IRANIAN COMIC TO STAR IN ABC FAMILY SITCOM

Reuters
STRE60A0KA20100111?type=peopleNews
Jan 11 2010

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Iranian-born comic Maz Jobrani
will star in the ABC family sitcom pilot "Funny in Farsi."

Another Iranian native, Marjan Nehsat, will co-star in the project
based on the memoir by Iranian-born author Firoozeh Dumas about
growing up in Newport Beach, Calif., during the 1970s.

Jobrani will play the dad, Mohammed Sayed Kazem Jazeyeri (a.k.a. Kaz),
an engineer for an oil company who emigrated with his family from
Iran to Newport Beach.

Neshat will play the mother Nazireh (a.k.a. Nancy), who finds it
hard to assimilate in her new environment. Armenian-American Hrach
Titizian will play Uncle Mansoor, Kaz’s jovial younger brother.

Jobrani is a familiar face on ABC. He co-starred on ABC’s "Knights
of Prosperity" and has a recurring role on the network’s sophomore
comedy "Better Off Ted." A TV special based on his stand-up tour,
"Maz Jobrani: Brown & Friendly," airs on Showtime.

Titizian has a recurring role on the upcoming season of Fox’s "24"
as Nabeel, the second-in-command to President Hassan (Anil Kapoor).