Katie Couric Was Right! Muslim-Americans Do Want Their Own TV Show

By Jo Piazza Posted Jan 26th 2011 11:59PM

Katie Couric came under fire this month for suggesting a Muslim version of 'The Cosby Show' would go a long way in fixing America's ignorance about the Islamic faith.

"Maybe we need a Muslim version of 'The Cosby Show' ... I know that sounds crazy," Couric said on a web version of her show, while discussing the major stories from 2010. "But 'The Cosby Show' did so much to change attitudes about African-Americans in this country, and I think sometimes people are afraid of things they don't understand."

Critics were quick to call Couric's well-intentioned remarks simplistic and "bird-brained."

But Muslim and Arab writers, directors and actors say they see Couric's remarks as a stepping stone to tolerance and say the CBS news anchor gave them a platform they wouldn't have otherwise had to express their desire for more positive Muslim portrayals on scripted television. They're hoping her remarks will be the catalyst to make that happen.

"We want to see a typical Arab-American family that is just like every other family in America," said Arab-American comedian Dean Obeidallah, who has developed a pilot for Comedy Central. "Television has had the ability to demonize Muslims and Arabs, but we realize that it also has the ability to humanize us."

Couric's suggestion might not be as radical or as far off as her critics decried. In fact, Muslim-American writers say that broadcast and cable networks are starting to be more receptive to scripts prominently featuring both Arabs and practitioners of Islam. A decade-removed from the September 11th terrorist attacks, television may finally be ready to portray Muslim-Americans as more than terrorists and taxi cab drivers.

"Hollywood would definitely embrace a Muslim 'Cosby Show' with one caveat: It would have to be really good. It's the one factor that has linked shows about minorities like the 'Cosby Show' or even 'Will & Grace.' Currently, I believe Americans are open to any minority as long as the show speaks to universal human truths and makes them laugh," said Muslim-American Hollywood television and movie producer Tariq Jalil, the executive producer of the comedy 'Marmaduke.'

"From a network perspective, a show just needs to be socially responsible and pull in ratings. I don't think there's a single network that would turn down a good show that features Muslim-Americans as long as it brought in viewers."

Jalil says the atmosphere is right; the problem is more Muslims need to write this kind of material.

Wajahat Ali, a Muslim-American playwright and author, recently released a play about the familial drama and comedy of a Muslim-American family, called 'Domestic Crusaders,' through McSweeney's publishing imprint and has been tapped by HBO to write a pilot with bestselling author Dave Eggers about a Muslim-American police officer living in San Francisco. Ali says several theaters passed on producing 'Domestic Crusaders,' despite loving the script.

"There seems to be hesitation amongst artistic directors that the play, featuring all Pakistani-American characters, might not resonate with mainstream audiences. There is also a fear that the mere mention of a play about Muslim-Americans will generate controversy and backlash," Ali said.

But when he pitched his idea for a television pilot featuring a Muslim-American cop, HBO was very receptive.

"HBO has been great, but at the end of the day we have to acknowledge that the color that matters in Hollywood and show business is green. They need to be convinced that the story you are telling will be accessible to the mainstream audience to get their revenue," Ali said.

A Newsweek poll conducted in August showed 58 percent of Americans believe they don't know anyone who is Muslim. A television show won't entirely close that gap, but could go a long way toward making Americans feel like they know a Muslim. More than that, it could help Muslim-American children feel like their American counterparts know someone like them.

"For a Muslim-American child to see people who look like him or her, a normal family living in the U.S., will make them feel a genuine sense of acceptance. Talking to a child about the constitution and their rights will go right over their head, show them a 30-minute sitcom and they will understand tolerance, acceptance and even equality," said Linda Sarsour, director of the Arab American Association of New York and mother of three.

Playwright Aizzah Fatima, who wrote and performs the one-woman show 'Dirty Paki Lingerie' in New York City, just hopes such a program would combat the general ignorance about Islam that Couric was referring to. "Just as the Cosby show debunked stereotypes about African-Americans, so could a similar show do for Muslim-Americans. We are just like everyone else. Some of us are religious, and others aren't. We do not want to impose Islamic law or anything else on our neighbors of different faiths."

