As the satirical comedy show Al Bernameg returned to the CBC-TV network May 17 after a three-week hiatus, many Egyptians were shifting uncomfortably in their chairs. While host Bassem Youssef, known as the Jon Stewart of Egypt, has received much praise for being a witty, sarcastic provocateur of Egyptian political events, for some Egyptians he has crossed the line of propriety and respectful sarcasm.
Laila El Hossainy, 47, a Cairo housewife, said, “This program (Al-Bernameg) is so nice. He (Youssef) expresses the reality and some of the truth. Sometimes we feel that he is strange because he uses taboo words. In general, I do not like the ‘too much’ of his style. I don’t think he should be sent to prison, but he should be sent warning letters when he steps over the line.”
