TLC recently premiered a new reality show, “All-American Muslim,” which was supposed to explore the lives of five Muslim families from Dearborne, Mich., with the underlying theme being, “Hey, they’re just like us!”
Then they promptly cancelled it.
The show came under fire from the Florida Family Association for being pro-Islam propaganda and depicting American Muslims in too favorable a light.
The Florida Family Association said the show undermined core American values – values I assume they are taking from somewhere other than our Constitution, because last time I checked, the First Amendment is still there.
Frankly, I’m glad they canceled the series, although for entirely different reasons.
The whole thing was a three-ring circus that had little to do with faith or religion.
Besides, if someone’s making a reality TV show about you, you’re probably doing something terribly wrong.
I’m looking at you, “Jersey Shore.”
I’m certain the creators of “All-American Muslim” had good intentions at heart. They probably hoped people would watch their show and walk away with a new appreciation for how their Lebanese neighbors lived.
That and make a boatload of money from advertising revenue.
No dice, TLC.
When the Florida Family Association began its crusade, companies started pulling their advertising. Controversy normally draws ratings, but not in the case of religious programming.
Why? Because religious programming not only strikes close to home for many folks, it’s also inherently political.
TLC’s doomed reality show isn’t the only faith-centric television in the headlines, though.
ABC’s new series “7th Heaven,” series that are all right but sufficiently generic to stay out of everybody’s Kool-Aid.
If major networks and cable channels want to keep doing that, then that’s their prerogative.
I hated both these shows, and my dislike had everything to do with good taste and nothing to do with ideology.
People ought not to be turning on the tube hoping to get a good picture of what religion is about. Christians wouldn’t want me going to “GCB” looking for answers about their faith, and likewise, I hate the idea of anyone forming a judgment on my religion from a show like “All-American Muslim.”
If anyone genuinely wants to learn about a religion, they should seek out someone who knows what they’re talking about, and television should be left to Dr. House and the guidos.
This way, everybody wins. Even the atheists.
Nicholas Pierce 22-year old history junior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_nabdulpierc.
 
____
Contact Nicholas Pierce at [email protected]