News Broadcasting
Silhouette Productions plans shocking new reality show
LOS ANGELES: This is the kind of thing that would give newly appointed censor chief Anupam Kher many a sleepless night! A new reality TV show asks the question: “Can You Be a Pornstar?” Mary Carey, the porn actress who ran for California governor in the recent recall election, is among the hosts, joining fellow adult-film stars Tabitha Stevens and Ginger Lynn.
Silhouette Productions issued a statement announcing plans on 3 November to shoot seven one-hour shows, with plans to start broadcasting on iN DEMAND Networks and other pay-per-view channels on 8 January 2004.
A group of 28 women will compete for a one-year contract with a major adult video distributor and a cash prize of $100,000. “It’s going to be an R-rated version for pay-per-view,” Silhouette Productions CEO Harry Feingold said. “Obviously, there will be outtakes that will be hardcore,” These will likely turn up on the DVD release. “It’s like Paradise Hotel, when they go behind the scenes. Everybody wants to know what’s going on. Well, here you see it,” he said. Paradise Hotel refers to the Fox’s reality series about young people trying to seduce each other.
In each episode, four women arrive at a house in Los Angeles for photo shoots, interviews and “surprises,” according to Silhouette. Viewers will help pick eight finalists for a 90-minute finale.
The statement has promised “uninhibited nudity and sizzling sexuality,” while the show’s official Web site said it would feature “Real people having real sex!” “Pay-per-view gives us the freedom to take reality television where it has never gone before,” Feingold said. “The last stigma today for audiences isn’t renting adult films, it’s admitting it, and this series offers viewers a fun, behind-the-scenes look at the star-making process in a multi-billion dollar industry.”
He added that the show is designed “not just for men, but for wives and girlfriends who enjoy both reality TV and adult entertainment.”
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
