Katie Couric Was Right! Muslim-Americans Do Want Their Own TV Show

Katie Couric came under fire this month for suggesting a Muslim version of 'The Cosby Show' would go a long way in fixing America's ignorance about the Islamic faith.

"Maybe we need a Muslim version of 'The Cosby Show' ... I know that sounds crazy," Couric said on a web version of her show, while discussing the major stories from 2010. "But 'The Cosby Show' did so much to change attitudes about African-Americans in this country, and I think sometimes people are afraid of things they don't understand."

Critics were quick to call Couric's well-intentioned remarks simplistic and "bird-brained."

But Muslim and Arab writers, directors and actors say they see Couric's remarks as a stepping stone to tolerance and say the CBS news anchor gave them a platform they wouldn't have otherwise had to express their desire for more positive Muslim portrayals on scripted television. They're hoping her remarks will be the catalyst to make that happen.

"We want to see a typical Arab-American family that is just like every other family in America," said Arab-American comedian Dean Obeidallah, who has developed a pilot for Comedy Central. "Television has had the ability to demonize Muslims and Arabs, but we realize that it also has the ability to humanize us."

Couric's suggestion might not be as radical or as far off as her critics decried. In fact, Muslim-American writers say that broadcast and cable networks are starting to be more receptive to scripts prominently featuring both Arabs and practitioners of Islam. A decade-removed from the September 11th terrorist attacks, television may finally be ready to portray Muslim-Americans as more than terrorists and taxi cab drivers.

"Hollywood would definitely embrace a Muslim 'Cosby Show' with one caveat: It would have to be really good. It's the one factor that has linked shows about minorities like the 'Cosby Show' or even 'Will & Grace.' Currently, I believe Americans are open to any minority as long as the show speaks to universal human truths and makes them laugh," said Muslim-American Hollywood television and movie producer Tariq Jalil, the executive producer of the comedy 'Marmaduke.'

"From a network perspective, a show just needs to be socially responsible and pull in ratings. I don't think there's a single network that would turn down a good show that features Muslim-Americans as long as it brought in viewers."

Jalil says the atmosphere is right; the problem is more Muslims need to write this kind of material.

Wajahat Ali, a Muslim-American playwright and author, recently released a play about the familial drama and comedy of a Muslim-American family, called 'Domestic Crusaders,' through McSweeney's publishing imprint and has been tapped by HBO to write a pilot with bestselling author Dave Eggers about a Muslim-American police officer living in San Francisco. Ali says several theaters passed on producing 'Domestic Crusaders,' despite loving the script.

"There seems to be hesitation amongst artistic directors that the play, featuring all Pakistani-American characters, might not resonate with mainstream audiences. There is also a fear that the mere mention of a play about Muslim-Americans will generate controversy and backlash," Ali said.

But when he pitched his idea for a television pilot featuring a Muslim-American cop, HBO was very receptive.

"HBO has been great, but at the end of the day we have to acknowledge that the color that matters in Hollywood and show business is green. They need to be convinced that the story you are telling will be accessible to the mainstream audience to get their revenue," Ali said.

A Newsweek poll conducted in August showed 58 percent of Americans believe they don't know anyone who is Muslim. A television show won't entirely close that gap, but could go a long way toward making Americans feel like they know a Muslim. More than that, it could help Muslim-American children feel like their American counterparts know someone like them.

"For a Muslim-American child to see people who look like him or her, a normal family living in the U.S., will make them feel a genuine sense of acceptance. Talking to a child about the constitution and their rights will go right over their head, show them a 30-minute sitcom and they will understand tolerance, acceptance and even equality," said Linda Sarsour, director of the Arab American Association of New York and mother of three.

Playwright Aizzah Fatima, who wrote and performs the one-woman show 'Dirty Paki Lingerie' in New York City, just hopes such a program would combat the general ignorance about Islam that Couric was referring to. "Just as the Cosby show debunked stereotypes about African-Americans, so could a similar show do for Muslim-Americans. We are just like everyone else. Some of us are religious, and others aren't. We do not want to impose Islamic law or anything else on our neighbors of different faiths."

'Pretty Little Liars' Star Determined to Succeed on Her Own Terms

Fans of ABC Family's addictive teen mystery, 'Pretty Little Liars' can expect things to head south for wealthy Spencer Hastings in coming weeks -- but in real life things are getting better and better for the actress who brings Spencer to life, Troian Bellisario.

Series creator Marlene King has indicated that the storyline is heating up for the mysterious Ian (Ryan Merriman), who up and eloped with Spencer's cruel older sister Melissa (Torrey DeVitto) in the series' winter premiere -- even though Ian had already kissed Spencer and interacted in an unfaithful kind of way with Alison, the murder victim at the heart of 'Liars.'

"For someone who prides herself on being in control so much of her life, Spencer gets to be the person with the least amount of control, especially with what happens as the season continues," Troian tells PopEater. "Really fun things happen to Spencer."

Really fun things have been happening for 'PLL,' what with ratings doubling and a second season already ordered for the show, which has been described as a sort of "Desperate Housewives" for the younger set.

"The great thing is, each of the girls have something about them that you can relate to – Aria (Lucy Hale), Hanna (Ashley Benson), Emily (Shay Mitchell) and Spencer," notes Troian.

She clearly favors her own role. "I cannot even tell you how much I love Spencer. She's so close to my heart, personally," says the 25-year-old beauty, whose father, Don, is the long-time industry powerhouse producer behind shows including 'NCIS,' 'JAG,' 'Magnum P.I.' and 'Quantum Leap' -- and whose mother is actress Deborah Pratt.

