Omar Hussein: From stand-up comedian to comedy show star
Omar Hussein
Published: Mar 9, 2011 19:35 Updated: Mar 9, 2011 19:35
Omar Hussein is a well-known Saudi comedian who is famous for his YouTube Arabic comedy show called “3al6ayer” (As It Goes), which has succeeded in attracting many subscribers and over 300,00 viewers.
"3al6ayer" has a team of writers from different professional backgrounds: a psychologist, Lama Sabri; an economist, Dima Ikhwan; and a medicine student, Ahmed Fathuldeen. The show is special to people, as they can relate to the social issues that Hussein mocks.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Hussein spoke about his views, his life as a comedian and his future in the entertainment world.
What influenced you to get into comedy?
I actually had no plans to get into comedy. In college, my friends and I agreed that I'm funny with people I know, but I would never be funny on stage with strangers.
In late 2008, I missed out on an opportunity to try out at an open mic night in Alkhobar even though it was walking distance from my apartment. It was the regret of missing a chance to try something that pushed me to actually go for the audition that was later held in Jeddah.
How long have you been doing comedy?
I’ve been doing amateur stand-up comedy in Jeddah, Alkhobar and Riyadh for a bit over two years where I would open for international comedians. When I started hosting “3al6ayer” on You Tube a few months ago, things went wild!
Are you surprised by the reaction you have received from your videos on YouTube?
Yes, I am very surprised! I didn't expect such support and positive criticism, especially since the Saudi community in the past had a stereotype of not being so supportive. However, with the video releases, I have found tons of support and advise from people I don't even know and from different parts of the Kingdom. It's like people want me to succeed. I have also been shocked to recently hear that our audience is between seven and 60-years-old!
Do you have any unusual hobbies?
Yes, I enjoy jogging after Fajr prayer when time allows me. Every now and then I also enjoy walking to do errands rather than driving. Both activities help me reflect.
What are your inspirations for material? Do you use everyday incidents, news items, family stories — or all — to form your acts?
It all starts with an observation. For example, when I'm at a wedding or supermarket, I observe things that I find amusing, note them in the back of my head and then give them a comical twist. I like to do my comedy on subjects that leave the audience thinking about them later on.
However, it's worth mentioning that it is dangerous on how you observe: a positive attitude rather than a very critical or condescending attitude should be behind the mind observing.
What new projects do you have on the horizon?
A few TV channels have contacted me, which I'm not going to share their names yet! If successful, it would be nice to come up with a swift comedy show that breaks stereotypes or racism within the Arabic community. No promises though!
When do you post your videos and why don’t you have certain timing for them?
When we first started, they were pilots; we were just testing the waters. Now that we have been found a wide acceptance from the audience, we’re trying to come up with an optimum schedule that works with our limited resources so we can consistently deliver at a given date.
Of course, sometimes we are forced to delay. For example, episode 4 of “3al6ayer” was delayed out of respect for the Jeddah floods. Once the flood issues cleared, we had to rewrite and reshoot the whole episode since the news changed dramatically in such a short period of time.
Your videos depend on big news that happens within the Kingdom. If you ran out of big news and events, what would you talk about?
Honestly, we are not focusing so much on news rather than social critique. If there is news worth mentioning, we would bring it up. If not, we will continue to have our show, which discusses social issues.
What makes you laugh?
Kids speaking their mind and heart out. I love how they send their message very clearly without any hidden agendas and without putting it in a "nice way!"
What do you see as your biggest achievement to date?
I think my biggest achievement is making the decision to come back to Jeddah in 2009; I have been able to do a lot of positive things since. It's good to be back I guess!
What professional ambitions do you have?
My professional ambitions are not related to the entertainment industry, and I am not ready to share them yet.
Which topics are the most controversial and which are the most popular in your routines?
I think because I focus a lot on social topics, it's about male/female interaction in our society. I'm not sure if they are controversial, but they sure are popular!
As a pretty successful member of the new wave of young comedians, where do you see comedy headed in the next decade?
Comedy is widely accepted and many people want more live shows and more entertainment made by the youth rather than your typical TV channel. This is very promising granted that we bring comedy with our own culture. I sometimes worry that some comedians, including myself, are at risk of simply bringing the Western world to here, while it should be our comedy in our culture. Of course, this all boils down to the audience; it is up to them as consumers of the product (comedy) to steer the content of the product in the direction they want. Right now, comedians are mainly driven by the passion for comedy. However, once it becomes a business, then things might take a different turn.
In your show, you keep hinting to previous news and events. What kind of news do you prefer making fun of?
I don’t really like the term “making fun of.” What I like to do is basically give the audience a reflection of news in a comical way. I do enjoy absurd pieces of news, which no one notices and which people assume are normal!
Tell us more about your commercial breaks. What are the ideas behind them?
Haha! This is my favorite part in the “3al6ayer” show. It has to be something that the audience watches and thinks “yes!” that’s exactly what it needs! And, they laugh while saying that. It's pretty much saying: "Look, this particular problem isn't going to be solved. How about you just adapt?” That being said, it should kind of trigger a mental reaction: “Hey, wait a minute, why isn’t the problem solved? How can we solve it?”
Do you follow other Saudi comedians and what do you think about them?
Of course I do. I actually enjoy attending their shows and many of them have taught me a great deal of things about comedy.
Who is your role model in the world of comedy?
This is a tough one. I once read in a book that you should find a role model in everyone. I see a bit of a role model in almost all of the Saudi young comedians. When it comes to international acts, I would say Eddie Murphy from the late 1980s as well as the late George Carlin who picked up on very peculiar observations and made a whole rant about it.
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