“Iran has only one comedian, which is 3 more than Germany.” With lines
like that delivered with a straight face and great timing, who can
argue with Omid Djalili?

Omid is genuinely Iranian and revels in being politically incorrect in
a post 9-11 era. In between belly dances and weird impersonations of
Godzilla, he cracks asylum jokes, makes snide comments against the
Taliban, offers bigoted interpretations of the Middle East question,
and pokes fun at Arab terrorists.

Omid Djalili has appeared on both sides of the Atlantic and if
anything, he breaks down stereotypes rather than copy most Western
comics and build them up. For instance, if the US can interview
extremist terrorists in caves and paint them as “normal” Arabs, why
doesn’t anyone hold up the KKK as the universal voice of reason in
America?

There is a sting in his act, though, when his impression of an
Englishman sounds way too genuine to be put on! And on that note of
mystery, “What do you call an honest Iranian businessman? As if!”

Posted on February 18th, 2007