Many years ago, parents complained to the BBC because the presenters of Blue Peter used foodstuffs such as cereals and legumes for arts and crafts. This was sheer wastage, they said, when there were so many people going hungry.

Sausages regularly make an appearance in television tropes connected with 'Mystery meat' - and apart from that, they also regularly feature in lists of 'worst foods to eat'.

A few columns ago, I commented about the cupidity and stupidity behind contests such as 'Hold Your Wee for a Wii', in which a woman died of water intoxication after trying to win the equipment for her three children.

These are three seemingly unconnected paragraphs that came together in a game show, some of which I saw parts of last week.

I cannot understand why the notary present in the studio failed to notice that the glasses of water being given to the man (who won anyway) were full, whereas those given to the woman contained much less water.

I am in no way implying that these contestants were not allowed to use the bathroom as and when necessary - my point is that it is rash to make people drink copious amounts of water at one go.

As for the sausage-eating competition; I did not watch it, but again, I wonder whether it is wise to use gluttony as an incentive for winning prizes.

• A person who is unintelligent and not street-smart is referred to by many different, pejorative names by people with an attitude problem. The rest of us just take it for granted that people are different from one another.

What I resent, however, is the fact that the characteristics of simple-minded people are sometimes adopted by personalities taking part in television shows, in order to raise cheap laughs.

This happens in at least two of the current Silly Season variety shows, where the clothes, speech, and behaviour of the person playing the part to the gallery are over-the-top. This is unfair on those who really do have this kind of disability. It takes razor-sharp wit to be a stand-up comic, and therefore, such ruses indicate that a person is too untalented or lazy to bother.

• The marvellous Radju Malta children's programme Cama Cama has a regular guest among many who is called Bu Hagru. He is, of course, a Neanderthal who has somehow found himself in today's Malta, and in between eating his hostess out of house and home, learns about the 21st century.

The cave man character was later picked up by one of the presenters of the E22 children's programmes. This one was rather uncouth - and his only saving grace was his love of reading.

Now we have a third prehistoric person prancing about the studio when he is supposed to be doing serious work. The mind boggles.

I cannot understand, either, why some summer entertainment is presented from a beach, when it is evident that all health and safety rules are being ignored. Over the past few weeks I have seen couples do ballroom dancing, and singers belting out their numbers barefoot, on a concrete platform in the sun.

No wonder the former were perspiring heavily, and the latter were shifting from foot to foot, and definitely not in time to the music.

• People of all ages who have long wanted to be 'in the media' (how I dislike the expression 'on television'), currently have three marvellous opportunities at which to attempt doing so.

Tomorrow, one may pick up an application form for L-Isfida. General guidelines have been issued by Cliché Media and Entertainment, and one may also become a member of the Facebook group to be kept up to date with events.

Actors are to prepare a 60-second monologue on the subject of their choice, but be prepared to ad lib. Singers must go live against a two-minute background track or live piano music; again, they may be asked to give an additional extempore presentation. Dancers will prepare a one-to-two minute solo dance routine to any genre of music; there will then be a group performance.

Applications must be returned by August 29. For further details call 7941 4345 or e-mail sfida@clichemedia.tv.

Zmeraldi is on the lookout for young people to join their ever-expanding team. Young people applying for this gig, the eighth in the series, would ideally be aged between 18 and 25. It is envisaged that the programme will retain its place as the national television youth programme for years to come. For further details call 7949 1816, or 7946 0747, or e-mail cvc@gozotv.com.

F'Salib it-Toroq is the new 26-part drama that follows the lives of four families living in the same street. I have read the synopsis and it looks very good. The series will go on air on TVM in October.

It is written by Frederick Zammit, who has given us Santa Monika, and it will be produced by 26th Frame. Direction is by Charles Stroud, whose team was behind Pupi, Tghanniqa, Kristu ta-Kerrejja, Five-06 and Xhud.

The producers have issued a call for applications from actors and actresses wishing to be a part of this interesting project. Even if you have sent in a CV to this company before, you are being encouraged to update it and re-send it, together with a recent photograph, clearly indicating the name of the new series.

CVs must be sent to 26th Frame, Suite 1, Marku Falzun Street, Birkirkara, BKR 1441. Alternatively, you may use the e-mail address admin@26thframe.com.