CB-Zeft: The Miseducation of Arab Comedy

September 18, 2007 at 11:48 am · Filed under Arab Culture, Art, Music

Although we swore off any type of theatre production after our exceedingly horrible experience with Jordanian “comedy” last month, we found ourselves with 2 free tickets to a much acclaimed play last night, “CBM”, performed daily at the Le Meridien Amman. With our fingers crossed for a better experience, we decided to give it another shot.

Understand, our hopeful attitude comes from the framework surrounding this play; besides the fact that the tickets cost an overpriced 30 JDs each (including dinner), the play is actually a very popular show playing on one of the major Arab television networks, MBC. It features a diverse Arab cast from around the region, with some big names. In fact, some Googling of the play yields such results:

“CBM is a sarcastic program that mocks politicians and popular people in a comedic style and presented by celebrities from the Arab countries. This program recently won an award for being the best entertainment show among Arab channels.” [link]

“The equivalent of Saturday Night Live, except that this show is recorded and then aired. The program showcases skits, satirical newscasts and song parodies. It boasts an international cast, hailing from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt, among others. Also like SNL, famous actors and singers appear on the program.” [link]

Typically though, after 50 whole minutes of suffering from excessive STUPIDITY, we soon discovered that perhaps we were a little too harsh on Jordanian comedy. I mean, if one of the best regional performances dubbed the equivalent of SNL is so darn terrible, then the obscure local play we went to is just an inch below the A-list of plays.

CBM was, well… shitty. I can’t decide what was worse: the gargantuan bellies of most of the actors, who were also wearing horribly fluorescent outfits, or their absolutely shitty routines. It was either aural or visual assault, and either way, neither is much fun. As for being funny, since when did a series of cliched jokes that everyone has heard become funny?

- “Ana koli Hamas!”
- “Hamas willa fate7?”
 
HA HA HA, how edgy.

Ten minutes into the show, I stopped trying to bother listening to the humor or lack thereof, because honestly, it reached a point where it was far too much effort. Amazingly, some of the audience was laughing. I guess Arabs have officially sold their souls to the Gods of shitty comedy. Or perhaps it’s me lacking the humor.

Eitherway, judge for yourself:






  • http://reflectionsallmine.net salam

    and like i asked on Nas’s blog, again I wonder, shoo el 3alaqa been ramadan wil tahreej?

  • http://www.subzeroblue.com MMM

    I came across their show in MBC once, and that thing is the most disgusting, annoying, stupid and tasteless bit of comedy I’ve ever seen.
    I can’t believe some people find the show funny enough for them to even consider taking it to theater.
    Another low in Arab taste.

  • http://www.ramblinghal.blogspot.com Hal

    Tab how was the food ya3ni?

  • http://andfaraway.net Roba

    Pretty bad.

  • http://black-iris.com Nas

    Hal:
    Tab how was the food ya3ni?

    Roba:
    Pretty bad.

    lool, i swear that made my day. classic.

    anyways…as for CBM…

    SNL has been going through a rough patch these past few years but i think on its worst (live) night it still tops CBM at its best (recording). We’re talking about a show that gave way to almost every american comic actor in the past quarter century. From Bill Muarry to Adam Sandler, Dan Akroyd, Will Farrell, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, Mike Myers, Damon Waynes, Billy Crystal, Al Franken, Dennis Miller (to name a few).

    It not just a show, its an american institution. To put CBM in the same sentence as SNL is an insult to comedy.

  • khalid jarrar

    HAHAHAHA

    even the food was pretty bad :D

    i am sorry but maybe the comedy part of the show is when people laugh at the experience of those who attend it? :D like we are doing now haha! its entertaining not to those who pay the 30 JDs but for those who are friends of the poor victims :D

    the only good thing about the clip you posted is ta9weerik itself actually, and the camera quality, both video and audio are good :) the content only is rubish:P

    yalla m3lish ruba, khaleeki fil spirit of ramadan and sam7eehom :)

  • http://blog.haniobaid.com Hani Obaid

    Why don’t we have stand-up comics. They’re much funnier than a comedic play.

