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OF COOKIES AND NUKES: AN INTERVIEW WITH COMEDIAN MAZ JOBRANI
by Khatchig Mouradian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/03/06/of-cookies-and-nukes-an-interview-with-comedian-maz-jobrani/
March 6, 2012
BOSTON, Mass. (A.W.)-Comedian Maz Jobrani liked calling Iran "the
Paris Hilton of countries" back when Paris Hilton was the Iran of
celebrities. "Every time they show us on TV they always show the crazy
guy burning the flag going, 'Death to America!'" he said in one of his
more recent stand-up performances. "Just once, I wish they would show
us baking a cookie! Because I've been to Iran, and we have cookies!"
Maz Jobrani With Tehran's nuclear program currently dominating
the airwaves, Iran couldn't be further from an association with
cookies. But the country did make headlines recently for the film "A
Separation," which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language
Film. Jobrani was ecstatic. "I was so happy when they won. What
a film! Anyone who hasn't seen it should go out and see it. I was
gripped by the film for two solid hours and I would have been very
upset if it hadn't won," he told me.
"I was a bit worried that politics might have caused the Academy to
not vote for it, but in the end it could not be denied. And what a
wonderful speech by the director! It was a proud moment for Iranians
all over the world!"
Stereotypes and acting
Jobrani was a founding member of the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, which
started off with a bang (no pun intended) in the U.S., followed by
sold-out performances in the Middle East. I asked him whether the
negative stereotypes of Iranians-and Middle Easterners, in general-have
become less dominant in the media.
"The overall negative stereotypes continue to exist," he said. "I
think as long as the West knows us more for the turmoil in the region
and some of the zealous religious leaders, it will be a hard image
to shake off."
These stereotypes have created a market for Middle Eastern actors-to
play terrorists. "A lot of the roles that come out are the negative
roles, where we could play terrorists or other backwards religious
zealots," said Jobrani, who has guest starred in shows like "Curb
Your Enthusiasm," "The West Wing," "NYPD Blue," and "ER," and had
recurring roles on "The Knights of Prosperity" and "Better off Ted."
In the critically acclaimed movie "David" (2011), Jobrani plays the
Imam of a Brooklyn mosque whose son, Daud, befriends a Jewish boy,
Yoav.
"There are some positive roles that come out now and then, but they are
rare," he said. "Naturally there are more positive roles in independent
projects that allow us to show the other side of Middle Easterners."
Stand up and customize
I asked Jobrani about his audience at his stand-up shows. "I'm lucky
that most are attended by my fans. This is usually the case when
you're headlining. So it's not a random audience that's walked in off
the street to just see a comedy show. They are specifically there to
see you. That makes it so that most nights are pretty magical!"
He said his favorite places to perform are in cities like San
Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Stockholm, and Sydney. "The way I try
to customize the show is to speak a little bit about my experience in
these places at the top of my set and then go into my act from there,"
he added.
Boundaries and inspirations
I asked him about the issues he avoids tackling and how far a comedian
can go with ethnic humor. "I don't know if there are boundaries to
ethnic humor," he said. "I try not to be degrading to anyone. Usually
I will point out a fun trait about another ethnicity and make sure
the person who I'm speaking to in the audience doesn't feel like I
am saying I'm better than them in any way. I think the fact that I
do some self-deprecating material helps people loosen their guard
and laugh with me."
Jobrani started acting at an early age and studied theatre in high
school. At the time, "Eddie Murphy was the man! He was my first
inspiration into comedy." Jobrani earned his bachelor's in political
science at UC Berkley and enrolled in a Ph.D. program at UCLA before
leaving academia and embracing acting. "I think I was just a big fan
of comedy growing up. I believe the reason I do it today is because
I was a fan then," he said.
"Once I became a comedian I started to study Richard Pryor and Bill
Cosby more. There are a lot of great comedians out there." These days,
he's a fan of Lewis Black and JB Smoove, among others.
Iranians and Armenians
Jobrani had Armenian friends growing up in northern California, and
more when he moved to LA after college. "I've always known Armenians
to be a celebratory people. I know more of the Persian-Armenians and I
know most Persians are celebratory anyway. I feel like we have so much
in common that I really love having Armenian crowds at my shows. We've
all got the parents with the thick accents, we all love driving BMWs
and Mercedes Benz's, we all have parents that want us to be doctors
and lawyers."
Sure, there are differences between Armenians and Iranians, but
nothing that can't be resolved by coming together. "The big difference
is that Persians are in Westwood and Armenians are in Glendale. We
should all just have a meeting and buy up the rest of Los Angeles.
Just a matter of time before we do."
Jobrani performs in Boston on March 10, LA on April 3 and 4. For a
complete listing of his upcoming shows, go to www.mazjobrani.com.
