Laugh out Loud with Maz Jobrani

Maz Jobrani is one of the original Iranian comedians who made it mainstream. Earlier this year, the actor and comedian was invited to speak at The White House and received a big hug from Michelle Obama. He also performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. On a Middle East tour, the King of Jordan came to see him perform. That should give you an idea of his mass appeal. Born in Iran, Maz moved to the United States aged six at the time of the Iranian Revolution. The self-proclaimed "bald and beautiful" Iranian-American star act has his stand up rooted in multiculturalism and has spent the better part of last two decades using his platform to try and break stereotypes on race and religion. He has played character roles on television's Grey's Anatomy and True Blood as well as films like The Interpretor, breaking through where most ethnic actors have struggled. He's an LA Times bestselling author of I'm not a terrorist but I've played one on TV. His choice of book cover, him wearing a  turban and holding a bomb, cleverly illustrates the stereotyping every Muslim and Muslim-looking person faces in the world today. After being offered one too many terrorist parts in the acting world, Maz decided he wouldn't give into the stereotype anymore. His perseverance earned him the more universal acting roles of father and doctor.

Maz and his wife at the White House

Maz doesn't have the typical celebrity rags to riches story. His father was a self made millionaire who dropped him off to school in a Rolls Royce in an affluent neighborhood in California where understated Saabs and Volvos were the norm, much to his embarrassment. He has an undergrad in political science, not surprising given the politically infused stand up he delivers. His stance on multiculturalism extends to his personal life - his wife's Indian:) The man is representing! Intrigued? Read my exclusive interview with the funny man himself ..

How was the comedy scene when you started off?

I started in Los Angeles in 1998. Back then there was a good comedy scene, but the Comedy Store, which is my home club, was kind of in its dark ages. When you first start though, that doesn't phase you. I would just get up anywhere I could - comedy clubs, bars, church basements, coffee shops, strip clubs, etc. Anywhere someone was organizing a show I would get up. It was fun to do and you learned a lot doing those shows. I have always tried to get up about 5-10 times a week and back then I would do as many sets as I could in LA.

Your comedy uncovers some sensitive truths about different cultures and religions. What makes you fearless?

Well, I talk about my own experiences. I also feel that we have a lot more in common than some politicians would want us to admit. So I don't think it's fearless to talk about your own experience and point of view. It's the only thing I can talk about. Often, I have different cultures and countries represented in my audience so that makes it natural that I would talk about them. I have also traveled a lot so I find myself making observations everywhere I go. The honest truth is that I don't talk down about anybody so I feel like my shows are pretty inclusive.

Maz on TED Global

How do you keep material fresh? What inspires you?

You just have to keep writing. I have now done 3 solo standup specials that were about 1 hour in length each as well as my first special with the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour where I performed about 20 minutes. That means I've written at least 3 hours and 20 minutes of material over these past 18 years. I am now getting ready to do my next hour so that would get me to 4 hours and 20 minutes. Then there's the material that I never put on a special or the stuff that I might riff. So over all of these years I have several hours of material and I keep writing. As you evolve as a human being you have other subjects you want to talk about so that keeps me going. Currently there is a lot of material with Trump. Also, I have young kids who give me new material every day!

What's the biggest compliment and criticism you've heard?

I try not to believe the hype and I try not to listen to the criticisms. I know I'm good at what I do and a big part of that is that I've put in the work. Sometimes I have great nights and sometimes I bomb on stage, but I know that I will be up again the following night and it will be a different experience.

What's life like on the road?

People think that life on the road is exciting, but it can get old fast. I love doing standup, but given that I've got a young family it's hard for me to be away from them too long. I tend to get on the road, get as much rest as I can at the hotel and then have some kick ass shows. These days I'm on the first flight back whenever I can do that so that I can spend time with my kids. They grow up fast and I don't want to miss their childhoods.

What advice would you give a starter on the business of comedy?

It's pretty simple - just get on stage as much as you can (at least 5-10 times a week) and write, write, write!

Does Hollywood today have scope for great roles for ethnic actors?

I think it's changing a little bit. We have people from different backgrounds now producing shows and writing on them. There's Aziz Ansari's "Master of None" which is a show about a Muslim Indian. They don't really delve into that much and they don't need to. He's just a regular guy with immigrant parents. There's other shows out there that try to show Middle Easterners and people from the east in a different way than we've been used to seeing them. I think that as America becomes more diverse it's inevitable that our TV will too.

Want do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

I just try to be a good person. I think that's my greatest achievement. We have so many difficulties in life and so much sadness that if I can just be nice and good to people then I'm achieving what I want to achieve in life.

Is there a darker side to comedians? Robin Williams comes to mind.