"We have very kindred spirits in that we're type A superachievers. We have the same kind of drive. She's the same place I was at one point, trapped in the expectations of the community and her parents, their ideals of what perfect is supposed to be. She's sort of so reined in – she needs to be shaken up."

That country club worker Spencer has been making out with, Diego (Diego Boneta) certainly seems like a shaker upper.

How did Troian herself shake out of that place?

"A lot of failing," she responds, "a lot of falling on my face. Truthfully, I didn't get out of it until I got out of high school and went to college."

Troian pushed herself hard while a student at L.A.'s tony Campbell Hall prep school, aiming to excel in all departments. "My whole life, I joined everything I could -- every club, every sports team. I was really unhappy through a lot of it, there was just so much pressure," she admits.

"The school was the sort of environment that, when they see that someone wants to be the best, they will absolutely push you. It wasn't just getting into an Ivy League, it how many Ivy League schools accepted you. It was becoming valedictorian of the class." Which she was.

"I was applying to schools I didn't even know if I wanted to be in – except I 'should' want to be in them," recalls Troian, who excelled in history, math and other subjects.

She wanted to pursue acting, but recalls being told, "'Oh, you're so smart, too smart to be an actress.'" She laughs slightly.

Having grown up in the Hollywood world, she says she felt like responding, "'You have no idea how hard it is to be an actress.'

"I had an awareness of how tough it really is from my parents. To me, it's never been, 'You get to be a star!' It's been things like putting on a brave face when they ask you to reshoot a scene at the end of a hard day's work."

How did her parents feel about her acting aspirations?

"My parents were pretty supportive. I don't know how much my dad wanted me to be an actress all my life, but he never denied me of it." Indeed, Troian was able to get her feet wet doing guest roles on 'Quantum Leap,' 'JAG,' 'NCIS' and other Bellisario productions.

"I had the opportunities and I took them for the experience. I was always aware of the nepotism. I didn't feel respect on the set," she continues with a strikingly matter-of-fact candor. "I didn't focus on what I was doing. I focused on, 'These people think I'm only here for one reason, because of my dad.' I didn't like it."

Things got better once she found a home at USC, studying theater. By then, she was firmly committed to her decision that "not only do I want to be an actress, I want to be one on my own and be good at it on my own."

It wasn't until her junior year that her father finally told her she had become the real thing.

"He came to see me in a play – he at that point had seen me in a couple of plays – and he took me to dinner afterward and told me how much he liked my performance. It was pretty cool."

The play was The Crucible, and Spencer had the lead role of that 1690's bad girl, Abigail, the scorned woman who touches off the Salem witch hunt with her twisted accusations. By that point, "I'd had to learn to let go of the need for his, or anyone's approval. But I'm grateful to have it."

As for her personal life, Troian is "absolutely looking forward to having my own family" one day -- "but personally, I have a lot of things to work out before I get there," she says with a smile. "Right now I'm in this blessed period of having a family that I choose to run with in this kind of pack of friends."

She enjoys hanging out with her 'PLL' pack as well, she says, though their time together is pretty much limited to the set. "You know what, it's that we work together Monday through Friday, sunup past sundown," she notes, "and I think the girls want to be with their boyfriends and families when they finish work."

So far, Troian has been rolling along with new-found fan attention just fine. "Everyone I've talked to has been really sweet, telling me they love the show. It's so awesome."

But she's one TV starlet who is not going to allow the sweet taste of success to carry her away. "Everybody's really been positive about the show, and I'm really grateful and want people to enjoy it. But I don't know how much I'm really into celebrating. What you have to love is the work, not the success," she explains.

"My dad told me that night after seeing me in The Crucible that I had done a great job, but the next day one of my favorite teachers told me I had ruined the play for her – that in so many ways I could have gone further. So it's like, I can't attach myself to a negative position, or a positive position. I just take them in."

Antoine Dodson -- I've Got My Own Reality Show!

Antoine Dodson is starring in a new reality show ... run and TELL THAT, HOMEBOY.

TMZ has learned ... the guy who famously battled a bedroom intruder is shooting a pilot for a reality show produced by Entertainment One. Actress Kali Hawk will serve as executive producer.

We're told the show doesn't have an official name yet -- but producers have already shot a bunch of footage centered around Antoine moving out of Alabama and over to West Hollywood.

So far, we're told the show is still looking for a deal with a network.

Kanye West Pays $180K for Watch With His Own Image

While rap artists are known for their flashy and ostentatious jewelry, Kanye West has taken his adornment to new heights. After appearing with a $300,000 chain and charm featuring the Egyptian god Horus and a four-finger pyramid ring at the BET Awards last summer, West has recently been seen around town wearing a custom-made yellow gold Tiret watch adorned with his own face.

The watch, which reportedly set West back $180,000, is encrusted with 8 carats of yellow, black, brown and white diamonds in the shape of his own glasses-clad face. According to reports, watchmaker Tiret took more than five months to create the dial of the watch itself, which is made of a gold-colored mother-of-pearl.

Following West's lead, other entertainers have also begun to seek out Tiret's custom made watches. Last month, singer Usher commissioned the Damon Dash-owned New York luxury watch company to create a one-of-a-kind timepiece with his face on it for a cool $250,000.

Earlier this week, it was reported that West asked artist George Condo to design the controversial first album cover for 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' in hopes it would be "banned."

West's next venture will be the highly anticipated 'Watch the Throne,' a collaborative album with Jay-Z, which was to be released either this week or on March 1.