Katie Couric - America needs a Muslim version of The Cosby Show

They can have all the sitcoms and trash they want, no one watches TeeVee anymore anyway. Really, the regular six hour couch viewer is going extinct and the age of forums and tubes is rapidly transforming. Too much information exists not to be found.

On today's episode of "Living with Ahkmed"

Ahkmed, a pizzaria owner in a small southern town, is making pizzas using pepperoni from a new vendor. In the past, all products were beef...no pork here! Suddenly, after a week of pizzas, Ahkmed finds out that he has been handling the real thing...PORK pepperoni....What to do? Imagine the hijinks and fun had here.

For those iggnorant enough to think I am using stereotypes and iggnorance...this REALLY did happen to my friend, Ahkmed...who really does own and run 2 pizza restuarants in a couple of small southern towns. And it really did bother him because of his faith... we didn't laugh then, I really don't see a comedy based on religion...any religion could be funny... so we probably wouldn't laugh now.

It would be very hard not to cross certain lines and go from comedy to insulting quickly.

Well my intellect is not sooo much above that of the ATS contributors that I have no need for TV shows. Unlike many here I like comedy. I think Fraser and monty Python are both brilliant and as for Father Ted>>>

Anyway it is not a moral issue but possibly one of art (comedy) reflecting current social tensions. We could all do with a belly laugh especially those frequent flyers

Here is a link to a youtube clip. ( Mods I don't know if this is OK).

www.youtube.com...

The comedian is Iranian-born and the entire interaction between he and Jack Dee who introduces him is divine.

In case the link is in breach of ATS rules just google "Omid Djalili"

reply to post by hotbakedtater


It seems like you follow "television" more than you care to admit. It just happens to be not the kind of television you are thinking of. I'm gonna keep that one vague. Also, first you say media has an agenda, which they would not have if there was no indication of their efforts coming to fruition. Then you say than anybody who thinks the Cosby chow had any ripple effects whatsoever (which it certainly did) is a fool. The left side of your brain must be constantly feasting upon itself with these blatant contradictions. Or you just like to be contradictory for the ****s and giggles. If media had no influence, why would you have to exert your will to shield you from it's pernicious stench. If media has no effect sweetheart, why the eff are you posting on (and ostensibly reading) an internet website. Perhaps because you think this media will allow your ideas to spread. I just want to jump into your head and untie those knots. Or say naughty, naughty girl, why oh why do you like to stir the s*** so much. Head explodes!

And BTW, to everybody else, Katie Couric undoubtedly does not see the world like her television persona. Maybe she is smart enough to play "stupid" on TV.

Do you think?


Being from NY, I met many peaceful muslims.

Originally posted by AlreadyGone
I really don't see a comedy based on religion.

But it wouldn't be a comedy based on religion. (I'm starting to get ideas about how this imagined sitcom could actually work, thinking maybe Katie's on to something.) It would be a comedy about people, families, ideas, values, foibles and endearments. And the people in this show, or most of them, would be Muslim. Much as the Cosby show was about people living while black, this would be a show about people living while Muslim. A peek inside a regular American Muslim community... although probably not particularly accurate - considering it's coming from Hollywood - but what TV show IS accurate? But I wouldn't mind writing for the show and doing the research necessary to bring an interesting, funny and different show to TV.

It would be very hard not to cross certain lines and go from comedy to insulting quickly.

That's true. If it were a show based on a religion. But if I had anything to do with it, it wouldn't be.

Originally posted by tiger5
Well my intellect is not sooo much above that of the ATS contributors that I have no need for TV shows. Unlike many here I like comedy. I think Fraser and monty Python are both brilliant and as for Father Ted

Agreed. We gave up TV a few months ago because of the influence we could feel coming from it, but we've since decided to get it again and be disciplined about the way we watch and that's working very well. I just watched a great show about wolves. TV is like ATS. An alarming amount of it is probably not really worth much more than pure entertainment value, but there are nuggets and veins of gold if you look for them.

Anyway it is not a moral issue but possibly one of art (comedy) reflecting current social tensions. We could all do with a belly laugh ...

Perfectly said. That's how I see this issue. Not as Hollywood trying to school us. I think they want to entertain us. Because when we're entertained, we give them money.

