Tissa Hami

Iranian-American comedian on "The View"

This is from ABC's "The View" and it features Arab-American comedian Dean Obeidallah and Iranian-American comedian Tissa Hami promoting the PBS special about the rise of Middle Eastern-American comedy airing nationally May 11, 2008. www.tissahami.com

06-May-2008
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tissa

Thanks, I think

by tissa on

I'm coming to this page a bit late, but my mother came across it while Googling my name (I stopped Googling myself years ago), so I thought I should post something in response.

Thanks to everyone who enjoyed the clip and got the humor, as well as the underlying message.

To those who missed the point, can't stand me, think I should go to hell, etc, etc -- I'm sure you can find a comedian whom you like better.  As I often tell my audiences, there is not one comedian, entertainer, singer, athlete, politician, etc. who can please everyone.

Tissa

www.tissahami.com


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I am sorry for the job they

by A. A. L (not verified) on

I am sorry for the job they made. ESP for this TISSA


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"If you can't laugh at

by Anonymous* (not verified) on

"If you can't laugh at yourself, someone else will!" That's ancient persian (actually i think it's chinese, but on this site we'll just call it persian) wisdom for you.

great job TISSA! loved the slut piece.

self-confidence is so very attractive !!


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n.zanincanadai no i'm not, but it's high.

by Reza411 (not verified) on

I'm the first one to encourage iranians in entertainment when it's good. But face it, she's not very good. Look at the picture of the video, an Iranian lady with a roosari and manteau on a national us tv talk show. You can't see that that's a racial stereotype of Iranian women, come on. If Chris Rock came out in overals holding half a watermelon and started tap dancing, African Americans would be all over him for propogating racist stereotypes. But he doesn't need to do that though because he's got talent, but some other black comedians have gone down that road, can you name any??? Probably not because they got there 15 minutes and then people moved on. The clip you showed of Chris Rock is over 10 years old, I must have seen it over 20 times so far, but it's still funny everytime, the clips I put from Omid Djalili are about 10 years old, saw those many times too, still funny. This lady's act 10 years down the line, even she will be embarresed to watch it..."I wonder what a bachelor party is like in iran, does the stripper show ankle", is that how we Iranians perceive ourselves or is that how Americans perceive us. Your going to tell me she doesn't know any better, please she just wants cheap laughs at any cost, even if it means degrading herself and Iranian women, you know she could have got a lot more laughs if she came out in a chador, served everybody some tea then sat down on the floor and smoked a gheylioon and at the end the audience could have stoned her with foam rocks as they cut to commercials, that would have got her some laughs. Sorry but good is good and she's not good.


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Why do people keep posting

by Ali1234 (not verified) on

Why do people keep posting clips of Chris Rock and other comedians mocking their own people?! Who freaking cares if others do it? Why do you people think that Americans should teach us when we should get offended and when shouldn't?!!

Plus, there are many other political factors involved when it comes to Iranians and Muslims. This is not the time to suck up to Western audiences and amuse them by "laughing at ourselves". Some pride wouldn't hurt!!


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SO FAKE!!!

by urstruly (not verified) on

the "canned" laughing is overdone and the two interviewers are very fake trying very hard to keep their composure.

whatever.

but good for tisa and the other guy for working so hard against many odds.


n.zanincanadai

//www.youtube.com/watch

by n.zanincanadai on


n.zanincanadai

Reza911, You're raising

by n.zanincanadai on

Reza911,

You're raising the bar because she's Iranian.

Chris Rock

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0mtxXEGE8

Cheech&Chong

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2K-_2AHYh0

 


Anonymouse

She is not new

by Anonymouse on

She has been a comedian for a while. That part when she says I take off my rosary because I feel sluty today is her opening line for her comedy shows.

I had seen some of her reviews before, this was the first on The View. She and some others including Jobrani started this line of comedy after harrasments started post 9/11 and Axis of Evil. She started after Jobrani.

She is ok, I don't get offended by her, I just think she is not that funny. Being a woman she can do better and there is more material she can use.


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It was awesome

by Amir Nasiri (not verified) on

She is very funny. Thank god we have a funny Iranian who can speak english with no weird accent.

