NationStates Jolt Archive

A Canadian sitcom about muslims and post 9/11 prejudices is debuting on the CBC.

The plot follows a Canadian-born imam as he makes a similar move from a big city to the Saskatchewan town of Mercy (pop. 10,000), where he encounters a colourful array of characters, both in the town's Muslim and non-Muslim communities.

Ms Nawaz(the show's writer and producer) says she's an equal opportunities satirist.

"One can't say I'm picking on one group and not the other. I think it's a warts-and-all look at the whole community. I pick on right-wing and left-wing Muslims, I pick on the secular...I think it's important to go after everyone in comedy, so that no-one is happy - except the viewers of course," she laughs.

The first episode has several examples of post-9/11 humour, including a scene where airport police whisk away the new imam for questioning after his mobile phone call is misinterpreted.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6244199.stm

What are your thoughts on this? Will it improve or worsen the relations between muslim and non-muslim Canadians?

I think it will create more dialogue between muslim and non-muslim Canadians, as well as put a face and a personality on Canada's muslim population.

The CBC should only play Hockey Night in Canada. and the Simpsons. and the Royal Canadian Air Farce. and Rick Mercer. and Just For Laughs.

I think it will be a relatively funny show that lasts for about 2-3 seasons...




...what? You were expecting a social or a political analysis?? It's TV. :p

I think this sounds like a bit of worthwhile programming that I may pick up at a bitorrent near me in the future for some glancing at, just to see if it's funny. It's a sitcom, so I won't exactly expect it to be worth it, but it may surprise me.

Why am I picturing Corner Gas plus beards?

If it's intelligently done it will be cancelled mid-season and replaced with a reality show. If it's not intelligently done, it will run for five seasons and help no one.

If it's intelligently done it will be cancelled mid-season and replaced with a reality show. If it's not intelligently done, it will run for five seasons and help no one.

This is the CBC we are talking about. They don't care about ratings.

This is the CBC we are talking about. They don't care about ratings.

Oh, I was thinking U.S. networks. Nothing intelligent lasts.

Oh, I was thinking U.S. networks. Nothing intelligent lasts.

Or any new form of Comedy. Every Sitcom on U.S. networks is the same format.

Oh, I was thinking U.S. networks. Nothing intelligent lasts.

I wouldn't go THAT far. Scrubs is still on the air lol. But yeah, the smart shows like Freaks and Geeks, Arrested Development, My So-Called Life, etc. always get the axe very soon. However, they are usually remembered. Claire Danes and Linda Cardellini both broke into movies and other TV shows because of their one-season critically-acclaimed television shows.

Oh, I was thinking U.S. networks. Nothing intelligent lasts.

The CBC is government sponsored. So basically they execs play whatever they want. It values quality over ratings. As such, it does not generate much of a profit, but in 2004 89% of people wanted to keep the CBC publicly funded.

The CBC is government sponsored. So basically they execs play whatever they want. It values quality over ratings. As such, it does not generate much of a profit, but in 2004 89% of people wanted to keep the CBC publicly funded.

Aside from the fact that a certain segment of taxpayers would object to government support of "the arts," I would have serious problems with having the current government have any more influence over the media than it already has - we would have an outpouring of hyperChristian, anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, anti-Pagan, anti-intellectual programming.

If we're fortunate, maybe PBS will pick it up.

The CBC is government sponsored. So basically they execs play whatever they want. It values quality over ratings. As such, it does not generate much of a profit, but in 2004 89% of people wanted to keep the CBC publicly funded.

Yeah in the US you can't have a government sponsored network because

1. It's probably illegal
2. People wouldn't trust it because of the US's politics
3. The FCC sucks, and our government is hypocritically and superficially conservative to show things worthwhile just because they might view them as "vulgar" or "obscene".

If the US's politics were better, and the government could be trusted not to spew propaganda, and it could basically be more like BBC, we could have a decent public network that said what should be said and entertained at the same time.