Its one of those things that I'm not sure would make anyone really happy in the end to be honest.

TV is still very ratings and $ driven. Pretty much any show is fair game to be canceled if people don't watch it.

So, say they make the show and its a hit - some people will turn that into just another thing to be unhappy with Muslims about.

So, say they make the show and its a flop and its canceled - some people will turn that just another case of oppressing Muslims.

Its really a no-win situation. But, hey if she wants it she is rich enough to pitch it to the networks and back it. Go ahead and put it on the air and let the market decide.

Originally posted by AlreadyGone
I really don't see a comedy based on religion...any religion could be funny... so we probably wouldn't laugh now. It would be very hard not to cross certain lines and go from comedy to insulting quickly.

Once again...go to
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/f597210b4d5f.gif[/atsimg]www.cbc.ca....
Watch an episode or two on-line. If nothing else, it will enable you to speak to the subject with some authority.

Originally posted by Sinnthia
You said Couric suggested it. You said Hollywood was doing it.

I said Couric suggested it. I never said Hollywood was doing it. That's absurd.
She only suggested it like a day ago. It would be impossible for Hollywood to
jump on it that quick.

You said that all this stuff was happening. What did I twist?

All what stuff? All I said was that Couric suggested it and it would be obnoxious to have Hollywood preach at America via a sitcom. YOU are claiming I said Hollywood was doing it. I did not.

I see your words, need me to quote you or can you scroll up?

Quote me exactly where I said that Hollywood was doing this.

anything she said about Muslims must mean "black" Muslims?

Couric picked a black sitcom and therefore I saw it as a black muslim show. You obviously do not. I already said .. whatever. Interpret it anyway you like.

Probably anyone that can read your posts.

No, I'm sure it's just BH trailing along and giving stars to anyone who disagrees with me no matter the content of the post. She'll probably deny it. WHATEVER.

Originally posted by Frogs
So, say they make the show and its a hit - some people will turn that into just another thing to be unhappy with Muslims about.

So, say they make the show and its a flop and its canceled - some people will turn that just another case of oppressing Muslims.

Either of these is possible and as someone else said, there will always be bigots. There's nothing to be done about that. However, I believe that a lot of people who fear and dislike Muslims are not bigots, but have been influenced in their minds by the Bush administration, the wars and the media's coverage of very negative situations regarding Muslims. If we saw only the worst of ANY group, we'd tend to be afraid of that group. But it's those people, who are good at heart, but have only the media's view of Muslims as a scary, weird, different and dark people, that might benefit from being exposed to a 'normal' Muslim family in the US.

And it's also possible that, if it's a good show, it might just teach people something. I'm not suggested it be billed as educational programming, but neither am I above learning something from a TV show now and then, especially if its aim is to bring people together instead of cutting each other down.

Originally posted by FlyersFan
You are back to playing with the bold again. Funny.

I was never away from it. I use the bold key often to emphasize a word, phrase or sentence. I've found that it makes communication on the Internet, where we can't hear any inflection, more effective. Is that an incorrect use of the bold feature? If so, can you tell me its purpose?

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
But it wouldn't be a comedy based on religion. ....this would be a show about people living while Muslim.

And you know that .. how? Now who is interjecting? *(hint .. you are)

that's how I see this issue. Not as Hollywood trying to school us. I think they want to entertain us.

Then you missed the entire point of Courics comment. She said America NEEDS a Muslim version of the Cosby show. We NEED it. Her intent was clear. Education - hollywood style - and with the info that is cherry picked by them to give to Americans because we NEED it.

She wasn't talking about hollywood needing money or needing to entertain .. she said the opposite .. that WE AMERICANS need to be subjected to a sugar coated version of a Muslim family.


SIDE NOTE - I liked the Cosby show. It was cute. I loved Rudy. But It was a sugar coated and impossible sitcom. I think we'd be hard pressed to find a family of seven; living in a lovely brownstone in NYC; the dad a doctor; the mom a lawyer; the five kids all wonderful; the house immaculate; the dinners all cooked to perfection, the shopping getting done, the mom and dad with major careers still finding enough time to raise a perfect family, and the parents always loveydovey and perfect with each other.

Originally posted by hotbakedtater
Anyone who truly believes the Cosby show is responsible for Americans somehow accepting blacks is a fool.

