L to R, K-von, Snookie, and The Situation -- Photo Credit: K-von
At a recent industry party in Hollywood, CA, Italian-Americans and Iranian-Americans had a little more than just their homeland flag colors in common. Iranian-American comedian, K-von, was hanging with MTV’s Jersey Shore cast members and current media-obsessions, Mike “The situation” Sorrentino and Nicole “Snookie” Polizzi.
Having been on “a handful of TV shows,” K-von is in talks with producers about being on yet another show. ”This was a great networking party for me and it became even better when the stars of one of today’s most talked about reality shows walked in the door and joined our table.” Says the “Bad Boy of Persian Comedy” of the partial Jersey Shore crew that “showed up 15 minutes after” he did.
“We talked about the show, their success, the fact that they get paid to go to parties now, and the rest was very casual stuff.” Adds K-von of his time with The Situation and Snookie. “I also congratulated Snookie on getting on Leno–since that’s been a dream of mine for years. Most of all, I listened to them talk, so I can eventually use that harsh ‘New Joisy’ accent in my comedy act. I can’t wait.”
The concept of ethnicity-driven shows–whether in the reality genre or not–is not only interesting but a foreseeable staple category contender in your future TV-show line-up.
So? Is it time for a Persian-filled-cast series on MTV?
“Of course,” K-von tells Persianesque Magazine. “I have been giving them ideas for possible shows for 5 years now. I think I’m like an annoying kid that keeps asking his parents for things. I bet I can wear them out! I think they should have a show where they send a beautiful Persian girl and a half-Persian comedian around the world to party at the most exotic hot spots and do on-site filming of the trip. Each week it could be somewhere different like: Dubai, Hawaii, Thailand, or Paris. It’d be a mix of the Travel Channel and the Real World; I would call it ‘Persians in Paradise.’”
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Iranian-American Actor/Comedian: Maz Jobrani, Original Photo: MazJobrani.com
Iranian-American actor and mega-comedian, Maz Jobrani, is set to star in ABC’s first Iranian-American comedy pilot based on Firoozeh Dumas’s book about growing up in the 1970s in Newport Beach, California: Funny in Farsi.
For those that know, Persian humor is truly some of the most clever and unique form of comedy. And with Maz Jobrani’s timing and skills, we’re positive that he’ll be providing some authentic Persian flavor to the mainstream tube; which will surely prove to be funny in English as well.
How does Maz feel about being a part of this project?
“Like Tony the Tiger,” he tells us. “Grrrrrrreeeat!”
Ana Lily Amirpour is working on her next project, a short film called KETAB, about a lonely young guy in Tehran who goes to buy a book. On the surface it appears to be a very basic story, but as it unfolds, a more intricate world is revealed, one that touches on the current dichotomies faced by Tehrani youth and their fight for basic freedoms. The film will star Sam Golzari who debuted as the star of American Dreamz and 21. Co-stars include exciting up-and-coming Persian talent like comedian Max Amini and actress Sheila Vand, as well as veteran Iranian actor Marshall Manesh who has appeared in dozens of films and television shows including Year One, True Lies, How I Met Your Mother, Will and Grace and Entourage, among many others.
“KETAB is actually a scene from my feature script THE STONES. I plan to use this short film to show the industry that a foreign film about Iranian youth is not just important and topical, it’s also a fun ride as well… with what’s going on in Iran today, it’s never felt more necessary to tell these types of stories.” Amirpour says.
L to R: Ramin Karimloo as The Phantom, Ramin Karimloo
Congratulations to Iranian-Canadian, Ramin Karimloo who is currently appearing as The Phantom in the London production of The Phantom Of The Opera, for being cast as The Phantom again, in the London premiere of Love Never Dies–aka Phantom of the Opera 2–in which the main characters flash forward ten years and move to another continent.
The 31 year-old Iranian actor began his career in Toronto, Canada and is the only actor to have played all three of Christine’s loves: Raoul, The Phantom (on stage) and Christine’s father (in the 2004 Joel Schumacher film adaptation) in addition to being the youngest actor ever, to play the Phantom in London’s West End.
Your favorite Iranian comedian, Maz Jobrani, has released a promotional clip for his much-anticipated Persian-based character: Jimmy Vestvood – An Amerikan Hero.
WASHINGTON, DC — The first time we had the pleasure of meeting the Parviz Sayyad of our generation (after-all, he did drop-out of a PhD. program in Political Science from Berkeley), our absolute favorite and wildly-brilliant actor/comedian: Maz Jobrani, it was in 2003 after he had finished his press tour for the movie ‘Maryam‘ (directed by Ramin Serry and co-starring David Ackert) and was making his first appearance at the DC Improv. (However, it must be mentioned that our all-time-favorite-Maz-role-to-date has been: Moly in the movie; ‘Friday After Next’ – his use of the word “buddy” in that film, definitely set off an early trend that’s still around.) His flying success and rightful popularity, as an Iranian comedian, is unprecedented. And the most parallel sensation that remains is that this is all, still, just the beginning of a long journey for him.
