TVSquad

Slumdog Millionaire really opened the floodgates in terms of entertainment from the Middle East. But now, rather than the focus being on India, HBO has acquired the rights to the Sundance award-winning documentary Afghan Star. The story is about four finalists, two men and two women, competing in an American Idol type show in Afghanistan, thus showing how United States invades a country in several stages, first militarily then with its pop culture.

The plot does sound somewhat familiar. If it were Who Wants to be a Millionaire rather than American Idol, it would be a carbon copy of Slumdog rather than the variation of a theme that it is. I wonder, will the cast dance at the end?

The concept does sound interesting and I wouldn't mind catching it if it happens to be rentable after the broadcast (sadly, I don't have HBO). Do you think you'll catch this documentary when it is shown?

As much as there have been movies about the theater and movies about movies, the films that have been made about television are some of the best ever. This year alone, there are two movies nominated for Best Picture of the year by the Academy Awards that are all about television -- Slumdog Millionaire and Frost/Nixon. Without TV, neither of these films would exist. Looking back, here are the films about TV that set the standards by which Slumdog Millionaire and Frost/Nixon are measured.