Well, I think so, and I'm not about to be defined as a fool for it. A look around will deliver a lot of corresponding commentary:

White racism and The Cosby Show by Mike Budd and Clay Steinman
No doubt for many the show's goodwill carried with it some acceptance for African Americans, a GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER? for the Reagan years. www.ejumpcut.org...

I'd go so far as to say that to deny that the Cosby show helped white society to accept Blacks as equals in a post Jim Crow America...is indeed foolish.

Originally posted by FlyersFan
Now who is interjecting? *(hint .. you are)

Yes, I am. I said that. I am thinking of ideas about how the show might play out. I said, "if I had anything to do with it".

Her intent was clear. Education - hollywood style - and with the info that is cherry picked by them to give to Americans because we NEED it.

Yes HER intent was clear, but she is not Hollywood.. SHE was talking about exposing Americans to a Muslim program (much like the Cosby show did for black people). Couric is NOT Hollywood. I said Hollywood would be doing it to entertain us (for the money). THEY would not care about education. They care about cash. You don't seriously think Hollywood would do something without a financial windfall, do you?

But It was a sugar coated and impossible sitcom. I think we'd be hard pressed to find a family of seven; living in a lovely brownstone in NYC; the dad a doctor; the mom a lawyer; the five kids all wonderful; the house immaculate; the dinners all cooked to perfection, the shopping getting done, the mom and dad with major careers still finding enough time to raise a perfect family, and the parents always loveydovey and perfect with each other.

They didn't have the perfect family. And the parents fought and were not perfect with each other. They dealt with subjects like teenage pregnancy, dyslexia, sneaking out, pride, etc. Everything you can think of was covered on that show. The show wasn't about being black. It was about being human. And if I wrote the show Couric was speculating on, it would also be about being human.

Maybe the entire picture of the Cosby family wasn't 100% realistic, but the problems and issues between the characters, the situations, the love, the happiness of a family and the sadness of it... all these aspects of life are all too real. It was a well-done show. I loved it. And I learned from it. I also learned from All in the Family. I don't know why a Muslim show would be any different. And I don't understand the aversion to learning something from a TV show. No one is making anyone watch it. You have the remote.

reply to post by rle4lunch


Well even a broken clock is correct twice in 24 hours. You may not like her (ms Couric) but I feel that she has on this occaison made a valid point. We can then explore it and see if it has merit. For all of the focuse groups and analysts in TV no one quite nows what makes a hit comedy and nor do you or me.

some fractions of the intertainment business have been doing this for years,

Dad is a duffus,
Mom is brain-dead, and belittles the father,
the kids are disrespectful, know it alls

Katie talking about this kinda sitcom?

I could go on listing much more but I better not.

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
However, I believe that a lot of people who fear and dislike Muslims are not bigots, but have been influenced in their minds by the Bush administration, the wars and the media's coverage of very negative situations regarding Muslims. If we saw only the worst of ANY group, we'd tend to be afraid of that group.

No smoke without fire?

So far this Christmas, Religion of Peace devotees have

Bombed a church in the Philippines,

Blown up 45 flood refugees waiting in line for Western food aid,

Plotted to bomb a Christmas tree lighting in Oregon and a recruitment center in Maryland,

Massacred 86 innocents in attacks on Nigerian churches,

Planned to poison American food buffets and implant bombs in human bodies,

Plotted the slaughter of civilians in Holland, London and a newspaper office in Denmark... and even

Set off the first suicide blast in Sweden, which was intended for Christmas shoppers.

www.thereligionofpeace.com...

During Ramadan 2010, Islamic terrorists carried out 226 terrorist attacks and killed 1,028 people. In the same period, 1 Hindu murdered 1 Christian.

www.thereligionofpeace.com...

At least 30 Islamic terror plots against U.S. foiled since 9/11

creepingsharia.wordpress.com...

Instead of calling it My Three Sons, they could call it My Two Wives,

oops we already have a reality TV program on that ,




Sitcoms, like stand up are meant to be sarcastically funny, what's the word I want to use?

They add humor into a situation that can be uncomfortable for the person being made fun of, I don't know if this would fly.

Unless she wants a sugar coated sitcom,