CBC starts filming new Muslim sitcom

CBC NEWS RELEASE

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New CBC comedy series Little Mosque on the Prairie goes into production

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Little Mosque on the Prairie is a new comedy series that takes a humorous and light-hearted comedic look at a Muslim community trying to interact with its small town Canadian neighbours.

The eight-episode, half-hour series set in today's post-September 11-era goes into production this week.

The brainchild of female Muslim-Canadian filmmaker Zarqa Nawaz, Little Mosque on the Prairie is a WestWind Pictures production.

The series debuts on CBC Television, Tuesday, January 9 at 8:30 p.m.

Little Mosque on the Prairie is a funny, warts-and-all exploration of relationships, family, love, the generation gap and balancing Muslim beliefs and traditions in a prairie setting.

"Little Mosque on the Prairie first and foremost is a sitcom," said series creator Zarqa Nawaz.

"It is not a political or religious satire," Nawaz said.

"This show is meant to open doors into the lives of people who are trying to assimilate into a small town ... a town that has pre-conceived notions about Muslims."

"We hope that by using comedy to disarm people of all races, it will invite them to think outside of their fixed cultural perceptions."

The illustrious cast includes Zaib Shaikh (DaVinci's City Hall, Metropia), Carlo Rota (24, At The Hotel), Manoj Sood (Godiva's, DaVinci's Inquest), Sheila McCarthy (Geraldine's Fortune, I've Heard The Mermaid Singing), Arlene Duncan (Puppets Who Kill, Degrassi: The Next Generation), Derek McGrath (Doc, Cheers), Debra McGrath (Getting Along Famously, Burnt Toast) and Neil Crone (Hollywoodland, Against The Ropes).

"We have assembled a cast of some of Canada's funniest and most talented actors who we believe audiences, both Muslim and non-Muslim, will relate to on many levels," said Executive Producer Mary Darling.

"Our goal is simple...we want to make people laugh out loud!" Darling said.

"If the show also happens to provide some insight along the way, that's just an extra perk."

"We're delighted to commission this new comedy series," said CBC Executive Director of Network Programming Kirstine Layfield.

"We anticipate viewers will be enlightened and entertained by this series that explores universal themes in a humorous, light-hearted way," Layfield said.

Little Mosque on the Prairie is directed by Michael Kennedy.

Producers are Susan Flanders-Alexander and Michael Snook.

Executive Producers are Mary Darling, Clark Donnelly and Michael Snook.

It is a production of Westwind Pictures (Indecently Exposed, Velvet Devil, Designer Guys) in association with CBC Television.

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