Category: Television

I heard about this reality show this morning on BBC and thought it was extremely creative. Young Imam is a popular reality TV show in Malaysia where the winner of the show wins a car, a scholarship to study in Saudi Arabia, some cash, a pilgrimage to Mecca and gets to be an Imam of a mosque. It’s such a smart idea and it seems to be working really well in attracting younger people back into religion. I found a good article about the show on the Wall Street Journal which is where I got the video above from. You can check out the article by clicking [Here]

My dad yesterday had trouble viewing the World Cup opening match so he went down to Hawalli to get some help from one of the Satellite shops and to his amazement the whole area was flooded with cars and people. It seems he wasn’t the only one facing problems, majority of the people were having the exact same issue so everyone headed to Hawalli at the same time to find out what was wrong with their receiver. Turns out the Al Jazeera World Cup broadcast was sabotaged. Someone was blocking the signals and Al Jazeera are pissed and are vowing to catch the culprits behind the jam.

“We do not know yet who is behind the interference, but we will go after whoever has caused this terrible act that has deprived millions in the Arab world from watching the start of the World Cup,” said Nasser Al Khalifi, the chairman of Al Jazeera Sports.

“We are shocked by what happened because the World Cup is not a political programme that someone wants to block. It is a global sports event and we had spent months negotiating with Fifa to enable viewers in the Arab world to enjoy some matches for free. Unfortunately, there are some people who have political motives, but we will go after them,” he said.

I have no idea who the people he’s referring to, I don’t know how anyone can take advantage politically by blocking the World Cup signal. For more information here are three sources [Article 1], [Article 2] and [Article 3]

If you haven’t subscribed to the World Cup package don’t worry, you will still be able to watch the opening ceremony, the first match and the final game of the tournament for free.

All rights holders will have to air the opening ceremony, the first match on June 11 (South Africa v Mexico) and the final on July 11 free. That’s part of an agreement with FIFA, but Al Jazeera Sport may go a step further and telecast for free the semi-finals as well.

I haven’t subscribed to the World Cup package simply because I am at work from 9 to 7 on a good day and then I’ve got gym afterward so by the time I am home in front of the TV I would have other things I would prefer to do. Anyway here is the link to the [Article]

Thanks praetorius

The Discovery show Build it Bigger aired an episode featuring the Al Hamra Tower and I’m downloading it now from my favorite torrent site as I am typing this. The reason it featured Al Hamra Tower is because it’s the world’s tallest twisting structure and so makes it very unique. You can watch a snippet from the show [Here]

Thanks misz

Update: The full episode is on YouTube divided into 8 parts, here is a link to part 1 [YouTube]

Scooby Doo’s mystery machine was spotted in Shuwaikh. I guess they were called in to help out with the GCC Summit security.

Picture by pendolino

There are two old cartoons I remember watching on KTV2 which I can’t seem to find anymore. They weren’t a series, just a single story cartoon.

The first was kinda like a documentary about cavemen, and what I remember from the cartoon was how the cavemen dragged their wives from their hair and they carried big sticks. They also lived in like in apartment buildings that were built out of one big rock and each floor had a ladder that takes you from the ground to the flat.

The second cartoon was about this bug (I think it was a bee but not too sure). The bug wears thick glasses and they somehow break and he ends up getting lost.

Does anyone remember these two?

Update: I can’t believe this but a reader called Fahad found the caveman one!! It’s called The First Bad Man by Tex Avery. Here it is…

1955-09-30 The First Bad Man (MGM Cartoon) from Bram on Vimeo.

Update2: It’s moments like this that makes me love this blog so much. Another reader by the name of Bo Jaij found the second cartoon I was looking for. Turns out it wasn’t a bee it was a mole!

The little mole, 2006 from Yaffe Shlomi on Vimeo.

Here are some other old cartoons I found that were also great:
TV of Tomorrow
The House of Tomorrow
Car of Tomorrow
The Homeless Flea
The Counterfeit Cat
Big Heel-Watha
Happy Go Nutty
What’s Buzzin Buzzard
Field and Scream

THE 99 is a locally created comic book featuring a team of superheroes based on Islamic culture and religion. Although it’s been only 2 years since the comic got published it quickly became a bit hit and is now licensed in 8 languages including Chinese. Next year Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and other members of The Justice League of America will team up with THE 99 in a global series by DC Comics. In addition to that THE 99 is being turned into an animated series and the video above is the preview. 26 episodes are currently in production written by top names in Hollywood who’ve also worked on Ben 10, Spiderman, X-Men and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. [YouTube]

Here is a link to THE 99 website [Link]

BBC received a lot of responses with my previous post and are now looking for something very specific and they need your help with it.

BBC is looking for anyone (young or old) who might still have weight to lose, or who might be larger, but happy to be that way – people who are leading the typical less healthy Kuwaiti lifestyle.

If you fit the profile then email BBC on [email protected]

I met this cool BBC director a couple of days back who’s in Kuwait to film a documentary about people who are pursuing a healthy lifestyle. She’s looking for young Kuwaitis who would be interested in appearing on the show and I told her I would help out by posting their request on my blog. Here is what she sent me to publish:

BBC– 4x Part Educational & Health Series/Travelogue

BBC3 is working on a series of one-hour long observational documentaries looking at young people who are trying to pursue a healthy lifestyle.

In each episode two young people from the UK who are struggling with their weight will travel to a different country.

As well as an hour on Kuwait, the series will also be filming in the USA, Argentina and Greece.

The programme will be used as an educational tool to discourage young people from leading an unhealthy lifestyle as well as giving viewers a unique window to the country we visit.

In Kuwait we want to show Kuwaiti traditions, lifestyle and culture – including weddings, malls, restaurants, diwaniyas, a trip to the desert, etc.

At the moment we are looking for young Kuwaiti’s who might be interested in appearing in the show, and we would love any help and guidance that you can give us in this matter

Yemisi Brookes
Location Director

BBC Factual

London 
Mobile: +44 (0)7977 420 192
Kuwait Mobile: 94950982
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]


IKEA Heights is a drama series shot entirely in the Burbank California IKEA Store without the store knowing. It’s a very cool idea put together by some creative people with a lot of free time on their hands. So far they’ve created 5 episodes which you can view [Here]

This Halloween I am going to dress up as Donald Draper. [YouTube]

That’s me in the suit hanging out with Donald Draper! If you’re a Mad Men fan you can “Mad Men Yourself” by clicking [Here]

Update: Here is Nat chatting with the secretary.

via

Ansam uploaded and posted a video recorded from a Saudi channel of a Kuwaiti TV series that’s been dubbed in English. Can anyone imagine if they did the same thing to Bye Bye London? I would watch that! [YouTube]

via Five One Eight

I just found out David Carradine passed away. He was the main actor in one of my favorite tv shows ever “Kung Fu“. [Link]

Update: Here is the intro to Kung Fu

[YouTube]

For some reason I’ve had this opening theme song stuck in my head all day. [YouTube]

Update: Fixed the title

Update2: Here is the Salamatak song [YouTube]