Producers, stars of 'All-American Muslim' happy with what show accomplished despite being canceled
Published: Wednesday, March 21, 2012
By J. Patrick Pepper
Twitter: @jpeppernews
DEARBORN — All-American Muslim may have ended sooner than its cast and producers had hoped, but even with a one-season run they think the show accomplished a lot.
Following an eight-episode maiden season, cable network TLC pulled the plug on the much ballyhooed docuseries that profiled five Muslim families from Dearborn. It was the first major entertainment-oriented television program to focus on Muslims in the United States.
"I'm sad that it didn't get picked up for a second season," said cast member Suehaila Amen, an executive assistant in Dearborn's 19th District Court. "When we started (production) I didn't really think about it too much, but after seeing how everything came together and the dialogue it started, I wish we would have had another season."
Ratings for the reality show were strong in opening weeks, drawing in an estimated 1.7 million viewers. But by the time the last episode aired in December the audience had fallen by more than half. Discovery Communications, the parent company of TLC, said the deci-sion not to renew the show was based solely on ratings.
More: Dearborn Press and Guide Story