It’s the reign of television and television channels. As news becomes more insipid and emotions over-done on Star News, Star One offers some hope, in the form of innovative stand-up comedy shows like “The Great Indian Laughter challenge” and “The Great Indian Comedy Show”, which is styled along the lines of American “Saturday Night Live”. Sajid Khan offers his own brand of comedy on the quiz show “Super Sale”. The guy is funny. And while I’m glad that Indians finally have a glimmer of a sense of humor on TV, it’s a little troubling to note that this is coupled with sexist/chauvinistic attitudes.

Take for example “The Great Indian laughter Challenge” which has as it’s judges Shekhar Suman, and the odious Navjot Singh Sidhu, and as it’s hostess the beautiful Parizad Kohla. Now this is a comedy show targeted at a family audience, aired at prime-time. While Ms. Kohla is indeed beautiful, would it be too much too ask that Suman and Sidhu keep their wolf-whistles to themselves ? On one show that I watched, Suman and Sidhu called her a “pataka”, “phuljari”, “sonyo”, “malai de golyo”, and went on ad nauseum about how she stirred their senses. These are (in case you didn’t get it) Hindi and Punjabi adjectives which border on the offensive/sleazy and should not preferably be inflicted on show-hostesses. I’m not sure Ms. Kohla appreciates being subject to this kind of adulation on camera, although she keeps the smile firmly plastered on her face.

It is a problem that 2 grown men, with wives and kids no less, can behave like little boys eyeing candy, and apparently not offend any sensibilities. Is it OK now, to make salacious comments at women ? When exactly will we get offended ? When such shows air on TV and are watched by the millions that do see these programs, what kind of an image of “culture” do they project ? Suman and Sidhu are apparently unaware that this is sexual harassment and should Ms. Kohla call them on it, she would have sufficient proof.

Some guys I talked to about this, advised me to cool it, after all it is a joke, they aren’t doing it in seriousness. Apparently we all should cool it, until the specter of our sisters/wives becoming show hostesses and being subject to such treatment, emerges.

On another note, take “Super Sale” which recently changed it’s hostess from Neeti Mohan, to a more statuesque Ms. Tur (don’t know her first name). I would term this show also a “family” show, where the nicley-dressed but oomph lacking Ms. Mohan fit nicely. Ms. Tur on the other hand, while full of repartees for Khan’s comments, comes dressed more often than not in mini-skirts and mid-thigh concoctions. Khan often makes comments on her “hotness”, although couching it in comic terms. How this makes sense on a quiz show who’s contestants come from the middle class, and often comprise women, I’m not sure – but apparently sex sells. If this is to appease the male section of the audience, where is the female audience appeaser ? Should we campaign to replace Khan with a more visually appealing version ?