    Oh wait, someone will get offended, and the comedian would get clobbered after the show.

    Scratch that idea !

  • Rania

    I don’t know if it’s because I was a kid, but I remember Nabil and Hisham were genuinely funny. Theirs is the only Jordanian comedy I’ve ever attended or watched on TV.

  • Ahmad

    I am really wondering Why do these people bother to fast …..

    Arabic medias is worst type of medias in the world.They increase the stupidity in our countries and are influnced by goverments and commerical companies.

  • Ahmad

    My favourite comedy show is called fools and horse broadcasted on BBC two years ago. The actors make you laughing without doing a stupid movement or referring to sexual things as Adel imam does and others. I can not understand there is a big fan of Adel imam in Middle East. How do they like him.

    I have posted in down two links , one lead to fools and horse show , other is for one of adel imam show.

    Fools and horse

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUNT_kGIc1Q&mode=related&search=

    Adel Imam Alzaeem

  • http://www.omernos.com/blog omar

    as much as this hurt to say, and to stress that I’m all about being Arabs and stuff but I think we should leave out Comedy to Egyptians. lol

    CBM is definitely not the equivalent to SNL – it’s all sketches written by a bunch of amateurs and they tend to get really political at some stage which is not everyone’s cup of tea :/

    Nas, you forgot MOLLY SHANNON – she’s just pure brilliant!

    and Roba, why do you insist on going through these horrid comedy experiences? haha

  • http://www.omernos.com/blog omar

    Ahmad, I’m afraid you’re not quite grasping “Fools & Horse” with that excellent English of yours. Medias? dude Media is already plural, psh.

    Plus, don’t attack Adel Imam with accusations of relying only on sexual insinuations and ‘stupid movement’. He’s a master in Comedy, I don’t know about you but he makes a whole audience burst out laughing just saying a couple of words. And not to forget his improvisations which can be considered the hardest forms of comedy to just come up with funny material.

    I do like British comedy, i’m a fan of Catherine Tate, French&Saunders, 2 Pints of Lager & a Packet of Crisps and more) yet I don’t understand how you’d evaluate “Fools & Horse” to be better comedy than ADEL IMAM.

  • Saif

    watching sitcoms like “Everybody loves Raymond”, “Seinfeld” and “Friends” makes you wonder if the arabs will ever be as funny. my guess, at this pace, would be in 380 years !!!

    i am blessed to have both MBC and HBO at home. once i turn on the TV and c the disgusting CBM show on (with the live audiance actually laughing, which pisses me off big time), i immediately switch to HBO and watch Larry David’s (co-creator of Seinfled) hilarious show “Curb your Enthusiasm” …and thank God for the Jewish sense of humor

  • Maha

    Maybe it’s your sense of humor Ruba :-) (BTW it’s this smiley’s 25th birthday today) The Hamas Fateh ishti3al joke is realistic comedy

    I remember Nabeel o Hisham o amal were hilarious

    Som3a o Marzoog

    el 3am ghafel o mahmoud saymeh

    we had great local comedies in the past

    the play ya ana ya hoo for rabee3 sh.haab is one of the funniest jordanian plays ever …o sharafy o sharafy halla baroo7 barawe7

  • http://www.madeinjordan.wordpress.com Pheras Hilal

    You know, I’m really thankful that my mother banned Arabic TV when I was a child, she always told us that it was mindless. So I don’t think that I’ve ever bothered with Arabic TV (except for cartoon shows of course, I religiously remember each cartoon show tune =).

    Do you think that perhaps you find these shows mindless because you were also exposed to North American/European media? Thus you have enhanced your taste, and expectations when it comes to TV media? Because I have a hunch that the people that were laughing, aren’t really all that into Western media, so they’re just to that kind of bad quality when it comes to plays/TV shows/theater.

  • طفيلي( ahmad)

    Oh Omar, thanks for correcting my englsih.i am from Tafela and where we can not learn english language like you and other son of aunts (Tant) . Anyway
    I was talking in general how our TV and media are not like in other countries,Adel imam is one of worst actor in arab world and is reason to lead our youths away from ourtradition. I challange you if you can not find any of his works without talking about sex and women in bad way.

