Three American comics find Islamic audiences laugh, too

The 'Axis of Evil' tours the Middle East poking fun at stereotypes

from the November 26, 2007 edition

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In one routine, Jobrani expresses frustration that Western news segments about guys named Mohammed are always about terrorism. "Wouldn't it be great to see a piece like this. 'Hi, I'm Mohammed and I'm just baking a cookie."

Of course, he predicts a news flash to follow. "This just in, a cookie just exploded...."

Still, the tour has had its share of frustrations.

The group has been looking for a fourth member of the team to complete the Axis, "but unfortunately, there don't seem to be any funny North Koreans," deadpans Ahmed. As a substitute, they picked up South Korean Won Ho Chung, who grew up in the Gulf and is the only fluent Arabic speaker in the group.

More seriously, Ahmed says the men have toned down some of their jokes on religion and local politics at the request of their producer and sponsor, Showtime Arabia, an Arab satellite television provider based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Kader marvels that he made it through his act in Cairo "without cursing once."

And while there were jokes about George Bush and rednecks, the leaders of the Arab world got a free pass.

That could eventually change. Showtime Arabia is trying to use the performances as a platform to find new local talent.

The day after their two sold-out performances at Cairo's El-Sawy Cultural Center, the comedians held open auditions, and about 60 young Egyptians participated.

Most of the routines were unpolished and halting. But the auditions themselves managed to shatter some Arab stereotypes.

Of the five women who auditioned, three work for Islamonline, an English-language website founded by Yusuf al-Qaradawi, one of the Muslim world's most influential preachers. Chitra Kalyani, one of the three, says she has followed the three comedians for years on YouTube.com. "But I never imagined they'd come here. Even if the jokes are the same, the energy in a live performance is completely different."

She notes a BBC article this week about Muslim comedians in Britain headlined: "Does Islam have a sense of humor?" and laughs that the question even needs to be asked. "It's news that people like to laugh?"

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