I think it is important to be able to have a sense of humour and make fun of your self. laughters and happiness makes friendship and wins over the enemies. I have learned that from my jewish friends. If you see all the comedian actors most of of them are from Jewish faith. They do great job in order to make people laugh and also intoruce them to their culture.

Tissa good job.


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You are just lowering your standards because she is Iranian.

by Reza411 (not verified) on

N.Zanincandai, unless you believe that this is what Iranians are really like, then your points make no sense. These jokes are more like stereotypes non Iranians, mostly Americans have about Iranians rather then actual funny Iranian culture stuff.

Andrew dice clay, was a Jewish kid from brooklyn who got famous making stereotipical jokes about brooklyn Italians and telling dirty jokes, nothing about his own culture and he's never been considered a great comedian.

Eddie Murphy and especially Chris Rock go way out of there way to show true African american culture compared to what the media stereotypes as African american culture. Chris Rock's joke about deferentiating between black people and niggers is a famous one. In fact most of the talented black comedians hate the comedians who pander to white America's view of them.

I will tell you I know comedy better than anybody on this website and I love jokes about Iranians and our culture and I can take a joke when it's good, so this being said watch and learn. See one of the best comics out there, first Iranian to have a sitcom on national tv in the US. Played at the just for laughs festival showcase and has his own show on British tv now and played in a ton of movies too and much more. This guy was rated as one of the best comics in the world. So yes we did go mainstream...A long time ago.

Now watch his video's and see how a master makes jokes about his own culture, without belitteling himself to the audience.

Omid Djalili on ethnic catch phrases, including Iranian ones.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K4lVeWhP1s

Omid Djalili on circumcision and media stereotypes of middle easterners.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClkBQEfxJ58

Omid Djalili on Iranians slapping bald guy's on the back of the head for fun.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwEPC6Fuzms

Omid Djalili on Iranians and heat.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs_jg_eF-ZM

Omid Djalili and his Iranian fans and Iran vs. US soccer match.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zt2zSr07xIE

Omid Djalili ethnic Jewish jokes and womens menstrual cycles.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXjQncuKA14

Omid Djalili on Greeks, Turks and Iranians and other ethnic jokes.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc6Hy-wlhs8

An older one about Iranians dancing at the club.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmYhmRFM8uw

This is a great comedian. I believe the other ones are very weak compared to him and I don't think anybody can argue with that.

And another thing, I find it very ironic that i'm defending Iranian women but i'm being attacked by Iranian women for doing it....Again.


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To n.zanincanadai

by Ali1234 (not verified) on

I think we are intelligent enough to judge for ourselves what is funny and what is not. We don't need Americans to "educate" us about humor and when we should be offended. So, please take your references somewhere else.

Many people find it very insulting and degrading when an Iranian comes on national television and ridicules Iranians and their culture and values like that. Now, I don't care how Americans do it.


ebi amirhosseini

To N.Zanincanadai

by ebi amirhosseini on

Love your comments,right or wrong;you always support them with refrences.It is good to have you back.keep them coming.

To poeple who are living in Europe or America,cannot understand comedy / satire & are still in their hypocracy cacoon ; with all due respect:

PLEASE GET A LIFE !!!!!


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She is not making fun of Iranian culture

by Concerned Iranian (not verified) on

She is making fun of the current fake peseudo Iranian culture. I thought she was funny. I have seen many comedians, Jewish, Christian, Chinese, and others make fun of what is funny in their culture. We should be able to allow these kinds of self crticisms if that "culture" wants to grow up like many other real cultures have. For those who cannot tolerate or are simply too stuck up to take a joke, I say, take a chill pill!


n.zanincanadai

Teaching the masses about comedy...dirty job but i;ll do it

by n.zanincanadai on

This was the first time I ever heard of Tissa but I'm impressed. She has a great accent and confidence and technique.

