The Alternative Cartoon Network

Now that they've gone and encrypted TNT's Cartoon Network, the escapades of Scooby Doo, Popeye and company, alas, come for a price. We ar...

Now that they8217;ve gone and encrypted TNT8217;s Cartoon Network, the escapades of Scooby Doo, Popeye and company, alas, come for a price. We are therefore truly fortunate to have the Alternative Cartoon Network, now being shown all over India, which can always be depended upon to fill this crucial gap in the nation8217;s entertainment requirements.

The best part of this particular channel is that it is not encrypted, in fact, it can never be encrypted, so you can get to see it in all its rollicking, rib-tickling appeal, absolutely free of cost, 24 hours a day.

I8217;ve watched it long enough to recommend it to all viewers from age five to 95. In terms of its ability to activate the funny bone and stir up a nice belly laugh, I would rate it even higher than the original TNT version. It8217;s specially recommended for harried mothers, looking for a break from their eternally whinging, quarrelsome children. They just have to pop their poppets before this laugh-a-minute show and the rest will take care of itself.

In caseyou are wondering how you can tune into this Alternative Cartoon Network, it8217;s really quite simple. The antics of the country8217;s democratically elected leaders are being enacted right in the public gaze. It8217;s our politicians who give this marvellous channel its infinite variety that custom just cannot stale.

The series that I particularly love to watch is the one sponsored by Karnataka8217;s Janata Dal, featuring former prime minister H.D.Deve Gowda, as Tom the tom cat, and the state8217;s chief minister, J.H. Patel as Jerry, the mouse with nine lives. Tom, we all know, wants to have Jerry for lunch, but never quite manages to lay his hands on him. Right now, this cartoon series is rather delicately poised with Tom having set up an elaborate booby trap for Jerry. As Jerry8217;s ministers resign one by one, how will the old mouse brain strike back? Tune in to the Alternative Cartoon Network to find out.

While Karnataka8217;s Tom and Jerry has its committed fan following, there are many I know who prefer watching ParkashSingh Badal, as Popeye, takes on Gurcharan Singh Tohra, as Bluto, even as both worthies fight for the attentions of the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandak Committee, masquerading as Olive Oyl.

There8217;s a lot of physical violence in this series, so it8217;s generally not recommended for children below 10, as Badal 8212; with extra strength from his favourite dish, sarson da saag 8212; wields his political biceps against Tohra, who, in turn, summons former jathedar Ranjit Singh to do the fighting for him.

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At the moment, Ranjit Singh has outfoxed Popeye by leading the Holla Mohalla procession at Anandpur Sahib. The whole cartoon series, engrossing in its own way, is really a sarson da saga. The moral of the story being that the more sarson da saag you eat, the more politically resilient you get.

Then there is the classic Bugs Bunny series from Bihar, starring Laloo Prasad Yadav as Bugs Bunny, and the BJP/Samata combine as Elmer Fudd. It8217;s been running for such a long time though, that I find it rather predictable. Thereare, however, many in this country who are ecstatic over it and rate it as their favourite cartoon show.

The star of the piece is really the Wabbit8217;, alias Laloo Yadav. No matter what poor old Elmer Fudd does to hunt him down, it just does not work. In the latest episode, there goes Fudd trying to smoke Bugs Bunny and his wife, Rabri Rabbit, out of their cosy warren by declaring President8217;s Rule in Bihar. The very next minute has Bugs, grinning away and insouciantly chewing his carrot or should that be paan?, in Parliament and doing his best to bring the House down.

These, at the moment, are the top favourites on the Alternative Cartoon Network, but there are loads of others too. With Indian politics now seeming more and more like a race between disaster and catastrophe wonder which will win in the end, there8217;s always scope for a great deal of action. But as members of the republic, it is your duty to keep abreast of the Alternative Cartoon Network. This free entertainment is yours by right. Afterall, you voted these cartoons in, didn8217;t you?