All-American Muslim: A 'kinder, gentler reality show'?

TLC takes a break from toddler beauty pageants to profile the complicated lives of five Muslim-American families in Dearborn, Mich.

The Aoude family
(Image credit: TLC/Adam Rose)

With its new reality series All-American Muslim, TLC is echoing PBS' 1970 documentary series, An American Family, in which the very real Loud family prompted a national conversation on divorce and homosexuality. TLC's show, which debuted Sunday night, follows five Muslim-American families in Dearborn, Mich., home to the nation's largest mosque. The premiere delved earnestly into the effects of the Muslim faith on these Americans' lives, focusing on the impending wedding of Shadia, "a tattoed and pierced young Muslim woman," and Jeff, her "happily clueless" Irish Catholic beau. Is this a refreshing break from the soulless world of Jersey Shore or too sincere for its own good?

This is reality TV at its best: All-American Muslim harks back to the days when it "seemed like unscripted television might be used for good," says Linda Holmes at NPR. The show isn't overly preachy, instead using a fairly neutral tone to satisfy viewers' curiosity about Muslims, especially when it comes to the illuminating wedding of Shadia and Jeff. As social commentary that still manages to entertain, All-American Muslim tells "a story that hasn't been told very often on American television."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us