Here is what passes for humour in Egypt, apparently.
This is a comedy show in which the guests are tricked, Candid Camera-style. Its premise is as follows.
Various Egyptian actors are interviewed by a TV show which they’re told is for a German Arabic TV channel. However, half way through the interview, a caller chastises the Egyptian actor for appearing on “an Israeli TV station”. The caller is then cut off.
The assorted Egyptian actors then react with horror to the news that they are on an Israeli TV station. They react by physically assaulting the fake ‘Israelis’ – who are of course Egyptian actors.
Then the truth is revealed, and everybody has a good laugh.
Transcript here.
Fabulous telly, eh?
Here’s an excerpt:
Mahmoud Abd Al-Ghaffar: You are a Jew!
Iman Mubarak: Mahmoud… Mahmoud…
Mahmoud Abd Al-Ghaffar: Mahmoud what?!
Iman Mubarak: Mahmoud, this is a candid camera show.
Mahmoud Abd Al-Ghaffar [pulling Amr ‘Alaa by the hair]: Who are you? Tell me who you are.
Iman Mubarak: Mahmoud, this is a candid camera show.
Applause
Iman Mubarak: Mahmoud, this is a candid camera show. We are all Egyptians. Long live Egypt! I’m an Egyptian – Iman Mubarak. This is Amr ‘Alaa, and this is Amr Sallah.
Mahmoud Abd Al-Ghaffar: You brought me someone who looks like a Jew…
Al-Ghaffar hugs Amr ‘Alaah
[to Iman Mubarak]: If you weren’t a girl, the moment you told me you were Jewish… I hate the Jews to death.
