Ramy (TV series)

Ramy is an American comedy-drama web television series which premiered on April 19, 2019 on Hulu. In May 2019, Hulu renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on May 29, 2020.[1][2] The series stars Ramy Youssef as the titular character with Mahershala Ali joining the cast in a recurring role for season 2. The series has been praised for its portrayal of American Muslims when most Western pop culture depictions are "usually as the bad guys".[3]

Ramy
GenreComedy-drama
Created by
Starring
Opening theme"Lounga 79" by Al Massrieen
Composer(s)
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
Arabic
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes20 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Jeanie Igoe
  • Inman Young
  • Tyson Bidner
  • Jamin O'Brien
  • Nathan Reinhart
  • Mary Beth Minthorn
Cinematography
  • Adrian Peng Correia
  • Ashley Connor
Editor(s)
  • Joanna Naugle
  • Jeremy Edwards
  • Veronica Rutledge
  • Jennifer Lee
Running time23–31 minutes
Production company(s)A24
Cairo Cowboy
Foxera
Release
Original networkHulu
Original releaseApril 19, 2019 (2019-04-19) –
present (present)
External links
Official website

In July 2020, Hulu renewed the series for a third season.[4]

Premise

Ramy follows "a first-generation American Muslim who is on a spiritual journey in his politically divided New Jersey neighborhood. It explores the challenges of what it is like being caught between an Egyptian community that thinks life is a moral test, and a generation that thinks life has no consequences."[5]

Cast and characters

Main
  • Ramy Youssef as Ramy Hassan, the protagonist of the series. He is a millennial American Muslim who grapples with his faith and lifestyle, to judgment of his friends and family.
  • Mohammed Amer as Mo, Ramy's friend who owns a diner.
  • Hiam Abbass as Maysa Hassan, Ramy's mother.
  • Dave Merheje as Ahmed, Ramy's friend and a doctor.
  • Amr Waked as Farouk Hassan, Ramy's father.
  • May Calamawy as Dena Hassan, the sister of Ramy. Although she is a graduate student, Dena is frustrated that her actions and behavior are still restricted by her overprotective parents. This causes her to regularly critique the double standards she and Ramy are judged against.
  • Laith Nakli as Uncle Naseem, the boisterous uncle of Ramy and Dena. He owns a jewelry business, where he employs Ramy after his firing from a startup. He casually makes sexist and anti-Semitic statements, despite working with Jewish jewelers. Naseem is very protective of his family, especially of his sister Maysa. (recurring season 1; main season 2)
  • Mahershala Ali as Sheikh Ali Malik (season 2)
  • MaameYaa Boafo as Zainab (season 2)

Recurring

Guest

[8]

Episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
110April 19, 2019 (2019-04-19)
210May 29, 2020 (2020-05-29)

Season 1 (2019)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Between the Toes"Harry BradbeerRamy Youssef & Ari Katcher & Ryan WelchApril 19, 2019 (2019-04-19)
In the series premiere, Ramy grapples with dating and relationships as a young Muslim man in America. He goes out on a date with a Muslim-American woman who Ramy is surprised to find is extremely sexually aggressive and kinky.
22"Princess Diana"Christopher StorerLeah Nanako WinklerApril 19, 2019 (2019-04-19)
Ramy gets fired from his job with Stevie at a tech startup. As a solution, his parents intend to set him up with a job, working for his Uncle Naseem, who is sexist and believes in conspiracy theories about 9/11.
33"A Black Spot on the Heart"Christopher StorerMinhal BaigApril 19, 2019 (2019-04-19)
After starting at his new job, Ramy becomes interested in a Jewish American girl, to the frustration of his friends. However, he refuses to take drugs with her, so she hooks up with another guy.
44"Strawberries"Ramy YoussefRamy YoussefApril 19, 2019 (2019-04-19)
In a flashback to Ramy's past, he remembers how his relationships with friends were changed by the September 11 attacks, due to his Muslim faith. He also wants to be like all his friends and learn to masturbate. After his friends shun him, he walks a different route to school and meets Stevie for the first time, who becomes one of his lifelong friends.
55"Do the Ramadan"Christopher StorerSahar JahaniApril 19, 2019 (2019-04-19)
Ramy intends to be fully faithful throughout the 30 days of Ramadan. This includes eating only after sunset and before sunrise, and abstaining from sex and pornography. Ramy meets a married but lonely Muslim woman at the mosque, and ends up having sex with her at her house.
66"Refugees"Cherien DabisBridget BedardApril 19, 2019 (2019-04-19)
Dena begins experiencing qualms about her status as a virgin. After talking with her friends, she decides to meet up with the local barista from the coffee bar who often flirts with her. She goes back with him to his apartment, but things do not go well.
77"Ne Me Quitte Pas"Cherien DabisRamy YoussefApril 19, 2019 (2019-04-19)
Maysa, who is lonely at home and unfulfilled with her life, becomes a Lyft driver, in the hopes of meeting new people. At first, she has trouble ingratiating herself with riders, but later on, she picks up a Frenchman traveling in the area for business. Because she speaks French and allows him to smoke in her car, he takes a liking to her, and they become fast friends.
88"Saving Mikaela"Cherien DabisRyan WelchApril 19, 2019 (2019-04-19)
Stevie becomes romantically interested in a girl he met through a video game, and ropes Ramy in to physically meet the girl in person. When they meet Mikaela, they realize that she and her friend are still in high school. Mikaela eventually gets drunk and passes out. Ramy kicks open the door to save her, and they end up taking her to Hackensack General, where Ramy's friend is a doctor.
99"Dude, Where’s My Country?"Cherien DabisRamy YoussefApril 19, 2019 (2019-04-19)
In an attempt to find himself and his faith, Ramy makes the trip to visit his family in Egypt. While Ramy would like to see Egypt and pray in the local mosques, his Americanized cousin Shadi wants instead to take him to parties where people are smoking and taking drugs. Ramy meets a cute girl who turns out to be Shadi’s sister.
1010"Cairo Cowboy"Jehane NoujaimRamy YoussefApril 19, 2019 (2019-04-19)
Ramy eventually decides to make the trip to visit his grandfather in the countryside. The car taking him breaks down, so he decides to walk the rest of the way. He eventually meets up with his grandfather, but soon after Ramy finds him dead on the floor of his home. After the funeral, he and his cousin Amani attend a Sufi hadra and appear to develop romantic feelings towards each other.

Season 2 (2020)
No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [9]Directed by [9]Written by [9]Original release date [9]
111"Bay'ah"Christopher StorerRamy Youssef & Amir SulaimanMay 29, 2020 (2020-05-29)
Ramy is in a midlife crisis and is heavily addicted to sugar and pornography. Ramy's friends barge into his room in an effort to confront him about his self-destructive behavior. Ahmed tells Ramy that he should speak to the Imam at the local mosque. Ramy tries to open up to the Imam about his midlife crisis, past relationships, and porn addiction but is immediately shut down. Uncle Naseem gives Ramy a gun at work telling him its part of his promotion. His white Muslim friend, who now works at another mosque tells Ramy of a "cool radical" Sufi sheikh. Some time later, the Hassan family is invited to Farouk's boss's home for dinner and Ramy tags along. At dinner, he excuses himself to use the restroom, where he takes out his gun and phone to masturbate. An old man walks into the restroom, takes the gun and leaves. Ramy later attends the hadra at the Sufi mosque and builds a new relationship with the Sheikh.
122"Can You Hear Me Now?"Christopher StorerRamy YoussefMay 29, 2020 (2020-05-29)
133"Little Omar"Ramy YoussefRamy Youssef & Colleen McGuinnessMay 29, 2020 (2020-05-29)
144"Miakhalifa.mov"Ramy YoussefRamy Youssef & Adel KamalMay 29, 2020 (2020-05-29)
Ramy discovers on Instagram that his cousin and ex-girlfriend, Amani, is engaged. He and Zainab go to the lavish estate of one of the investors of the Sufi center, who had recently backed out due to violence outside of the Masjid. There, Ramy meets former porn star Mia Khalifa, who has been allegedly supplying the investor with her breast milk to cure him of his desire for sex. Ramy drinks some of the milk before humoring the investor to a bout of archery. The investor finally agrees to invest two million dollars in the Sufi center after Ramy convinces him that they are brothers because they drank the same breast milk. Zainab is impressed and tells the Sheik she would like to marry Ramy.
155"3riana grande"Cherien DabisRamy Youssef & Maytha AlhassenMay 29, 2020 (2020-05-29)
After getting into law school, an excited Deena is quick to share the news with her friends online. Maysa, angered by her daughter's behavior, explains that this will attract "hasad" or the evil eye. Deena, upset that her parents don't share her enthusiasm says she doesn't believe in this "superstitious shit." Later in the shower, Deena begins to notice her hair thinning and starts to worry. She asks her father, who tells her he began to lose his hair when he was around her age. Anxious and confused, Deena starts wearing a hijab and attempts to try different remedies for her hair loss and even asks her doctor about it during a consultation where she is worried she might have a lump on her breast. She then visits Uncle Naseem who questions her if she is "feeling things" she is not supposed to feel. He refers her to an Egyptian psychic in South Jersey. On her way home from the psychic, Deena learns from her doctor that she has fibroadenoma, which is very common. This temporarily puts her at ease but then her car breaks down, and she is picked up by a Mexican immigrant who confronts her about her headscarf, telling her that it is a symbol of oppression, and that she must "melt" into American society. Infuriated by his ignorance, Deena demands that he let her out on the side of the road.
166"They"Cherien DabisRamy Youssef & Ryan WelchMay 29, 2020 (2020-05-29)
Maysa is close to getting an American Citizenship. When she learns that her Lyft Driver account has been suspended, she worries that Lyft's investigation will lead to criminal charges, preventing her from getting the citizenship. She decides to find the person who reported her and identifies that it could be Sophia, a trans passenger she picked up, but misgendered and humiliated. She tracks Sophia at a bar and confronts them, profusely apologizing and begging them for forgiveness and to cancel their Lyft report. Sophia tells Maysa that it was not them that filed the report. Sophia's boyfriend calls the police on Maysa for stalking them, but they don't press charges. Dena arrives to take Maysa home and tells her that she's mean and has no filter before Maysa confesses that she wishes she had finished her degree instead of marrying. Finally, Maysa attains citizenship with determination to vote the president out of office.
177"Atlantic City"Ramy YoussefRamy Youssef & Bjanka PašićMay 29, 2020 (2020-05-29)
The boys force Ramy to have a bachelor party in Atlantic City. They end up at a strip club, where they all - with the exception of Steve - are uncomfortable. Ramy interrupts when Steve is getting a private lap dance and makes everyone go back to the hotel. There, Steve informs Ramy that he needs to ejaculate or else he will suffer because of his condition. After trying to call him a hooker to help him, Ramy finally decides to do the deed himself to save his friend, who cannot use his own arms. When the deed is done, Ramy consoles Steve in his arms as both feel weird and sad about what just happened.
188"Frank in the Future"Ramy YoussefRamy Youssef & Azhar UsmanMay 29, 2020 (2020-05-29)
Farouk lost his job two months ago and still hasn't told his family. Every day he goes to a coffee shop to work on job applications with no prospects in sight. Boomer, the dog, develops depression, possibly since she is sensitive to Farouk's plight. At a gathering to meet the Sheik and Zainab, who Ramy would like to marry, Farouk loses it when confronted about money matters, especially when his brother-in-law Naseem presses him. Later, in private, Farouk finally confesses the truth to Ramy and advises him not to get married because of the stress of being the man of the household. Ramy, in turn, encourages Farouk to live in the present. Farouk and the Sheik together finally agree to the union of Ramy and Zainab.
199"Uncle Naseem"Desiree AkhavanRamy Youssef & Kate ThulinMay 29, 2020 (2020-05-29)
The episode follows Uncle Naseem as he navigates the difficulties of hiding his sexuality, as well as his coarseness in most human interactions, which contributes to the loneliness he feels.
2010"You Are Naked in Front of Your Sheikh"Christopher StorerRamy Youssef & Rob UlinMay 29, 2020 (2020-05-29)
It's Ramy and Zainab's Katb Ktab, but to Ramy’s horror, Amani, his former lover and cousin, arrives from Egypt to attend the ceremony. We discover in a flashback that they broke up in Cairo when Ramy refused to commit. Back to the present day, after an awkward conversation in a grocery store parking lot, they hook up. The next day, Ramy goes through with the Katb Ktab, and Zainab loses her virginity to him. After their sexual encounter, Ramy tells her about what happened with Amani the previous night. Horrified, Zainab leaves him, and Ramy awakens the next morning to be confronted by the Sheik, who excoriates him and tells him to get help from someone else. In a desperate final plea, Ramy asks Amani to be with him and tells her that they’re meant to be, but she is traumatised by his behaviour and refuses him. Heartbroken and alone, Ramy takes Boomer the dog and goes to Dennis' abandoned car, where they listen to his CD on how to be a Muslim.

Production

Development

On October 4, 2017, it was announced that Hulu had given the production a pilot presentation order. The series was created by Ramy Youssef, Ari Katcher and Ryan Welch, all of whom are expected to write for the series. Executive producers are set to include Katcher, Welch, and Jerrod Carmichael. Production companies involved with the series include A24.[10]

On April 18, 2018, it was announced that Hulu had given the production a series order for a first season.[5][11][12] On February 11, 2019, it was announced that the series would premiere on April 19, 2019.[13] On May 1, 2019, it was reported that Hulu renewed the series for a second season which is set to premiere on May 29, 2020.[1][2] On July 9, 2020, Hulu renewed the series for a third season.[4]

Casting

Alongside the series order announcement, it was confirmed that Ramy Youssef would star in the series.[5] On October 19, 2018, it was announced that May Calamawy had been cast in a series regular role.[14] In July 2019, it was announced Mahershala Ali would guest star in the second season.[15] In November 2019, it was announced Laith Nakli had been upped to a series regular.[16]

Release

Broadcast

In Europe, the series is available to stream on StarzPlay.[17] in Latin America the Series the Premiered in August 2020 on FX.

Premiere

The series held its world premiere during the 2019 South by Southwest film festival in Austin, Texas, as a part of the festival's "Episodic Premieres" series of screenings.[18]

Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 97% based on 37 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "An insightful and hilarious glimpse into the life of a Muslim American family, Ramy perfectly articulates the precarious nature and nuances of identity and announces Ramy Youssef is a talent to watch."[19] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 87 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[20]

Accolades

For its first season, Ramy Youssef was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy. He won the award at the 77th Golden Globe Awards in 2020.[21]

Year Award Category Nominees Result Ref.
2019
 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actor in a Comedy Series Ramy Youssef Nominated [22]
Golden Globe Awards Best Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy Ramy Youssef Won [23]
Gotham Independent Film Awards Breakthrough Series – Short Form Ramy Nominated [24]
Peabody Awards Entertainment Ramy Won [25]
SXSW Film Festival Episodic Audience Award Ramy Won [26]
2020
 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series Ramy Youssef Pending [27]
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series Ramy Youssef Pending
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series Mahershala Ali Pending
TCA Awards Individual Achievement in Comedy Ramy Youssef Pending [28]
gollark: I'm just saying - can 4 computers receive 1 modem message event?
gollark: (can that work?)
gollark: Multiple *computers* receiving the events on one normal snooper array for trilat!
gollark: Maybe...
gollark: Wait, brilliant idea...

References
  1. Pedersen, Erik (May 1, 2019). "'Pen15' & 'