A few years ago, IHateTheMedia.com’s Editor and the Mrs. were in Australia. One night we watched an Aussie TV show called Dancing With the Stars. The editor laughed hysterically and said, “This is the worst show in the history of television. Can you imagine something like that succeeding in America?”
Oops.
Never one to let experience cloud his judgment, the Editor now wants to make that statement again. This time the inspiration is a new TV show in Malaysia that is, in effect, Malaysia’s Next Top Imam.
Time has the details:
Imam Muda (Young Leader), a new reality show in Malaysia, pits 10 young men against each other who each want to become the next top imam. (via AP)
The show started out with 1,000 contestants who were asked to recite prayers and quizzed on current affairs. Background checks were also performed to weed out contestants with shady pasts. Now only ten imams remain.
Why do the show?
“We want to prove that our young Muslim Malaysians can keep up with the times,” Izelan Basar, the show’s creator, told the Associated Press. “We chose the brightest, most devout men for this program — young men whom our female viewers now want for their husbands or sons-in-law.” (Women are not allowed to audition for the show).
Producers also say that Imam Muda is the most-watched program on its channel; their Facebook fan page already boasts over 31,000 fans.
The winner gets an all expense paid trip to Mecca, a car, a job as a prayer leader, a scholarship to study in Saudia Arabia, $6400 and a laptop. Now that’s a pretty sweet deal.
What? No dynamite vest?
Our latest prediction? If they came up with a show called Dancing With the Imams, now that would be a surefire huge hit here.
Source: Time
This post was last modified on July 4, 2010
View Comments (7)
I did some work in Kuala Lumpur for Measat Astro a few years ago. I thought they were a very upfront group. Now this:
"Desperate Imams", "What My Imam", "Wheel of Imam!", or "Let's Make an Imam" Seems a little far fetched.
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Note to admin: The Imams don't wear the dynamite vests. They inspire "true believers" to wear them. But of course you knew that.
An Imam wearing a dynamite vest is as likely as the faux-president carrying an M-16 and walking point on an Army patrol in Afghanistan. Hmmm... what a concept. Now, that's change I could believe in. :-)
Unless, of course, you meant a supply of dynamite vests to give to the "heroic warriors of Islam" to help them rid the world of infidels and get 72 virgins as a reward. ( Tell a BIG lie often enough and people will believe it. )
Imams - ridding the world of jihadists one sucker at a time. BOOM !
Can you imagine a show "The Next Top Bishop?" I mean, if they can mainstream Islam like this, because that's all this is, then why can't we counter that with a show that mainstreams Christianity?
How ‘bout a show to find the most devout global warming sycophant? It seems to me we have been blessed to have him/her amongst our midst lately. The goracle could be a judge since he’s looking for something to do and is free most evenings now. Maybe even include that guy from the UK caught lying about “scientific facts”. For a visual treat, use that hottie Whitehouse correspondent emeritus.