Those who are ashamed to see jokes about themselves, , I suggest you go on youtube and pull up routines by Andrew Dice Clay, CHRIS ROCK, Eddie Murphy, and other male/female white/black American stand up comics. You will see that picking on one's own culture constitutes A LOT of their material. It's not noticeable until one of our own does it. Yeeeha we're going mainstream. Here's some of my faves:

Andrew dice clay on Kramer and the N word //www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmYz1dDb5Xs&feature=related

Chris Rock Loves Rap

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9A2I-X7b-w

SNL jewish

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztCU7kunDKs

Women making fun of women (and blonds)

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eFuvNv5vsk&feature=related

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=oghWt-N-WRI&feature=related

(best part is YOU THINK YOU CAN LABEL ME BUT I'm NOT A BIMBO...LOOOOOL)


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Oh my god people lighten up

by skatermom (not verified) on

Oh my god people lighten up. This was hilarious and I can't wait to watch the comedy special on pbs. I love being self depracating. It shows you're confident and that you can laugh at yourself. Party girl that was awesome. Do not stop finding clips regardless of what these folks have to say. 99% of Iranians aren't that sensitive. with all that we've been through I think we have some pretty tough skin. Stop boohooing folks. Meegan bala cheshmesh abrooeh behesh bar meekhoreh.


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Cheap jokes don't go far.

by Reza411 (not verified) on

She's not doing any service to Iranian women. How many Iranian women do you know that are actually like that? Now how many americans do you know that actually believe Iranian women are like that? I wonder why???

Did you hear the crowd, when she said she's from Iran, did you see her apologetic expression towards them, like if it's a bad thing to be Iranian. They should be apologizing to her...To us.

Anybody worth while in the entertainment business will tell you, don't pander to your audiences expectations, be original and suprise them with something new, unexpected, it goes a long way. Muslim comics coming out and doing jokes about terrorism and oppressed women is very very predictable. The best comedy is intelligent comedy, this is very sideshowish.


Party Girl

Anonymous9999999

by Party Girl on

Thank you for thanking me.  Was that a hint of irony I detected in your comment?!  O.K., O.K.  I see you are unhappy with me for this clip recommendation.  I have explained this before 99's Jan:  I research and find clips which have to do with Iran and Iranians.  I don't make those videoclips, nor those Iranians!  I just recommend a link which I think others might find funny, interesting, nostalgic, nice, and yes, sometimes shocking.  Don't give me more credit than I deserve, good or bad.   


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This shows how strong this

by Aby (not verified) on

This shows how strong this woman really is.
first of all, she is a woman.
second, a muslim Woman!
that is huge.
i've never seen anyone like her so confident and believing in themselves.
God Bless.
MOre Muslims and Iranians should step up like her.
You Go Girl


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Iran is HOT!!!

by Reza411 (not verified) on

Too bad they always choose to go for the obvious, being stereotypes americans have for Iranians and arabs. They lack the talent so they go for shock value. I don't see a long career ahead for them. The wedding night joke was funny though.


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I disagree with the above

by mj22 (not verified) on

I disagree with the above coments. i'm not only very proud of my heritage, but also of Tissa who has stood up and is promoting the real Iran and the real Islam. Islam preaches Peace. there is no problem with laughing at yourself. i wish more people would do so, then this world wouldn't be so full of hatred!
Thank you


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excelente

by Anonymousheehee (not verified) on

The Iranian lady is sooo funny I loved her and so is the other guy great. It is so couragous to poke fun at things that are funny and not let them get to you.
Thanks a bunch


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Party girl...thank you so

by Anonymous99999999 (not verified) on

Party girl...thank you so much for opening my eyes...i am ashamed to be an iranian...i wish instead i was a dirty fly sitting on a peice of shit...but not an iranian!! NOOO...how can some one make fun of his/her culture/religion/country...i am so mad right now that i want to break something...i'm not visiting iranian.com anymore..it really hurts to see all of you , shitting on your own selves.


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Shameless buffoons

by Ali1234 (not verified) on

Look at these buffoons mocking and ridiculing themselves, their culture, their religion and their country to please a bunch of Americans.

Even that American woman herself feels uncomfortable laughing at this sad display of self-hatred and inferiority complex by these two clowns (especially the Iranian one).

I have yet to see an American in Iranian TV mocking the United-States and its culture like that.