Now trending: When Arnab Goswami referred to Sunny Deol as Sunny Leone

Who: On a tense, sunny afternoon on May the 23rd, Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami sat down at a long table with a row of panelists, just like Jesus did in Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper (no Mary, just men). The entertainment value Goswami brought to the table was undeniably powerful. The 12 apostles were replaced by 17 men, who spoke with a thunder known not to men but gods. Our main man drew more energy from their anger and communicated the election results like gospel and his analysis like sermons — just what his psephologist ordered. Politicians were being revered and politicians were being ridiculed. Louder and louder it got with every number that flowed into Goswami’s newsroom. It was all going well for the showman. The vitriolic cacophony was keeping thousands of his loyal viewers charged up (and his critics amused). But then, Sunny Leone won from Gurdaspur. Wait, what did you just say?

What: “Sunny Deol, Sunny Deol, Sunny Deol,” the man unapologetically repeated himself a few times after saying Sunny Leone instead. This actor, and not that actor, was fighting on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket from Punjab. And Goswami had made a gaffe in almost child-like fervour. Well, Sunny Leone and Sunny Deol are similar sounding names, unless one learns to pronounce Leone correctly. Cut the man some slack, will you? Anybody could have made that mistake. He just speaks his mind more often than most. 

“We understand,” Manforce weighed in on the debate, a brand that Leone endorses, “she is always on our mind as well.” The trolling forum was officially open for memes and analogies that could make this sunny day funnier.

How: At least one Sunny was amused. The leading lady of many Bollywood films trended on Twitter on a day that turned out to be a one-man show. “Leading by how many votes?” was her response. The nation really wanted to know, but Goswami kept his head buried into more pressing issues. The overcompensation came in the way of a new found animation. For the ones who were consumed by the funny, (sorry, I mean Sunny) debate online, here’s what happened next in Goswami’s intense and fiery newsroom. 

Forget Sunny, nothing gets this man going like the debate on EVMs. And dare you question the unquestionable (or unhackable) integrity of the Election Commission. One gentleman from the Opposition party happened to raise that unforgivable question, and Goswami could not be contained.

Where: TV host José Cavaco posted a video to show what happens to studio cameramen when Goswami gets angry. “…kya isiliye election farzi hai?” Goswami sprung out of his chair suffixing this phrase to every dig he took at Opposition leaders. He walked to the centre of the studio floor and did a merry-go-round — staring at the camera and repeating himself ad nauseam — and the cameraman, as Cavaco demonstrated, would have gone into a tizzy. What a spectacle! Even CNN News18’s virtual quadcopters can’t compete with this man.

May the 23rd was a tense, sunny day, indeed. It was a one-man show, both on and off the screen. Perhaps the best meme that summed up the Goswami episode came in the words of Pepper Potts. She says to Iron Man after he defeats Thanos and is about to pass on (not die, it’s a multi-universe thing) in Avengers Endgame. “We will be fine, you can rest now.” Comedy shows are passé and the new season of Bigg Boss is still far away. For prime time’s sake, I hope he doesn’t.