My Summer Lair Chapter #112: Who Is Ramy?

Hulu’s latest tv show is Ramy which is like a Middle-Eastern Atlanta…the Donald Glover show? Similar non narrative style but set in New Jersey with lots of middle eastern people. (That tone is becoming a trend: Atlanta, Barry on HBO and even Orville which offers lots more narrative but balances legit violence with absurd comedy.)

I reached out to Hulu and Ramy Youssef was busy (he’s shooting a comedy special for HBO should be out soon!) so the nice Hulu people suggested I speak to the actress who plays his sister on the show: May El Calamawy.

So she and I talked on the phone. About a lot of things.

AND…this is so interesting. Ramy is about a Muslim family…so we discussed the double standards in the Egyptian culture towards women: if culturally you don’t know what I am talking about check out the tv show for basically a Wikipedia snyposis. Yet.

YET it occurred to me and I pointed this out to her our women are strong…they are oaks. Consistently stubborn, bullheaded, independent and I mean all those as compliments.

Somehow and bizarrely that double standard produces a tough hard woman. I never connected that before. I realize how on the surface that sounds like a careless observation but May is far better at expressing this sentiment as well what working on this show has done for her as a Middle Eastern woman/actress.

Bonus? Ramy’s friend on the show is Dave Merheje who has been a My Summer Lair guest and one of it’s executive producers is Jerrod Carmichael whose stand up special 8 is sublime. One of the best stand up specials from easily the last 10-15 years. Up there with 3 Mics.

Ramy premieres on Hulu on April 19:

Ramy @ W • T • F

Host Sammy Younan

Recorded: Thursday April 11, 2019 at 6pm at WeWork

My Summer Lair Chapter #82: What Kind Of Friend Are You?

I find the bulk of the comedic response to President Trump exhausting and worse…it’s not funny.

All these shows and late night monologues plus civilians on twitter unsuccessfully aiming for comedy gold (low hanging fruit!): the vast majority of it…like 98%, 99% is not funny or particularly observant…there’s no nutritional value because there’s no insight or perspective. Predictable humour is easy to resist: Trump has been awful for comedy and comics…oddly enough that’s where we start our conversation.

Dave Merheje is not a political comic; his humour springs from experiences and from the people in his life…like his Dad. You can hear jokes and stories about his Dad and rap and more on his special Good Friend Bad Grammar.

What’s fascinating is Dave recognizes his place in comedy…listen to how many comics he gives a shoutout too and asks listeners to follow on social media. He’s passionate about comedy and it’s clear he is hungry.

He put out Good Friend Bad Grammar himself…this isn’t a Netflix production. This is what I refer to in the interview as Louis C.K. in-house…a do it yourself. That’s so inspiring. Having known Dave for years it’s incredible to see where he’s gone and what he has accomplished.

And I can attest to the title of the special: Good Friend Bad Grammar is funny cos it’s true!

Good Friend Bad Grammar is now available on all platforms.

Dave Merheje @ W • T • F

Host Sammy Younan

Recorded: Friday May 7, 2018 at 6pm (EST) at Girth Radio