Best show ever? or worst?

[Thelona]

Apparently in Iraq there is a new "prank" tv show where they plant fake car bombs in an unknowing Iraqi celebrity's car and then send him threw a checkpoint. the Iraqi soldiers are in on the prank but play the part up well.


http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/punkd-iraqi-style-at-a-checkpoint/

An Iraqi reality television program broadcast during Ramadan has been planting fake bombs in celebrities’ cars, having an Iraqi army checkpoint find them and terrifying the celebrities into thinking that they are headed for maximum security prison.

The show “Put Him in [Camp] Bucca” has drawn numerous protests but has stayed on air throughout the fasting month, broadcasting its “stings” on well-known Iraqi personalities.

All of them were ensnared by being invited to the headquarters of the private television station Al Baghdadia to be interviewed, but en route to the station a fake bomb would be planted in their car while they were being searched by Iraqi soldiers, who were in on the deception.

The unwitting celebrities are then secretly filmed, Candid-Camera-style, as they reacted with shock, disbelief and anger as fake checkpoint guards shout abuse at them: “Why do you want to blow us up?” “You are a terrorist.” “How much did they pay you to do it? You will be executed.”

The celebrities protest that they know nothing about the supposed bomb, that they are innocent and honorable Iraqi citizens, only to be told, “We have caught you red-handed, with the bomb in your car.”

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid590009497001?bctid=602715152001
a video of the show, no subtitles but the reactions pretty much go right threw language barriers.

the guy in the dark shirt is the target, and the guy in the green and white striped shirt is the one who set him up.

kinda wondering what will happen if they make the mistake of playing the prank on someone whos armed and then panics when they think they are fucked.

 

[Thelona]

well, im sure alot of those checkpoints can get pretty fucking boring as a soldier, just cause theres still a counterinsurgency going on doesn't mean the guys at these particular checkpoint ever even really see anything.

but i see what you mean, and I'm sure many Iraqis feel the same way as you, its a hugely controversial show in Iraq and there alot of Iraqi's protesting it.

But i think the fact that we are sitting here talking about drama in IRAQ, and it happens to be about a hugely inappropriate prank TV show, speaks to just how much has changed in the past few years there.