Homer becomes Omar for Middle Eastern Simpsons

by Sam Matthews, Brand Republic 20-Oct-05, 11:00

LONDON – 'The Simpsons' is getting a Middle Eastern makeover for Arab television with Homer, or Omar as he is called, drinking fizzy pop instead of Duff beer.

The redubbed and edited show will be called 'Al Shamshoon', with several changes to the characters to make them acceptable for a Muslim audience.

Bart has been renamed Badr, and Omar eats Arab Kahk cookies instead of doughnuts and drinks soft drinks instead of Duff Beer.

Seedy barman Moe no longer owns a bar, and he eats barbecued Egyptian beef sausages instead of hot dogs.

However, the world's most famous cartoon family have not lost their dysfunctional character traits, with Omar still being lazy and Badr continuing to enrage his headmaster and parents.

Egyption actors have been chosen to do the voices but catchpharses that transcend the language barrier, such as "Doh!" and "Aye-Carumba", will stay.

Dubai-based satellite station MBC Network Television is showing two episodes a day of 'Al Shamshoon' during the month of Ramadan with plans to extend the series and genre if it proves popular with viewers.

"I think 'The Simpsons' will open new horizons to us for the future. We are opening a new genre of programming in the Middle East," Michael Costandi, business development director of MBC, said.

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