Tomorrow's Pioneers (partially lost Palestinian children's TV show; 2007-2009)
This article has been tagged as NSFL due to its disturbing content.
Farfour, the co-host of the show's first season.
Status: Partially Lost
Tomorrow's Pioneers is a Palestinian children's show created by Hazim Al-Sha'arawi and directed by Fathi Hamad.[1] The show was broadcasted by the Hamas-affiliated television station Al-Aqsa TV from April 13, 2007 to April 2, 2010, and featured young host Saraa Barhoum and several costumed characters, which changed each season. It featured 21 episodes divided into 4 seasons.
The first season's co-host was Farfour, who was a Mickey Mouse costume. At the end of the season, Farfour was killed by an Israeli interrogator, adding that the show "wanted to send a message through this character that would fit the reality of Palestinian life". The show is quite controversial as because in addition to containing the image of Mickey Mouse, it contains anti-Semitism, Islam, anti-Americanism, and several other anti-Western themes.[2]
Premise
Talk show about life in Palestine with calls from children. During the program, sketches are also performed. It was presented in a children's educational format, similar to other preschool programs like Sesame Street.
Controversies
According to Palestinian Media Watch, the two co-hosts, Farfour and Nahoul, were used to "advocate violence, promote hatred of Israel and preach about global Islamic supremacy". Shortly thereafter in the show's narrative, the characters were "martyred", as the show described, with the deaths attributed directly or implicitly to "The Jews, Israel, Israelis, and/or what they believed to be Zionists".
After all the international controversy over the use of Mickey Mouse, the Palestinian Information Minister, Mustafa Barghouti, stated that the use of the character was a "mistaken approach". After that, the program was removed from Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV and placed under review.
Diane Disney Miller, daughter of Walt Disney, creator of Mickey Mouse, commented to the press:
What we're dealing with here is pure evil and you can't ignore that.
She further commented:
It's not just about Mickey, it's about indoctrinating children like this, teaching them to be evil. The world loves children, and this is just going against the grain of humanity.
Availability
Although most of Tomorrow's Pioneers episodes are available on the Internet, some cannot be found anywhere, with only a few short excerpts available.
List of Episodes
Season 1
In the first season the co-host was a costumed mouse character named Farfour. Farfour has expressed controversial views. He has stated such things as: "You and I are laying the foundation for a world led by Islamists" and "We will return the Islamic community to its former greatness, and liberate Jerusalem, God willing, liberate Iraq, God willing, and liberate all the countries of the Muslims invaded by the murderers." In the episode "Farfour and the AK-47", he simulates shooting an AK-47 and throwing grenades.
Farfour was killed by an Israeli interrogator.
| # | Episode Title | Original airdate | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farfour Is Caught Speaking English | April 13th, 2007 | Partially Found |
| 2 | Farfour Vs. Bush, Olmert, & Condoleeza | April 20th, 2007 | Partially Found |
| 3 | Farfour and the AK-47 | April 27th, 2007 | Partially Found |
| 4 | Farfour Is Caught Cheating | May 11th, 2007 | Partially Found |
| 5 | Farfour and the Jew | June 22nd, 2007 | Partially Found |
Season 2
In the second season, the co-host was a costumed bumblebee character named Nahoul. The decision to use a bee as a second host was explained by Hazim Al-Sha'arawi in an interview with Al Jazeera, according to him it is because bees are serious, organized and mentioned in the Quran. On the show, Nahoul has expressed terrorist views. He has stated such things as: "We will liberate Al-Aqsa from the filth of the criminal Jews," and "We will go on Jihad when we grow up." In the episode "Nahoul's Big Day Out", Nahoul visits the zoo where streaks of cruelty become apparent for the first time.
Nahoul died after being unable to leave Gaza and cross to Egypt for medical treatment.
| # | Episode Title | Original airdate | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saraa and The Hadith | July 6th, 2007 | Partially Found |
| 2 | Nahoul Descends | July 13th, 2007 | Partially Found |
| 3 | Nahoul's Rant | July 20th, 2007 | Partially Found |
| 4 | Nahoul's Big Day Out | August 10th, 2007 | Partially Found |
| 5 | Nahoul & Saraa's Feast of the Sacrifice Extravaganza | December 20th, 2007 | Partially Found |
| 6 | Assoud Arrives | February 1st, 2008 | Partially Found |
Season 3
In the third season, the co-host was a costumed rabbit character named Assoud. When explaining why he is called Assoud (meaning lion), when Arnoub (meaning rabbit) would be a more appropriate name, Assoud explains that “Rabbit is a term for an evil and cowardly person." And I, Assoud, will finish off the Jews and eat them."
Assoud died in a Gaza hospital after being wounded in an Israeli attack.
| # | Episode Title | Original airdate | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assoud's Tale | Feb 8th, 2008 | Lost |
| 2 | Assoud Vs. Denmark | February 15th, 2008 | Partially Found |
| 3 | Assoud's History Lesson | May 9th, 2008 | Partially Found |
| 4 | Assoud Steals | July 11th, 2008 | Partially Found |
| 5 | Assoud is Martyred | January 2nd, 2009 | Partially Found |
Season 4
In the fourth season, the co-host was a costumed brown bear character named Nassur. He is the final co-host of Tomorrow's Pioneers. He claims to have come to the Gaza Strip to become one of the mujahideen and to defend the children of Palestine.
As such he has vowed in his debut episode, to "join the 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades where his activities will include such things as "wag[ing] Jihad" and "carry[ing] a gun."
He was the only Tomorrow's Pioneers co-host who didn't die.
| # | Episode Title | Original airdate | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nassur Visits the Gaza Strip | February 13th, 2009 | Partially Found |
| 2 | Saraa's Song | March 20th, 2009 | Partially Found |
| 3 | Nassur and the Children of Reem Riyashi | July 3rd, 2009 | Partially Found |
| 4 | Nassur and the Expulsion of the Jews | September 22nd, 2009 | Partially Found |
| 5 | Saraa and the Language of the Enemy | Oct 16th, 2009 | Partially Found |