Fifty Fifty (Pakistani TV series) explained

Genre:Sketch comedy
Creator:Anwar Maqsood
Director:Shoaib Mansoor
Producer:PTV Productions
Shoman Productions
Network:Pakistan Television Corporation Network
Runtime:60 minutes (per episode)
Country:Pakistan
Language:Urdu

Fifty Fifty (Urdu script: ففٹی ففٹی) is a popular Pakistan Television Corporation sketch comedy series that was aired on the national television PTV from 1978 to 1984, based loosely on the American comedy show Saturday Night Live.[1] The programme was a sketch comedy considered by many critics to be one of the best television shows to be produced in Pakistan.[2]

The content of the show includes satire and parody, with some slapstick comedy. It is widely considered to be a trendsetter in its genre, with its content being ethnically balanced and written to respect all Pakistani communities. Regulars on the show included TV actors Ismail Tara, Zeba Shehnaz, Ashraf Khan,Majid Jahangir, and Khalid Abbas Dar. Some golden-era songs by Naheed Akhtar and Ghulam Ali were also featured on the show. It was produced and directed by acclaimed Pakistani film and TV director Shoaib Mansoor and written by Anwar Maqsood.[1]

Fifty Fifty and Alif Noon were the two prominent comedy series on Pakistani television in the 1980s. Their writers were regarded as being dedicated to creativity and patriotic values, and that is why they are still the most-in-demand comedy serials.[3] [2]

Cast

Awards

Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result
20051st Indus Drama AwardsSpecial Award for DirectionShoaib Mansoorrowspan="2"
Special Award for PerformanceZeba Shehnaz

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fifty-Fifty: The best PTV show ever? . https://web.archive.org/web/20070219051835/http://pakistaniat.com/2006/07/15/fifty-fifty-the-best-ptv-show-ever/ . 19 February 2007 . All Things Pakistan website . 15 July 2006 . 9 February 2019.
  2. Web site: Smokerrs' Corner: Satire in the time of cholera (Fifty Fifty TV show). Nadeem F. Paracha. Dawn (newspaper). 5 July 2015. 9 February 2019.
  3. http://www.dawn.com/news/1025005/anwar-maqsood-and-qazi-wajid-remember-moin-akhtar Anwar Maqsood and Qazi Wajid remember Moin Akhtar (Fifty Fifty (comedy show) writer and actors)