Adil Najam
The legendary PTV (Pakistan Television) comedy skit-show from the 1980’s Fifty-Fifty may well be the greatest (one of the greatest?) PTV shows ever. Based loosely on US comedy show Saturday Night Live, it was a revolutionary concept and literally ruled the airwaves like very few shows ever have, before or since.
This is my continuing testimony to the brilliance of Shoaib Mansoor, but in this case it was also the writing excellence of Anwar Maqsood and the versitality of the acting trio Ismail Tara, Majid Jehangir and Zeba Shahnaz which made this show a must-see every week. Here is a short clip from the show. Enjoy!
Click twice on arrow at center, or view it directly here.
02:51
See more video clips from Fifty-Fifty here.
[…] Although he has now taken on a broader – even sub-continental – canvas, his early work was very rooted in the Pakistan mega-city culture; especially Karachi and Lahore. His ‘burger’ kid routine really went home on the social and economic apartheid that still tears at our society. Sometimes the pungency of his jugaat masks the craftsmanship of his theatrical performance, but to me there are very few who command the ’stage’ presence that he does, particularly in the stage play. Indeed, he was to stage comedy in Pakistan was Fifty-Fifty (and here) was to television comedy. […]
In great comedy, it is essential to get all the elements right and working in tandem with each other. The script, the talent and the production team all came into synch to present this show. With a miniscule budget, these guys created the best comedy show on Pakistan television to date.
The problem with the sad attempts of comedy on the current Pakistani channels is that haven’t a clue about real satire, or comedy timing or creating topical content. Unfortunately and evidently, the least funniest people are writing comedies these days.
Fifty fifty was the best ever. Its satire didn’t spare even the program and its cast at times. I vaguely remember the first season (which was supposedly the funniest I’m told). As a karachiite I would love all the overt racism (it made fun of : punjabis, pathans, makranis, beharis, madrasis, memons etc.), but would feel a bit embarassed if I watch it now in the US with my pakistani friends, some of which might feel a bit offended..
AQAM -e- ALAM KO KAREEB ANA CHAIYEH MOHABAT KEY SATH.
I was too young to remember this show properly, but I do remember my parents used to watch it regularly. I also seem to recall a show that was loosely based on Alfred Hitchcocks thrillers, could anyone please tell me its name?
Also I really like the Army show Alpha, Bravo, Charlie.
They don’t make em like that anymore in Pakistan.