Desi Manifesto Blog: The Forum for South Asian American Men

* The quirky and forward-thinking Canadian TV (CBC) show, “Little Mosque on the Prairie,” is being adapted (and potentially ruined) by FOX. Even if it doesn’t make it to air, this is progress. Unless it’s some kind of feeder for “24″ villains. Ugh. Props to writer Zarqa Nawaz, as she has created a show unlike anything currently around. The desi moment is that she’s of Pakistani origin, BTW.

And she answered some questions after the pilot aired. Watch the pilot (takes a long time to load). [Thanks Nirali Magazine]

* Adhir Kalyan, whom we blogged about in our review of the CW’s “Aliens in America,” bagged a role as an up-and-coming wunderkind doctor on FX’s “Nip/Tuck.” Amazingly, the writers of the show displayed their all-world creativity when they named the character “Raj.” On a happier note, that boy is going to get LAID, both on the program and in real life, because of his role on that show. It’s LA, you know. And I 100% support the sexual objectification of the Indian male by women as well as the resulting residual play from the trickle-down effect. [Thanks Angry Asian Man]

Reader P’s story of “the burrito”: P is an Indian guy in his early to mid 20s in LA. Works in a corporate-ish building, though his company is relatively relaxed in dress code.

During lunch break, he grabbed some food to go and made his way back to the office. As he rode the elevator up, bag with food in hand, the door opened and another building worker (different company) entered…

“Well she was a white woman probably in her late 30s. I was coming up from the parking garage and the door opened on the ground floor, I was about to step off but then I stopped and realized it was the wrong floor. She got on the elevator, looked at me and smiled, then said: “Let me guess, you’re delivering a burrito?”

This past Thursday, NBC aired an episode of “The Office.” And while that show has slipped so far down the crapper that no creative plunger can retrieve it, I found myself thoroughly pleased. Because of a GE commercial that aired during the show.This advertisement starred Indians, depicted India, and portrayed elements of Indian culture.

And to my complete shock, it didn’t suck. In fact, it was very well executed and showed awareness.

I think I’m getting soft.

So we’re all aware of the typically Hollywood, over-the-top premise of The Love Guru and why it could (should, and probably will) offend Hindus and Indians in general.

We delve into something else: how offended should we feel?

Because in a strange way, The Love Guru might be exactly what we want.

How often have you wondered why there are so few shows that deal with stories of minorities? People in positions like us (or even close to us)? Or why the few Indians seem to be such cardboard cutouts? Or why you’re shocked when you see a brown character at all, let alone a desi who is an interesting person?

I can answer this: because the vast, vast majority of Hollywood writers are… bet you didn’t see this one coming… tabla roll, please…

White males.

…That’s the biggest Hollywood cliché of all.

It’s not uncommon for Indians to be the “filler” race in film, TV, and commercials. I’ve seen Indians routinely portray Latinos, Arabs, Persians (or as Hollywood calls them, “terrorists”), and of course, other South Asians. As posted on this site a little while back, even in the real-life legal system, our peeps sub for any race you want.

In retrospect, I don’t know what I was hoping would (or wouldn’t) happen. Did I really expect them to avoid the lame Indian accent? Shame on me. But, even in this moment of defeat, more good may have come from it than bad.