As SM regular Badmash notes on the news page, the new sitcom “Little Mosque on the Prairie” has its debut this evening on the CBC, Canada’s public broadcasting network. I hope that many of you Canadian mutineers will check it out and report back on what, from the clips available on the show’s site and news reports, looks like a smart comedy that takes on anti-Muslim prejudice without straying from the tried-and-true writing and directing approaches that make situational comedy work. Here’s the synopsis:
LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE is a new comedy from CBC Television about a small Muslim community in the prairie town of Mercy, many of whose residents are wary of their new, more “exotic” neighbors. The series takes an unabashedly funny look at the congregation of a rural mosque and their attempt to live in harmony with the often skeptical, even down right suspicious, residents of their little prairie town. The sitcom reveals that, although different, we are all surprisingly similar when it comes to family, love, the generation gap and our attempts to balance our secular and religious lives.
You can get a sense of the show from the CNN report linked above. (If you can’t stand Paula Zahn, forward to 00:38 for the start of actual piece.) The airport scene is classic. The humor is pretty direct and there’s lots of room for slapstick but that’s what makes the format work. Also check out this story about the show from the CBC itself. It’s mercifully Zahnless but shows fewer clips.
Both segments introduce us to the show’s creator, Zarqa Nawaz. This sister is no joke! She’s a British-born, Toronto-raised practicing Muslim mother-of-four, who “had a Bachelor of Science degree from U of T in her hands when she realized that medical schools had screening committees to keep people like her out of the health care system.” She went on to broadcast journalism and film, and has lived for the past ten years in cosmopolitan Regina, capital of Saskatchewan:
The advance attention is gratifying to the show’s creator, Zarqa Nawaz, who huddled on-set recently in a full-length Muslim head scarf while noshing on shepherd’s pie. After all, Nawaz says, she’s writing about what she knows and the issues and characters she holds dear.
“I grew up in a mosque, I got married in a mosque, I spend a lot of time in a mosque – mosque is a really important part of my life,” she says, warming up inside a heated minivan on a chilly autumn day of shooting in the far reaches of Toronto’s west end, currently filling in for the Prairies due to the show’s suddenly compressed shooting schedule. …
Her primary goal for “Little Mosque on the Prairie,” Nawaz says, is that people laugh when they watch it.
“I don’t know what it is about me, but the more serious and outrageous the situation, the funnier it becomes to me and I end up spinning it comedically,” she says…
It isn’t always easy to find humour in current events as a Muslim, Nawaz concedes. In the aftermath of Sept. 11, she says she understood what it was like to be singled out due to race and religion.
“I felt weird. When you grow up in a country, and you don’t know any other country, to suddenly feel like you’re now an outsider in your own community is very strange,” she says.
“But I have to say that Saskatchewan was a great place because smaller communities tend to be more protective of their own, and I had non-Muslim people say to me ‘Don’t feel that we don’t trust you; don’t feel like it was your fault because it wasn’t.’ I did feel like I was protected in Saskatchewan. I am glad I lived there when it happened.” [Link]
Advance reviews in the Canadian press range from raves to more lukewarm assessments, though everyone agrees the premise is smart. Then again, I’m not sure I’d take my assessment of what’s funny or not from a reviewer who says things like this (and an editor who headlines the piece “Allah be Praised!”):
Bottom Line: On a scale of one to 48 virgins, I’d peg Little Mosque’s pilot at 29 1/2 virgins. Though really, who does that “half a virgin” think she’s fooling?
I’d rather take the word of the Canadian mutineers. Check out the show for us tonight and let us know what you think.
How long before the neighbours hold pig races? Oh wait. They’re not in Katy, TX.
Damn the Brits and the Canadians have way better shows than we do. I wish I could watch the whole thing. I’m not sure how I feel about it. That Imam was way too hot and way too cosmopolitan to be real. I didn’t say this…a muslim friend did 🙂
the link on ‘allah be praised’ is from the national post – the ultraright mouthpiece for the US and Israel in Canada. It had some wonderful writing up to 5 years back and I was a fan of its rich opinion pages but then did a slash and burn and a lot of people left. today it is bare bones and it just comes off as creepy and silly sometimes, much as ideologues sometimes do. i stopped reading it once i read some really ugly pieces by george jonas. i think it is still in the red, in spite of new ownership, better financial management by the aspers (bought from Conrad Black). i suspect its stance is so artificial to the canadian mindset, it is hard pressed to create a regular readership – even among those of us who lean to the right.
but the youtube pieces seem to be the obvious one-liners and caricatures – i sppse navaz is entitled to paint a ‘me against the world’ picture – but well, it’s a bit hamfisted (sic) approach. even so, those who’ve seen the norther exposure series will know it is possible to create a quirky ethnocentric tv drama with broad appeal – but this doesnt seem to be it, not quirky nuh-unh. it reflects a smallminded worldview – much like a spoilt brat stomping in her room angry about being told to stay in and raving about democracy and ‘You CANT DO THAT! This ISNT FAIR!!’
