Charlotte Safavi

I just watched another episode.

I just saw another episode.  The episode was really boring except couple of funny attitudes.

I loved AJ?'s comment when she commented on GG's bitchy reaction (i.e. f..k up everyone).  That's the right thing to do girl? :)  I am sure they have taken a course on knitting called "Snitch and Bitch".

I found couple of inappropriate things in Reza this time.  First of all, he had casual shoes with no socks; matching with an elegant suit. That was appropriate for teenagers if Reza had a sport shoes with suit.  Bare feet clearly means that I haven't worn underwear today.  I think everyone knows that.  With such an elegant suit I would suggest black formal shoes, high hill.

He also flirted with Sammy once about milk shake, and I didn't love it at all.  Most heterosexual heard Reza's comment this way: "my bedroom was unlocked tonight, please drop by Sammy". 

:) 

congratulations

congratulations to the cast.... thanks to all the positive AND negative feedback from viewers and non viewers, the show will officially be back for a season two..... as andy cohen would say, MAZEL and let me add MOBARAK!

 //ryanseacrest.com/2012/04/17/shahs-of-sunset-officially-returning-for-season-2-on-bravo/

Reza Farahan is pretentious and down-to-earth.

When you see Reza in the street please ensure that you say hi to him.  This might be your last chance that an Iranian homosexual says hi back to you because he is so lovely and down-to-earth.

Don’t get me wrong.  I don’t say there are many "successful" Iranian homosexuals abroad.  I am saying there are many Iranian homosexual who are making success at success at success.  Also, please don’t get too friendly only because you know they are homosexuals and you are okay.  When you meet them you should have couple of deep breath and say “hello” instead of “hi”.  Some space would be the best because some never know about their own sexual orientations, and they might mistakenly kiss the homosexual in lips instead of both cheeks.  It means that I want to intrude my tounge in you, and it doesn't matter if I am your role model.  Have you ever noticed lots of men kiss other men almost in lips in Iran? So indecent, obscene, and vulgar. 

"Everyone will give more when they feel appreciated."                         

No Safe Place, Deborah Ellis

Thanks for you comment. I'm

Thanks for you comment. I'm blogging, not nagging. If I loved the show to no end like you do, well then I'd have nothing to say.

Thanks for you comment. I'm

Thanks for you comment. I'm blogging, not nagging. If I loved the show to no end like you do, when then I'd have nothing to say.

Gharibe Aashena - answer to the question.

Out of respect to you I'd like to ask you to find the answer in my previous comment at “Soroush-Views on Homosexuality” (outlined (b) of the comment).

“nothing wrong with it!!!”.  Hellooooo.....we are Persians.  I don’t see anything wrong with you either.

BTW: my ribbed abs was supposed to be a humor. 

"Everyone will give more when they feel appreciated."                        No Safe Place, Deborah Ellis

love it

love the show.  what are you all complaining about?  always nagging

Farfromheaven when u say ribbed abs body or sexy image like me

Do you mean to say that you're gay?  Not that there is anything wrong with it! 

Everything is sacred

“I love Hellooooooo we are Persians”.

I am going to create a Face Book called “I love... Hellooooooo we are Persians”. Reza is down-to-earth. Believe me there are lots of Iranians and homosexual bitches out there. There are limited numbers of homosexuals who are down-to-earth like Reza. He even didn’t want to create a ribbed abs body or sexy image like me, and he acts very wise and kind. Even his clothing is common clothing like Iranians who live in Iran, Wal-Mart types. He doesn't even wear Speedo under his swimsuit that all homosexuals are supposed to wear. He used bath cloth (LEEF) to wash himself. Homosexuals never use bath cloth, always a mixture of Champaign with liquid spicy organic soap. “Helloooooooo...” is another sign of him being down-to-earth. Other characters are fabulous too.  I loved Reza’s bushy hair at the breakfast at Vegas and white beard.  Go wild man...

"Everyone will give more when they feel appreciated."                        No Safe Place, Deborah Ellis

I did, you can look for two blogs under my profile.

Everything is sacred

Thanks for your comments.

Thanks for your comments. I'm done. You should blog about it, you clearly have a lot to say.

Helloooo we are Persians!

I have seen you use this particular phrase "Hello we are Persians!" in your commentaries but I have not seen you acknowledge similarities between Persians in this show and Persians at large .

The way Reza is using this phrase Helloooo we are Persians! is wrong and it is his clownish behavior who couldn't find the relevance and origin of this American phrase and just thought to use it.

The way this phrase Hellooooo ... is supposed to be used (which I think you know if you think about it for a minute) is like an answer to obvious question(s) such as if someone asks; is Khomeini religious?  The answer would be Helloooo he is the Imam!  Or if asked; do you like kabob and an answer would be Helllooo I am a vegan!

