Section B·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, February 26, 2001
Sarhan recalls a female university teacher wearing the Islamic veil whom she invited as a guest on a program called "Divorce Begins in Bed."
In her mid-40s, Sarhan has worked for years in broadcast and print media. The native of Cairo writes a satirical column in a Cairo weekly magazine and has written six books, mostly dealing with social issues.
Taboos stretched on Arab program
"If they criticize me, then they are watching my program," she counters.
The lecturer refused to discuss sex, deeming it inappropriate for television. The audience applauded the teacher, but also applauded Saran when she countered: "If the Quran, which is Islam's holy book, talks about sex, why cannot we?"
CAIRO, Egypt — A small audience in a television studio on the outskirts of Cairo breaks into applause as Arab television talk show host Hala Sarhan makes her grand entry.
"I don't try to change people, I just want them to think," she said.
Sarhan is often accused of sensationalism, arrogance, irreverence, even pornography.
And so begins another "Yahala" — "Hello" — perhaps the Arab world's most-watched talk show and certainly the most controversial.
Associated Press
Mohammed Hassan, a former "Yahala" executive, believes the program merely provides balance for the reactionary and Muslim fundamentalist material also aired on Arab television.
"Yahala" — a pun on Sarhan's first name — was the Arab world's first American-style talk show when it started nearly 10 years ago. The novelty of interactive television soon turned into shock when the program began to deal with topics that are taboo among Arabs, such as sex, and to tackle politically sensitive subjects including Arab-American relations.
"What a beautiful audience we have here tonight," she says with an ear-to-ear smile.
Hassan said the success of "Yahala" was largely because of an excellent team of researchers and Sarhan's charisma.
"I think I am the first Arab woman to utter the word 'sex' on television," says Sarhan, a U.S.-educated Egyptian who sees herself as part Oprah Winfrey, part Barbara Walters.
Crossword
ACROSS
1 African snake
6 May and Ann,
e.g.
11 __voyage!
4 more aloof
12 __we all?
16 Gibbon, e.g.
17 Actress Reese
18 Washer cycle
19 Grave engraving
20 Muslim faith
21 Singer Rimes
23 Humbug decree
25 Shift bark
26 His residue
28 Gobbled
29 & so forth
30 Author Levin
32 Picked another straw
34 Palo Alto to San Jose
38 Shapeful fruit
39 Light knock
40 Green shade
41 Location of Michelangelo's ceiling
44 Quarterback, back
45 Odomous toupee
51 Slippery fish
52 "Town"
53 Cruise and Mix
54 Lamb's mom
58 Letters outside the theater
59 Snoozed
60 Oust
65 As well
65 Funny Hardy
6 French city
6 Escorf's offer
6 Is affected by
70 Domesticated guanaco
71 Spanish article
72 Worms
73 Madrid mister
DOWN
1 South of France
2 King beaters
3 "The on the Floss"
4 Secure asea
© 2001 Tribune Media Services, Inc
All rights reserved.
5 Biblical language
6 Reiner or Sagan
7 Zodiac ram
8 O punishment
9 Tangle up
10 Longtime Yankee skipper
11 Gibbatar magot
12 Narcotic
13 Brother's boy
14 PGA member
15 Mind-reader's letters
16 Eagle score
17 School settings
18 Against
19 vu
19 Eye part
19 Moving vehicle
19 Simon Says player
19 Sandra or Ruby
19 Pipe around a corner
19 Hits the road
19 One type of fisherman
46 Dramatic signal
47 Author of "The
Time Machine"
48 Part of USPS
49 Annals
50 Braw
51 Milk not to cry
over?
57 Self-imposed absence
60 Class class
62 Design
63 Tickle Me
64 Cordella's father
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