As the most important festival for Chinese people is around the corner, the annual star-studded Spring Festival Gala, produced by China Central Television (CCTV), has been placed in the national spotlight. For three decades, the majority of Chinese families celebrate the Lunar New Year's Eve by watching the annual variety show. Ha Wen, the director of this year's gala, on Sunday said that this year they will only choose "pleasant and attractive" performances. She reiterated that the gala won't allow vulgar acts, and performers with a tainted record or of dubious morality won't be included. 

Her words have unsurprisingly triggered wide discussions. Many netizens questioned whether it was sensible to connect performing in the gala with an entertainer's personal record and joked that the so-called clean celebrities may still have a scandalous past. They also argued over how the vulgarity of an act and the morality of the entertainers should be assessed. 

Some doubted Ha's guarantees and concluded that the upcoming gala would be boring and disappointing, and said they would not watch.

Most of these comments are apparently more of an emotional than a rational response. But they indicate somewhat the public's mistrust and suspicion about the entertainment circle after police busted a swarm of celebrities for using drugs and soliciting prostitutes last year. Among them were famous actors, singers and a playwright.

The comments also suggest that CCTV's efforts in presenting such an annual show have lagged behind rising public expectations as people now have higher aesthetic standards.

Despite netizens' complaints, it is necessary to set a red line for performers in the gala given its enormous influence. The audience rating always stays above 30 percent and last year around 900 million viewers watched the show on New Year's Eve.

The gala provides a far-reaching platform for performers to be catapulted to instant stardom.

In this sense, the gala's director needs to be cautious and prudent in choosing acts and entertainers that can send a positive message to the public. 

The public currently seems to be too forgiving of the misdeeds of celebrities. Some even tried to express understanding after their idols were caught using drugs or frequenting prostitutes. Setting the bar high for performers can help strengthen discipline in show business and send a warning to public figures.

In recent years, the public has grown more critical of the gala. However, since it was first presented in 1983, the festival gala has become an integral part of the collective Spring Festival memory. There are many improvements that can be made to the gala, but it remains the most-watched TV show during the celebrations and has never been surpassed.