Your friendly neighborhood Canadian mosque could be making its debut soon in the U.S. Perhaps you’ve never heard of the Canadian hit sitcom, “Little Mosque on the Prairie” developed by Zarqa Nawaz (hailed by Islamica Magazine as one the ten most innovative young Muslims).
This little show that could is a hilarious look at an engaging, multifaceted Muslim community struggling to live an Islamic life (well, their own individual interpretations of an Islamic life) in a small rural community.
Fox (which owns Beliefnet) has acquired the U.S. format rights to “Little Mosque,” which debuted in Canada in early 2007. According to a press release, the studio giant beat out other U.S. studios and cable channels for the format rights. This means that Fox may be developing their own American version of this show.
Mary Darling, the Canadian sitcom’s executive producer, said Fox understands the “creative vision of the show, that it has to be funny while it treads sensitively on certain Muslim issues.”
I, for one, am excited to see this show make a U.S. debut. Muslim themes are hardly explored by sitcoms (probably because studio heads are subscribing to the false notion that Muslims have no sense of humor. We do!) The CW’s short-lived “Aliens in America” (about a Pakistani-Muslim exchange student living with an American family) didn’t make it to a second season.
But just because Fox has acquired the rights to this show doesn’t mean the studio will actual make an American version of it. But there’s hope!
posted June 16, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I am a Canadian who loves “Little Mosque”. How exciting that once again the Canadian sense of humour is being exported to the US!
posted June 18, 2008 at 11:54 am
I haved watched every episode via youtube of this unique little show. It is very lively and is hilarious. Some of the characters remind me of people right here in my own ummah, though I won’t name names!
Insha’Allah, Fox will take the opportunity to present a very funny show instead of sitting on the rights and letting a potential hit for them gather dust. With Fox being such a conservative network, it lends to the possibility that they bought it so no one else could produce it. We shall see!
posted June 18, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I’m a big fan of the show, which I watch on youtube (search for LMOTP). But I would much rather a US network just rebroadcast the show than remade it. I’ll watch the train wreck, but I’m shuddering at the thought of how Fox will treat the remake.
posted June 18, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I feel that a show like that would never go past one season because most non-muslims are closed minded individuals.
posted June 18, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Marlee
For what it is worth, I am an traditionally observant Jew and I’ve been watching on youtube for 2 seasons. I’m eagerly awaiting the third.
posted July 22, 2008 at 4:03 am
I dont trust Fox to do it justice. I love to watch it on You tube . I think its well done already. But if Fox tried to do it , I dont think they can keep it the same.
posted October 17, 2008 at 11:45 am
What is the update of this show coming to USA?