Back with a bang: Check out the new season of popular talk show 'Son of Abish'

Comedian Abish Mathew

Smart bulbs, democracy, Bollywood films, modern-day schooling, fake news…Abish Mathew has the uncanny ability to make everything chuckle-worthy with jokes that stay with you long after the set is over. For eight seasons of his popular variety talk show Son Of Abish, loyal fans have laughed, "haww-ed", and walked home with more than just gags. This week, the stand-up comedian is back with the ninth season of the show and you can be a part of the live taping.

Mathew is surprised that the show has been around for so long. Expressing gratitude for being able to work with talented individuals and organisations, thanks to Son of Abish, he notes that it's been an enriching journey. "Personally, I keep doing this because this is what my family shows to strangers to tell them that I am doing alright without a traditional job," he admits. His favourite memories? A laugh fit started by actor Vidya Balan's infectious laughter. "We had to cut the camera and reset because I could not sit anymore. This laugh fit spread to the live audience and everyone had to get up, laugh it off and reset for the rest of the show!" he recounts.

The comedian has always thrived on the mood to entertain, make the audience laugh and capture an unscripted vibe on camera. The objective of putting the first season online, he says, was to drive ticket sales, but eventually, it evolved into an online show. "The one driving factor that still remains is the live audience. Even in the two lockdown seasons [seven and eight], we got the audience on Zoom, because without them, the show felt incomplete," he explains.

The show is back to a live venue after three years, and Mathew couldn't be more excited. "We just shot our EP00 [test episode], which is where we stress test production, logistics and most importantly, the experience for the live audience. We realised how much we missed having people attend a live taping. Whatever we post online is nothing compared to the things we do live," he tells us, adding, "So, this season, we'll be figuring a way to best translate that experience on screen for followers who can't make it live."

On: October 20; 7 pm
At: Above The Habitat, Khar West
Log on to: in.bookmyshow.com
Cost: Rs 499