August 6, 2013

WestWind Pictures’ hit comedy and MPAC’s Media Award Honoree “Little Mosque on the Prairie” has found eager audiences in more than 90 countries around the world. In the U.S., it is already available on Hulu and now is about to be released for the first time on mainstream American TV on the new cable channel Pivot.

The inspiration of writer and director Zarqa Nawaz, a young, Muslim filmmaker from the Canadian Prairies, “Little Mosque on the Prairie” is produced by WestWind Pictures in cooperation with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The series explores the relationships within and without a small Muslim community in the fictional town of Mercy. The ensemble cast includes a reform-minded Imam, played by Zaib Shaikh, his ultra conservative Muslim nemesis, a feminist Muslim doctor and her lukewarm parents. Rounding out the cast are a right-wing radio host, a Nigerian restaurateur, an ecumenically minded clergyman and a teenager caught squarely between two cultures.

The show has started to air at 7/8 p.m. EST on Pivot. Check your local listings to find Pivot near you. 

Recently, Shaikh, the star of the hit Canadian show, sat down for a Straight Talk podcast with Dr. Maher Hathout, MPAC's Senior Adviser, for conversation about "Little Mosque," the entertainment industry and the power of laughter.

Listen to the podcast here: "Laughter Can Change the World: An Inside Look at 'Little Mosque,' "