Interview | Son Of Abish is Back With Season 3!

Earlier this year, popular comedian Abish Mathew took his talk-show, Son of Abish, to another level with a proper set ("we now have a backdrop!") and a steady roster of top guests including Tanmay Bhat, Vishal Dadlani, Badshaah, Kanan Gill, Biswa Kalyan Rath, Tapsee Panuu, Zakir Khan, Varun Thakur, Shibani Dandekar, Mallika Dua, Kenny Sebastian and Radhika Apte (phew!). With each show clocking over a million views on both Facebook and YouTube, and spawning off several memes like #SastaFallon and the much-loved Parle G girl, it's clear the show was super-popular.

Season 3 kicks off on 14 October, with episodes out every week, 8 in all.

And now comes the good news: Season 3 kicks off on YouTube on 14 October! There will be 8 episodes in all - released every week. Insider caught up with the man himself for an interview, after the live recording of the first 2 shows of the season: Episode 1 (Rohan Joshi & Ashish Shakya of AIB) and Episode 2 (actors Vidya Balan and Dulquer Salmaan).

Congratulations on Season 3, Abish! Cutting to the chase - what's different this time?

Thanks! I'm more in control of things this time. I'm not keeping a time constraint of so-and-so minutes. It's more organic, so you'll see a lot of bloopers this time (last time we re-shot them). We'll definitely be doing more news, so look forward to longer monologues - 8 minutes types! In future episodes, you'll see two guests from two different worlds coming together (Vidya Balan and Dulquer Salmaan, for instance).

Season 2 was when SOA really went from just being an idea into a fully-blown production, right?

Oh, yes! We had a proper set and format... We even had a logo! Season 1 was received well and I was confident the show could do well, and Season 2 was formalizing that confidence. And during the season was when I really thought - this could become something! More confidence made me more nervous, of course!

More confidence made me more nervous! - Abish

Because now, I needed to commit. To time, length, format, audience... And even feedback. For instance, 'Sasta Fallon' was something I casually mentioned in one of the episodes and the feedback for that was massive, so I just took it forward from there.

Best moments from Season 2?

The pre-wedding video (watch below!). For so many reasons. When my writers came up with the script, I didn't think it would work, but they pushed back. The shoot and editing was very relaxed. When the editor was fixing it, I had several points of feedback but he had his own opinions too. I still didn't think it would work. Then we did a test screening at the OML (who manages Abish) Office, and people loved it! I learnt a lot of things because of that:

• Trust the people you're working with - there's a reason you hired them.
  
• I may not have the best detail, but I have a good overview - use that.
  
• If you have an opinion, strongly stand by it if you have logic.
  

The talk-show format is still nascent in India. Is there room for more?

Absolutely. Personally, I think the more talk shows there are, the better mine will become! I would love to see SOA go international and not just restricted to India, I'd love to see people from USA, UAE, Namibia even - connect with the content.

Who in your mind would make an excellent talk show host?

Tanmay Bhat! He's sharp, funny, a hustler and popular. Kanan Gill would make a good host. I would love to see Biswa as well - an anti-talk show kind of show, like Eric Andre. That would be hilarious. But in my mind, the best potential host for a talk show in India would be Kaneez Surka. She's super organic with her content and given her improv skills, she'd be terrific.

In my mind, the best potential host for a talk show in India would be Kaneez Surka. - Abish Mathew

Awesome - thanks so much, Abish, and all the best for Season 3!

Photography by Shreshtha Gopalkrishnan