A Lebanese News Show Took ‘Here Come The Habibs!’ To Some Locals And Nope, They’re Not Keen On It

Since the new show’s controversial trailer dropped just a few days into the new year, Australia has been feverishly debating the merits of Channel Nine’s Here Come The Habibs! Does its zany depiction of a recently-rich family from the outer suburbs make it a light-hearted fish-out-of-water comedy? Or, does its full bingo card of stereotypes about those from low socio-economic background and Middle Eastern people colour it as something more harmful? It’s a criticism made all the more pervasive by recent larger debates and promising initiatives about diversity on Australian screens.

This initial outrage — at both the show’s creators (who’ve previously worked on shows like Fat Pizza) and Channel Nine itself — soon led to countless angry Facebook posts and a Change.org petition demanding the show be axed. But in the past few weeks, the tide has turned in favour of some more nuanced discussions around race and representation.

Though the first episode is due to air tonight, those involved in the show have already spoken about the intended satirical purpose of their cultural stereotyping and how the writing actively aligns you with the Lebanese protagonists. One of the show’s creators Tahir Bilgic spoke at length on The Guardian‘s Token podcast about the complexities of writing about race in this way, and the concurrent frustration he has with the instant outrage of the online news cycle. That last point has become stronger and stronger over the past few days.

Writing for The Guardian, Sarah Ayoub encouraged audiences to give the show a chance and avoid making broad assessments off a deliberately stylised 42-second trailer. “Silencing any aspect of the debate about racial tensions — even if this debate takes the form of a lowbrow TV comedy — won’t solve our problems,” she wrote. “Neither will any premature outrage about a show we so far know little about.” And, after watching the first two episodes, reviewer Luke Buckmaster agreed: “Forming a verdict on a film or TV show based entirely on short-grab marketing materials is no way to go about achieving — or presenting the illusion of — an informed opinion.” “[Here Come The Habibs!] about as controversial as a DVD instruction manual.”

However, this hasn’t stopped the speculation now spreading to Lebanon itself. A current affairs show on local station OTV has this week hosted a discussion on the clip, and presented it to people on the street for their consideration. Spoilers: they did not like it.

“They have portrayed the wrong image, or have chosen a small segment of the community to portray,” one young woman said.

“The average Lebanese can speak up to five languages, show me the average Australian or American that can speak five languages. How can they say we are uncivilised?” said an older man, gesturing wildly.

“Unfortunately, if a civilisation like Australia is showing the Lebanese in this way, it is the end of civilisation as we know it,” another plainly attested. “On the contrary, the Lebanese, no matter where they go, their heads are held high and [they] enrich their environment.”

Showing a constantly fierce pride for their nation and its people, both the show’s host and those involved appeared confused about why Australia — “a nation that is considered progressive, civilised and a land of freedom” — would endorse such portrayals of the Lebanese. “There are many problems the land of 10,452 square kilometres suffers from, yet the Lebanese remain one of the first most peoples that love life, celebration, education and advancement,” the voiceover on the news package said. “Despite the achievements of the Lebanese at home and abroad, the West only sees our country as an uncivilised land of wars.”

In an interview with the show’s host, Lebanese Australian man Labib Chemali tried to shed some light on the show from the Australian perspective. “Like all nations we have our own problems to deal with,” he said. “Among them are race-related issues. In particular, with Indigenous Australians and also with migrants like the Lebanese and others. These stereotypes they put on TV are truly a small part of the community.”

“On many occassions, and not just with the Lebanese community but with the Greek, Italian and many others. They go for the cheap laugh and usually have a token Lebanese in the production team or cast who go for the cheap dollar … If they want to make fun of us, go ahead, we are fine with it; but make fun of something realistic that we actually do. Here in Australia, no one is above being made fun of. Even Australian society makes fun of itself. This is accepted here. Pardon what I am saying, but what they are showing is idiocy.”

When asked if he supported a boycott of the show  as stated in the initial petition, Chemali was hesitant.

“We don’t want to stop anyone expressing their freedom, but at least respect the people you have in your society who contributed to building this nation,” he said. “There are many things we can do, but we don’t want to beat it up too much. The best way to combat these stereotypes is to continue how we are — by being the finest Australians, by contributing to society by building this nation like everyone else here.”

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Here Come The Habibs! premieres tonight on Channel Nine at 8.30pm.