Bassem Youssef is a political satirist that truly has caused some waves. Youssef was a heart surgeon in Egypt before he quit and started a political comedy web series on YouTube. Youssef then became an icon for mocking the hypocritical tyrannical leaders that took over after the Egyptian revolution. His satire was never before done in that country and soon become widely viewed and became a television show similar to Comedy Central’s The Daily Show or HBO’s Last Week Tonight.

In a country where mocking a regime is not a constitutional freedom, Youssef and his show’s staff were under some heavy threats by government leaders. In America, we can call the President any number of foul things and suffer no government repercussions, but in Egypt, taking on a regime with jokes and mockery can soon lead to life-threatening results.

But when Youssef first started his Television show he was widely loved, no one was making the statements he was making before on television and with humor. His style of comedy has earned him the nickname “The Egyptian Jon Stewart”, yet when Stewart was on his show in Egypt he admired how brave Youssef is saying “I tell you this it (Stewart’s show) doesn’t get me into the kind of trouble it gets you in.” Click Here to watch more of this interview.

Click Here for a very funny and smart clip from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

This trouble became a reality when in General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was elected President. After the election, Youssef’s show was taken off the air and he was forced into exile due to fear for his family’s lives.He has now moved to California and has a new web series called Democracy Handbook with Bassem Youssef.

Youssef now speaks on the similar issues that both Egypt and the US both share: Civil Unrest, Wars, Government Corruption, and Religious Extremism. He has been very open about his opinion on our last election and his views on President Trump but his greatest fear is not the man but what he represents. He talks about how the hate speech and fear mongering Trump and his supporters are putting on Muslims are a scary thing. He talks about how this targeted hate has happened before or is still happening, with Jews, African American, LGBTQ, in a CBS interview he said this “People who use hate, anger, and xenophobia as a speech they need someone to put the hate one.” Watch the full interview click here. 

The impressive thing is how resilient and brave Youssef and his show staff were and are. It truly is a great lesson for myself and others within my generations.

Lesson: If you know something is wrong and people in power want you to stay complicit, throw that shit in the garbage and start making some noise. Also if you can make it funny that’s a bonus.

Bassem Youssef will be at Hancher Auditorium part of the Mission Creek Festival, April 7^th at 7:30 PM. I’ll be there and I hope to see you too!

The post Mission Creek Festival Promo: Bassem Youssef @ Hancher Auditorium appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The Second City is an improvisational comedy enterprise that is run out of Chicago, Los Angeles, and Toronto. It started back in December of 1959, with famous alumni such as Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Steve Carrell. The Second City Touring Company features a group of touring members that perform all over the country. The Second City currently has 38 touring members.

During a two-day stint in Iowa City at the Englert Theatre, The Second City actors consisted of six people: Alison Banowsky, E.J. Cameron, Mark Campbell, Jordan Savusa, Jackie Southee, and Alessandra Drapos. To say the least, the six of them were amazing together and put on an amazing show. The chemistry between them all made the show enjoyable.

“Let someone else face your small talk fears head-on! Instead of avoiding Grandpa and de-friending your old high school pals, see The Second City’s brand new sketch comedy and improv revue, LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE TALKING,” their website reads. “We’re diving right into every touchy subject you’re thinking about, but are afraid to say out loud…or online.”

And they did not disappoint.

The show started off with a bang, with the six of them singing about being the number 1 nation in the world (it was political satire, in case anybody attending didn’t get that.) The show included all kinds of musical numbers, sketches, and mini-sketches that leaned on the political satire lines that made the room shake with laughter.

I’ve always loved improv comedy, as it showcases comedians true talent by being able to make situations up on the spot. Audience suggestions were hilarious to say the least, with some suggestions being the relationships “priest and confessor” and locations like “Lincoln, Nebraska.” As I write this out, it doesn’t seem nearly as funny as it did in the moment — another thing that I love about improv comedy. The suggestions thrown out and the reactions from the actors are what made it so funny and the scenes created a “You had to be there!” type of humor.

Other skits were more light-hearted, one being a doctor who slept with one of their patients — the punchline being “Dude, you’re a vetrenarian.”

Besides the short intermission about halfway through, it was a non-stop laugh fest, the kind that fills your chest and belts out unexpectedly. If you’re in need of a good laugh, look no further than The Second City. The live show environment is sure to cheer anyone’s day up.

The post Show Review: The Second City @ The Englert 2/16/18 appeared first on KRUI Radio.