ITV Pays $30M For Controlling Stake In ‘Hatfields … 
Hot Trailer: ‘Anchorman 2′ 
2ND UPDATE: Charlie Sheen Fired Selma Blair From … 
Time Warner Cable Sued For Passing Lakers-Dodgers Costs On … 
Jonah Hill Signs For Management With LBI 
TOLDJA! ‘Dumb And Dumber To’ Proves No-Brainer … 
Salma Hayek’s Animated Passion Project ‘The … 
Relativity Moves Scott Cooper’s ‘Out Of The … 
Hot Trailer: ‘The Lego Movie’ 
Comedy ‘I Didn’t Do It’ Gets Series Order … 
Liv Tyler To Co-Star In Damon Lindelof’s HBO Pilot … 
DreamWorks Animation Launches Effort To Re-Position Itself … 
‘Pacific Rim’ Sequel In Planning Stages, … 
Legendary “Down To Handful” Of Studio Suitors: … 
UPDATE: Dan Harmon Apologizes For Comments Slamming … 
Deadline Expands: Hires Washington Post Journalist Lisa De … 
MGM & BermanBraun Sign TV Production Deal, First-Look … 
EMMYS: ‘Big Bang Theory’s Science 
‘Client List’ Season 3 Pickup In Limbo Over … 
Amazon Orders Cop Drama Pilot Based On Michael … 
Lionsgate Acquires Pulitzer Prize Winner ‘Devil In … 
Freelance journalist Dominic Patten is a Deadline contributor
The West Hollywood City Council wants Bravo’s reality series Shahs Of Sunset to change its ways and stop “perpetuating negative stereotypes about Iranian-Americans.” The pols used their jurisdiction to slam the Ryan Seacrest-produced series about Iranian-Americans living in Beverly Hills (think a milder, West Coast version of MTV”s Jersey Shore, with more money). “The City of West Hollywood is located in close proximity to the area represented in Shahs Of Sunset and has many residents of Iranian descent,” a council resolution passed Thursday read. “Many of them and others have raised concerns about the show’s perpetuation of negative Iranian-American stereotypes.” Councilmember John Heilman said after it was adopted that “negative stereotypes disseminated about any group should raise concern as this can lead to discrimination and, in extreme cases, even violence.” The move is the latest attempt from a city government to weigh in on such matters, after LA City Council member Jan Perry’s measure this week intended to stop radio hosts from using “racist and sexist slurs” and for Clear Channel and others to have more diversity in their workforce. The West Hollywood council said its condemnation “is consistent with past actions of the City Council denouncing negative stereotypes of the LGBT community and other groups which have faced discrimination and marginalization.” More than 700,000 people of Persian descent live in Los Angeles County. Shahs Of Sunset premiered March 11.
Loading ...
As a hillbilly I’m offended by reruns of the Beverly Hillbillies and demand reruns be pulled off the air!
I love that you actually thought this was clever.
Why the hell did they even put this show on?? The fact that Ryan Seacrest can get tv shows on the air is a testament to how dumb and stupid entertainment has become. The entire industry should be ashamed of themselves for creating shows for kartrashians, those morons from jersey and now these idiots. All these shows are disgusting and Ryan Seacest is a moron with money. So scary.
You can’t blame just the entertainment industry, the television audience is just as guilty. The Kardashians and the Jersey Shore are some of the highest rated reality shows. If it was my job to make money for my network, I’d make the same damn decision.
“the entire industry” is not responsible for shows like this.
The fact that Ryan Seacrest is a recognizable name is testament to how dumb and stupid entertainment has become.
. . . and how easily amused the general population has become.
More importantly, Iranians should stop living up (down?) to the negative stereotype that exists.
im half persian and i agree. I know it as a fact that Persians are just *that* bad. Everyone is just pissed that the secret is out. I was at a restaurant in London on Friday and overheard a bunch of old Persian women complaining about the show. If anything it got everyone talking?
Actually I am full Persian and we are nothing like these people. Reality shows pick the worst and most obnoxious out of any group. I am offended by this show and the bad light that it puts on us.
Please my mother is horrified.
I will go out on a limb here. Theses Iranian Americans featured on this show infact don’t have much money. There is real old money there and the ones who have it would not be interested in wasting their time. They would never want the exposure. Plus, they are the worst cast of characters. Boring!!!
Completely agree with your first point.
If ‘muslim in america’ didn’t make it. what make anyone think this show will?
If theyre really concerned about the show they shouldn’t help it gain publicity with these kind if statements and efforts. The show is like every other reality show and it takes fame wh*res hungry for the spotlight and starving for IQ points and sensationalized trivial arguments. Sadly this is something that every ethnicity is subjected to and is not unique to Iranian Americans.
It won’t get renewed. No one is watching it.
First of all, who the hell would watch.
Second, I live in Calabasas. This show sounds spot-on!
