From Crisis to Humor:
Highlights of Iran’s Hot Topics in Viral Show Episode 19
Last week, once again, we faced one of the biggest concerns of modern-day Iranians: water and electricity outages! This issue is no longer a sudden incident, but an inseparable part of everyone’s life, especially under the blazing summer heat where each shortage feels like an action movie battle!
But how can one cope with such daily struggles? The simplest way — and very characteristic of us Iranians — is to joke and create humor around these problems.
In Viral Show Episode 19 by Alara Entertainment, Surena and Shabnam sat down to cover the hottest and funniest topics from Iran and around the world. The humorous stories from people about water and power shortages even included a funny take on Ronaldo and Georgina’s reactions!
Imagine standing in line to buy water containers with laughter and jokes — from the shocking price of 10,000 tomans per container to the story of Javad who flooded his entire house and is now swimming in the sink! These jokes, though bittersweet and realistic, provide a temporary relief for the nerves of those facing new crises every day.
However, Viral Show did not only address bitter everyday moments but also explored wonders of art and culture. This week, a viral video from one of Iran’s old TV series, “Bagh-e Gilas”, showed an uncensored and controversial kissing scene between two people. Such scenes are unimaginable on Iranian TV today but were normal back then. This cultural retrospective reminded us that Iranian society was once more open and intimate in many behaviors.
Continuing the discussion, we moved to one of the most unbelievable TV projects: the series “Love is Not Closed”. This project, meant to be the Iranian version of the famous American show “Friends”, featured stars like Mohammad Reza Golzar, Mahnaz Afshar, Alireza Khamseh, and Zanyar Khosravi, but it was stopped after only five episodes. Shocking scenes, unexpected relationships, and controversial dialogues kept sections of it going viral and sparked heated online debates. Its cancellation was due to cultural sensitivities and strict censorship in Iran’s home entertainment productions.
Another interesting topic this week was the decline of testosterone levels in the new generation of young men. According to statistics and scientists, the average testosterone level of 20-year-old boys today is lower than that of 70-year-old men from previous decades!
The causes include unhealthy foods, modern lifestyle, obesity, and daily stresses. This issue not only threatens health but has become a heated topic in sociology, changing gender roles, and even debates about the decline of “manliness” in Western media. Surena and Shabnam’s jokes about the difference in roles of Milad Kimran and Arsalan Ghasemi, or “verbal testosterone,” humorously reflect this bitter reality.
The world of music was also full of controversy this week. The cheating scandal at a Coldplay concert in the U.S. became the most viral video of the week — a couple was caught during the performance, leading to media scandal, as well as resignations and dismissals! Their job status and large incomes became subjects of jokes and analyses, illustrating the consequences of impulsive but damaging modern relationships.
Meanwhile, in Egypt, a different event happened: Ragheb Alama, a famous Arab singer, was banned from performing solely because he kissed one of his fans! Iranian users humorously examined cultural differences and the duality of Islamic and secular laws. This cultural contrast is particularly striking when compared to Western shows where ending concerts with kisses is common.
In an astonishing yet proud news, Melanie Shiraz, an Iranian-descendant girl, was named Miss Israel 2025. Her parents are from the Jewish community of Shiraz. This honor, contrary to the negative waves of mental migration, highlights the successful presence of Iranians worldwide.
The bizarre stories of driving returned with the perspective of a female Snapp driver in Iran. The challenges faced daily — from ridicule and harassment to inappropriate advances — depict harsh truths about our society. Addressing such behaviors requires serious cultural efforts, not just in ride-hailing services but throughout Iranian social spaces.
Yet, Viral Show wasn’t only about grim realities and crises. Videos featuring innovations with artificial intelligence, turning children’s drawings into realistic images with the latest AI tools, and even new music featuring Tataloo’s voice synthesized by AI demonstrated that technology in Iran is advancing alongside culture. This creative use of AI offers glimpses of hope amidst everyday concerns.
On the social front, a poignant video from Ali Zia’s program drew attention to victims of counterfeit alcohol and blindness caused by its consumption, sounding a strong alarm for anyone ignoring the risks of illegal drinks.
Ultimately, a biting conclusion was drawn at the end of Viral Show Episode 19: not only water and electricity but parts of our human and social fabric sometimes face outages or shortages.
The only remedy is changing perspective and redefining hope — whether through humor, creativity, or culture.
Viral Show; An Uncensored Story of Iran’s Strange and Serious Events
“Viral Show” remains a space for uncensored narration of Iran’s strange, funny, scary, and even bitter events — with a bold and candid approach.
Join us this week as well; every Wednesday on Alara Entertainment’s YouTube channel.