'The Simpsons' Exported to Middle East -- Minus Bacon, Beer

[GutterRat]

Story

Oct. 18, 2005 — After 17 seasons of entertaining U.S. audiences, "The Simpsons" can now be seen on Arab television. While U.S. foreign policy is not always a hit overseas, there is a huge audience for American popular culture.

So the Arab satellite network MBC is bringing the cartoon saga of Springfield to the heart of the Arab world. "The Simpsons" has been exported overseas and is now called "Al Shamshoon."
The new take on the cartoon classic debuted this month, just in time for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, as first reported by "The Wall Street Journal."

With Omar instead of Homer, and Badr substituting for Bart, MBC hopes to win coveted young viewers. After all, 60 percent of the Arab world is 20 years old or younger.

"I think 'The Simpsons' will open new horizons for us to the future by creating a new genre of programming that will appeal to young adults in the Middle East," said Michel Costandi, MBC's director of business development.

 

[Tangnefedd]

I thought bacon and beer were the bedrock of the Simpsons?

 

[MadeInOz]

Just like rocks and dinosaurs are the Springfield of The Flintstones...

Somehow I don't think that the american humour is going to work with them. I'm sure it might give Osama some new material though. The old "Zionist pig" thing is getting a little old.

 

[SpaceProg]

Homer without his Duff? That's just..... WRONG!

 

[k]

Benjamin Barber talks about cultural exportation in "Jihad vs. McWorld." Interesting stuff and shows how the methodological approaches for imperialism have evolved with technology.

 

[GutterRat]

Benjamin Barber talks about cultural exportation in "Jihad vs. McWorld." Interesting stuff and shows how the methodological approaches for imperialism have evolved with technology.

Wow - this is wayyyyy to serious for a thread on the Simpsons. J/K

 

[k]

Wow - this is wayyyyy to serious for a thread on the Simpsons. J/K

LOL! I know, but it is very troublesome when Americans can name more Simpson characters than they can Supreme Court Justices.

 

[GutterRat]

LOL! I know, but it is very troublesome when Americans can name more Simpson characters than they can Supreme Court Justices.

Supreme Court Whastices? Huh?

 

[BeautyForAshes]

I thought bacon and beer were the bedrock of the Simpsons?

Monkeys and hobos are the bedrock of The Simpsons

 

[Harlan Norris]

Story

If we want to export anything it seems to me that the Simpsons would not be it. That show portrays us as fools. This is likely to be why the Arab nations love it. It's not good for them or us.

 

[SpaceProg]

If we want to export anything it seems to me that the Simpsons would not be it. That show portrays us as fools. This is likely to be why the Arab nations love it. It's not good for them or us.

Hm... What shows should we send them then?

 

[k]

If we want to export anything it seems to me that the Simpsons would not be it. That show portrays us as fools. This is likely to be why the Arab nations love it. It's not good for them or us.

Trust me, it is not the Simpsons that make us look this way...

 

[Dracil]

I wonder how they'll portray the Ned Flanders family. As an Islamic fundie family? Not sure that'll go down too well over there.

 

[Harlan Norris]

Hm... What shows should we send them then?

Well ,to tell you the truth I've got rid of my television. I would suggest this for all humanity. For those of us who are not to listen to the counsil of the ungodly, it's fairly hard to rationalize TV. I wouldn't send them anything.

 

[Harlan Norris]

Trust me, it is not the Simpsons that make us look this way...

Yea, I'm hip. But do we need to make it so that there can be no doubt?

 

[SallyNow]

Humour often varies from culture to culture, society to society, time to time, language to language...it's going to be interesting to see if it flies.

Even two very similiar, close societies can share differences in thier humour. Then again, two very different ones can share a lot of humour, too.

 

[Alarum]

If we want to export anything it seems to me that the Simpsons would not be it. That show portrays us as fools. This is likely to be why the Arab nations love it. It's not good for them or us.

Bad news: We're capitalist, not socialist. TV stations will export what they think will make money, not what they think will look good.

 

[k]

Yea, I'm hip. But do we need to make it so that there can be no doubt?

Hey, maybe they'll catch on to the idea of consumerism and create their own version of a substanceless base of laughs and find yet another way to "terrorize" US.