‘No one knew what to do with me’: Ramy Youssef on privilege, fear and his friend Taylor Swift
The star of his own sitcom, Youssef is now appearing in his first big movie role, in Poor Things. He discusses his Muslim American roots, filming in Palestine and working with Willem Dafoe
December 2022
2022 in TV
From Minx to Ramy: the best TV you never watched in 2022
This year had some criminally underwatched TV, including a cracking feminist porn comedy, a razor-sharp look at millennial Muslims … and papergirls caught up in a time war
April 2021
‘The butt of all jokes’: why TV needs to ditch stale immigrant stories
The lead character in United States of Al is a bumbling, one-dimensional cliche whose sole purpose is helping his white peers. How sad that shows like this still get made
February 2021
Golden Globes 2021: who will win – and who should win – the TV categories
Under renewed scrutiny over diversity and ethics, the 2021 Golden Globes appears poised to reward the Netflix megahits The Queen’s Gambit and The Crown
'People want imperfection': Hiam Abbass on Succession, Ramy and playing complex women
She is all calm as enigmatic Marcia Roy in the media-dynasty saga, but as the Egyptian-American mother in the award-winning comedy, she’s a hoot. The Palestinian actor examines her many-layered roles
Ramy: a masterful, Golden Globe-winning sitcom where nothing happens
Observer TV reviews
The week in TV: ZeroZeroZero; The Drowning; The Repair Shop; Craftivism; Ramy – review
Ramy: culture-clash comedy with a deeper message
December 2020
Stress, chess and mounting dread: how 2020 was the year of anxie-TV
2020 in TV
The 50 best TV shows of 2020: 50-1
October 2020
From mute to menacing: why TV's portrayal of Muslims still falls short
Though representation has increased, Islam on TV is still largely centred around terrorists and oppressed women. What we need is more complexity – and fewer dangerous cliches
September 2020
Emmy winners 2020: the full list
Emmys 2020 predictions: who will win and who should win?
July 2020
Sound and vision
This week's home entertainment: from Little Birds to Ramy
Anaïs Nin’s erotic short stories get the Sky Atlantic treatment, while Ramy Youssef’s comedy is back for a second season
Emmys 2020: Watchmen and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel lead nominations
The acclaimed HBO graphic novel adaptation leads the pack with 26 nominations, with the Amazon period comedy following behind
Ramy Youssef: ‘Ricky Gervais talks about God so much, he might be Muslim!’
The US comic on his acclaimed series Ramy, why fiction is the best place to explore sin and his encounter with comedy’s most famous atheist at the Golden Globes
June 2020
Ramy: the smartest, darkest TV comedy that you're not watching
The Golden Globe-winning comedy’s ambitious second season offers a masterclass in avoiding personal responsibility masked as moral improvement
April 2019
Ramy review – sharp comedy series examines Muslim American life
Comedian Ramy Youssef navigates a life between two different cultures in a sensitive, funny and occasionally ingenious show