    Salam

  • http://www.omernos.com/blog omar

    it doesn’t matter where you’re from – so many bloggers are from Karak, Irbid, and Salt like myself. Akeed I do not have perfect English but you can’t, in no way, consider English language to be something exclusive and applies only to people from Amman or whatever class or sons of “aunts” they are – that is just pure dumb in my own point of view.

    I agree with you on a large extent that women objectifying is a terrible phenomena in the Arabic media (mostly Movies) as I discussed this matter earlier in my post/review of the movie Omar w Salma. Yet you can’t do such comparison, Western humour is MASSIVELY based on sexual references and women objectifying, most Comediennes in the US can’t do a stand up without mentioning dildos or mentioning stories about their husbands in bed. And so the other side of male ones (Comedians). If you got some beef with Adel Imam then it’s your problem but you should realise he didn’t make such huge career because he mentions boobs – he discussed great Political matters in a humorous manner such as his play “El Za3eem”, other social ones in his play “El Waad Sayyed El Shaghal” and extremist ones in “Irhaab w Kabab”. So give the man some credit ;)

  • Zaman

    i don’t like CBM. I don’t like Jordanian comedy.

    But if I have to analyze it I will chalk it up to different tastes, but i will not go as far as to suggest my taste is superior while fans of CBM and Jordanian comedies are less refined.

    Comedy is suppose to make people laugh. If I hear the audience laughing, to them it’s comedy. It’s that simple.

    never forget that many of today’s classics, Shakespeare’s work not excepted, were once considered pulp culture.

    I will not take the time to watch CBM or 3am Gafel. But i will not pass judgement on the taste of people who do enjoy this brand of comedy. I mean, I sat with perfectly intelligent and well-educated and cultured people who laughed their hearts out at 3am Ghafel.

    the Hamas line you quited is a good example of how some will find it funny because it’s so stupid and so overused. in a way, when people watch CBM they are laughing at the silliness of the actors and the jokes. This is a very unique brand of comedy culture that I found in the Arab world. It does not have to be original to be funny, very silly is also funny.

  • http://madnice.wordpress.com Sarah

    It’s called… “Only Fools & Horses”. Terrible show, favoured only by British middle-aged dads ;)

    Ramadan Karim.

  • http://www.omernos.com/blog omar

    Sarah, hence the quotation marks! hehe
    Ramadan Kareem.

  • طفيلي( ahmad)

    I guess you prefer Adel Imam’ programs when he was touching women’s ass and talking about sex without concern about culture and traditions and ilsam.

    I have get question to Omar , do you watch Adel Imam ‘s films with your mum and sisters? I will be shocked if you do because there is something called.(الحياء ) in islam .After I read your comments I doubt it if you have get it.

    Ramadan Kareem. Dudssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss( I love dude words , that means i am cool guy)))

    Sarah, I am an old fashion boy who like old things. I love soap tv , for eample , I have watched more than 1000 episode of EastEnders and others. You can accuse me now as i am like yur grandmum or dad.

    What is big deal when you corrected my English and my information about British culture. Do you and Omar find hard to see someone from Tafela talking about theses stuffs .To correct your knowledge about( Only Fools & Horses) , I remember there were more than 15 million Britishs who watched the special episode of porgram brodcasted during Christmase.

    Ramadan Kareem

  • طفيلي( ahmad)

    I am smelling bad things coming firm this debate with you, I will leave you in peace

  • http://madnice.wordpress.com Sarah

    Salam alaikum ahmad…

    I did not correct your English, nor your knowledge of British culture…you got the name wrong, so I said what it’s really called. It’s not a matter of a poor grasp of the English language, it’s a matter of getting a name of a show wrong, irrespective of language. A show you claim to quite like, too…

    Also, it’s funny how you deplore the films of Arab actors for being too “sexy”, yet watch Eastenders…a show full of sex, scandal, drinking, gambling, adultery, etc.

    Also, as a side note, the real East End of London is quite an “Islamic” place, housing the largest concentration of expat Bangladeshis on this Earth. ‘Eastenders’, although entertaining, just doesn’t reflect real life in London.

