Little Mosque in the Prairie: New Canadian show debuting

[canabiz]

Just saw the previews, look like a wicked show

Hope it would smash the common stereotypes, i have to *sheepishly* admit I didn't know much about Islam and Muslims or whatever I know would be through CNN and/or the media...but i have a lot of Muslim friends from school and work and I try to educate myself, knowledge is power

Anyone got insight on this new show ?

[sxz]

I remember seeing the commercial for this when I was watching the Rick Mercer Report a few weeks ago. I thought it was a RMR skit but then after the show ended and the commercial still aired I kinda laughed. I think it'll be quite interesting and I'll tune in for the first ep.

[AzN_RiverdaleCI]

it'll never last?

[gorf]

Darn, I missed the show, anyone catch it tonight? If so, how was it?
http://www.littlemosque.ca

[Rehan]

Darn, I missed the show, anyone catch it tonight? If so, how was it?
http://www.littlemosque.ca It hasn't aired yet. :razz:

[gorf]

It hasn't aired yet. :razz:


Thanks. If I went to bed at a normal hour I'd know which day it is. :D

Airs tonight 8:30 PM
Encore presentation - WED 8:00 PM

Moves to regular time slot Jan 15th and airs:
Monday 9:00 PM and Wed 8:00 PM (repeat)



I wonder where it's filmed, Saskatchewan?

[DePotBoy]

Hmm... I'd like to see someone's opinion on the show... let me know if it's any good when it airs, guys... unless it's already aired and I missed it? I'm still stuck on watching the office on NBC, lol!

[maebach]

I predict riots in the world after this show


/jk

[ccdude]

It was a good show I liked it

CBC can actually hit one once in a while.

Maybe I can turn on CBC more than once a week (sat eve)

I just hope the dont start getting too PC with it

[onehair]

coming from a muslim, i personally didnt find those jokes too funny (i guess they were cliche and i was hoping for soemthing different). I found the actors to overact quite a bit.. I am still gonna give this show a chance because of the message behind it... maybe it needs a few episodes to develop.

[GT108]

I agree with the op about the over-acting.
There were a few good jokes, but everyone seem to be trying too hard.

It's not great, but better than some of the other sitcom out there. Can't explain it, but there is a distintive Cnd feel to it. Sorta like Corner Gas, but with a Mosque instead of the gas station.

I like it and hope it gets better.
I'll give it a few more episode to see everyone find their groove.

[Rosico]

Don't quite know why every other white person on the show has to be a stupid raving islamaphobe. I guess it is useful for exageration but yeah, we get the point that 75% white people think anyone unlike them are terrorists :confused: .

I enjoyed some of the sly jokes and turns of phrase ...

and that daughter is hot! (but doesn't she seem to be a bit too old to be a daughter ... or living at home?)

[Rehan]

http://www.canada.com/topics/entertainment/story.html?id=e7f7e21b-3802-4a88-9f37-6726b476cd96&k=11348
'Little Mosque' draws whopping two million viewers for premiere episode

Lee-Anne Goodman
Canadian Press

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

TORONTO (CP) - The premiere of CBC's internationally hyped comedy "Little Mosque on the Prairie" pulled in some 2.1 million viewers, a huge audience for a Canadian show.

By contrast, "Corner Gas," CTV's big sitcom hit and one of the country's highest-rated shows, routinely pulls in close to 1.5 million viewers a week. Initial numbers suggested "Little Mosque" won its time slot, besting a repeat episode on Global of the red-hot U.S. medical drama "House."

"We are thrilled and ecstatic," said Kirstine Layfield, director of network programming for the public broadcaster. "Not only did the number astound us, but the response to the show has been very positive. Three-quarters of the people who phoned in about the show loved it, and the only people who had anything negative to say just didn't like that we ran commercials."

"Little Mosque" has been getting buzz for weeks, with everyone from the BBC to CNN running items on the comedy, the creation of Muslim filmmaker Zarqa Nawaz.

The CBC, struggling terribly in the ratings, had a lot invested in the show and promoted it with uncharacteristic cash and vigour, including an event at downtown Toronto's Dundas Square last week that featured free chicken shawarma and a band of friendly camels.

"I've got to say I didn't expect it to become the global phenomenon that it has become when I started writing it three years ago," a giggling Nawaz said Wednesday after getting word about the ratings. "But the comedy does live up to the hype, and future episodes just get funnier and funnier while at the same time delving into some deeper issues."

