The ‘Middle Eastern’ Kings of Comedy: Overcoming Evil Stereotypes Through Laughter

October 16, 2007 10:16 AM

The ‘Middle Eastern’ Kings of Comedy: Overcoming Evil Stereotypes Through Laughter Photos and Story By Rima Abdelkader NEW YORK, 16 October 2007 (Arabisto.com): Who would have envisioned a comedy group of Middle Eastern descent with a focus on dismantling stereotypes of Middle Easterners to be gaining ground in the United States, post-9/11? While already having been showcased in a one hour special on Comedy Central this year, the “Axis of Evil” comedy troupe is now embarking on their 15-City tour. In less than two years, this group has been featured on CNN, in The Wall Street Journal, Hustler, and in a host of other American popular news media. With sold-out shows throughout the U.S. since it began in November 2005, this comedy group is already rapidly accruing a large fan base in the United States and around the world. (Picture courtesy of Dean Obeidallah) This time, the “Axis of Evil” is not comprised of North Korea, Iraq and Iran as outlined in President George W. Bush’s 2002 State of the Union Address. The show features well-known American comics of Middle Eastern background—Egyptian-American Ahmed Ahmed (ahmed-ahmed.com), Palestinian-American Aron Kader (aronkader.com) and Iranian-American Maz Jobrani (“Knights of Prosperity” and “Friday After Next”). Guest comics include Palestinian-Americans, Dean Obeidallah (deanofcomedy.com) and Maysoon Zayid (maysoon.com), Egyptian-American Joe DeRosa (joederosacomedy.com), Armenian-American Sam Tripoli (samtripoli.com), and others. Just this past weekend, the “Axis of Evil” comedy group kicked off its tour in New York to a sold-out crowd at the Nokia Theatre in Times Square. According to one of the featured comics, Dean Obeidallah, they sold out the first show to 1,200 people and to almost 1,000 people in the second show. In their comedic sketches, these comics touch on family, politics and ethnicity and use comedy as a medium in bringing together all races and faiths. Dean, in his sketch at the New York show, focused on Middle Eastern politics as well as on his childhood growing up with a Sicilian mother and an Arab father. In one joke, he pokes fun at Iranian President Ahmedinejad’s recent controversial “stardom” in relation to Osama Bin Laden’s overdone, media-saturated Al Qaeda role. “Ahmedinejad is like the Britney Spears of the Middle East right now. Bin Laden should be jealous. He is like the Backstreet Boys coming out with another album right now (pause) we don’t care anymore.” (Explosive laughter follows from the audience) In his famous note-taking segment, Dean advises his audience on how to make their flight on time, highly recommending that they not use the Arabic phrase, “insha’allah,” (God Willing) before boarding a plane. One benefit to having a Muslim name, Dean tells his audience, “at least you’re immune to identity theft”. (Laughter follows) In another comedic sketch, Maz Jabroni, who has appeared in the movies “The Interpreter” and “Friday After Next” and on ABC’s Knights of Prosperity, provides some pointers for U.S. police and security officials who “profile” Middle Easteners at airports. “Don’t look for the Muslim who is praying right before he is about to board the plane,” he advises instead, “Focus on the guy who is trying to blend in (pause) the one asking the question, ‘So, how were the Yankees at the Superbowl?’” (Laughter erupts from the audience) Maz then went on to provide the audience with a helpful hint on how to pronounce the Iranian President’s last name, Ahmadinejad. “Say it with me!” he says, "'I’m going to need a job' with an attitude." (Laughter follows) Maz Jobrani’s presence alone motivated many Iranian-Americans to attend the two New York shows, one at 7pm and one at 12am. With respect to Maz’s fan base, Dean says, “It’s great as we are building a broader coalition of Middle Eastern-Americans, and hopefully our communities can work together collectively on other events and political issues.” Maysoon Zayid, who is the co-Founder of the Arab-American Comedy Festival in New York along with Dean, and who was the only comedienne on stage at their New York gig, poked fun at her life growing up as an Arab-American girl in a strict Arab family with an over-protective father. She referenced her “prom story” as an embarrassing time for her as a teenager. “I went alone and had to sit with the faculty at the faculty table. I was 222 lbs. and had to take a picture with a statue,” an inanimate object who she refers to as her prom date. (Laughter follows) Ahmed Ahmed, who has appeared in popular American films and television shows, Executive Decision, Roseanne, JAG, MTV's PUNK'D and others, entertained the audience with some of his material in between each comedic segment. In one story, he pokes fun at his name which is listed on America’s “most wanted” list. “That guy who also has my name is probably googling me right now asking the same question: Why is his website coming up first (inquisitive facial expression)? (Laughter follows) Ahmed tells his audience, “It’s a bad time and a sad time to be from the Middle East.” In his comedy skit at the New York show, he focused on his “Flying While Muslim” experiences. In one, he discusses how airport security checks his bags. “They’re taking out my clothes like it’s a (expletive) yard sale.” Joe DeRosa from Comedy Central's Premium Blend spoke of his “Teen Wolf” experience growing up with an Egyptian father and an American mother. “My father didn’t tell me that I was Egyptian until I was a teenager. He told me, son, your mother was bitten by an Egyptian.” (Laughter follows) Aron Kader who has appeared in the American television cop drama, “The Shield,” as well as on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, discussed his family’s favorite television show growing up, “The Price is Right”. “In my family,” he says, “it was “The Price is not Right”.” “My father would always challenge the prices on the show. He would say, ‘I could have gotten that golf club for $7!’” Aron also poked fun at U.S. President George W. Bush. “Bush and words (pause) don’t get along.” In his own dramatization of President Bush giving a speech, Aron says, in President Bush’s voice, “If Sunnis and Shias get together, we’ll have sushi. I don’t like sushi, but that’s fine.” (Laughter follows) In discussing President Bush’s Iraq war strategy, Aron said the U.S. should be dropping computers and ipods instead of bombs. “The Iraqis will have an even tougher time trying to get Windows XP to work.” Aron Kader also jibed at country singer Alan Jackson for his lyrics from “Where were you (When The World Stopped Turning),” focusing on his lines: “I'm not a real political man. I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you the difference in Iraq and Iran”. Aron answers, “Can’t he google that (expletive)?” (Laughter follows) Reflecting back on the group’s efforts in transforming this troupe idea into a reality, Dean says, “The shows have come a long way over the last few years since it first started with the NAAP Arab comedy show at the NY Comedy Club.” The “Axis of Evil” comedy troupe is starting where Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, the Kings of Comedy and other notable comedic visionaries had left off, with a more nuanced take on the post 9/11 political landscape in humanizing as well as in educating broad audiences on Middle Easterners. It is comedy with a cause. To learn more about the “Axis of Evil” comedy tour, check out axisofevilcomedy.com. Rima Abdelkader is a NY-based journalist and a graduate of Pace University in NY.