Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World
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January 8, 2006
Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World is the hilarious story of what happens when the U.S. Government sends comedian Albert Brooks to India and Pakistan to find out what makes the over 300 million Muslims in the region laugh. Brooks, accompanied by two state department handlers and his trusted assistant, goes on a journey that takes him from a concert stage in New Delhi, to the Taj Mahal, to a secret location in the mountains of Pakistan. Written and directed by Albert Brooks, Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World is a funny and insightful look at some of the issues we are dealing with in a post-9/11 world. The comedy also stars John Carroll Lynch, Sheetal Sheth, Jon Tenney, and Fred Dalton Thompson.
With special appearance by writer, director and star Albert Brooks.
Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World opens nationwide on January 20th. Learn more about the film
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| Special Guest Speaker |
 Albert Brooks began his career as a stand-up comic, and has gone on to become an award-winning actor, writer and filmmaker. He has written, directed and starred in seven feature films: Real Life, Modern Romance, Lost In America, Defending Your Life, Mother, The Muse and Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World. Lost in America and Mother were both honored by the National Society of Film Critics with the Best Screenplay award; Mother also won the New York Film Critic’s Circle Award for Best Screenplay. Brooks made his acting debut in Martin Scorsese’s 1976 classic, Taxi Driver. His other acting credits include Private Benjamin, Unfaithfully Yours, I’ll Do Anything, Critical Care, The In-Laws, Out of Sight and My First Mister. He earned an Academy Award nomination for his performance in James L. Brooks’ Broadcast News. He was also the voice of the father fish Marlin in Finding Nemo, which received an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Brooks studied drama at Carnegie Mellon University before starting his performing career in 1968 doing stand-up comedy on network television. He began on The Steve Allen Show, later becoming a regular on The Dean Martin Show, and performing on such variety programs as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Merv Griffin Show and The Hollywood Palace. He appeared over forty times on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson. His first directorial effort was in 1972 for the PBS series The Great American Dream Machine. He adapted an article he had written for Esquire Magazine, “Albert Brooks’ Famous School for Comedians,” into a short film. Following this, he created six short films for the debut season of Saturday Night Live. Brooks has recorded two comedy albums: Comedy Minus One and A Star is Bought , the latter earning him a Grammy Award nomination for Best Comedy Recording. He has been honored by the American Film Institute with a retrospective of his work at the First U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado. |
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About Reel Progress:
Reel Progress is a new progressive film series sponsored by the Center for American Progress. Each month, the Center hosts free screenings of progressive films, which are followed by provocative panel discussions with leading public policy experts and filmmakers.
Back to the Reel Progress homepage
Additional Reel Progress films:
• Akeelah and the Bee – April 3, 2006
• Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World – January 8, 2006
• Sometimes in April – September 21, 2005
• Good Night, and Good Luck – September 20, 2005
• The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till – June 28, 2005
• The Education of Shelby Knox – May 24, 2005
• CRASH – April 18, 2005
• This Divided State— March 23, 2005
• WMD — March 2, 2005
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