In each case, the ‘doctor’ was selling a product that had no medical properties (is that better or worse?). Nor did their endorsement of the product enhance the toothpaste, nappy or oil’s charms besides being wrong and completely unethical.

Why doesn’t the minister of information and broadcasting, who seems to have developed a taste for banning distasteful TV content, strike these off our screens? And perhaps the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) may like to show its displeasure at this abuse and misuse, never mind misrepresentation of the medical profession?

While we are in the mood for ads, let’s hear it for Scooty, which is doing more for female empowerment than Shilpa Shetty. A young woman drives a two-wheeler with expert ease; not only that, she drives it to work. Cheers to professional women, yippee for women who can drive (and not just vehicles!)

On the bizarre side is the “khushboo wallah Dollar” where people scent out a man’s underwear by its aroma — due to a free Cinthol soap with the purchase of each Dollar. And what of Cozi Red Hot? Here, a woman boggles and goggles at a man where he wears a crimson underpant.

Thank God for sobersides. In Karamchand (Sony) Pankaj Kapur reprises his memorable portrayal of an eccentric private detective who swears by the carrot and stick treatment — carrots for him and sticks for criminals. He’s charming, if ever so old fashioned and something of a relief from the weeping willows who precede and follow him onto the screen. The new Kitty scores A for attempting to be like the old Kitty (Sushmita Mukherjee) and an A-minus for falling short. Antakshari Challenge (Star One) has made a reappearance, too, but with all due respect to Annu Kapoor, it’s time he made room for someone else — someone who doesn’t have to do what he did to his hair. And can Juhi Parmar, his new co-host, sing or is she there for her clothes?