Friday 2 December 2011

CBC Memories: Little Mosque on the Prairie



This is actually a "current CBC Memory" because Little Mosque on the Prairie is still being broadcast. This Canadian sit-com started airing in 2007 and is currently about to start its final year. The show concerns the lives and tribulations of a little Muslim community in the small fictional city of Mercy, Saskatchewan, where the Muslims rent space for their mosque in the parish hall of the local Anglican church.

Much like King of Kensington before it, the comedy of Little Mosque on the Prairie is a smidge corny, a wee bit earnest, gently satirical and full of understated Canadian humour. It too promotes the values of tolerance and multiculturalism through humour. But every once in awhile, the writers do pull off a real zinger!

In 2008, the Fox network in the U.S. planned to make an American version for south of the border. But while good-natured joking about Christians and Muslims is fine and accepted in Canada, it is apparently too hot to handle in the States. An American version of Little Mosque on the Prairie never made it to air.

18 comments:

Tricky Nag said...

I haven't watched this for awhile, but it's a show we should be proud of - for it's content and ratings.

Anonymous said...

I never knew this, very interesting, mmmmm, what does this say about us I wonder,,I'm not sure but I like what I feel it implies,, ( Canadian here, lol)

A Beer for the Shower said...

This looks pretty damn funny, though it's no wonder I've never heard of it. If this ever aired in the states, anyone who viewed it would probably be bagged, tagged, and dragged off to Guantanamo Bay. They have a terribly unreliable sense of humor, my countrymen.

Aimee B said...

I live in the U.S. and I have been watching Little Mosque for years! I love it! We recently moved and the new cable company doesn't offer CBC... I am heart broken, I wanted to see the final season.

I am ashamed that my country is so intolerant!

Judy said...

From this trailer, I would have enjoyed this show...

Robin Larkspur said...

I'm afraid the American public, for the most part,have a stuffy sense of humor.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Hey Aimee B, you can watch episodes online at http://www.cbc.ca/littlemosque/episodes.php

All the episodes from Seasons 1-6 are there. Once the final season starts, those episodes will be posted there too.

Laeli said...

This is a good one! I adore the storylines and humour.

Jane said...

Seen the commercials, but I've yet to catch an episode - judging by this, it looks hilarious! Thanks for opening my eyes - praise be to _ _ _ _ _ (you can fill in the blanks as you like, hehe)

Wendy said...

It's been a while since I've seen it too, but it really is a funny show. And now that I have REAL paid-for TV, I can catch up.
Enjoy your weekend!

Magaly Guerrero said...

I've never watched it, but it looks like something I would enjoy.

Plowing Through Life (Martha) said...

We live in the greatest country in the world, don't we? I love being a Canuck!

Unknown said...

Okay, I have never watched this one, but sure looks like is time to give it a try.

I find it fascinating that the US never did a version of it, but yet they have the time and money to reboot Charlie's Angels or crash and burn with bad sitcoms like "Whitney" no problemo...

laughingwolf said...

no tv, so not watchee... heard it was good, tho...

yellowdoggranny said...

there is something on tv now..cable??? called Muslim in America..

Jim said...

So close, yet so far away from each other. The U.S. can be so complex and muddles me most of the time.

Anonymous said...

Yes, instead here in the U.S. they give us garbage TV shows that Coke, Pepsi, big companies love to run their ads on. It's why we watch Netflix without commercials so we are not dictated to by ABC, CBS and NBC what they want us to watch. Garbage TV.

Frostbite and Sunburn said...

I quite liked this show - the characters make me smile - and I always thought it would transfer brilliantly to a British audience too - I'm very surprised the BBC hasn't bought it, or bought the rights to it.