Although Bassem Youssef’s talk show came to an end last year, his moment in the spotlight was far from over. After leaving Egypt amidst governmental pressure that resulted in the cancellation of his controversial satire show Al Bernameg, Youssef remained busy through his many ventures. He began a fellowship with Harvard University’s Institute of Politics, was featured in big-name journals such as TIME Magazine, and most recently, won the Silver Medal for Best TV Host in the World at the 2015 New York Festivals, to name a few. Before the fame and recognition, Youssef caught the attention of Sara Taksler, a senior producer at The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. They met while he visited the set in New York to make observations before launching his own show, when Taksler approached Youssef with an idea to direct a documentary about him. Now, they are preparing to complete Tickling Giants, a biopic about his life and career as a political satirist. To produce the film, Taksler has partnered with Maziar Bahari, world-renowned reporter and writer of Then They Came For Me, the memoir on which Jon Stewart’s directorial debut, Rosewater, was…
‘Daily Show’ Producer Reveals Behind the Scenes Details from Bassem Youssef Documentary
May 2, 2015
