Bassem Youssef, dubbed the Jon Stewart of the Arab World, was the host of popular TV show AlBernameg – which was the first of its kind political satire show in the Middle East. Originally a 5-minute show on YouTube, AlBernameg became the first online to TV conversion in the Middle East and the most watched show across the region with 30 million viewers every week. During its third season, the show achieved unprecedented weekly viewership ratings for 11 consecutive weeks.
By June 2014, AlBernameg announced the termination of the show due to overwhelming pressures on both the show and the airing channel and relocated to the US following increasing scrutiny. In 2015 Youssef hosted the International Emmy Awards gala of 2015, as well as the 49th Carthage Film Festival in Tunis. Youssef is also currently hosting a digital series titled “The Democracy Handbook” for Fusion Network, namely on its new digital platform F-Comedy. He is also the star of an internationally renowned documentary by Sara Taksler titled “Tickling Giants” featuring Youssef’s story with AlBernameg. Youssef has recently released a book about his experience “Revolution for Dummies: Laughing Through the Arab Spring” where he gives different perspectives and insights on the Egyptian political scene through the Arab spring and after.