The show moves to Mondays at 9 p.m. EST and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. following its Tuesday night debut this week - the only thing that makes Nawaz nervous that the show could lose viewers.

"Our only concern now is that it's moving to a different time slot, and we hope people will find us," she said.

Much of the coverage of "Little Mosque" has focused on the fact that the show is a comedy about Muslims set in a post 9-11 world.

[rabbit]

The show moves to Mondays at 9 p.m. EST and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. following its Tuesday night debut this week - the only thing that makes Nawaz nervous that the show could lose viewers.

I'm not a CBC basher, but what were they thinking here?

[gordholio]

More garbage CBC programming paid for by our tax dollars. :confused:
The CBC was important to Canada years ago when there were no other options, but today with satellite TV, we don't need our tax dollars supporting a government-run network.
Imagine...a government run network delivering the news. Sort of might be biased a bit.

[pennysaver]

I thought it was a pretty good little show. Hopefully future episodes pick up a bit. Looks my parents will be regular watchers as long as they can find the show.

[BuildBuyBreed]

Just watched the show and I like.

Pretty funny but the cast is what it makes it. Great interaction.

[gorf]

I don't know yet, the show has potential but some of the jokes are getting old already. I think they need to spruce up their writing and bring in some fresh material in order for it to succeed. Not to sure where they want to take the show yet but I'll give it another week of viewing. Its definately no "Office" as far as writing goes. 6/10

[mike_leafs13]

I agree with the op about the over-acting.
There were a few good jokes, but everyone seem to be trying too hard.


i third that comment with the overacting. the concept is okay, but i don't know how long of a series they can make out of it.

i am noticing a bit of reverse discrimination also. with the exception of the wife, they make it seem like all non-muslim are ignorant and treat them like terrorists.

by the way, that bald guy with the beard works for ctu in the new 24 season...

[Bordrr]

i missed both shows this week... anyone if its on youtube or available anywhere else?

[Chew300ZX]

More garbage CBC programming paid for by our tax dollars. :confused:
The CBC was important to Canada years ago when there were no other options, but today with satellite TV, we don't need our tax dollars supporting a government-run network.
Imagine...a government run network delivering the news. Sort of might be biased a bit.

Government-run? It's partially funded by the government. Harper doesn't read the news. Have you ever turned it on? You'd see that advertsing pays most of the bills if you did. Their funding has been on a decline for quite some time.


Anyways back on topic, the show, not the network on which it airs...:rolleyes: Decent show, didn't quite live up to the hype, but I guess that's to be expected. 2.1 million viewers though, wow. It's gonna be around for a while if it can keep a quarter of that audiance.

[gorf]

i am noticing a bit of reverse discrimination also. with the exception of the wife, they make it seem like all non-muslim are ignorant and treat them like terrorists.


Yah, they're stretching it. Especially the portrayal of the "redneck" dude that needs dental work. Pretty much all the whites were portrayed like morons from the residents of Mercy to the Cops. We'll see where they take the show, they can't use the whites think all muslims are terrorists much longer. Mind you, it was supposed to leave you with warm fuzzies at the end of the show by having the religous figures making peace.

[Rehan]

Yah, they're stretching it. Especially the portrayal of the "redneck" dude that needs dental work. Pretty much all the whites were portrayed like morons from the residents of Mercy to the Cops. We'll see where they take the show, they can't use the whites think all muslims are terrorists much longer. Stereotypes (incorrect as they may be) are the backbones of many sitcoms, are they not? There are stereotypes of Muslims in this show, too, like the Baber the 'conservative' imam being out of touch with reality and local culture.

[gorf]

Stereotypes (incorrect as they may be) are the backbones of many sitcoms, are they not? There are stereotypes of Muslims in this show, too, like the Baber the 'conservative' imam being out of touch with reality and local culture.

True. But the redneck with the bad teeth? :lol: That's so old already. What did you think of the show? I can see it being appealing to alot of the Muslim community only because there's not much on TV (other than news) that pertains to Muslims.

[manixc]

I thought it was okay.

[Rosico]

Yah, they're stretching it. Especially the portrayal of the "redneck" dude that needs dental work. Pretty much all the whites were portrayed like morons from the residents of Mercy to the Cops. We'll see where they take the show, they can't use the whites think all muslims are terrorists much longer. Mind you, it was supposed to leave you with warm fuzzies at the end of the show by having the religous figures making peace.

