About (Late) Last Night: 'The Daily Show' test-screens a new Muslim sitcom
What's the best way for Muslim-Americans to combat persistent negative stereotypes? Lately, some pundits have suggested that it might be time for a Muslim "Cosby Show," a sitcom that portrays Muslim-Americans who are "just like us" -- which is to say, white.
Last night, "The Daily Show" took some time to evaluate this latest meme. Correspondent Aasif Mandvi consulted the experts. Did they think a new television show could eradicate Islamophobia the same way that "The Cosby Show" had "cured racism against black people"? Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf of the Cordoba Initiative (or, as the media likes to call it, the "Ground Zero Mosque") was supportive of the idea, but suggested that more would be needed to completely shift perceptions. "So, like a Muslim 'Jeffersons'?" Mandvi asked. "What you want to do with a show with Muslims is just have them be like everybody else," said Alvin Pouissaint, a psychologist who consulted on the original "Cosby Show."
With these ideas in mind, Mandvi put together a pilot, called "The Qu'osby Show," about a family that drinks pork juice, loves Toby Keith and just happens to be Muslim. Would this non-threatening portrait of Islam be enough to win over a test-audience of skeptical Americans? Watch and find out.
So, what do you think? Is the idea of a Muslim sitcom patently ridiculous? Or do you think it has some merit?
-- Meredith Blake
There already is a "muslim sitcom" -- Little Mosque on the Prarie (http://www.cbc.ca/littlemosque/).
Posted by: Kate | February 18, 2011 at 09:16 AM
The Daily Show just released the full extended pilot for The Qu'osby Show:
http://gtcha.me/gUhZ7T
Posted by: Matt | February 19, 2011 at 11:33 AM
As an Americana living in the Middle East I would suggest that the Canadian show "Little mosque on the Prairie" be required viewing.
Posted by: Lynda | February 20, 2011 at 03:03 AM
One thing we have to remember that religion is more of choice than race. You don't have to be Muslim, while the Black people are born that race and can't change this. With that in mind, the merit of a strictly Muslim sitcom that is not in some way satirical seems ridiculous. Compare it to Big Love where the premise is laughable. What we should see that would have the same effect of the Cosby show is just exposure in today's media of the average Muslim. As opposed to the Muslims portrayed on the news which are usually radical.
Posted by: Modi | March 04, 2011 at 09:44 AM