    But it’s cool bro, keep watching. No hard feelings, eh? ;)

    Wasalaam.

  • طفيلي( ahmad)

    Thanks Sister Sarah,
    You said there is a kind of contradiction in my comments .I would like to explain what I mean by this example:
    If I want to invite friends on Jordanian meal I will take them to Jordanian restaurant but I can not take them to Italian restaurants for that.
    Adel Imam and others try to mix our decent culture with r western culture where are sex scenes and gambling and violence part of their life. Films and programs are mirror reflect the reality in our life .Unfortunately we do not have decent work represent normal people in our street.

    Anyway, Do you think I am stupid I can not read what is between your words by mocking me with omar.
    I will tell something young lady, I do not give a shit about your opinion and others.Next time when you see my name on the poster , pleas e do not read it.

    Salam

  • http://madnice.wordpress.com Sarah

    Salaam alekoum Ahmad…

    I can assure you 100% that I am *not* mocking you…how rude of you! I do not even know Mr. Omar in the slightest, and even if I did, I seriously doubt I would go in league with the brother in order to take the piss out of somebody online!

    I have better things to do with my time than mock somebody on the internet.

    Khalas, forget about it.

    Wasalaam.

  • Nart

    well.. obviously true that ‘comedy’ in arab world has to be reflected in stupid dialogues and fully stupid face and body languages.. if the comedian do not do ‘Hilarious’ moves and loud-repeatedly words people will not understand the humor that is really absent.. anyway, we have a great problem with defining wut’s comedy and how to approach that.
    It’s been hard to to make people laugh, but it’s more harder to convince us that wut is done in the arab world -comedian shows and staff is fun.. This nonsense is making fool of our communities and worth not wasting time.
    I do believe that real humor is dead.. here in the araba world.. see how eurpoean make satire, that is commuincating to a civilized world and thus giving the fun.

  • Sid Vicious

    sorry to butt in guys but I have to get this off my chest:

    طفيلي( ahmad)

    Adel Imam: Legend
    Western Culture: Is not what you see on TV.
    Our Culture: Not all that, get over it.
    We’re not all tantaat because our grandfather decided to live in Amman and yours didn’t, and you’re not “zalameh” just because you live in tafeleh.

  • طفيلي( ahmad)

    Believe me my friend i could have been nasty with you and go down where i hurt you in my comment. But it is Ramadan and we don’t need for this nonsense and we should move on for better things.

    You are saying Adel Imam is legend. If he is, when he dies, I challenge you if there will be more than 1000 person walking in his funeral. He will be remembered as one of people who destroy the moral and lead youth to devil road. This is my opinion and if you don’t like , the closet wall where you sit , hit your head with it.ok:).

    This is supposed to be funny . enjoy the follwo clips:for adel who is leged according to you and omar.

  • طفيلي( ahmad)

  • Sid Vicious

    Oh please PLEASE don’t hurt me in your comment! I’M SO SCARED! Are you kidding me? You think you’re so clever don’t you? You’re just pathetic my friend, pathetic. But for all your nonsense, you are right that it’s your opinion, and your opinion only, so don’t try to impose it on everyone, cuz like you said earlier, no one gives a shit.

  • طفيلي( ahmad)

    May Allah forgive me and you ……

  • Butterfly

    I 100% agree with u that it’s more of excessive studity than of real comedy.

    But I guess… may be people, in Jordan or in any other Arab country, just laugh loud coz they lack happiness in they lives, and they really need to laugh whatever the reason was. U know what I mean? :)

    Just a guess. but I believe it may be much right

  • systemman

    aslamo3alaykom
    freinds , i think that adel imam is great in expressing our feelings regarding political issues of the arab people .
    but i think also that way isnt as good as it should be since we r arab 1st and muslims too, and doing shamful things like touching women’s ass and talking about sex in films , will not serve the real message of the film .
    on the other hand we have to be careful while watching his films with family since these film may contain a bad or lts say “unfavorable” scenes esp when ur with ur innocient kids .
    i appreciate ahmad’s oponion
    goodluck