There are few things we love more than seeing people introducing something new and edgy to any scene in Egypt, be it education, food, entertainment, etc. We sat down with one of these people who, while sometimes discussing serious issues faced by our society, brought us many laughs. In this interview, Hesham Mansour talks about everything related to his hit online show “El 3elm Wel 2emaw“. Here’s how it went:
1. What made you start El 3elm wel 2emaw?
After working with Bassem Youssef on the first season of El Bernameg and America Bel 3araby, Shady Sherif, owner of ElGTV, called me and said “let’s do something.” My fiancee at that time and I thought about it and how if I was gonna do something, it had to be relevant. It had to be something that was already on people’s minds, but nobody had tackled or spoke about yet. That’s how El 3elm wel 2emaw started.
2. Why name the show “El 3elm Wel 2emaw”?
One of the shows that has the biggest impact on my personality, and my life, is Dr. Mostafa Mahmoud‘s “El 3elm Wel Iman“. I even try to analyze things the same way he did. On the other hand, I have a friend who always (very annoyingly) asks me “eh ya maw?” So, as annoying as it is, I thought the word “maw” described the time we’re living in, and the personalities that I often discuss on the show.
3. What are the challenges that faced you before starting the show?
Everything was a challenge. Choosing a definite direction for the show was one of the biggest challenges. I also did not want to do the show alone because I feel very lonely on camera. That’s why I called Santos, one of my closest friends, and later Carlos and Maria, to come and play music on the show with me.
4. What’s the inspiration behind each episode’s topic? Do you choose topics that you relate to personally, or topics that the society relates to in general?
Yes, 90% of the episodes were inspired by personal experiences. These are the topics I feel that I have to say something about. I also usually ask a few friends to nominate topics for me to discuss on the show, but eventually I only talk about the things I can truly relate to.
5. Are you one of the people you make fun of?
I’m all of them! (laughs) I used to be some of them, and I’m some others right now.
6. Why was there a long wait between the two seasons?
First of all, I honestly did not think the show would achieve the success it did in its first season. I actually thought that only seven people watched the show (laughs), but I was surprised when people came up to me in the streets and recognized me.
On the other hand, I was focusing on other aspects of my life during that period. However, when I noticed that people were consistently asking me to do another season during the one-and-a-half-year wait between the two seasons, we knew we had to do a second season.
7. You’ve talked about many subjects that are considered to be taboos in Egypt. Do you talk about them because no one else does? Are you ever worried about the audience’s reaction?
It does provoke me that there are problems in our society that everyone chooses to stay quiet about. Besides, I only talk about taboos that I believe seriously cause problems in society, like when I discussed sex in marriage in “El 2ens Wel Gens“.
As for people’s reaction, I never pick a subject just because it appeals to the mainstream. I talk about things I really care about and I’m grateful when people like them, but when they don’t, I try to tackle something else the time after.
8. Which is more important to the show: the material itself, or how you deliver it?
Both are important. However, it really comes down to whether you’re convinced with and true to everything you’re saying.
9. Who do you look up to when it comes to your comic style?
Not that I consider myself a true comedian, but I’m mostly influenced by Louis C.K., Richard Pryor and Dave Chappelle. It goes without mentioning that I admire and love Egyptian legends Adel Emam, Samir Ghanem and Mohammad Sobhy. These are all genius people who left behind a great heritage of real comedy.
10. What is your favorite comedy show?
Dave Chappelle and Louis C.K., as I mentioned earlier. I also absolutely love The Comedy Central Roasts. House is a show that inspires, and hugely affects, me. I also can’t forget Friends, Scrubs and Seinfeld, which are all great comedy shows.
11. What do you think about the comedy scene in Egypt? Does anything need to change/improve?
Is there a comedy scene in Egypt? We’re in a time that hugely suffers from a lack of true comedy, which I like to call “The Great Depression Of Comedy”. We’re one of the funniest people on the planet. We laugh to live. Therefore, more effort should be really put in reviving the comedy scene in Egypt.
12. How important is people’s feedback to you?
I work for people, and their feedback is the most important thing to me. I’m very thankful that feedback has been great so far. The best feedback I hear is when someone tells me that they recommended my show to someone they know. So people are the reason the show’s still going and why I’m sitting with you today.
13. What is the future for ‘El 3elm Wel 2emaw’? Another season, maybe?
Yes, we’re gonna have a new season, but details are still to be discussed. I hope that it comes out as soon as possible, and that it lives up to people’s expectations.
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