Omar Simpson

Today The Guardain reports:

They're a famously dysfunctional family from small-town America but suddenly they have all learned Arabic and started talking like Egyptians. The Simpsons have changed their name to Shamsoon. Bart, the skateboarding, gum-chewing delinquent has become Badr. Homer, his slobbish dad, has become Omar and has given up Duff beer and pork sausages, at least for the duration of Ramadan.

As a treat for TV viewers during the month of fasting, the Dubai-based satellite network MBC has dubbed into Arabic 30 episodes of The Simpsons and is showing them twice a day. MBC, which has heavily promoted the series, signed up several of the most popular Egyptian actors - including Mohammed Heneidi and Hanan Turk - to provide new voices for the characters.