Tash ma Tash
Encyclopedia
Tash Ma Tash ("No Big Deal" in English
) is a popular Saudi Arabia
n satirical comedy that has been running for 18 seasons so far. It used to air on the Saudi State-owned television channel Saudi Channel 1 for 13 seasons but in 2005 it was bought by MBC
. New episodes run exclusively during Ramadan
right after sunset.
The show was one of the pioneers of self-criticism in the Saudi media, with the episodes often dealing with sensitive topics such as social aspects, culture, terrorism, marital relations, and religion.
The show mocks regional accents found within Saudi Arabia.
The show has been a target for religious clergy after an episode aired which criticized the judges of the local courts (who are clergymen) of skipping work or leaving early, leaving paperwork and cases delayed.
Another episode portrayed the difficulty for women to do basic things without a mahram
(a legal male guardian). The two heroines of the episode were alone because the husband of one and brother of the other were in Paris for a few weeks. The women were harassed and flirted with in parks by young men, escorted out of shops and turned away from banks. They tried to regain freedom of movement by borrowing a senile grand father (a cure worse than the disease) and finally disguised the daughter of one and niece of the other as a little boy. Ultra-conservatives deemed this episode offensive to Islamic traditions. Many people considered this episode to be somewhat exaggerated but true.
The two stars of the show even received death threats from terrorists after the show aired an episode which attacked terrorism
. Actors constantly receive death threats.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) is a popular Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
n satirical comedy that has been running for 18 seasons so far. It used to air on the Saudi State-owned television channel Saudi Channel 1 for 13 seasons but in 2005 it was bought by MBC
Middle East Broadcasting Center
The Middle East Broadcasting Center Group is the first private free-to-air satellite broadcasting company in the Arab World which was launched in London in 1991 and later moved to its headquarters in Dubai in 2002. MBC Group provides multiple channels of information, interaction and entertainment...
. New episodes run exclusively during Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
right after sunset.
Principal Cast
- Nasir Al-GasabiNasir Al-GasabiNasir Al-Gasabi , , is a well-known Saudi Arabian actor, Began his artistic career in 1984, He is mostly known for his various roles in the Saudi comedy, Tash ma Tash.- External links :* at ElCinema.com...
-Star - Abdul-Allah Al-SadhanAbdul-Allah Al-SadhanAbdullah Al-Sadhan is a famous Saudi Arabian actor.He is mostly known for his various roles in the Saudi comedy Tash ma Tash, along with fellow actor Nasir Al-Gasabi.-References:...
-Star - Fahad Al-HianFahad Al-HianFahad Al-Hian is a famous Saudi Arabian actor, Began his artistic career in 1991, He is mostly known for his various roles in the Saudi comedy Ghamshm and Tash ma Tash, he acted with actors including Abdul-Allah Al-Sadhan and Nasir Al-Gasabi...
-Co-Star - Yousef Al-JarrahYousef Al-JarrahYousef Al-Jarrah is a Saudi Arabian television actor , Began his artistic career in 1985, known for his role in the Saudi comedy , Jari Ya Hammouda and Tash ma Tash, He is presented the best programme called "Adam" on MBC channel Middle East Broadcasting Center.-Series:*Tash ma Tash*Jari Ya...
-Co-Star - Mohammed Al-assaMohammed Al-assaMohammed Al-Assa is a well-known Saudi Arabian actor Began his artistic career in the late 90s. he was acted along with Nasir Al-Gasabi and Abdul-Allah Al-Sadhan, He is mostly known for his various roles in the Saudi comedy Aailt Abu Rowaishd and Tash ma Tash....
-Co-Star - Habib Habib-Co-Star
- Rashid Al Shamrani Rashid Al ShamraniRashid Al Shamrani is a Saudi Arabian television actor and also Psychiatrist and Writer dramatist, known for his role in the Saudi series "Bayny wa bynak" 1 and 2 and 3, Began his artistic career when he was student at the age 17.-Series:*Tash ma Tash...
-Co-Star
Synopsis
The show does not have a single story, but rather every episode has a new story and characters, though popular characters tend to re-appear in new storylines. Most episodes poke fun at the flaws of Saudi society while others are simply for fun.The show was one of the pioneers of self-criticism in the Saudi media, with the episodes often dealing with sensitive topics such as social aspects, culture, terrorism, marital relations, and religion.
The show mocks regional accents found within Saudi Arabia.
Societal relations
John R. Bradley, author of Saudi Arabia Exposed: Inside a Kingdom in Crisis, said that the show continues to run and receive high ratings because, in Saudi Arabia, people perceive comedy to be a good valve for frustrations for social, regional, and other issues.The show has been a target for religious clergy after an episode aired which criticized the judges of the local courts (who are clergymen) of skipping work or leaving early, leaving paperwork and cases delayed.
Another episode portrayed the difficulty for women to do basic things without a mahram
Mahram
In Islamic sharia legal terminology, a mahram is an unmarriageable kin with whom sexual intercourse would be considered incestuous, a punishable taboo...
(a legal male guardian). The two heroines of the episode were alone because the husband of one and brother of the other were in Paris for a few weeks. The women were harassed and flirted with in parks by young men, escorted out of shops and turned away from banks. They tried to regain freedom of movement by borrowing a senile grand father (a cure worse than the disease) and finally disguised the daughter of one and niece of the other as a little boy. Ultra-conservatives deemed this episode offensive to Islamic traditions. Many people considered this episode to be somewhat exaggerated but true.
The two stars of the show even received death threats from terrorists after the show aired an episode which attacked terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
. Actors constantly receive death threats.