Aside from the fact that a certain segment of taxpayers would object to government support of "the arts," I would have serious problems with having the current government have any more influence over the media than it already has - we would have an outpouring of hyperChristian, anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, anti-Pagan, anti-intellectual programming.

If we're fortunate, maybe PBS will pick it up.

The government doesn't really have influence. They just sign the check every year. And like I said, public polls show overwhelming support for continued government funding.

Aside from the fact that a certain segment of taxpayers would object to government support of "the arts," I would have serious problems with having the current government have any more influence over the media than it already has - we would have an outpouring of hyperChristian, anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, anti-Pagan, anti-intellectual programming.

If we're fortunate, maybe PBS will pick it up.

On the contrary, once a television network is connected with the state in any way, people become a lot more concerned about its neutrality. If the BBC were to explicity state a preference of one party over another everyone would go mental, but when Fox News does it. You could argue against Fox untill your face turns blue, but at the end of the day someone just needs to say that it is a private company, and that its broadcasting is its own business, and your argument is dead.

The CBC should only play Hockey Night in Canada. and the Simpsons. and the Royal Canadian Air Farce. and Rick Mercer. and Just For Laughs.

I couldn't agree more. Oh, and the news isn't half bad either... It could be worse. It could be Global news.

i saw a bit about it on paula zahn's show on cnn the other day. it looked like it could be very funny. i hope its good enough and lasts long enough to be imported to american tv or to spawn a decent US version.

A Canadian sitcom about muslims and post 9/11 prejudices is debuting on the CBC.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6244199.stm

What are your thoughts on this? Will it improve or worsen the relations between muslim and non-muslim Canadians?

I think it will create more dialogue between muslim and non-muslim Canadians, as well as put a face and a personality on Canada's muslim population.

I can just picture it...
Phone Rings and the Imam answers it: "Oh, Hi Jack!"

it has to walk a fine line between taste and offensive. It can be done, but everything relies on the writing staff and the actors.

I hope it does OK, it's been argued that positive TV portrayals of black families on shows like The Jeffersons and the Cosby Show helped change the attitudes of some towards blacks in the US. A show that gives Muslims a human face instead of being terrorists on 24 can probably only be a good thing.

The CBC should only play Hockey Night in Canada. and the Simpsons. and the Royal Canadian Air Farce. and Rick Mercer. and Just For Laughs.
Not Rick Mercer. He's a leftist tool (even moreso than the rest of the CBC) and shouldn't get government funding.

Little Mosque is watchable, but not especially funny. It bothers me for a few reasons.

First, prairie folk just don't behave that way. In my experience (growing up on the prairies) the people there tend to leave you be, so there wouldn't be all this tension surrounding the Muslims.

Second, the inflammatory radio host on the show is of the sort that mostly doesn't exist. The only Canadian radio host I've found like him is Rafe Mair, and he was in Vancouver (no, Dave Rutherford isn't as far out there as the guy on the show).

Third, if there were a small town on the prairies with that many brown people in it, everyone would know. Each town has distinctive characteristics, and everyone knows what they are. And given prairie towns, they'd probably do something like construct the world's largest statue of Muhammed (much like Wilkie, SK has the world's largest wooden grasshopper, and Glendon, AB has the world's largest perogy on a fork).

they'd probably do something like construct the world's largest statue of Muhammed...

Haha! Probably not...

A Canadian sitcom about muslims and post 9/11 prejudices is debuting on the CBC.




http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6244199.stm

What are your thoughts on this? Will it improve or worsen the relations between muslim and non-muslim Canadians?

I think it will create more dialogue between muslim and non-muslim Canadians, as well as put a face and a personality on Canada's muslim population.

I'm not sure if it will create dialogue but I've seen a couple clips and it seems somewhat funny. it will probably last a year or two.

For some reason, I just can't shake this image:

http://home.in.tum.de/~paula/mwc/pic/623a.jpg

Not Rick Mercer. He's a leftist tool (even moreso than the rest of the CBC) and shouldn't get government funding.