I enjoyed the priest/father's explanation on that - dwindling attendance by christian followers ... ha.

Also, the actor portraying the imam was pretty good - good physical actor.

[gorf]

I normally don't read Michael Coren but for some reason this morning at 5:30 AM , the title caught my eye. :|

Sat, January 13, 2007

Show is visual drudgery

By MICHAEL COREN

When sane people read about a comedy show called Little Mosque on the Prairie made by a notoriously liberal public broadcaster they assumed it was a clever self-parody.

The CBC had at last found a sense of humour, they assumed, and was making fun of its own reputation for political correctness and plodding leftism.

A spoof, they thought. A clever ploy to fool us into believing our national broadcaster would not be so predictable and crass as to actually run with such a weak and cringing idea. But then they realized this is Canada and this is the CBC.

Then they saw it. The usual visual drudgery. Awful Canadian actors mouthing lamentable dialogue packed with cliches and telegraphed attempts at humour. The bland leading the bland. And all paid for by your tax dollars -- including the huge advertising campaign for the project. Public money that could otherwise have been spent on something trivial like a nurse in an intensive care ward.

The obvious first. It goes without saying that no such comedy will be made in this country where Christians are portrayed as a misunderstood community and all of the non-Christians around them as buffoons and extremists. Also goes without saying that we'll never see an episode of Little Church in the Desert on Saudi TV.

From beginning to end the show thumps us over our non-hijab wearing heads with a clumsy hammer. Any fears about Islam, we are told, are based on our own ignorance and bigotry.

Everyone is a caricature in Little Mosque, but some caricatures are more obnoxious than others.

The Muslim characters are nice and kind and ordinary in that quintessentially Canadian way. Some of them may be silly and old-fashioned but they'd never hurt a fly, let alone kill an infidel.

The non-Muslim caricatures, however, are repugnant. Especially if they're cops.

You know cops. The poor fools who have to put their lives on the line during a terrorist attack. A terrorist attack which, naturally, could never have anything to do with Islam.

By the way, in the month of December alone there were 249 jihadist incidents around the world, resulting in 1,794 deaths and 1,589 people being critically injured.

About the only compassionate and apparently informed non-Muslim anywhere to be seen in the program is an Anglican priest. The usual witless literary device who makes us feel good because we're obliged to identify with his good sense and humanism.

Does he, one wonders, ask his Muslim friends if they follow one interpretation of the Koran's teaching that apostates from their religion should be killed?

He might also want to ask them if the Koran allows a husband to beat his wife. Something which is not denied even by those Muslims who are uncomfortable with the passage.

Or he might want to monitor the sermons in the Little Mosque to make sure that, unlike many of those in Gaza, Cairo, Jerusalem, Damascus, Islamabad and even a few in Canada, they're not applauding the Sept. 11 massacres, calling Jews monkeys and pigs who should be slaughtered, demanding that Christians be killed in a holy war or that homosexuals should be put to the sword.

Genuine understanding might be possible.

But only after genuine truth, genuine criticism and, well, genuine comedy.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• You can e-mail Michael Coren through his website, http://www.michaelcoren.com

http://torsun.canoe.ca/News/Columnists/Coren_Michael/2007/01/13/3341344.html

[alysomji]

There's some BS in that column like hitting of the wife and killing of apostates and such. I don't know of any Muslims that believe in those things nor interpret the Qur'an that way.

There are all kinds of wacky stuff in the Bible but maybe since Coren recently became a Christian (yes, that's right, he is quite religious since becoming one) he conveniently left out the problematic passages in his holy book.

The guy seems like an Islamophobe. God forbid anyone threaten his life with a show involving a religion other than Christianity. yeesh.

[mike_leafs13]

i agree with this part...

The Muslim characters are nice and kind and ordinary in that quintessentially Canadian way. Some of them may be silly and old-fashioned but they'd never hurt a fly, let alone kill an infidel.

The non-Muslim caricatures, however, are repugnant. Especially if they're cops.

You know cops. The poor fools who have to put their lives on the line during a terrorist attack. A terrorist attack which, naturally, could never have anything to do with Islam.

they make it look like they're living in some kind of fantasy land where they're the kindest ppl in the world and the only ppl that know that is themselves. everybody else hates them.

i know they're trying to shed light on how some muslims are treated, but why do they have to exaggerate it so much? i'm gonna give it one more episode and it they don't tone it down, i'm not gonna watch.

