Comedian Ramy Youssef On Emmy-nominated 'Ramy'

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

NPR

Society & Culture

4.7 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 18 August 2020

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When comedian and actor Ramy Youssef had the chance to make a TV show, he knew he wanted to write what he knew: his family, his childhood, his hometown. Hulu's Ramy follows the life of a young Arab Muslim man living in New Jersey – much like Youssef's personal experience. At different times, Ramy wonders what to do about his career, his love life and his family life. All stuff that's pretty typical for a millennial of his age. One of the things that makes the show Ramy unique is how it talks about faith. It's a show that explores complex themes in an engaging way. And it's as compelling as it is funny. Recently, Ramy was nominated for three Emmys. Jordan Morris, in for Jesse, talks with Ramy Youssef about the Emmy-nominated show, and his own journey through faith. Plus, how self-deprecating humor has helped him collaborate with actors when working on the show.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Bullseye with Jesse Thorn is a production of MaximumFun.org and is distributed by NPR.
0:10.5	It's Bullseye, I'm Jesse Thorn.
0:21.6	Have you seen Rami?
0:23.3	It's a show on Hulu.
0:24.9	It wrapped up its second season a few months back.
0:27.1	Foguses on a guy named Rami, played by our guest, Rami Yusuf.
0:32.1	When the show kicks off, Rami is in his late 20s, living with his parents in New Jersey.
0:37.4	At different times, Rami wonders what to do about his career, about his love life, his family
0:41.8	life, all stuff that's pretty typical for someone his age.
0:46.0	One of the things that makes Rami the show unique though, it's how it talks about faith.
0:51.3	Rami the character is a practicing Muslim.
0:54.6	His relationship with religion is more than just like a thing his parents do.
1:00.2	He prays, he goes to a mosque, he doesn't drink.
1:03.2	Amid the millennial existential angst and jokes about sex, the show also asks some probing,
1:09.6	deep questions about faith.
1:12.1	Recently, Rami was nominated for three Emmys, best directing in a comedy, best supporting
1:17.3	actor for the great Mahershala Ali, and best actor for Rami Yusuf.
1:22.5	So we took that as a chance to talk with him.
1:24.5	He's interviewed by Jordan Morris here, Jordan is my longtime friend and colleague, he co-hosts
1:29.3	Jordan Jesse Goh with me.
1:31.6	Anyway, well kick things off with a clip.
1:33.6	This is from the show's second season.
	...

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