Politicians (and Homer Simpson), step aside. The crisis in the Middle East is about to be solved by Comedy Central. Despite the failure of Albert Brooks to find humor in the Muslim world (or even in his own film), Reuters reports that MTV Networks International is launching Comedy Central Studios Arabia.
So forget about love: all we need is jokes. And if you think Arabs and Muslims don't like to laugh, guess again. There is "a significant appetite for local comedy content in the Middle East," according to MTVNI's executive vice president of emerging markets, Bhavneet Singh.
MTVNI is partnering with Abu Dhabi-based twofour54 to develop original content, as well as local versions of Comedy Central shows. It's doubtful "Crank Yankers" would be quite as good, though. I just can't see people playing along for as long. But who wouldn't want to watch a Middle East version of "The Daily Show," taking shots at Al Jazeera? Or the Arab Samantha Bee tricking Mahmoud Ahmadinejad into an interview? Comedy gold.
As for local talent who could star on the fledgling network, here are a few from the Allah Made Me Funny comedy tour.
Azhar Usman: Given western stereotypes about Muslim travelers, you can predict that he's going to do an airport security bit; you might not expect him to crack a suicide bomber joke. Then there's his take on the different ways people say "As-Salamu Alaykum."
Azeem: This Martin Luther King lookalike has plenty to say about box cutters and Mike Tyson, a fellow Muslim. But he also takes aim at home remedies and spanking children.
Preacher Moss: He wastes no time getting into 9/11, WMDs, and Osama bin Laden, but he also pokes fun at Muslim driving habits.
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