaane Kyon, did fairly well and the second Manshaa did so well that the channel has been tempted to convert it into a daily. Inspired, Zee is trying different tracks like the mini series Kabhie Kabhie too. Initial reports, not bad.

Kya Haadsa Kya Haqeeqat, strictly speaking, a 2002 entry, but blossomed in 2003 when the story was tweaked with a supernatural angle to it. It bolstered Sony's weekend programming quite a bit and reinstated faith in Balaji, which had delivered duds like Kahaani Terri Merri and the revamped Kutumb.

THE DUDS
Karishma - The Miracles of Destiny, which promised the biggest blockbuster on television this year, but put everyone to sleep in the first episode itself. Nobody missed the second episode when the court granted Barbara Bradford a stay on the serial. When it started again, even the re-painted trains and outsized hoardings could pull in the viewers.

Kahaani Terri Merri, which Sony too went to town claiming it had the 'biggest programming event of the year', had nothing to show for itself apart from lavish sets, a pronounced Bengali accent and overdone actors. The show that had replaced Kutumb in January collapsed, and Sony stuck to its policy of pulling out duds rather than revamp them a la Star Plus.

Naam Gum Jayega replaced KTM yet suffered the same fate. A story of two girls belonging to differing religions who get interchanged at birth, the show had good acting, a good storyline. But when, fearing public outcry against the political stances taken by some characters, the channel changed tracks to become a me-too romance, viewers tuned off. No one noticed when NGJ was brought to an abrupt end.

Kashmeer, another New Year offering, had political shades that probably got those in power slightly hot under the collar. Big names like Farouque Sheikh roped in were unceremoniously dumped when the show was pulled off air after 17 episodes. Star Plus then maintained it had never planned to pull the weekly show for too long anyway.

Pyar Zindagi Hai, Zee thought it had an ace with this one, with Rakhi (Sweety of Hum Paanch) Tandon producing and acting in this comedy show that commenced airing in March. Now, no one call really recall even one episode. Or for that matter, recall when it wound up.

Force 1, another of Sony's brave experiments, except that the timing collided with the World Cup. The story of a highly evolved commando unit that reports directly to the prime minister's office and deals with issues of national importance and security like battling international assassins and protecting the nation's leaders would have held viewer interest, particularly as it also had Mandira Bedi in its ranks. But the mini series bombed, and Sony did not bother to revive the slot.

Kambakht Ishq was Zee's equivalent of Force 1. This was a month end slot for a telefilm in the thriller genre. Zee carried on the effort gamely for two or three months, then gave up and went back to usual weekend programming. No one missed it.

Aktion Unlimited... Josh was a cop-robber 13-epsiode action routine - "the biggest and the boldest show" as a press release from Star said, Rs 1.5 million was paid per episode (there was even talk that it was as high as Rs 4 million per episode). But viewers did not really take to muscle flexing Salil Ankola and company. That the storyline was ho hummight have had a role to play in this. The channel may not admit it, but the failure of Josh was a blow to the Star Plus ego.

So was Vishwas, a social thriller from Zee stable in the afternoon slot, which didn't catch much attention.

THEY NEVER HAPPENED
*Grooves, Sahara's a song and dance talent search
*Humari Bahu starring ace film actor Sridevi. This one's coming as Shara's big show for 2004 though.
*Kanhaiya, Zee's family show is still stuck in legal troubles
*Raja Mukerji's Pratima for Sahara

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