Maybe it will be on here one day, like Degrassi High. Maybe by then Paula Zahn will have stopped saying Muzzlum.
What’s this about?
What kind of world are we living in when that dude has to go on national television and make a total and complete ass of himself saying shit like, “We’re Americans just like everyone else! We laugh as much, we tell jokes, and we’re all just as stupid too! HYUK HYUK!”
urg, the show might be good but CNN still sucks
Manju, That, I suspect, is an out of context quote which was meant to be a self-deprecating joke…I read that she basically didn’t have the marks to get into med school. Aparna
CBC da rebel rocks
oai, you be snorting some lines vot?
That makes sense. Heh Heh Heh
Two points in disagreement with what’s been said:
Paula Zahn is a totally hot tasty babe, no matter what she says.
Why are all white canadians portrayed as ignorant, racist trash?
CBC fight da power
santosh,
just out of curiousity, what happened in Katy?
Tit for tat I suppose. Not that I am necessarily in support of that…
O Jibreel. Come blow your shehnai.
bongdongs, This is what happened at Katy, TX
• Texan sells sausages during races at prayer time • Islamic association had asked man to move cattle from its land • Man thought Muslims wanted him off his own land • They don’t, but he decided to race the pigs anyway
Review on NOW magazine:
The CBC hasn’t had a funy show in forever. If this show is actually funny, it truly will be a Muslim miracle. It sounds more like CBC realized it missed “corner gas”, and put cash into developing an equivalent.
Still, at worst, Zarqa Nawaz will show the Canadian Muslims truly are normal — they make crappy unfunny CBC sitcoms just like Christians.
(Wikram, by brother-in-Kram, you truly are a one-track uncle. Still, out of Kram solidarity, I willa ask SMIntern that your comment not be deleted this time. Us Krams stick together.)
Did you request my previous comments to be deleted ?
Torontoist covered some of the show’s advance publicity in downtown Toronto, which included camels and “The World’s Largest Halal Chicken Shawarma.”
Best part of the Katy kerfuffle was when the mosque (truthfully) deadpanned ‘we have nothing against pigs – we just don’t eat them’.
““had a Bachelor of Science degree from U of T in her hands when she realized that medical schools had screening committees to keep people like her out of the health care system””
The above statement stems more likely form unmentionable grades, than actual discrimination. In my experience, Canada and the US are the only two countries (amongst the G8s), where Muslims are afforded a real shot to succeed in any sphere.
Wonder if she is aware – Muslims suffer in more serious ways, (very, very serious ways) at the hands of their co-religionists than anybody else or anywhere else. Including, being denied adimission into Medical schools.
Definitely fill us in, mutineers. I’m really curious about this.
Why would anyone want to skip Paula Zahn? She’s hot! (was much hotter about 10-15 years ago of course).
anyone look at the news banner at the bottom? mostly bombings and iraq related. check out when the muslim fellow’s on his cellphone in line at the airport and is misunderstood by the white lady in front of him, there is a story running at the bottom banner on how a man was detained before he was to blow up a plane.
maybe my observation is ignorant because the topic of those cnn banners could mostly be terrorism related. i don’t know, i do not watch that channel. but it’s just something i noticed.
I couldn’t wait, so I cheated and just caught LMOTP in the Maritime time zone.
Verdict – it still has some way to go before it gels, and the “terrorist” angle was a bit overplayed, but overall I say “A” for effort. It definitely had its moments and I’m definitely going to keep watching.
It was good to see veteran faces like Derek McGrath (“Doc”), Carlo Rota (“24”) and Neil Crone on the show, which will give it some depth and give newer (browner) faces like cutie Sitara Hewwitt some room to safely strech out their acting legs.
What I like about the LMOTP’s formula is that it takes a familiar model — farcical comedy in small town Canada ala Corner Gas and Traler Park Boys — and applies it to a new situation. I think this is what distinguishes it from previous comedy shows that used the immigrant angle like Lord Have Mercy (starring Russell Peters) which though moderatley successful, ultimately sputtered out and left little impression. My sense is that LHM was never perceived as “mainstream”
LMOTP’s formula has proved to be a mainstream success so far (as per the shows above) so even though it’s too soon to tell, if things gel, there’s every reason to believe that LMOTP will have some staying power.
2. Why are all white canadians portrayed as ignorant, racist trash?
I’m still waiting to watch the show tonight…but I can already tell you that one of the practicing muslims on the show that is part of the comminity is a white woman. It is a sit com so you can expect a high degree of subtlety…but it does seem to play around with the formulas a bit.
That Imam was way too hot and way too cosmopolitan to be real
The actor who plays the Imam played Raj on my fave TO cheesy soap — Metropia. He was the local gay desi art student. he was so loveable. Glad his acting talents landed him this great gig.
I’m really excited about the show…can’t wait for tonight’s premier!
ps. lots of great stuff on US tv…but gaaah, stupid, stupid CNN…and am I the only one that kept going its ‘Mooslim, not MUZlim!’ in my head the whole time!?
