RIYADH, 27 November 2006 — One of the stars of the popular Saudi comedy show “Tash” will have his own TV series titled “Abbas Diaries” on MBC, according to local Arabic-language media reports yesterday.
Yousuf Al-Jarrah was already featured in a radio broadcast of his program on MBC FM. Network producers are hoping to duplicate the success of the radio program with a televised version of the program.
“Tash” broke new comedy ground this Ramadan by featuring skits addressing contemporary social issues, including gender-based segregation and the morality police.
Shireen vs Union: Dispute Continues
CAIRO, 27 November 2006 — The crisis between Egyptian singer Shireen Abdul Wahab and the Egyptian musicians’ union is still standing despite several attempts to solve the problem between them, the daily Al-Riyadh reported yesterday.
The musicians’ union decided to ban the singer from singing and circulated the decision to proper authorities and tourism establishments. The head of the musicians’ union, Hasan Abulsaud, said that the decision was issued after she refused to appear in front of an investigation committee to explain why she broke her contract with producer Naser Mahroos.
Saudi Drama Seeks Middle Ground
RIYADH, 27 November 2006 — The “Wusta Bila Wasatiya” (“The Middle Path”), a drama recently presented at the ongoing Yamama College Cultural Week in Riyadh, is an attempt to bring to surface the effect on parents whose sons are influenced by extremist ideologies.
The play highlights the vital importance of seeking the middle path between two extremes, the daily Al-Riyadh reported yesterday.
Raja Al-Otaibi directed the drama produced by the Yamama College Theater.
Al-Otaibi said the play mainly relies on the country’s religious and social values that oppose dangerous and nihilistic interpretations of Islam. At the same time, he says the drama seeks to address the other extreme where noble Islamic values are undermined by a culture increasingly obsessed with materialism, the objectification of women and other cultural trends that run contrary to the values of moderate, educated and contemporary Muslims.
