Most of the Iranians (i.e., Persians) who are now in the States are from the wealthy class which fled with the Shah. There are little similarities between the Iranians who now live in Iran and those who have moved to the States -- and the rest of the world. These are the people the ayatollahs wanted to leave Iran. Except for few token relatives who were left behind to watch the family business or try to keep a stake in the country in case there is another revolution, there is a different feeling in Iran now.

I grew up in los angeles, went to a private girls school with a lot of Persians. Yes, there are aspects of west coast persian american culture that this show hits on: the wealthy, mercedes driving, plastic surgeries, over the top types, do exist and yes it is a somewhat insular culture. But it seems that this show is just like 'real housewives' or any other reality show--a kernel of reality that is completely exaggerated and molded to fit (or in this case, perhaps create) stereotypes. I am curious to see if they will break with any stereotypes too--while I did have persian friends who were fabulously wealthy, lived north of sunset, were married off at 18, etc, I had persian friends who were also middle class, daughters of academics, who went to med school or became activities or whatever. I think a much more interesting look at persian culture (if not persian american culture) might be gleaned by the fabulous new movie, A Separation. I am also curious to see how they handle the political issues: why these families fled, what their thoughts are on current politics in Iran, how they practice religion, what is means to be a persian-american at this moment in american culture and history. But I have a feeling that this show won't get into anything beyond the surface jazz and I'm not sure whether it will really be any different than the kardashians...

My Persian friends could have been cast on here. From the desire of designer clothes to one of the quotes on the commercial. I will watch.

Quite frankly, a lot of my Persian friends were raised like this. I'm not saying everyone is like this, but they do exist.

I just read the un-glowing write up in the Post. I can't stand these materialistic idiots. It is the same thing over and over again and the losers in most of America go into debt trying to emulate these nitwits.

when i saw the previews, i was mortified.

first, they are showcasing persians fron the west coast. it's a whole different mentality out there! not representative of the whole of american persians.

i am afraid that for every stereotypes it dispells, a new one will be created in its place.

OP here. What you all say makes sense. I think it could show Persians are just like everyone else, but there is also the risk of ignorant people stereotyping and assuming all Persians are like this. Jersey shore is different in that these are not people who's parents left a country that we are clashing with. Of course the parents of these cast members LEFT and do not agree with this regime at all, but some people IMO will be too clueless to think about that.

I am curious to see how they handle homosexuality, etc, though I will only see through clips at bravo's website. I also wonder about the families of these cast members. Are they devastated to have their kids on TV acting materialistic? I would be. (Some reviewers have seen the first show and I think it is edited the same way the previous are-unflattering).

It's clear from the clips that it will be playing on a lot of Persian Princess (and Prince) stereotypes. I'll reserve judgment until I see the show, but from the clips it looks like it could actually touch on some really interesting issues in the Persian American community -- some cultural taboos (of course they exist across cultures), such as homosexuality even amongst many Persians in the US who reject most of Shia Islam beyond some cultural celebrations and are fiercely secular. The previews have a reason to make the show look completely absurd and over the top to get viewers, but I am curious to see whether it does manage to not be basically a Persian Gulf Shore.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have cable and I don't think the show has started, but I did check out most of the video clips at Bravo. I find it tacky the same way I find Jersey Shore stuff tacky and I have Persian and Italian friends and they are nothing like any of the reality star people-my friends are much classier and more down to earth . That said, I find the Shah program more concerning because of what is going on with Iran right now. The last thing we need is a show that portrays Iranian people in a negative light.

Really? I haven't watched the show either, but I think that these type of negative stereotypes might even be helpful in a way. Most Americans know nothing about Iranian culture, so if people see that they can be as vapid as Real Housewives or Jersey Shore characters, it might be more like 'oh, they're just like everyone else, not some completely foreign concept.' I think it might humanize people from that culture a bit. No one thinks Jersey Shore represents all Italians or even many of them.

I agree with this sentiment. Really, we're all more alike than different.

I think this is basically right, too. The risk is that if you don't know other Iranian/Persians, you might start to think that this TV show is actually representative.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have cable and I don't think the show has started, but I did check out most of the video clips at Bravo. I find it tacky the same way I find Jersey Shore stuff tacky and I have Persian and Italian friends and they are nothing like any of the reality star people-my friends are much classier and more down to earth . That said, I find the Shah program more concerning because of what is going on with Iran right now. The last thing we need is a show that portrays Iranian people in a negative light.

Really? I haven't watched the show either, but I think that these type of negative stereotypes might even be helpful in a way. Most Americans know nothing about Iranian culture, so if people see that they can be as vapid as Real Housewives or Jersey Shore characters, it might be more like 'oh, they're just like everyone else, not some completely foreign concept.' I think it might humanize people from that culture a bit. No one thinks Jersey Shore represents all Italians or even many of them.

I agree with this sentiment. Really, we're all more alike than different.

Anonymous wrote:I don't have cable and I don't think the show has started, but I did check out most of the video clips at Bravo. I find it tacky the same way I find Jersey Shore stuff tacky and I have Persian and Italian friends and they are nothing like any of the reality star people-my friends are much classier and more down to earth . That said, I find the Shah program more concerning because of what is going on with Iran right now. The last thing we need is a show that portrays Iranian people in a negative light.

Really? I haven't watched the show either, but I think that these type of negative stereotypes might even be helpful in a way. Most Americans know nothing about Iranian culture, so if people see that they can be as vapid as Real Housewives or Jersey Shore characters, it might be more like 'oh, they're just like everyone else, not some completely foreign concept.' I think it might humanize people from that culture a bit. No one thinks Jersey Shore represents all Italians or even many of them.

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you wait until you actually see the program? Duh.

Keeping it classy.

Why don't you wait until you actually see the program? Duh.

I cringed when I saw the preview.

I don't have cable and I don't think the show has started, but I did check out most of the video clips at Bravo. I find it tacky the same way I find Jersey Shore stuff tacky and I have Persian and Italian friends and they are nothing like any of the reality star people-my friends are much classier and more down to earth . That said, I find the Shah program more concerning because of what is going on with Iran right now. The last thing we need is a show that portrays Iranian people in a negative light.