From: Baghdasarian
by Khatchig Mouradian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/03/06/of-cookies-and-nukes-an-interview-with-comedian-maz-jobrani/
March 6, 2012
BOSTON, Mass. (A.W.)-Comedian Maz Jobrani liked calling Iran "the
Paris Hilton of countries" back when Paris Hilton was the Iran of
celebrities. "Every time they show us on TV they always show the crazy
guy burning the flag going, 'Death to America!'" he said in one of his
more recent stand-up performances. "Just once, I wish they would show
us baking a cookie! Because I've been to Iran, and we have cookies!"
Maz Jobrani With Tehran's nuclear program currently dominating
the airwaves, Iran couldn't be further from an association with
cookies. But the country did make headlines recently for the film "A
Separation," which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language
Film. Jobrani was ecstatic. "I was so happy when they won. What
a film! Anyone who hasn't seen it should go out and see it. I was
gripped by the film for two solid hours and I would have been very
upset if it hadn't won," he told me.
"I was a bit worried that politics might have caused the Academy to
not vote for it, but in the end it could not be denied. And what a
wonderful speech by the director! It was a proud moment for Iranians
all over the world!"
Stereotypes and acting
Jobrani was a founding member of the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, which
started off with a bang (no pun intended) in the U.S., followed by
sold-out performances in the Middle East. I asked him whether the
negative stereotypes of Iranians-and Middle Easterners, in general-have
become less dominant in the media.
"The overall negative stereotypes continue to exist," he said. "I
think as long as the West knows us more for the turmoil in the region
and some of the zealous religious leaders, it will be a hard image
to shake off."
These stereotypes have created a market for Middle Eastern actors-to
play terrorists. "A lot of the roles that come out are the negative
roles, where we could play terrorists or other backwards religious
zealots," said Jobrani, who has guest starred in shows like "Curb
Your Enthusiasm," "The West Wing," "NYPD Blue," and "ER," and had
recurring roles on "The Knights of Prosperity" and "Better off Ted."
In the critically acclaimed movie "David" (2011), Jobrani plays the
Imam of a Brooklyn mosque whose son, Daud, befriends a Jewish boy,
Yoav.
"There are some positive roles that come out now and then, but they are
rare," he said. "Naturally there are more positive roles in independent
projects that allow us to show the other side of Middle Easterners."
Stand up and customize
I asked Jobrani about his audience at his stand-up shows. "I'm lucky
that most are attended by my fans. This is usually the case when
you're headlining. So it's not a random audience that's walked in off
the street to just see a comedy show. They are specifically there to
see you. That makes it so that most nights are pretty magical!"
He said his favorite places to perform are in cities like San
Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Stockholm, and Sydney. "The way I try
to customize the show is to speak a little bit about my experience in
these places at the top of my set and then go into my act from there,"
he added.
Boundaries and inspirations
I asked him about the issues he avoids tackling and how far a comedian
can go with ethnic humor. "I don't know if there are boundaries to
ethnic humor," he said. "I try not to be degrading to anyone. Usually
I will point out a fun trait about another ethnicity and make sure
the person who I'm speaking to in the audience doesn't feel like I
am saying I'm better than them in any way. I think the fact that I
do some self-deprecating material helps people loosen their guard
and laugh with me."
Jobrani started acting at an early age and studied theatre in high
school. At the time, "Eddie Murphy was the man! He was my first
inspiration into comedy." Jobrani earned his bachelor's in political
science at UC Berkley and enrolled in a Ph.D. program at UCLA before
leaving academia and embracing acting. "I think I was just a big fan
of comedy growing up. I believe the reason I do it today is because
I was a fan then," he said.
"Once I became a comedian I started to study Richard Pryor and Bill
Cosby more. There are a lot of great comedians out there." These days,
he's a fan of Lewis Black and JB Smoove, among others.
Iranians and Armenians
Jobrani had Armenian friends growing up in northern California, and
more when he moved to LA after college. "I've always known Armenians
to be a celebratory people. I know more of the Persian-Armenians and I
know most Persians are celebratory anyway. I feel like we have so much
in common that I really love having Armenian crowds at my shows. We've
all got the parents with the thick accents, we all love driving BMWs
and Mercedes Benz's, we all have parents that want us to be doctors
and lawyers."
Sure, there are differences between Armenians and Iranians, but
nothing that can't be resolved by coming together. "The big difference
is that Persians are in Westwood and Armenians are in Glendale. We
should all just have a meeting and buy up the rest of Los Angeles.
Just a matter of time before we do."
Jobrani performs in Boston on March 10, LA on April 3 and 4. For a
complete listing of his upcoming shows, go to www.mazjobrani.com.
From: Baghdasarian