Hokoma Show: Censored TV Show Returns this Ramadan
For over a decade, Egyptian impressionist Mahmoud Azzab has been entertaining us with his skills on and off Ramadan shows. Many consider him to be one of the best comedic talents, as he is known for imitating both popular and obscure character in a hilarious, spot-on performance.
This Ramadan, Azzab's latest feature is Hokoma Show, which – as is evident by its title – is about mimicking and lampooning members of the Egyptian government and state officials. Such a formula would never have been possible prior to the January 25th revolution, and Azzab's show was allegedly banned from being aired due to its controversial content, although it had been in production since 2009.
The best thing about this show is the grounds that are broken for the sake of pure, daring entertainment. It's truly monumental to see such brazen mocking of former government officials being aired on Egyptian TV.
That being said, Azzab's impersonations of figures such as Ahmed Nazif and various cabinet members are not as amusing as they are daring. Some lines are quite funny, but audiences will find themselves focusing more on the actor's heavy makeup and wigs more than his weak impersonations. An interesting example is the episode where Zahi Hawass was in negotiations with Nazif to squeeze out public funds to move the Ramsis statue from Tahrir square to its new location. The script was funny, but the acting couldn't carry it off and was pretty lame. If anything, Azzab seemed to be relishing in the opportunity to mock these characters and not focused enough on producing quality comedy.
It's a shame that Hokoma Show missed the mark this Ramadan; it had everything going for it: more freedom in the media where former ‘untouchable' characters could be criticised, an audience hungry for witty satire and impersonations of despised public figures, and Azzab's reputation as a credible, creative and daring comedic talent.
However, the lack of balance between the witty script and the sub-par delivery makesHokoma Show yet another show where audiences can laugh about characters that they hate. The idea is definitely appreciated, but the execution isn't all that great.
This Ramadan, Azzab's latest feature is Hokoma Show, which – as is evident by its title – is about mimicking and lampooning members of the Egyptian government and state officials. Such a formula would never have been possible prior to the January 25th revolution, and Azzab's show was allegedly banned from being aired due to its controversial content, although it had been in production since 2009.
The best thing about this show is the grounds that are broken for the sake of pure, daring entertainment. It's truly monumental to see such brazen mocking of former government officials being aired on Egyptian TV.
That being said, Azzab's impersonations of figures such as Ahmed Nazif and various cabinet members are not as amusing as they are daring. Some lines are quite funny, but audiences will find themselves focusing more on the actor's heavy makeup and wigs more than his weak impersonations. An interesting example is the episode where Zahi Hawass was in negotiations with Nazif to squeeze out public funds to move the Ramsis statue from Tahrir square to its new location. The script was funny, but the acting couldn't carry it off and was pretty lame. If anything, Azzab seemed to be relishing in the opportunity to mock these characters and not focused enough on producing quality comedy.
It's a shame that Hokoma Show missed the mark this Ramadan; it had everything going for it: more freedom in the media where former ‘untouchable' characters could be criticised, an audience hungry for witty satire and impersonations of despised public figures, and Azzab's reputation as a credible, creative and daring comedic talent.
However, the lack of balance between the witty script and the sub-par delivery makesHokoma Show yet another show where audiences can laugh about characters that they hate. The idea is definitely appreciated, but the execution isn't all that great.
