When it comes to producing a funny television show or movie in Canada, producers have a reliable staple of topics: Quebecois v English speakers and anything that involves a bumbling politician or the United States.
But Islam does not make the list, which is one reason the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s new sitcom, Little Mosque On The Prairie, is attracting such attention in North America.
The show follows a small group of Muslims in a prairie town in Saskatchewan where, in the first episode, the group was trying to establish a mosque in the parish hall of a church. A passer-by, seeing the group praying, rushes to call a “terrorist hot line” to report Muslims praying “just like on CNN”, which touches off a local firestorm.
The show has generally been well received by Muslim leaders, who welcome the light touch it brings to issues that are normally debated in numbing seriousness.
The show is a hit in Canada and the producers are offering it to networks around the world. I wonder if it will get any play in Saudi Arabia — or the U.S.?
Cripes, I don’t even get to see Trailer Park Boys, anymore.
Let’s see what happens if a Christian tries to establish a Church inside a Mosque and then broadcast that. I predict it’ll be much like the cartoons, what a bunch of hypocrites. Only a fellow traveling socialist would see anything worthwhile in this, any more bending over and you’re be kissing your own butt from inside.
I’ve seen the first couple of episodes, and it’s actually quite funny. The writer (who is Muslim) doesn’t seem to be afraid of making fun of Muslim issues, like how difficult it is for them to travel on airplanes without being harassed by airport authorities or fellow passengers.
traax-
flawed analogy…there’s no shortage of christian churches (thanks in no doubt to their tremendous tax advantages – they don’t pay them!). Mosques are however in short supply.
But using your own analogy, while Muslim leaders are embracing this show and it’s light hearted way of handling serious stereotypical issues, can you please tell me how christian leaders (and ‘devoted’ followers like you) would react to the same treatment on a tv show?
Oh wait, I already did.
‘Book of Daniel’ was a well written tv show that was canned because of right-wing religious nutjobs like you putting so much pressure on advertisers that the network had no choice but to can it.
It sure didn’t take you long to break out the ‘socialist’ tag, but then I am sure you are quick to make snap judgments (even though ‘your’ book tells you specifically NOT to). Talk about hypocrisy!
I’d buy this on iTunes
[edited: comments guide -- Try the cage match forum, Greg]
Hell yeah this show is hilarious, I was really surprised how funny they could make this show.
Another example why networks need to figure out how to use IPTV or bittorrent. I can’t “legally” watch this show yet, but I hear about it everyday on the radio and on TV.
Guess what, I still am going to watch it.
It’s pretty funny. Definitely no Trailer Park Boys, but better than most American s*itcoms.
The fact that it makes fun of both muslims and righties is awesome. The only character who really floats above criticism is the Catholic priest, who appears as an open and considerate one.
Sorry, I was wrong, the priest in the show is an Anglican (The closest equivalent would be an Episcopalian in the US).
Ooooh… It makes me want to miss Whoopi Goldberg’s sitcom show “Whoopi” but alas, it was broadcasted by a network whose main audience is shallow people into twinks (aka NBC.)
Just set up the DVR to record a rerun episode tomorrow. I guess this is an advantage of living in S.E. Michigan.
#6
I just downloaded an episode to see what it was all about, and yes… it was very funny!!
Just downloaded the 1st 2 eps, its great!
I feel a bit guilty of ‘stealing’ such a good show, but since I live in Australia it will NEVER be shown here so what other choice do I have.
Its a real shame that mainstream christianity doesn’t have the sense of humor that would allow a similar show about them to be made without the stupid, ignorant right wing, bible thumping nutcases screaming for it to be taken off the air immediately!
Since Humanism considers itself to be the mother of all religions, its followers feel it necessary to make sure all the daughter religions get along. So they made up this show to denigrate anti-Islam sentiments and to personalize Muslims. They sweetened it with humor to make the medicine go down. They gave it artificially high ratings to draw more people to watch it and be influenced. This religion is out of touch with reality.
The Islamic religion always advocates peace and harmony when they are in a drastic minority. Dishonesty is permissible to infidels according to the Koran. It is when they become a significant minority (by out-multiplying the Catholics) that they bring out the passages in the Koran that demand they take over the politics and impose Sharia law on everyone, willingly or unwillingly. Then they follow the Koran’s demand to kill anyone who resists them. If a Muslim refuses to support Jihad, the Koran demands death for them. It is all hardcoded in the Koran. Read it now or read it & follow it later under the threat of death. Try: http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/reference/searchquran.html
The Humanists are ignoring the example of Indonesia in the 80′s and India in the 40′s. Humanism was wiped out along with all the other religions in the areas the Muslims took over.
#1 traax I remember a time when Americans were not afraid of anything. Now Americans of your ilk see danger lurking under every bush and behind every tree.
I recommend that you watch the show. It is really funny.
For your benefit, I want to remind you that Allah is the god you profess to worship. Allah is the Arabic word for God. Muslims worship the same God that Christians and Jews worship.
There is one thing different from you and the Muslims I know: they are not full of fear and hate. You and your ilk are fearful, quivering puddles of flesh, probably afraid of the dark. Get a grip on yourselves. Act like Americans.
#13
Timbo, you’re a comedy act that keeps on giving.
Its a great show – my favorite part: its the extremists – of both religious/cultural affiliations – that are the butt of most of the jokes. We need more moderates – I’m a practising Christian, and I respect Zarqa Nawaz (the show’s creator) more than Pat Robertson or any of the other nutjobs on “my” side.
The highlight clips made me laugh — and that is surprisingly rare in ANY sitcom. So, I’ll watch it for sure.
Ever since I moved over to the Muslim world, it has been obvious to me that the best way to get out the moderate Muslim message, is to give them a voice in Western media.
The Bush administration, as is well known, tries to get out their message by bribing journalists to reprint US propaganda but this (expectedly) spectacularly backfired and lowered America’s reputation even more, as if that were possible.
However, if moderate Muslims were prominent in Western media, it would be reprinted and read widely in the Muslim world. Very widely.
Although they constantly complain about the liberal media (a trait they have in common with American conservatives.) , they may pay more attention to our media than their own. My “local” newspaper might be more than 50% western originated articles (I’ve never actually counted.) and it is read all over the Gulf and the ocal English TV channel runs almost all American and British shows.
this is off topic, but kinda weird
[edited: comments guide -- email suggestions to us for new topics]
[edited: comments guide — email suggestions to us for new topics]
Email who and where?
I’ve never seen ANY email addresses on this site for submission of articles, bug reports, or anything else.
#15, damn it !!! I really hate it when someone says something I wanted to say.
How about, …
Timbo, Ten thousand comedians out of work and you’re trying to be funny.