Category: Television

I like Samina’s piece because we have not been having the gender conversation at all. I think it does show the structural sexism that is not unique to Arabs/Muslims/Catholics/etc.. I think she also ends on the right note, that this show may not represent everyone’s experience, but it’s creating a lot of good conversations. Red Room: The True Threat Brewing Inside American-Muslim Communities: Women. The truth is, we need Nina Bazzy on T.V. as much as we need Suehaila showing us that she’s not the stereotypical conservative we envision when we imagine a hijabi. Together with superstitious Samira and rebellious Shadia,…

As alway, Sheila Musaji hits it out of the park. The American Muslim (TAM). However, once this became an issue not of whether or not the television program itself was worthwhile, but instead an issue of whether or not Muslims – any Muslims – could be represented without including demeaning stereotypes, then it became an issue for all American Muslims to be concerned about.

My latest at Religion Dispatches. Muslims Helped Legitimize Lowes’ Decision to Pull Ads From All-American Muslim | Religion Dispatches. What many of these criticizers, not critics, fail to realize is that actions have consequences. I would love to see a second season of All-American Muslim (AAM) that comes to Jackson Heights in Queens to do South Asian Muslims, or to Chicago to cover African-American Muslims. So, what these criticizers did is to create a narrative that even Muslims don’t believe that this show represents Muslims. There was no positive or constructive criticism, just complaints that the critics themselves weren’t on…

My latest for Our Shared Future. What’s So Threatening About All-American Muslim?. What the show really is is a threat to the FFA. Here is a popular show that anyone can watch at any time, and it shows that Americans are Americans, regardless of their faith. It’s not very scary. The other option that makes the FFA’s case is to believe that hundreds, if not thousands, of people involved in the production of the show for TLC are complicit in a cover-up that millions of Americans who recognize their stories in the episodes are going along with.

The reality of the ‘All-American Muslim’ reality TV show | Wajahat Ali | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk. The portrayal of Muslims living their daily lives is not only a welcome relief from the usual tawdry caricatures of Muslims as terrorists, extremists and taxi cab drivers, but it also helps defuse the deep-seated fears and bias that unfairly lumps 1.5 billion members of a faith in with the perverse criminal actions of a few.

Islam meets reality TV – Guest Voices – The Washington Post. I think the most important aspect of the show is the great diversity of opinion that will be on display. There are questions of clothing, and not just the hijab, which does generate very rich conversations, but just what is appropriate and modest on a daily basis. There are many independent business women on the show, and we are privy to the conversations as to what limits Arab culture imposes compared to religious mandates. One of the most powerful moments, and I think one that will resonate, is how…

TLC Orders 'All-American Muslim' Series – The Hollywood Reporter. TLC is attempting to take a deep dive into Muslin-American culture with its new series, All-American Muslim. The series, set to premiere in November, is designed to bring viewers inside a Dearborn, Michigan community with the largest mosque in the United States. The cameras will chronicle the everyday lives of five appropriately diverse Muslim families, focusing on their customs, celebrations, conflicts and misconceptions.

As you know, this past season was a groundbreaking one for South Asians across US TV and entertainment. Being the first ever American sitcom set in India and staffed by so many South Asian actors, writers, and crew members, we are so proud to be part of this trailblazing year. It has been a thrill for us, the cast, to be a part of “Outsourced” and an even greater thrill to see how fans have embraced the show, especially so many of you in the South Asian community. We know there was skepticism and even a few raised eye brows…

It Will Take More Than a Muslim Cosby Show. Couric’s instincts are right when she draws parallels between Islamophobia and racism. And she is correct in focusing on the role of media and cultural production in that fight. But her Cosby Show proposal is misplaced, both historically and socially. Perhaps what is needed more than another Cosby Show are the lessons learned from the first one.