Walking a thin plank and imitating a feline, a cat lover falls into a pond. A wannabe stuntman, trying to show off with a bicycle wheelie, kisses the asphalt. These are just a few of the 1,000-odd faceplant videos that the Science Of Stupid team have lined up for its second season, which premieres this Monday. Rated one of the top 10 shows in urban India, it doesn’t just stop with telecasting the videos, but also analyses them and offers a scientific breakdown by crunching centrifugal force, gravity and velocity figures with the aid of animation and slow-motion photography — all in a light-hearted manner by television star and host, Manish Paul.
Wrong foot
“Imagine a time when you were unwinding with your group of friends and one of them slipped and fell. I am sure everyone burst out laughing and then rushed to help. The show follows the same format,” begins Manish Paul, speaking from the sets of his upcoming movie Baa Baa Black Sheep. There are videos of, hovercraft, trampoline and parkour fails and even house pets and wildlife fails. “This season, I am on a double role. I am also playing my alter-ego, Q, an inquisitive science buff who keeps probing the various possibilities of the mishap videos, while also picking fights with me,” adds the actor, who is familiar with the original American show, Science of Stupid, hosted by Richard Hammond, but maintained his comic style for the Indian version.
Last take
The 19-part series also features a stream of adventure sports—like kite flying, kayaking and riding segways—with inputs on why people run into trouble while trying their hands at it for the first time. “Fun apart, Science Of Stupid advises people to be smart and gives them tips on how to avoid danger while on their escapades. With a little common sense and the knowledge we share on, viewers can enjoy responsibly,” adds Paul, signing off.
Monday-Friday, 9 pm on National Geographic Channel