october 4 , 2006

Islamic Sitcom in Canada?

With the new fall TV lineup in full swing, what better time to debut a charming little program called "Little Mosque on the Prairie?" I'm not joking. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has ordered eight epsodes of the sitcom. The network suits at CBC might want to don their riot gear in advance. Here's more, from Globe and Mail:

The CBC has quietly ordered eight episodes of a promising -- but potentially politically controversial -- new sitcom, Little Mosque on the Prairie, about a fictional Muslim family living in rural Saskatchewan. But instead of hoisting pitchforks, rolling down hills and selling eggs at Oleson's General store like Michael Landon's Ingalls family, this transplanted clan will be trying to interact with the denizens of a little Prairie town in a post Sept. 11 world.

Given global religious tensions, not helped by Pope Benedict's controversial remarks on Islam and the firestorm provoked by cartoons of Prophet Mohammed published in the Danish press, Little Mosque on the Prairie's comedy will have to be handled with extreme caution. Or God knows, CBC could have any number of watchdogs running around like Little House on the Prairie's shrieking shopkeeper Harriet Oleson.

On next week's episode, Mahmoud and Ali explain why all non-Muslims should be killed. Hijinks ensue.