Mercedeh “MJ” Javid is the unsung star of Shahs of Sunset. I know what you are thinking, “Reza is mesmerizing on the show! I’m on the edge of my seat during his scenes!” or “Asa is the one with style, personality and artistic talent! I ignore the lot of them just for her scenes!” or “My girl GG runs the whole thing and is fierce and explosive, without her the show would be boring!” or “Sammy is the one making bank, we need more scenes with him! I want to party with him Heyvoon bazi style!” or ” Have you SEEN Mike? Really Tamara, I think you are missing the point of the show…” I get all that really. But MJ is the cog in the wheel. Without MJ none of the best scenes on Shahs of Sunset would have happened. Let me explain.MJ controls the dialogue on this show more than the producers of RHOA control the script of the housewives. Let me give you some examples of MJ’s almost imperceptible manipulations of scenes. Let’s go back to Vegas (sorry MJ it must be done 🙂 ). Although MJ denied once again that she was the instigator of the whole Anita drama, it’s clear from the footage we see that she was. She brought the conversation to the table, literally, no more than three feet away from Anita. Now what better way to get a little jab in at someone who vies for the attention of your gay than to plant a seed in GG’s ear? Clearly, GG is a firecracker just waiting to explode. It was so perfectly orchestrated that without the benefit of the constant replaying of MJ’s comment she would totally have gotten away with it without us really noticing!
Which brings us to last night’s girls night out. Clearly there was some production involved in that scene. It was probably called GG confronts MJ in the production list. The producers plan was for GG to go off on MJ with a follow up by Anita who was supposed to gently in an everso polite way play the MJ hurts my feelings card. Asa was supposed to say that family functions somehow should make MJ be more responsible about time. Sunny was there to back Asa. It was SUPPOSED to be an all in on poor defenseless, scatterbrained MJ. But MJ had other plans. MJ is not some delicate flower at the mercy of the other girls. Production plans go awry when GG goes in on the etiquette angle telling MJ that showing up three hours late to the party is rude. Now I would have probably shot back with something like “Well gee, GG you are the expert of rude, so point taken!” and things would have been set off right on production’s schedule. But MJ fired back with “I have a very important job and just could not get there any earlier, I’m sorry if that is a foreign concept to you.” (paraphrasing but that was the intent) Well played MJ, well played. This gives Sunny, cast as the “multi-million dollar company owner” for this scene, the opening she needs to bring the conversation around to her and the fact she has no social life because she is too busy working. Before GG can even figure out MJ is subtly insulting her, she’s off in a cloud of hen shit, toward Sunny. Anita tries to air her grievances toward MJ and is met with the “GG started it!” response. Sunny again jumps into the fray saying that GG is a mean girl sending GG over the brink while MJ just sips her drink, sits back and enjoys the fireworks without a glimmer of self-satisfaction showing. It was perfection. No one even suspected. 
Even when confronted with the video tape several times and asked by Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live last night, MJ is unrepentant and in total denial of causing the Vega blow up. MJ is a master of the concept Maya Angelou calls “blow, bite and blow” a technique so unexpected even after being bitten the victim is still unsure if it really happened. I for one am impressed. Unlike GG who apparently has some sort of fit of delusion about her anger and invents stories to her sister where Sunny jumps up from the table and approaches GG in attack mode rather than leaving the table practically in tears and going home, MJ is very aware of her mean girl tactics and gets away with them. Take a lesson, GG. Somehow, we see both of these girls behaving badly, both of them denying bad behavior and pointing fingers, yet GG is crucified and MJ manages to keep that halo perfectly balanced on her head. Which of course infuriates GG leading to more pent up anger ready to come out whenever MJ or anyone else wants to press the button. What a fortunate happenstance for MJ to have a friend like GG who she can set off with minimal effort whenever someone tries to call her out. But nothing is accidental with MJ. 
MJ was also crucial to Reza’s big scene last night. It was a perfect “supportive friend scene.” Now I absolutely believe the New York scenes were genuine. This is still season one, remember? Season one of any Bravo enterprise is always the best. I totally believe the friendships between these people are real. I believe MJ and Reza have a friendship to be envied. I just can’t imagine the scene working without MJ. Reza needed someone to vent his anxiety to before arriving. Reza needed someone to get snippy with in the bakery.Without MJ, the most powerful scene in the show would not have been as powerful. 
MJ is crucial to Sammy’s scenes. MJ is Sammy’s biggest connection to the cast. She’s been in every scene that Sammy has. Sadly, it seems that she is not that invested in Mike’s life which is why we didn’t even get a glimpse of the lusciousness that is Mike last night. If Mike wants airtime, he needs to warm up to MJ a little bit. MJ is everso subtly running this show. Believe it! Asa is so naturally dramatic that her scenes carry themselves set to the beat of her music. But Mike needs someone around to carry the story line while he lounges around looking hot. We need to make sure this happens more often in season two. MJ is the best person to be on WWHL ever. Get a half dozen drinks in her and she spills the tea. I had heard that Nene gave Reza the cold shoulder but never expected MJ to let that drop. MJ just says whatever she feels on WWHL as if she is sitting in her living room talking just to me. That’s how it should be. It was straight up virgin WWHL guest. I love it. I love MJ. She will deny my perspective on of her on the show, because that is what she does. Here in the south we have a saying “butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth!” That’s my MJ.
Stop trying to make this show happen.
too funny^ LOL yet tru!
This show is happening, and is one of the highest rated new shows. Some of us are on the forefront of what's hot and others take awhile to get on the bus.
This show grew on me. However, I love Reza. His one-liners are hilarious!
This show is so bad and so sterotypical Middle Eastern family with New Money living in LA it is pathetic.Every 1980's film had that 'rich arab family' living in Bevery Hills – think 'Down and Out in BH' or 'Beverly Hills Cop' or evey stoopid movie staring Bette or Shelley or Eddie or Nick or Devito, etc. Think 1985-87 time period – the whole film industry used the 'rich arab' theme to the hilt.So my point is – why is this show so highly rated? I can think of better people to who I would watch show off their money and it wouldn't be these idiots. Guess every culture has their clowns and this just prooves how much Americans want to embarrass those of Middle Eastern decent.I pity the fools who find this type of show worthwhile.
Iranians aren't Arabs
I never realized it before, but your are right Tamara. MJ is the glue that holds the group together.I'm really enjoying the Shahs. Too bad the season is almost over. 🙁
Im from l.a. And most persians here are so conceited and act very entitled and have no respect for others so I will never endorse this show. Btw wonder if kris j had hand in this one too…same ryan seacrest production..and she has a lot of connections with armenians, persians etc
You are so right! MJ is brilliant and she holds the show together. She is the perfect wingman for the hot mess that is Reza. (I loved that she called him out on WWHL for letting the show get to his head). One scene I haven't seen commented on is when GG shows up at MJ's pad to semi-apologize for being a c*nt at Reza's party and she's whining about having so much hurt inside her or some such, and Reza cocks his eyebrow and glances over at MJ like "is this for real?" MJ stares ahead and keeps her poker face and doesn't bust out laughing at GG like GG deserved. MJ is right – she and Reza have mind-meld and it shows. I love Shahs but I think it could work as the MJ and Reza show – I love Asa but her heart doesn't seem into this, Sunny was right GG is just a mean girl, Mike and Sammy seem nice but they don't have much of a story, and I want Anita on the show because she's fly and you can tell she's more of a firecracker than she lets on.
PS Tamara just watched the after show – you were *not* kidding about a half dozen drinks, MJ was lit!
She has a high tolerance! /innocentgrin