The tweeps have spoken: #Ramadan soaps trend on Twitter

Viewers are having their say about their favorite and not so favorite Ramadan teleshows by trending hashtags on Twitter, a relatively new practice that has been mostly welcome by show producers and actors, who are able to get instant feedback.
However, thanks to these hashtags, Ramadan shows came under heavy criticism from viewers as well as some members of the media. “These tags have developed our sense of criticism and we got to know others who have similar interests,” said a viewer.
Another viewer thought the hashtags indicate the “confidence of those involved in the show — directors, producers and actors — and their honest desire to get feedback from their viewers.”
A good number of viewers here watch these soaps. However, many think the shows don’t consider the sanctity of Ramadan and include scenes that promote bad habits like smoking and disobedience to parents. Fans of the shows say the dramas are their only source of entertainment.
Famous TV critic Jalal Al-Huwaidi said the criticism is seasonal. “Some people seem to forget that these are dramatic works meant only for entertainment. They are not meant to deal with social phenomena or political criticism. What we may see in them, such as, irreverent words or behavior, is simply part of these shows,” he said.
“Dramas aired in this month usually convey a message through comedy, especially to address flaws in society. The controversies surrounding these shows are an indication of their success because they conflict with traditional ideas and negative practices in society. However, in many cases they fail to adequately address these practices,” he said.
One regular viewer of TV shows said “although some telesoaps do contain scenes inappropriate to the holy month, most of them are OK.”
According to a media study by Abwab Al-I’lam about TV shows broadcast last year in Ramadan, “About 200 soap operas were produced and distributed to about 61 drama- and cinema-dedicated channels, out of 733 channels. Of these shows, 29.9 percent were comedies, and 64.2 percent were dramas, while historical works accounted for 6 percent of the total.”
A breakdown of the various scenes of last year’s Ramadan dramas showed that there were 356 scenes that showed people smoking.