I disagree with this article. These are not negative stereotypes. The flash, the back talking, the absurd show of wealth, the constant allusions to a civilization that is 2000+ years old–in essence the air superiority is not a stereotype. Walk into any office or business of Persian Americans and this unfortunately is a large part of the culture. There are several offices and business in the United States that have large Persian populations. Talk to journalists working at RFE/RL Radio Farda or VOA Persian News Network. Take a look at the medical facilities of dentists; or real estate brokers and you will see that this is the norm.
It’s just typical trash tv, a guilty pleasure. It’s the same as when everyone in New Jersey got all offended about Jersey Shore – and it did just fine and is still going how many seasons later….
Hmmm. I just reconsidered purchasing another home in BH; will take my millions elsewhere.
first the l.a. city council passes a resolution regarding “speech” now this from the weho city council?
Don’t these MORONS have any REAL pressing civic issues they need to address?
when in heck did city gov’t feel like it was their jurisdiction to tell a network what to broadcast and what sort of “speech” is suitable
unless shahs of sunset or comments from kfi has caused violence and civic strife….SHUT THE F UP!!
really? is that hunger games world just around the corner? SHEESH brrro…
btw not that it matters, but a couple my persian friends think the show is FUNNY and don’t take it seriously brrro!
Gotta say I hope Seacrest is proud having his name attached to this CRAP. I mean this is just CRAP. WHY in the world would his company (or Bravo for that matter…well… okay forget Bravo for a moment) why would RSP think this was appropriate? IT IS NOT. C’mon guys there has GOT to be a line somewhere. Thanks for inviting more violence into Los Angeles – first violent crazy crime I see race related anywhere near this topic in these clubs in these areas which normally don’t have these type of racial issues – I think Weho and many others will be looking at RSP and Bravo for stirring things up. It’s a free country but it doesn’t always mean its right. THere’s always a time a place for everything. Plus the show is just crap. Have fun in your big house and big car Ryan – expected better product from you man, starting to wonder.
i said it before and will say it again, if the cast was younger and prettier, this show would become my new guilty pleasure.
So it is okay to make fun of people from NJ, rich ‘housewives’, ‘hillbillies’ and to put a show called GCB on the air but a rich ethnic group is off limits because they are Iranian?
I agree with you Jacie. Why shouldn’t Iranians suffer the same public stereotyping that the rest of us face?
West Hollywood City Council: Please fix all the broken parking meters, and stop your efforts to mitigate the first amendment.
God awful show, limited appeal, gone by the Fall.
There is a simple solution instead of getting so butt hurt. Stop watching the shows and production companies will stop making them.
Every race gets a turn to be exploited on Reality TV. Every race and culture has stereotypes. Reality TV just puts it out there.
Where was West Hollywood with all the stereotypical gay reality shows??? WEHO!
First, I like the show and watch it. I grew up in Beverly Hills and went to Beverly High. Sorry folks…but the show in not perpetuating stereotypes. This is a spot on representation of the wealthy Iranian American community in Beverly Hills. Spot. On.
Weho’s grievance OS misplaced: rather than target the show for airing negative stereotypes of Persians, they should be targeting the ridiculous family that practices such stereotypes as if they were a badge of honor.
Second, this is America – some petty city council has no business telling a programmer what they can and cannot air. As stated before, Weho should be directing their anger at this pathetic Persian family and their actions, not dictating what the rest of us can and can’t watch.
I lived in the valley and Persians are so like GG! This show is awful. I watched one episode ugh! Thank goodness they don’t put up with that crap in the South Bay
You are so right on. Its like tv has become stupid and obnoxious like we are all 16 and enjoy this smut. Its disgusting how they portray certain cultures, who’s the target next? Asians? Indians? Latinos? This is trash tv and its sad that all this does is glamorized wasteful spending, superficiality and acting a fool. Americans are suffering and this is the bullsh!t we have to watch? I miss good programming.
I’d love to get my hands on a study as to WHY the public is consuming this crap. When so many are out of work in this country, so many are looking for jobs, wondering how to pay down their debt, etc. etc. and we have to watch these morons behave this way. Whoever said it was “spot on” above. I disagree. Maybe in your section of the city. The other commenter talking about why doesn’t WEHO decry other realty shows about gays – they’re not all shot in WEHO – and they have when shot in WEHO. Just has Laguna Beach, Los Angeles, etc. etc. I AGREE with the person who said First Am rights. But it’s also w/in the cities’ rights also. The broader, bigger question: why culturally are Americans turning into to this programs even at a time when so many are hurting to watch she wasted wealth, and bad behavior? Bad behavior and tackiness translates in any race.
This show portrays them perfectly.
Reality shows should just disappear altogether. It is so embarrassing for this country!
Unfortunately for Persians, as embarrassing as this might be, the show is spot on regarding Iranian/Persian culture. I actually went to Beverly Hils High and I remember my friends and I wondering how 16 year old kids were walking around with $15,000 Rolex and Cartier watches on their wrists. They are generally pushy, arrogant, loud and rude. The irony is that most Persians don’t like other Persians for that exact reason. Kind if funny in a way.