There’s a local connection to the touted, faux sitcom Halal in the Family that made its debut this week on the humor website funnyordie.com. The four episodes star Daily Show correspondent Aasif Mandvi, who attended USF and Chamberlain High. It’s being promoted as a satiric forum for addressing issues such as cyberbullying, media bias, hate groups and FBI surveillance of Muslims. An advisory council of Muslim, interfaith and civil rights organizations has been instrumental brainstorming themes to help combat anti-Muslim prejudice.
One piece of unsolicited advice: It often helps to leaven serious, talking-points satire with self-deprecating humor. It’s even more universally appealing and inclusive than satire itself.