It is good to see that shows like this are being greenlighted and made, hopefully it is successful enough to allow other shows like it to continue being made. I completely disagree with the people saying Paul Zhan is hot though, any hotness she may have is taken away by her extremely annoying way of presenting, I can’t put my finger on what it is but she just doesn’t seem ‘genuine’ when she speaks like say Anderson Cooper.
Nawaz will be online and taking questions at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. thought vous might be interested. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070109.wlivezarqa0110/BNStory/specialComment/home
Did anyone else find it amusing that the Hollywood Reporter guy kept using the phrase “sacred cow” over and over again when discussing a show about Muslims?
The debate I linked to in #30 is going on. Here’s an exchange.
Watched the show last night, liked it. Plan on tuning in next week. Loved how it was almost just as much about Toronto-Rest of Toronto dynamics as it was about anything else. Really funny, great casting.
*oops. that should say ‘Toronto-Rest of Canada’ dynamics.
OK. All ye who want to declare Toronto a nation within Canada, say Aye!!
AYE!!!
We could just call Toronto a distinct society 🙂
Interesting proposition…aye, if Toronto agrees to keep all Torontonians. Permanently and forever.
non!nein!nahin!na!no! not good enough.We’re special too, in fact more so than any other. we’re just the center of the universe. dont worry. you can still come over to partake of the delights this giant yoni has to offer. remember to rub against the cn tower.
Edgy, yes. Funny, in parts. Will give it a few more episodes before dumping: need stronger acting for the Imam character (Amaar, played by Zaib Sheikh) to pull the whole thing together. Also, the African accent by the actor playing the female traditionalist (Fatima by Arlene Duncan, I think) is atrocious at times. This is no ‘Corner Gas’! The chemistry between Yasir (Carlo Rota, best part of the cast) and Baber (Manoj Saad) has great potential.
Overall, it’s wait and see. Probably hangs on to a niche audience.
I thought it was blah… I doubt it will pass 8 episodes..
The first ep had to do a lot of work of introducing the characters and set the foundation before the full funny could begin. The Anglican minister…what else has be been in? Couldn’t quite place him…was he the scientist guy on My Secret Identity with Jerry O’Connell…or was he on Puttnam’s Praire Emporium…Anyone?
Also…Amaar. Hot.
Clarinet – you’re right, that’s Dr. J from “My Secret Identity”. I also agree with your notion that this episode focused on explaining/introducing the characters and so might have seemed a bit choppy with regards to other details.
Clarinet – you’re right, that’s Dr. J from “My Secret Identity”.
ah-ha! Thank YOU for solving that mystery and validating my hunch. You’ve made my day badmash.
OK. I admit it. I was wrong earlier. i was gauging it by the promo one-liners.
Just saw the show via ultrabrown. It is simple. it is cute. it is endearing. even the toronto slagging was charming. 🙂
I watched it it was quite good in my opinion,but the politics that will stick to it will take all the fun away.It is a sitcom isn’t it? The show is barely off the ground and already everyone is down on it,well not everyone but man..can’t a person have a breath of fresh air once in a while..?
NPR had a few pieces on this show today and yesterday
i think that this show is great for eveyrone. it shows that muslims are just like anyone else and that we are not extremists. the aim of this show is to educate people and make the topic of muslims lighter and help people have fun with the touchy topic. i think its a great show
I just started watching the show on YouTube thanks to the NPR introduction and my mom’s insistence I hear it – then I flew back to school and had to share it with all my own friends, many of whom have had similarly exasperating experiences in airports due to their nationalities. This show is absolutely wonderful, on all levels. Hopefully, the NPR publicity will get U.S. stations to start bidding for it.
And yes, I agree, Zaib Sheik plays a verrry good looking imam (but isn’t that part of the role, to be the young love interest?).
Also, both the mayor and the minister are characters that don’t fit the “ignorant white trash” description, for those who were concerned about the stereotyping. …Although the mayor does want her Ramadan meal to be “a little more exotic” than cucumber sandwiches, which I find to be a really funny and subtle poke at open-minded people who still ‘otherize’ anything that’s not euro-american. (speaking as someone who comes from a community like that myself)
Little Mosque on the Prairie is as good as its promotional previews promised and CBC is the one to deliver it. George Bush and his henchmen did their best to demonise all Muslims as an excuse to wage their dirty illegal war. CBC has had the guts to try to turn this around and force us to regard Muslims as people like the rest of us–complete with warts and other foibles. “Me and the Mosque” is another earlier documentary film of Zarqa’s and is available from the National Film Board of Canada. It offers an excellent examination of modern Muslim society struggling with tradition and modernity as it regards segregating Muslim women from men during prayers in the mosque.
You can also catch Little Mosque on the Prarie here. I haven’t watched it yet, but was trying to catch last week’s Studio 60 on the site, and the show’s title caught my eye while I was scrolling down. I obviously became a little obsessed with trying to find out more about it and checked out their website (kind of funny) and figured the mutineers had already blogged about it (which you had!).