News Broadcasting
Reality TV takes animation route in US
MUMBAI: After music and sports-based themes, the reality genre is poised for broadening its horizons in the US but through animation. Viacom’s Comedy Central has announce a new show Drawn Together.
The show kicks off in October. It tells the true story of eight characters, picked to live together in a house to find out what happens when people stop being real and start getting animated.
On the show cartoon characters from various genres of animation are brought together to live under one roof. The characters leave their animated “reality” and enter a new world where their cartoon universes collide with a bang. The show will combine different styles of animation and different personalities all of which have been Drawn Together.
The series has been drawn traditionally and in 2-D digital ink and paint animation. The eight stars/ housemates represent iconic archetypes from the world of animation. They include Captain Hero a not-so-moral do-gooder reminiscent of the Saturday Morning US TV super heroes of the 1970s. Then you have Clara, a 20-year-old sweet and naive fairy-tale princess.
A character that sounds interesting is Spanky Ham a foul-mouthed Internet download pig. Giving an Asian spin to the scenario is Ling-Ling an Asian trading card mini-monster.
The characters, all with different lifestyles and personalities, create alliances with some of their housemates. However, quite often the fighting and backstabbing take center-stage. This skewers the world of animation, and also parodies many cliches prevalent on reality television.
Also, whenever the moment calls for a musical number, the characters are prone to break into song. The songs too are spoofs from various genres of animation (the emotional love song ballad, the girl-group rock band, group sing-a-long), but with original lyrics.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