Little Mosque is watchable, but not especially funny. It bothers me for a few reasons.

First, prairie folk just don't behave that way. In my experience (growing up on the prairies) the people there tend to leave you be, so there wouldn't be all this tension surrounding the Muslims.

Second, the inflammatory radio host on the show is of the sort that mostly doesn't exist. The only Canadian radio host I've found like him is Rafe Mair, and he was in Vancouver (no, Dave Rutherford isn't as far out there as the guy on the show).

Third, if there were a small town on the prairies with that many brown people in it, everyone would know. Each town has distinctive characteristics, and everyone knows what they are. And given prairie towns, they'd probably do something like construct the world's largest statue of Muhammed (much like Wilkie, SK has the world's largest wooden grasshopper, and Glendon, AB has the world's largest perogy on a fork).

If Rick Mercer and the rest of the CBC openly espoused voting NDP, they'd still only get the same ±15% of the vote they always do. Worry not.

As an immigrant who lived for a very long time in the Canadian prairies I have to disagree with your statement above that I bolded. I, as well as every other immigrant I met in Saskatchewan and Alberta, felt a racial tension that often crossed the line into open racism. It was even worse in the smaller towns.

And I am not even going to comment on how natives are treated.

I have not seen this show, nor will I, but if it can get prairie folk to look at their own racism and laugh at it, so much the better.

What are your thoughts on this? Will it improve or worsen the relations between muslim and non-muslim Canadians?

I think it will create more dialogue between muslim and non-muslim Canadians, as well as put a face and a personality on Canada's muslim population.

I can't wait to see it...looks hilarious, in that Canadian style of humour that I love so much:) I think it is an important series, because as you mentioned, it will put a face and personality to a people that we seem to have forgotten have lived among us for generations (continuous immigration aside). I think we need a reminder that they didn't just suddenly appear in our midst, and that we thought about them, and interacted with them very differently pre-911.

Why am I picturing Corner Gas plus beards?

Because that's exactly what it is? Seriously...the clips I've seen have the same look and feel of Corner Gas...but it's a Canadian thing...they also remind me of some Kids in the Hall skits.

I can just picture it...
Phone Rings and the Imam answers it: "Oh, Hi Jack!"

it has to walk a fine line between taste and offensive. It can be done, but everything relies on the writing staff and the actors.
The thing is...Canadians have a higher threshold level for making fun of ourselves than is apparent in US shows. It doesn't mean we're better...just that, we can kind of get away with being less PC, in our understated way without as much public outcry as would be heard in the US. So I don't really think they have to be all that careful.

Not Rick Mercer. He's a leftist tool (even moreso than the rest of the CBC) and shouldn't get government funding. Oh come on...he's left, but he also went to Afghanistan to entertain the troops, and he hasn't slagged Harper nearly as much as a good lefty should. Despite this, I still love his beautiful Maritimer, gay ass.

Harper hasn't done much worth slagging (he's been remarkably centrist), but you're right - Mercer's been pretty good to him.

Oh, I was thinking U.S. networks. Nothing intelligent lasts.

Sure it does :D

And I am not even going to comment on how natives are treated.
The natives are treated badly, but I wasn't really talking about them.

i saw a bit about it on paula zahn's show on cnn the other day. it looked like it could be very funny. i hope its good enough and lasts long enough to be imported to american tv or to spawn a decent US version.

I thought Paula Zahn has a show on CNN that is indeed aired in the US? It's called Paula Zahn NOW.

Not Rick Mercer. He's a leftist tool (even moreso than the rest of the CBC) and shouldn't get government funding.

Little Mosque is watchable, but not especially funny. It bothers me for a few reasons.

First, prairie folk just don't behave that way. In my experience (growing up on the prairies) the people there tend to leave you be, so there wouldn't be all this tension surrounding the Muslims.

Second, the inflammatory radio host on the show is of the sort that mostly doesn't exist. The only Canadian radio host I've found like him is Rafe Mair, and he was in Vancouver (no, Dave Rutherford isn't as far out there as the guy on the show).

