Bassem Youssef, The Jon Stewart of Egypt, Comes To America This Summer

at
Share This Post

 

Screen Shot 2016-06-07 at 10.59.47 PM

Fusion Brings On It’s Own Answer to The Daily Show: Bassem Youssef is Coming July 17

FUSION, the network that’s home to hit shows like Trump Vs. Bernie and The Chris Gethard Show, (and previously No, You Shut Up) has acquired another politically-minded show to bolster its ranks: The Democracy Handbook with Bassem Youssef. Youssef is a heart-surgeon-turned-satirist, best known for his show Al-Bernameg, which was instrumental in bringing attention to Egypt’s Arab Spring in 2011. For his work during that politically charged time, he became known as the “Jon Stewart of Egypt” and as one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World.”

The Democracy Handbook will be both a web series and a television documentary of sorts. Youssef will travel across the U.S., examining the social and political culture of various parts of the country and analyzing them through the lens of a Middle Easterner. With the overarching theme of observing American democracy, Youssef will tackle a handful of hot-button issues, including guns, free speech, elections, rebranding Muslims and the ties between Church and State.

Bryan Carmel, FUSION’s Head of Comedy and VP of Development, believes that Youssef has a unique and nuanced vision of the U.S. that will make for great television. “Bassem looks at America through a different lens. As an outsider, he’s able to come here and point out some of the more ridiculous flaws in our democratic system. Like the fact that we’re spending $5 billion on the 2016 presidential election, when you can buy an army and steal an election for much cheaper. He’s one of the most astute satirists in the world.

Youssef himself has said as much, stating that the U.S. is a great — if flawed — example of democracy in action. While he does feel like an outsider, he also says that there are some eerie parallels between the U.S. and the Middle East:

“The fact that I come from the Middle East and was given the chance to comment on American political issues is an incredible opportunity and a great challenge. I hope to bring a different perspective to the table that is enlightening for Americans as well as people back in the Middle East,” says Youssef. “There is no doubt that America is a shining example of democracy, but nothing is perfect and nothing is complete. In certain aspects, I find areas where I hear the same rhetoric as in the Middle East; it is funny, some of the sound bites you hear here in  America from a ‘certain’ candidate, would fit perfectly coming from a dictator in my region.”

FUSION will bring Youssef’s hilariously poignant point of view to viewers online on July 14th, when the entire ten-episode series will be available to stream on FUSION.net, Facebook and YouTube. On July 17th at 9 p.m., the entire series will air as a one-hour special on FUSION’s cable network, so be sure to check your local listings or keep an eye out for the series on your digital platform of choice.

Check out the trailer below to see the charming Youssef and his glorious eyebrows in action:

Read more comedy news.

The following two tabs change content below.

Bill Tressler

Bill is a writer and comedy enthusiast from New York. An avid gamer and podcast fan, he strives to always toe the line between charming irreverence and grating honesty.
Bill Tressler

Bill Tressler

Bill is a writer and comedy enthusiast from New York. An avid gamer and podcast fan, he strives to always toe the line between charming irreverence and grating honesty.