[alysomji]

^^^People - both Muslims and Christians - who are taking the show overly seriously fail to realize that the show is a comedy. One method comedies use to attract audiences is to exaggerate stereotypes.

When you get offended watching it, just remember that it's a comedy and that you need to lighten up. It's not meant in any way to be a factual account of what actually happens.

[mike_leafs13]

^^^People - both Muslims and Christians - who are taking the show overly seriously fail to realize that the show is a comedy. One method comedies use to attract audiences is to exaggerate stereotypes.

When you get offended watching it, just remember that it's a comedy and that you need to lighten up. It's not meant in any way to be a factual account of what actually happens.

not saying they have to get rid of it, just saying they have to tone it down. they can't base the whole show around muslims being super nice and non-muslims being idiots.

when you think about shows like everybody loves raymond and the cosby show, the comedy comes from interaction between the main characters, not from the ignorance of other characters.

[othy]

I haven't seen an episode yet, but if the ads have the best jokes they're pretty hurting..

"Would it kill you muslim gals to show a little cleavage?"

"Would it kill you if I hit you with a cleaver?"

Um.. ha? I don't find it offensive, just not very funny.. Sort of a "war at home" level of stupid attempted comedy.. And the "dressed like a protestant" one.. Just not very funny!

[fatal]

If you have not caught the show, you can watch it here.

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=6507609328595870015&q=little+mosque+on+the+prairie

[Kerlo]

Thanks for the link!

Just finished watching it. I think it has a great deal of potential. Overtime the acting will get better and hopefully the scripts will get more interesting as well!

[gorf]

Its on again tomorrow, I'll give it another shot.

[pennysaver]

I found Sitara Hewitt's character to be cute so I googled her name. Boy - she's hot!

Link to her myspace page (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=136893108)

[Rehan]

I found Sitara Hewitt's character to be cute so I googled her name. Boy - she's hot! Astaghfirullah (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=astaghfirullah)! You should not be having such evil thoughts about a lady in hijab!! :mad:

I kid, I kid. :razz: (She's half Pakistani, but is not a Muslim...)

BTW, in one scene of the first episode they showed her inside her home without the hijab on. I'm guessing the purpose of that was to indicate that Muslim women that wear the headscarf don't do it 24 hrs a day. (Yes, some Muslim women do get asked silly questions like "How do you shower with that thing on??" :lol: )

[pennysaver]

Astaghfirullah (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=astaghfirullah)! You should not be having such evil thoughts about a lady in hijab!! :mad:

I kid, I kid. :razz: (She's half Pakistani, but is not a Muslim...)

BTW, in one scene of the first episode they showed her inside her home without the hijab on. I'm guessing the purpose of that was to indicate that Muslim women that wear the headscarf don't do it 24 hrs a day. (Yes, some Muslim women do get asked silly questions like "How do you shower with that thing on??" :lol: )

I did worry that I might upset someone but her myspace page shows no hijab :lol:

[BuildBuyBreed]

I did worry that I might upset someone but her myspace page shows no hijab :lol:

If that lack of cover can upset someone... then avoid the "Bet Your Ass" website, where she's wearing tight, midriff-revealing clothing and short-shorts.

http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/gallery/html/Comedy_YBYA_20060907/photo_0.html

She is smoking hawt!

[hightech]

yea I am pakistani and wish all Pakistani women look like her

For those cleric types/stunch muslims who are that fundamental about having her covered.. man you guys ruin it for the rest of us guys :D

[gorf]

Its on again tomorrow, I'll give it another shot.


Come on guys, give me a hand here. :lol: Rerun of episode 1 tonight, looks like Wed @ 8:00 is the regular night and time but check local listings to be sure.

[konfusion666]

i just watched the first ep tonight, thanks to the youtube link above.

it's somewhat funny, about average for a sitcom.

i'll probably watch future eps if they're on CBC when i'm in front of the telly or if they're posted on youtube :lol: - mainly for the novelty aspect. although i honestly can't see the show surviving for THAT long.

edit: after thinking about it, i tend to disagree with the contention that the show portrayed all non-islamic people in a bad light. since it's only the first episode, there were very few "named" non-islamic characters introduced. the cops don't count since cops are ALWAYS portrayed as bumbling fools in sitcoms. so really, it's just the Talk Radio Host and the redneck guy who were portrayed using stereotypes. The mayor and the parish priest were portrayed as tolerant people - especially the priest, who everyone THOUGHT was going to cancel the lease but ended up doing nothing of the sort.