Third, if there were a small town on the prairies with that many brown people in it, everyone would know. Each town has distinctive characteristics, and everyone knows what they are. And given prairie towns, they'd probably do something like construct the world's largest statue of Muhammed (much like Wilkie, SK has the world's largest wooden grasshopper, and Glendon, AB has the world's largest perogy on a fork).


Yeah I dunno if I believe that. In the 2004 Presidential Election they Blue Stated/Red Stated Canada, and the only province to be Red (Pro-Bush) was Alberta, which is where you're from lol.

And given prairie towns, they'd probably do something like construct the world's largest statue of Muhammed (much like Wilkie, SK has the world's largest wooden grasshopper, and Glendon, AB has the world's largest perogy on a fork).

Yeah you're right, they probably would. Which would be awesome, because images of Muhammed are banned by Islam. In fact, it would make a good episode. The non-Muslim people of the town want to build the world's largest Muhammed as a sign of friendship between them and the Muslims, but this ends up angering the more devout Muslims and leaves the main character in the situation of trying to appease both groups. Hilarity ensues.

Yeah I dunno if I believe that. In the 2004 Presidential Election they Blue Stated/Red Stated Canada, and the only province to be Red (Pro-Bush) was Alberta, which is where you're from lol.

You can not possibly try to compare our politics to your blue/red divide.

Not Rick Mercer. He's a leftist tool (even moreso than the rest of the CBC) and shouldn't get government funding.

Leftist tool? He's either neutral or corporate tool, much like the network.

You can not possibly try to compare our politics to your blue/red divide.

Yeah, for one thing, in Canada liberals are red and conservatives are blue. As if that weren't complicated enough, we also have the orange NDP. And then there's that crazy Bloc party that also uses blue, even though they aren't the least bit conservative.

Our politicians, like our money, come in many different colors that Americans will likely find confusing or obnoxious.

Yeah, for one thing, in Canada liberals are red and conservatives are blue. As if that weren't complicated enough, we also have the orange NDP. And then there's that crazy Bloc party that also uses blue, even though they aren't the least bit conservative.

Our politicians, like our money, come in many different colors that Americans will likely find confusing or obnoxious.
Well said:)

Just seen a brief video report on the series in the news (here (http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/news/culture.html)). It would probably be worth seeing at least one episode.

I don't watch TV.

It's bad for you.

I watched one episode of "Little Mosque on the Prairie" and did not find it to be particularly entertaining.

I don't watch TV.

It's bad for you.

TV is our civilisation's primary socialising influence. Not watching TV is like an Ancient Athenian not liking theatre, or someone from the Enlightenment era not reading books... its just... deviant.

I watched one episode of "Little Mosque on the Prairie" and did not find it to be particularly entertaining.

Alright.


Has anyone else watched it?

TV is our civilisation's primary socialising influence. Not watching TV is like an Ancient Athenian not liking theatre, or someone from the Enlightenment era not reading books... its just... deviant.

Admittedly, I watch TV if I'm at a friends' house and they're watching it. But even then I try not to, cuz it just sucks you in. Like the internet, but instead of typing and clicking and such, you just... sit there. And stare. It's scary.

Not Rick Mercer. He's a leftist tool (even moreso than the rest of the CBC) and shouldn't get government funding.


Mercer knows the right's weak spots and knows how to make them look the incompetents they are, which explains why you hate him so.


First, prairie folk just don't behave that way. In my experience (growing up on the prairies) the people there tend to leave you be, so there wouldn't be all this tension surrounding the Muslims.

I lived many many years in Saskatchewan and leaving people be is not something they did. Discrimination for ethnic, religious or racial reasons was normal.

Alright.


Has anyone else watched it?

not yet, I watch too much tv I don't need another show that I "must watch" every week.

I have stopped watching 24 I'm tired of seeing Muslims being portrayed as evil terrorists every season.