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Comments

(43)

Wednesday 26 January

By MiaJ

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While we're at it, maybe we should have a show about a Christian family. They could go on cool adventures, like putting a pipebomb in an abortion clinic or protesting a funeral. Oooh, I know, how about their wacky uncle the priest rapes little boys?? Wouldn't that be super? Aren't stereotypes FUN?

By FRKCHICAGO

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Show wont last long.The father will do an "honor killing" in the first episode because his daughter acts to much like an AMERICAN.Then the son blows everyone up when the bomb hes making accidentally explodes in the house and kills the rest of the family.

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Didnt mean too copy your idea. I wrote mine before I saw yours. Guess were on the same page.LOL

By Larry

That would be a great show, maybe they can get Bin Laden to direct it, what a joke

By abdullh

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Die, I said I accept I have said one loves death I said his father death today Helou woosh tricks I said I said crazy ante APEC

By cinnysim

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Katie is right. It's so difficult to understand why those who call themselves 'Americans' or 'Patriots' are so full of hate and prejudice. I suppose they watch FOX entertainment which calls itself 'News'. Enough vitriol and yes, I would watch a TV series portraying a Muslim American family.

By lmart97

Oh right!!! A fictional show about a Muslim family will prove what the typical Muslim family is like, just like the Cosby Show represented the average black family in America!!! Give me a break!!!

By Ann Moore

This would be a great idea. The Muslims that I live around are better off than even Asians.

By fatherdjohnson@aol.com

The real question for such a television project as this would be: to what extent will this hypothetical Muslim-American family be willing to laugh at itself, to examine what it does and believes from angles other than what a strictly pious attitude dictates, in short, will such ideas and practices be amenable to the nothing-is-really-sacred reductionism at the center of American television? If the answer to any of these questions is no, then the program will end up being an exercise in politically correct apologetics, or, even worse, white-washing propaganda. And if the answer is yes, then the producers of the show and its cast will be threatened with death.

Thursday 27 January

By CherCher

And what are they going to do when their daughter has a crush on an American boy? Put a bullet in her head on national TV.

By dee

Great a Muslim family show and episode one "Honor Killing Your Daughter"

By Laura

This is exactly the type of responses that should be expected. Not all Arabs are Muslims, and not all Muslims are terrorists. The ignorant bigotry of this country is reflected in the statements above.

Intolerance and hatred just add to the problem people. Do not hold an entire population accountable for the actions of some zealots.

By mary

It's difficult to weed out the zealots from the "regular" kind of Muslims when I keep seeing in my head two buildings full of innocent people being blown up for absolutely no reason whatsoever except hatred of western civilization. Your advice is probably wise, but even so, when all I've seen is hatred toward Americans, and women in particular, I'll have to stay with my irrational fears until the "regular" Muslims prove otherwise - they should govern their own and stay in their own homeland.

By rose

Do you uneducated red-necks know what the ratio of muslims to terrorists is? Extremely large. Judging several hundred million people in the worlds fastest growing religion by the actions and beliefs of a few hundred is utterly ridiculous.

By SteveO

Beheading??? Thats the episide they'll show during Sweeps Week...that along with a nice Honour Killing Finale....

By Caz

Muslims have won..plain and simple.Since 9/11 muslims have been getting just about everything they want.I blame the spineless Liberals for this.They have this delussion that Islam is a peaceful relegion when it isnt and never will be.As for Couric well she is a f^cking idiot who has her head up her ^ss like the rest of them.I especially loved that very exaggerated look of shock and dismay on Whoopi's face when Bill O'Reilly told them how things in the real world are...The only tv show I want to see about Muslims is the one showing them eating BLTs after their mecca is blown to pieces and reduced to a smoldering heap.c

By RobertRob

Yeah with allmost all the Violence in the world caused by Muslems its ratings will B high I bet ha ha ha ha ha NOT.
The best thing that could happen is 4 some sientist to figgure out how 2 replece oil then we can tell them Arabs to keep there oil.
But I must say till them we R doomed to War & Violence

By kenny

I would not watch any muslim program on TV. They're all a bunch of disgusting hambones

Get a grip Rose what rock hav U ben hiding under.

By Lindsay

You all make me sick! Such intolerance and generalizations will put our country back in the dark ages, Sounds like you all need the education. As far as saying her brain is fried? Really? I tend to lead to right on the political scale but Please! Do not act so holier then though. Take your intolerance and hypocrisy elsewhere and educate yourselves before you much such ignorant hateful statements...

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