[alysomji]

Reviews on tonight's episode (episode 2)?

[x86asm]

I haven't seen an episode yet, but if the ads have the best jokes they're pretty hurting..

"Would it kill you muslim gals to show a little cleavage?"

"Would it kill you if I hit you with a cleaver?"

Um.. ha? I don't find it offensive, just not very funny.. Sort of a "war at home" level of stupid attempted comedy.. And the "dressed like a protestant" one.. Just not very funny!

I just wanted to post and say that the highlighted show tries really hard to be funny and fails repeatedly. If this show is similar than forget it. I can't stand to watch War at Home.

[gorf]

I was out last night and missed the episode, I'll have to find it online or watch Monday night. Not sure if my spouse saw it.

Anyone watch and have an opinion?

[alysomji]

Little Mosque loses some viewers

January 18, 2007
Canadian press

CBC-TV's much-hyped comedy Little Mosque on the Prairie had a significant drop in viewers this week after its much-hyped premiere, but still managed a respectable showing in the ratings.

The show, set in a fictional town in Saskatchewan, pulled in 1.2 million, the public broadcaster said Thursday.

That is down considerably from last week's premiere, which drew a whopping 2.1 million viewers, but is still considered a good number for a Canadian show.

By comparison, Corner Gas, CTV's big sitcom hit and one of the country's highest-rated shows, routinely pulls in close to 1.5 million viewers a week.

Little Mosque debuted on a Tuesday night, but this week moved to Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET (a repeat is shown Monday nights).

The show received middling reviews from critics but was the subject of international media attention before its premiere. Much of the coverage centred on the fact that Little Mosque is a comedy about Muslims set in a post 9-11 world.

http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/172570

[manixc]

2nd ep is okay but it's just average sitcom with a Muslim theme.

[Rehan]

2nd ep is okay but it's just average sitcom with a Muslim theme. I just watched it on Google Video... I'd say it was on par with a (waaay?) below-average sitcom.

[alysomji]

Third episode is on tonight, apparently. Man, the scheduling for this show has been messed up - first moving from Monday to Wednesday, then showing a repeat last Wednesday instead of a new episode.

I'm hoping the show gets better because so far it's been about average, IMO.

[Lonely Soldier Boy]

Moving a show around like this is the kiss of death, regardless of quality.

[hdom]

She is the reason why I watched EP2. ;) Kinda like the way Gabrielle Miller keeps my coming aback to Corner Gas.

I found Sitara Hewitt's character to be cute so I googled her name. Boy - she's hot!

Link to her myspace page (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=136893108)

[chrome_dout]

IMHO this is just a super lame show with lots of hype, the jokes are pathetic, and the majority of the cast is plain annoying. I think this is just a way to try and push the whole 'Canada is a diverse and accepting nation' ploy that always comes up.

[play_b3yond]

a show where muslims are NOT the bad guys in post 9/11 ... no way! :-0 :razz:

[AzN_RiverdaleCI]

New episode tonight right?

[alysomji]

I think they aired a new one tonight but I'm not sure.

Didn't have time to see it so I'll be getting it "underground" when it's posted...

[TSXKid]

Was extra hyped for EP1.. Felt it was a let down.

Over acted with below average script! By this weeks show, didn't care to watch even though my better half had it on!

Come on Canada, are we always going to depict shows with our special CANADIAN touch? Here's a hint: Cushy Feely Canadian content sucks.

If CBC wanted to do a sitcom like Little Mosque, they should have had the balls to rise above and bring us something witty and humorous.

Oh Yeah, It's the CBC.. ain't gonna happen in my lifetime!

TSXKid

[alysomji]

The ratings were a good news/bad news story for CBC this week. Its comedy Little Mosque on the Prairie continues to draw eyeballs -- bringing just over one million viewers to its third episode on Jan. 31 -- a slight dip from episode two, which grabbed 1.2 million.

CBC programming chief Kirstine Layfield tells Playback Daily the network is "thrilled" over Mosque's faithful following.

"Even after last week being pre-empted by the NHL All Star game, audiences have returned. I think we have a certified hit on our hands," she says.

http://www.playbackmag.com/articles/daily/20070201/ratings.html