What is Up with Maz Jobrani this Norooz? New Film, Video, CBS and NPR series
It was about a year ago when Iranian American comedian and actor Maz Jobrani introduced Michelle Obama in White House's Norooz Persian New year event (video shown below). But Maz has had a productive year since then.
In May, thanks to kick-starter crowd-funding by several prominent Iranian Americans, and great teamwork with Ray Moheet and Amir Ohebsion, Maz Jobrani's new film Jimmy Vestvood excelled in box office sales in select US markets. According to Box Office Mojo, the film outperformed many concurrent films in per-screening sales.
Directed by Jonathan Kesselman, Jimmy Vestvood is about Jamshid, a bumbling yet lovable Iranian immigrant (played by Maz Jobrani) who wins the Green Card lottery and moves to Los Angeles and assumes Jmiimy as his new nickname. Jimmy's naiveté is exploited when a corrupt arms dealer frames him as a terrorist by the fear-mongering Kox News. Jimmy is unwittingly embroiled in a conspiracy to start the next war with Iran. With the help of a distant Iranian American cousin, Jimmy must save the day and avert the imminent world war while keeping his overprotective mother in the dark.
Although some of the film's overly sexualized scenes may be more appealing to juvenile audiences than to adults, Jimmy Vestvood playfully breaks new ground through its depiction of the first hero of Iranian descent in an American comedy. The film and Maz' book "I’m Not a Terrorist, But I’ve Played One On TV" are now both available on Maz' website.
In September, Maz took it upon himself to satirize the xenophobic messages in Trump's campaign. His funny video about (then candidate) Trump's proposal for EXTREME VETTING of immigrants went viral:
In addition to his regular stand up comedy skits (link), Maz has found the time to act in new CBS Comedy Superior Donuts. Jobrani plays Fawz, an immigrant and businessman from from Iraq, who is trying to buy a donut shop from a gruff, straight shooter Chicagoan. The series is based on the play by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning writer Tracy Letts. Other cast members include Judd Hirsch, Jermaine Fowler, Anna Baryshnikov, Katey Sagal (from Married with Children) and David Koechner (from Anchorman).
The series was just picked up for taping more episodes, thanks to the great performances by Maz and his fellow cast members (Link to Schedule).
Maz Jobrani is also a regular panelist on NPR’s “Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me!"
And if you live around Washington, DC, and like to have a chance to be seen on Netflix, Maz will be there on April 15, the Tax day! for a Netflix Comedy Special Taping (Ticket link).
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