Arabisto: Canada’s hit show “Little Mosque on the Prairie” to be broadcast on a tube near you

A new sitcom on CBC Television in Canada, “Little Mosque on the Prairie,” will soon syndicate its series to the United States, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, and beyond.

A first in 10 years, the show amassed over 2.1 million Canadian viewers when it premiered on January 9, 2007, breaking new ground in Canada’s television history. The brainchild of Muslim Pakistani-Canadian Zarqa Nawaz, freelance writer and filmmaker, the story bound television series centers on Muslim residents in a little prairie town of Mercy, Saskatchewan and delves into the relationships between Muslims and non-Muslims in a satirically, comedic style.

With this new television series, the first of its kind to focus on such relationships, questions arise: “Is it possible to find humor in Muslims interacting with suspicious North Americans in a post–9/11 world?” “What are the challenges that arise when sensitive social and political issues provide the context for a traditional comedy show?” These were just some of many questions posed by NPR journalist Bob Garfield to the cast and creative team of “Little Mosque on the Prairie” at The Museum of Television and Radio in New York this past week.

Garfield moderated the panel which included Mary Darling, Executive Producer; Kirstine Layfield, Executive Director, Network Programming, CBC Television; Anton Leo, Creative Head, Comedy, Arts & Entertainment, CBC Television; Zarqa Nawaz, Creator, Consulting Producer, Writer; actor Manoj Sood, “Baber”; actor Zaib Shaikh, “Amaar”; and actress Sheila McCarthy, “Sarah.”

When Zarqa approached Anton Leo, Creative Head of CBC Television, with the idea, he said, on the panel, he knew it would be unique. What “sold” him, Leo said, was Zarqa’s story. Zarqa recounted her father’s plight for survival a midst increased Islamophobia, detention camps, and suspicion after September 11^th.

Instead of seeing this tragedy as an end to alleviating the relationships between Muslims and non-Muslims, Zarqa said she viewed it as an “opportunity” for others to learn more about their culture in order to avoid confusion. She believes it is essential to have suitable and relevant programs concerning Islamic culture in order to counteract stereotypes.

“9/11 changed everything, our lives … The universe turned upside down … that’s when I got an idea.” “If I could create this show, people could see us as human beings again, not as the Other,” Zarqa informed the audience.

Kirstine Layfield, Executive Director of CBC Television, explained that they received letters from various political viewpoints in response to the show, specifically from Muslims on how they would be perceived.

Interestingly enough, this show has received varied criticism from some bloggers.

One blogger fan from MicroPakistan.org said, “Some would disagree with the sitcom’s success and say it does a poor job to represent true Muslim culture and traditions. Personally, I feel it does well in depicting a softer side of the Muslim world that till now has been kept away from the masses residing in the West.” Expressing otherwise, one responded back, “I have to say, I am greatly disappointed by the series. I thought it would engage and enlighten. Instead, it bored and it blundered. Its portrayal of liberal, tolerant Islam misrepresents Muslims as assimilationists of reckless abandon.”

According to another self-professed “addicted” fan, a North American blogger from Indrani.net, “Having been raised in a country with the largest Muslim population on earth and lived in Northern America for 9 years, I can tell you that this sitcom is being purely honest to what is going on when Islam enters a North American suburbia.”

Mary Darling, Executive Producer, added, “The show has created dialogue where dialogue does not exist.”

Layfield described, “In the end, it’s universal … a story in Canada.” “I remember waiting for the ratings to come in.” “2090 OMG was the text I received on my blackberry,” she excitedly recalled.

Several questions from the audience focused on when the show would be aired globally. Layfield said that syndication deals are in the works with the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Azerbajian. Canal Plus, she said, will issue "Little Mosque on the Prairie" in France, Switzerland and in Africa as early as July.

The show has quickly become popular internationally—in countries the show has not yet been syndicated to. How could this be? Well, many I spoke to watch the show on YouTube.com, a popular website where users can share videos online. I discussed this with Zarqa after the panel and enlightened her on how fans are clicking to view the show online. She said many from around the world are resorting to this medium since the show has not yet reached syndication deals in their countries. To view episodes from Season 1, click here.

For Season 2, Zarqa hinted that the show will feature a gay Muslim. She quipped, “Fred Tucker will love that one.” (“Tucker” is a “right-wing” radio talk show host on the show and the part is played by Neil Crone.) CBC Television has already purchased 20 new episodes for next season.

Zarqa said, on the panel, she hopes to accomplish the task of humanizing others in understanding the similarity of the issues discussed on the show as reflective in each of our lives.

“Little Mosque on the Prairie” airs on Monday nights at 9 p.m. and Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. on CBC Television.

Rima Abdelkader is a NY-based journalist and a graduate of Pace University in NY.