Sure, but that's the case for anyone in any profession. The difference is that we are used to seeing comedians only be funny and only make us laugh. But comedians are humans like anyone else so we're going to have the more stable ones and some who have psychological issues. It is very sad when we see our public heroes fall. Robin Williams dying was a big hit to the comedy community!

What does Maz Jobrani do for fun?

I love to play soccer and will keep doing so until my knees tell me to take a seat. I enjoy watching movies and TV shows with my wife. I love hanging out with my kids and nephew. It's really fun!

What's next?

My movie Jimmy Vestvood; Amerikan Hero is available online so I continue to promote that. I hope to make a sequel as well. I'm also working on a new CBS sitcom called Superior Donuts which will premiere in the U.S. in early February.

An Iranian and a Pakistani meet for chai and jujeh kebabs. What do they talk about?

India.

Follow Maz Jobrani on Facebook and on Twitter @MazJobrani

Urban Pakistan's Shaping Up

As a Pakistani who hasn't lived in Pakistan since her pre-teen years, I have keenly observed developments in city life on my visits home to Karachi. In the past five years, my outsider gaze has seen a burst of health and fitness in urban Pakistan - a delightfully positive and necessary progression. I'll be presumptuous in saying that Pakistani food is the most divine food you'll ever taste and it could challenge an international Michelin star restaurant any day. Alas, as with all things that seem too good to be true, a typical Pakistani dish is carb heavy. With hot breakfast and carb filled lunches and dinners, you're looking at a practically all-carb diet that's an integral part of our culture. Add driving as the norm and you can forget about FitBit's recommended 10,000 steps. Or maybe not ...

Zainab is the face of the modern, fitter Pakistani woman. Yes, she's a mother and a domestic goddess, but she's also an advocate for female empowerment and just turned her passion for health and fitness into a business. She calls Impact Studio her baby, an endeavour she's sharing with her business partner and childhood friend,  Nida. Unlike larger fitness clubs and chains, Impact Studio gets to know each client personally to understand their motivation. The studio offers yoga, training and Pilates six days a week. It's ongoing program caters to any fitness level. Zainab finds art in fitness and considers exercise and yoga "therapeutic".  She enjoys the connection with each client and being able to help them through their personal journey. Impact Studio isn't succumbing to the societal pressures of being skinny; instead,  it endeavours to strengthen the mind, body and spirit.

Zainab Muhammad Jamal

Nida shares this sentiment - "For me, a healthy lifestyle is the only lifestyle. It's a choice you make every day to treat your body with respect.  It's about finding inner peace and balance in your life. I went from being a chubby kid and a yo-yo adult dieter to the realization that it wasn't sustainable. I needed to take charge and that's how I fell in love with fitness. Helping other women through fitness became my mission. Luckily, I have a childhood friend who's just as passionate about fitness". 

Our discussion on health and fitness made me wonder why it took Pakistan so long to get here. Zainab hit the nail on the head when she reminded me that we always had Jane Fonda home videos and wanted to be fitter but just didn’t know how to get there. A certain awareness was lacking. I was taken back to my own childhood in Pakistan when my mother would take us to the park in the evenings for a very brisk walk. I remember having to run just to keep up. She also had a Jane Fonda video which I watched with much amusement. I realize now that I was actually supposed to work out to it. Zainab also spoke of the sedimentary lifestyles of Pakistanis and discovered on a recent holiday in Turkey how liberating getting around on foot can be -  “Walking is denied to us here", she told me.

Here's what Nida had to say about Pakistan's boom in fitness -"Starvation and extreme dieting is finally transforming into healthy eating and physical activity. Women are opening up to challenging their bodies. They've moved from short term goals like looking their best for a wedding or party to incorporating healthy living in their lifestyle". 

 

I wanted to learn about the challenges, if any, of starting a business in Pakistan as a woman. Yes, the country has evolved by light years but it isn't yet up to par with the West. I was pleased to hear from Zainab that “Karachi and Pakistan are progressive; people have been doing great things already and been successful at them. [She] was inspired by them”. And how does she achieve that nirvana work-life balance? I know, I know, men are never asked the question of juggling home and work but let’s face it, it’s because they really don't have all that much to juggle. No matter how progressive we become, roles will always be predominately traditional in Pakistani culture. As with most working mums, Zainab has learned how to compartmentalize.  “I wake up very early to drop off my six-year old son to school. Then I teach and also train myself. I spend the afternoon at home with family. I alternate evening slots with Nida and share the morning classes as well."

What advice do these fab entrepreneurs who've got it all figured out have for the fitness hopefuls out there? 

Zainab shared these words of wisdom - "Eating healthy saves you from problems in life. What you eat is what your mind thinks. There's less likelihood of depression. You are in control of your own thoughts".
 
I guess it's time to dust off that Jane Fonda home video! For the Karachiites out there, make sure to get in touch with these fabulous ladies on theimpactway@gmail.com.

Nida Shahbazker