The night before Ramadan was mellow...I wrote some emails, sent some SMS's and mentally prepared for the day ahead. Flicking through the channels I caught one of my favorite movies ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN on Future TV - a brilliant film concerning the Watergate break-in - it also offered me some nostalgia since the film is set in Washington DC (where I went to school and worked for many years). It's one of those movies that I can't stop watching whenever it pops up on TV (the others includes FORREST GUMP for some reason, don't ask).
Since yesterday was a Thursday (I had the day off), the first day of Ramadan was quite agreable, from a fasting point of view. As for the daily ritual, I like to break the fast with dates and water (it is Sunna from Our Prophet P.B.U.H.) and then have some soup. Following the soup, I pray the Maghbrib (Sunset) prayer and then continue with the Iftar meal (I cannot eat comfortably if I have prayer on my mind; additionally, it's best to pray when you're light and not lumbering and bloated).
Welcome To Living Hell
Following the meal, there is the post-Futuur ritual for millions of people in Kuwait (and the Arab world) where they swarm around the TV set and watch the programs that are either on KTV, Al-Rai or the other satellite stations. Yesterday, I watched an embarrasing train-wreck in the form of the "The Halima Boland Show" (the exact translation is "The Halima Boland Riddles"). Well it's a riddle to me how this show, which looked like it was shot in someone's basement with a Betacam managed to get on the air. I couldn't believe The National Bank of Kuwait would sponsor such an unimaginative and tedious show, it was unintentionally hilarious; people watched with their mouths open, unable to digest the creative tragedy that was unfolding on their screens, a perfect example of how not to stage and shoot a show - a show that contained a spoof of the Egyptian "Raya Wa Iskina" play, climaxing with musical numbers that looked like they were choreographed by a second-rate, washed-up Arabic-style-Moulin Rouge reject (if Kuwait had a Golden Turkey Award, this show would be a leading contender). Additionally, the supporting cast looked like they were hand-picked at the local fish-market. NBK sponsoring this show is like Chase Manhattan or HSBC sponsoring the television equivalent of PLAN NINE FROM OUTER SPACE.
If Kuwait thinks Halima Boland is our superstar, our equivalent of Julie Andrews, then we are doomed as a country, forever.
Rofl, I saw that it was terrible man, just terrible. I couldn't watch more than 5 minutes.
Hahahah this is the funniest thing you have EVER written, I didnt watch that but it sounds absolutely horrid.
Gonna hit You Tube and look for the show.
Well if she's good enough to "open" the British Embassy's new visa section then she's good enough for NBK!
I'm still in shock!
It was one of the worst things i have ever seen in my life. And I have seen a lot of crap on KTV.
first of all, the trailer for the show is a carbon copy of the HP computer ads here in america (are they show in the middle east too?)
second, LOL it looks like people aren't too keen about the show BUT they will continue watching it because of the "unintentional" hilarity that we all expect to see from 7aleema as always.. i wish i can see it.. must be funny :D
I think people are watching it to make fun of it, but what I am noticing is people are switching off after 5 minutes and watching the Emirati cartoon 'AlFareej' on the other channel.
It's not a very good year for programs so far.
What I want to know is why the British Embassy had her "open" their new visa section?!
Snookie, consider yourself lucky, friend, that you didn't see the show!
Aye Zaydoun, I am flabbergasted myself. Apparently we are so starved for "stars" that she has risen to that echelon.
As the great screenwriter William Goldman stated: "This is the age of low talent."
The West has Paris Hilton and we have Boland. No one is immune.
"musical numbers that looked like they were choreographed by a second-rate, washed-up Arabic-style-Moulin Rouge reject (if Kuwait had a Golden Turkey Award, this show would be a leading contender). Additionally, the supporting cast looked like they were hand-picked at the local fish-market".
That is harsh, just harsh, lol.:)
Halima should pay some of the outragous amounts she's been paid back to Kuwait as compensation (image deformation)! She's an embarrasment :(
I actually work in KTV (plz don't hold it against me) and it is SO MUCH WORSE than any of you could EVER imagine! It's not crap for no reason you know :)
Personal advise... do what I do: just delete ktv from your sat box :) as for the shows on other networks... let your remote do the talking.