Al-Wadi

As penance for that long IR post this morning, allow me to return to my humbler roots and report on what is currently the second most widely discussed event in the Arab world (after the Egypt bombing):  al-Wadi.   Al-Wadi is a new LBC reality TV show in which Haifa Wehbi joins 14 B-List (or maybe C-list, as al-Quds al-Arabi rather snootily observes) "stars" on a farm. 

Haifa riding a donkey, just as ordinary mortals do when living on a farm

The idea is that they live on the farm, doing farm things, and... well, that's it.  "Haifa Wehbe on a farm" is pretty much the high concept.  She's the permanent guest and gets her own big room, while the other 14 guests do wacky reality TV kinds of things. Oh, and every Friday night they sing songs with Haifa.

Haifa sitting in the kitchen telling everyone else what to do while wearing a Lakers tank top, just like any normal farmer

Al-Arabiya points out that Haifa is the key to the show, and the reason it's attracted such interest. Al-Safir goes a bit farther, hinting that the LBC show might have died a dusty and unnoticed death without its hyper-popular star.  Al-Arabiya speculates that she must have received a *heck* of a paycheck to do the show, since its filming (over almost three months) coincides with the busiest and most lucrative time of year for the "festivals" where Arab singers make a hefty chunk of their money.   As a triumph of the virtual (satellite TV) over the physical (festivals), this catches my eye for the N-H culture wars.  Finally, it's something of a gamble for Haifa, since presumably she will have to demonstrate an actual personality.

Haifa toiling in the fields, as any farmer would (screenshot courtesy of al-Safir)

Anyway, lest I be accused of lacking serious intent, allow me to note that in the last few days alone, Al-Wadi has been featured in al-Sharq al-Awsat, al-Quds al-Arabi, and al-Safir (and that's just the "serious" outlets).  And al-Arabiya's story is currently ranked as the most read, the most commented upon, and the most e-mailed story on the site.  Just to give you a sense of what Arab publics really care about...

UPDATE:  by popular demand, one more:  Haifa tending goats - as any farmer would -  on the cover of For Her magazine:

UPDATE 2:   Al-Wadi is a show that knows how to manufacture buzz:  Haifa revealed on the air that she is engaged to Saudi businessman Tarek al-Jafili.  Congrats to the happy farmers! 

Comments

[Tom Scudder]

Incidentally, I'd think that the last bomb in Beirut fits into the Nancy-Haifa wars paradigm, given that it struck Monot Street.

[collounsbury]

I hope my Sat is working when I get home. I am now very much intrigued by this farming angle. I am sure to learn much about agriculture.

[eerie]

This show seems like the equivalent of N. America's "The Simple Life" (Paris Hilton & Nicole Richie as rich brats on a farm) and "The Surreal Life", where a bunch of has-been/15-minute celebrities live in a house together.

My only complaint is that I haven't heard much about Ruby lately. She's my favourite poptart/sexbomb

Col - Agriculture? Who knew.

[Abu Tabakh]

Next time someone calls me a "humar," I will fondly think of the first picture. Thanks, AA!

[Leila]

I laughed out loud at this. Life does go on, no matter how sh**ty the news. Thanks for the humor break.

[Abu Sinan]

Interesting to note that reality shows, an import from the USA, are so popular. Why is it that the world tends to take the worst of what America has to offer?

[Rodger]

In May, on our "freedom trip" to France, my kids and I often caught their version of "Celebrity Farm," which featured celebrities living the rural life. The show dates to early 2004 More than a dozen celebs live on a real farm, apparently without running water or electricity.