HONG KONG – In the latest episode of the long-running TVB sitcom Come Home Love: Three Generations of Sweetness, broadcast Wednesday night, viewers were treated to a deliberately over-the-top satire of celebrity endorsement disasters—complete with a giant hemorrhoid cream prop and a cameo from a veteran singer still nursing a 20-year-old grudge over a notorious biscuit commercial.
The episode centers on fictional pop star Yeung Fan, played by Chiu Tsun-shing, whose once-glittering career is derailed after he agrees to star in an excruciatingly awkward advertisement for hemorrhoid treatment. The ad, according to the plot, is orchestrated by character Man Lee, portrayed by Jinny Ng. In the sitcom, Yeung Fan appears on screen in a lurid lime-green jacket, a gold shirt, and checkered trousers, clutching an oversized tube of hemorrhoid cream as though it were an electric guitar. He then proceeds to “strum” the prop while belting out a goofy jingle and flashing a pained, constipation-inspired expression. The scene culminates with the character emerging from a toilet, waving the cream at the camera and singing with full enthusiasm.
The visual and lyrical cues were unmistakably designed to evoke a legendary Hong Kong advertising flop from more than two decades ago: singer Edwin Siu’s infamous “Shoe Shoe Shoe” commercial for a bakery chain. That ad—which featured Siu making exaggerated slurping noises—was widely mocked and became a lasting punchline in Cantonese pop culture. Siu himself has occasionally joked that the spot effectively ended his music career.
To cement the call-back, TVB brought in Siu for a cameo in the new episode, alongside comedian Raymond Cho. In the scene, Cho repeatedly makes slurping sounds in front of a tree, prompting Siu to barge in and yelp, “Hey! What are you ‘shoe shoe shoe-ing’ about? That’s exactly what got me kicked out of the music industry for over two decades!”
The moment is played for laughs, but it also underscores a recurring theme in Hong Kong showbiz: the power—and peril—of viral advertising. While the original “Shoe Shoe Shoe” ad was derided, it paradoxically kept Siu in the public consciousness, allowing him to pivot successfully into acting and television hosting. Today, he is a mainstay of the Hong Kong entertainment scene, but the joke never quite faded.
The episode aired as part of Come Home Love’s ongoing story arcs, which frequently blend slapstick, social commentary, and nostalgia. The use of hemorrhoid cream as a metaphor for career embarrassment touched a nerve with local audiences, who quickly took to social media to remark on the accuracy of the spoof. Many praised TVB for its self-awareness and willingness to lampoon its own industry conventions.
In an era where celebrity branding is ubiquitous—and sometimes catastrophic—the sitcom’s gag serves as a gentle reminder of how quickly a star’s image can be punctured by a single ill-advised commercial. Industry observers note that similar real-world examples have occurred across Asia, where local endorsements sometimes clash with global pop-star persona, damaging credibility and fan loyalty.
Looking ahead, the episode may prompt wider discussion about the fine line between humorous self-deprecation and brand damage for public figures. For viewers, the segment offered not just a laugh, but a relatable cautionary tale about the fragility of fame—wrapped in a lime-green suit and a tube of ointment.
For those unfamiliar with the original ad, TVB has also posted clips of Siu’s 2000s biscuit spot on its digital platforms. The network is expected to continue its streak of pop-culture homages in upcoming Come Home Love episodes.
