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GSN to spoof California governship election
LOS ANGELES: With the upcoming California governor elections having candidates from the terminator Ah-nuld (Arnold Schwarznegger) to a ‘has-been’ singer Mariah Carey, the time is ripe for a satire. Game Show Network has announced that it will air a special on 1 October.
Who Wants To Be The California Governor? The Debating Game will include the first political debate ever produced game show style. The special will chronicle the campaigns of five candidate/contestants whose names will be revealed later.
The special will be taped in front of a live audience in late September and will feature the five candidate/contestants. They will square off in a wide-ranging debate of the issues and non-issues. This will be the first political debate in history with buzz-in answers and bonus questions.
The special will include packages profiling the candidates and their campaigns. It will even have video of GSN correspondents confronting front-runner candidates with questions about the five underdogs. California goes to the polls on 7 October.
GSN’s president and CEO Rich Cronin said: “Politics is the ultimate game and the California recall election is one of the most bizarre contests in American history. While our state has serious problems, our viewers appreciate light-hearted game-related entertainment, and this strange election provides GSN with a rare opportunity to allow some of the candidates to debate in a unique new format.”
GSN claims to be the only US television network dedicated to game programming and interactive game playing. GSN features more than 84 hours per week of interactive original programming and enhanced classics. The network is jointly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Media Corporation.
The show marks GSN’s first effort in covering the game of politics. As part of this strategy, the network is establishing GSN News and will produce GSN News Updates on a regular basis in prime time throughout the election. GSN will interview many of the 158 candidates for the GSN News Updates.
The five office-seekers will vie for a campaign contribution prize of $21,200, the maximum corporate contribution allowed by California law. If the winning candidate/contestant is actually elected governor, Game Show Network has promised not to ask for any political favours in exchange for the money.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
