Little Mosque on the Prairie

Little Mosque has "charming zing," plus, a light story and a not-so-light story.

• The Detroit Free Press looks at this week's episode:

  The cheerful culture clash comedy about Muslims living in a small Canadian prairie town hasn't lost its charming zing as new episodes arrived this month. When a government agent (Samantha Bee, "The Daily Show") comes to Mercy to do a little fishing, ever vigilant Fatima (Arlene Duncan) suspects the agent's really there to fish for information while spying on members of the mosque. Hello, paranoia. Link

• From BBC News, Does Islam have a sense of humour?

  There's nothing better than having a laugh. I love going to see comedy, but people seem to have this impression that Muslims and comedy don't go together; that somehow we can't reconcile humour with our faith. Link

• From the International Herald Tribune, Muslims should protest terrorism, Dutch author says

  Dutch author Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the target of death threats for her criticism of radical Islam, says Muslims must demonstrate their anger when terrorism is committed in the name of religion, just as they did last year when newspapers published cartoons of the Prophet. Link

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Photo: David Cooper, Toronto Star

Eugene Levy has called them "the five funniest women in Canada" -- and Debra McGrath is one of them. Mercy's mayor is part of the comedy troupe Women Fully Clothed, and they talked to the Toronto Star about their travels across small-town Canada:

With their keen eyes for observation, the women have noticed the struggle of many small communities to revive and maintain their theatres and performing spaces. "Then heartbreakingly, we notice, of course, that the big box stores have destroyed just about every Main Street of every small town – probably all across Canada." Link

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The Metro Times Detroit invited a "diverse" group of Arab-Americans to discuss Little Mosque and the new U.S. show Arabs in America:

"The one criticism I have, and it's a mild one, is that on both shows, all of the (Muslim) characters are Indo-Pakistanis," panelist Ron Amen noted. "I think if they really wanted to take a bold step forward, they would introduce an Arab, possibly even an Arab Shiite. Then they would really be trendsetters."

Another panelist, Warren David recalled:

"The last time I was invited to a screening was the late '80s, and it was [the NBC terrorist TV-movie] Under Siege. I remember coming out and a reporter asked me what I thought of it. I said, 'I feel like I've been raped.' And they carried that comment like it was news. We've really come a long way when you can see programs like these that really humanize a culture, a society. I think it's the greatest thing. I hope there are more programs like them." Link

The Toronto Star reviews Little Mosque Season One on DVD:

"Behind the Mosque" is 13 minutes of the actors and producers talking about the joy of working on the show. Colin Brunton notes that "This is true of every Canadian producer: it's so gratifying to work on something that people are actually watching." Link

By contrast “Little Mosque,” which is returning for a second season this month and can be seen on YouTube, takes a brassier approach to its subject, the multiethnic congregation of a rural mosque. The members are just trying live in harmony with skeptical residents in the fictional town of Mercy, in Saskatchewan, while dealing with their own religious quandaries. Is a “burkini” the solution at a women-only swimming class with a gay male instructor? Can there be a Halal-o-ween?

The New York Times contrasts Little Mosque with shows like 24:

"Little Mosque,” which is returning for a second season this month and can be seen on YouTube, takes a brassier approach to its subject, the multiethnic congregation of a rural mosque. The members are just trying live in harmony with skeptical residents in the fictional town of Mercy, in Saskatchewan, while dealing with their own religious quandaries. Is a “burkini” the solution at a women-only swimming class with a gay male instructor? Can there be a Halal-o-ween?

“It’s not making fun, but using humor to talk about some of the things that are important,” said Amir Hussain, a professor of theological studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Link

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In the news:

Carlo Rota and Sheila McCarthy will be at a quilt auction in Stratford, Ontario to raise money to fight cancer. Up for auction is a chance to visit the Little Mosque set and meet the stars. Link

Then, the Georgia Straight on Little Mosque's Season One DVD:

A definitively Canadian sitcom that portrays a community of Muslims living on the small-town prairies. The show’s hook is that it portrays Muslims as—wait for it—ordinary people. Beyond Canada, Little Mosque on the Prairie is available in Turkey, Finland, Israel, and the Palestinian territories. Could America be next? Link

The Globe on Darcy Tucker's guest spot this week:

People have always said Darcy Tucker, the Toronto Maple Leafs irascible forward, is a good actor. He can fall down when breathed upon. He can feign great indignity when called for a penalty. (He can also score goals and drive opponents wild with his chirping, which is an often overlooked skill compared to his thespian accomplishments.) Link

A new report says women in Muslim countries are hit worse by discrimination than women elsewhere. Link

Finally, a story on a Quebec bill that would require all voters to show their faces in order to cast their ballot. Link

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In the News:

At CBC News there's Israelis, Palestinians weigh in on CBC's Little Mosque:

"Our sense of comedy is not what they have in North America," laughed Khaled Amr. The sense of humour also appeared to differ based on what side of the city was watching the show — scenes that got a big laugh in West Jerusalem were met with silence in the city's east. Palestinians and Israelis both got chuckles from the show, but at different times. Link

This Magazine wonders what American viewers will make of Mosque:

When it comes to American viewers, “small town Canada with a little Muslim twist” might have a hard time competing with a tight T-shirt sporting Kiefer torturing terrorists. Link

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Just "googling" Little Mosque on the Prairie and came across an in-depth article about the show on SaudiAramcoWorld.com. Written by Sheldon Chad and photographed by Michael Nelson, the article talks about the beginning, when Little Mosque on the Prairie was being pitched by creator Zarqa Nawaz. They also spoke with Executive Producer Mary Darling and CBC Creative Head, Anton Leo, who both recollect about those early days. Link

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Photo Credit: Tara Walton, Toronto Star

What TV shows does Adrienne Clarkson say she watches every week?

I watch Little Mosque on the Prairie and Corner Gas. I think they express something about Canada and I enjoy the actors. And they're both very, very funny. Link

We don't mind the shared billing when it comes from a Governor General.

The title of tonight's episode is Ban the Burka. This title caused a bit of a debate here at the blog - over spelling. How do you spell burka, anyway?

The Oxford English Dictionary says burka is right, as is burqa, boorka, bourkha and burko. Link

Burqini is spelled with a 'q' or a 'k.'

The Baber Rants

Baber's latest rant is up on the site. This week's topic: the worst "ism" of all. Hint: it's not communism, fascism or sexism.

In the news:

The Globe and Mail looks at criticism of the Harper government's plans to court ethnic voters.

The Pakistan Daily Times has a story on the first Muslim woman to take front seat in the U.K. parliament.

Human rights lawyer Sayeeda Warsi has become the first Muslim woman to take a front-bench post at cabinet level in the British parliament.The 36-year old mother of one took her seat in the House of Lords as Baroness Warsi. She is also the youngest member of Britain’s upper parliamentary chamber and the first female Muslim for the opposition Conservative Party. Link

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Welcome to the Little Mosque blog. We'll be posting news stories, observations, behind-the-scenes updates, and exclusive interviews with cast and crew.

In the news:

British writer Ziauddin Sardar talks about the show in the U.K.'s New Statesman today.

Muslims have become funny. Like most other people, we've always had our funny side and have never been averse to laughing at ourselves. But somehow the west never appreciated that we had a sense of humour. Link

And Variety's Awards Central carries a story on Little Mosque and the Search for Common Ground Award:

"Little Mosque on the Prairie," a sitcom about a Muslim community in a small Canadian prairie town, will receive the Search for Common Ground Award, a prestigious humanitarian award whose previous winners include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former U.S. President Carter and Muhammad Ali. Link

And, alas, a slightly surlier take on the story at Defamer.

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