The way Reza uses this phrase is on top without any question even being asked.  It's a gaffe, a joke, a rant not worthy of analysis but I take it that you think he is answering the question; is this show about Persians?  to which he says helloooo we are Persians!

There is no one way of representing Iranians.  Take Indians for example, they have sooooo many doctors and engineers, a far larger percentage ratio than Iranians.  Does that mean Indians should be ashamed of Slum Dog Millionaire (that won Oscars) or that they should throw a fit about it?

Colonics is bad now in Persian culture?  Botox and nose jobs and Iran being named Nosejob Capitol of the World is not bad but colonics is?!  Give me a break!

Anyway, I think the fact that we are talking about it is because it HAS struck a cord.  I for one am very glad that this show is on and shows how pretentious some of us Iranians are and the ones who are pointing fingers the most and criticizing this show are the ones who want it banned so that they don't have to look in the mirror!

Everything is sacred

Of course, there are all

Of course, there are all sorts of Iranians. But this show says "Hello we're Persian" as if it speaks for everyone. Read my earlier commentaries to getter fairer picture. I have enjoyed aspects of the show in theory, but after watching this particular episode, with people getting colonics on screen, well I just wanted to scream. Perhaps that's someone's Persian culture but it sure isn't mine... OF course this is all mass crass entertainment and to a certain extent should be taken as such. Just the first time our culture has been exposed in a larger way to TV.

Well the show is doing very well.

Whom do you know that "represents Persian culture" and is unanimously approved by Persians around the world?  We don't even have unity in our own families about the "Persian culture" much less outside our families and the larger population.

You see the show is doing very well and is amongst the top reality shows.  I for one don't like much of these shows except maybe two or three of them but do like this show.

I like it because it makes people make statements about what "Persian Culture" is or should be!  With all due respect Ms. Safavi I think you're definitely representing the "Persian Culture" when it comes to the old Persian saying that chicken has one leg!

You see no point in this show and no similarity between the Persians in this show and the Persians who are not in this show!  It's as if the Persians in this show aren't even Persian!

To some extent it represents Persians and Persian Culture in Los Angeles and America in general.  Don't be like GG where you can't even see what's wrong with your attitude! 

Everything is sacred

Thanks for your comment.

Thanks for your comment. Whether people are rich or not is not the issue, how they behave when they represent Persian culture is.

I see your point, there's no

I see your point, there's no such thing as bad PR... But someone needs to address the show so that the line in the sand--those who view it negatively and those who view it positively--is seen.

...

ms. safavi, i'm sure that you're well-read and do plenty of meaningful work.  my comment about you writing a blog on a nonsense show was merely facetious (i was referring to your sentence: "Honestly, I was so offended by Episode 4 that I almost didn't write anything at all...").  does that mean you wrote a review for the first 3 episodes which you did not find as offensive as episode 4?  if so, then "i hope the next show offends you just enough so that you won't bother writing another review on it."

the bottom line is that the more coverage that shows like these get (negative or positive), the less liklihood of it getting cancelled.  ironically, you're perpetuating the show that makes you and other like-minded people like you "horrified." cheers.

Affirmative action isn't racism against Whites!

Not every stereotype is racism.  For example, there is no such thing as racism against Whites!  Some try to define something for it but in reality no.

Same here, what is so bad and racist for being (supposedly) rich?!  What? you called me rich?!  take that back!  I'll file a civil rights violation law suit! 

Everything is sacred

Thanks for your comments.

Thanks for your comments. You don't know who is watching this show and what they are taking away from it. Italian-Americans have been in American culture for more than a century, us pretty much since 1979. Either way the show is demeaning to some people in our culture...I have received petitions and read stories about how Iranian-Americans are hoffified by it. I also write for a greater audience - the people who read the Huffington Post are from all over the world - and it doesn't hurt to explain the other side. And please don't worry, I enjoy plenty of great novels and manage to stay current on world news. Blogging is something I do for fun when I have something to say.

i also don't get this

i also don't get this sentiment: "...I deeply resent my fellow Persian-Americans getting lumped together if only by ethnicity with the cast of this increasingly gratuitous show."

ms. safavi, do you think that people think all italian americans are killers, drug dealers and pimps by watching the "godfather" or the "sopranos?"  or they think italian americans are bunch of idiots like the cast of "jersey shore?"  if some people do think that, it's not because of these movies and tv shows; it's because they are narrow-minded to begin with and in their minds, have negative steretypes of all kinds of people.  frankly, i'm not worried that i would be looked in a bad light because of a show like this.

i don't even watch these type of reality shows.  it seems that the worst attribute of the "shahs" is that thirty- and forty-somethings act like "beavis and butthead." it's one thing that nineteen-year old italian americans act like 14-year olds; it's another that forty-some year old iranian americans act like 14-year olds.  at any rate, i hope the next show offends you just enough so that you won't bother writing another review on it.  instead, you can enjoy reading a great novel or stay current on the world news or something!

The alternative show about Iranians is on News channels!

There is no other Iranian TV show to compare #shahs  So until we get another Iranian show on TV, except of course the News show, we should use this show as a platform. more here >>> 

Everything is sacred

Thanks for your comments. If

Thanks for your comments. If it casts a shadow on Iranian-Americans 45+, then you've made my point. There are plenty of Iranian-American immigrants 45+ out there who are offended by this show. As for the young ones you refer to, do they really have no problem with the cast saying "Hello, we're Persian" and then going for a graphic colonic on TV? Really. I think it has nothing to do with age and more to do with taste and integrity. The cast should just say hello we're from LA and then maybe this wouldn't be an issue... Of course, I'm just one opinion...and I know plenty of Iranian-Americans in that younger age bracket you speak of who think the show stinks.

Thanks for your comment. I

Thanks for your comment. I agree with you. Questions of identity are always hard to answer in the context of societal stereotyping. I mean if SoS are the "new" Persian-American, then I don't know where that puts rest of us who are also Persian-American but nothing like this bunch.

When asked where I'm from, I always say my heritage is Iranian, though I was born and educated in the UK and now live in America.

Go West Young Man, Go West!

Oon Yaroo Jaan, It is never late to go west!

"I'm blazing a trail that leads to vice
So easily enticed
By darker means
When out of the wilderness of choice
I hear that one still voice
Call to me

Go west young man
Go west young man
When the evil go east
Go west young man
Go west young man
Find a heart that's golden"

Farfromheaven

I did not mean to offend the loose-ass men. I am just plain ignorant. Could you kindly describe the word " man " to me?  

Faramarz Jaan

How many topless Persian dancers do you know?

I have lived in the New England area for the past 34 years and have not seen a single one! 

I really think you SoCal Persians are spoiled!

A Generational Issue

The more I read about the criticism of this show, the more I realize that the issue is more generational than anything else. The first generation Iranian-Americans, the 45+ crowd are still trying to figure out who they are and where they belong and see every little whisper out there as an assault on their identity. The younger crowd do not have these issues and have assimilated quite well.

Over 13-bedar gathering, I asked a few younger people what they thought of the show. Of those who actually knew about the show the majority thought that it was either funny, entertaining or ‘what ever”, but there was no hostility towards it or they didn’t think that the characters in the show represented them.

I think it is perfectly alright to criticize the show if it is boring or silly, but saying that somehow it casts a shadow on Iranian-Americans is just self-righteousness and assumes that we are a certain kind of people and different than other Americans.

One way to know if you really know Iranian-Americans is to ask yourself the following questions. How many Iranian-Americans do I know that have been in jail, have worked as hookers or topless dancers, have died of drug overdose or beat their wives or their kids?

If the answer is none, then maybe you should look harder because they are out there, like in any other culture.

A dilemma! From Camel Jock, Terrorist, Rag Head ... to SoS!

What should the rest of us who don't want to be associated with the following categories call ourselves?

1. Akhoonds & the gang,
2. MEK & the gang,
3. Anti Israeli & the gang,
4. and now the Shah's of Sunset & the gang.

For 33 years, many Iranians have shied away from calling themselves Iranian this and Ayrian that for obvious connotations and association that those types of identifications could have adverse consequences!?

So, many many Iranians have decided to call themselves "Persian" as their ethnicity and this historically jived well with reality and facts. Both Christian and Kalimi folks could identify with Cyrus and Persia, etc.

Then comes this gang of Shah's of Sunset with their substandard behavior and sub-Persian this and sub-Persian that to the point that they have become the laughing stock of greater Persian community and a true source of embarrassment!

The other day, a colleague at work asked me, what the term, "Messl'e Hayvoon Lebas Pooshidi" meant!? I assume some SoS clown in the show meant to say, "You dressed like an animal!?" I mean what is this nonsense?

Now, the 69.9 thousand $ question is what next "term" of "identification" should we come up with so the next group of clowns won't ruin it for the rest of us?

How about "Gorbeh?" Could another group ruin this term for the rest of us?

Thanks for your comment.

Thanks for your comment. Yes, I did learn later that Mr. Hadid was Palestinian and I daresay the most successful businessman on the show about Persian-Americans in LA. Glad you are enjoying it!

Thanks for your comment. As

Thanks for your comment. As a writer, I present the other side. It's my job. I have a sense of humor, no worries on that count :)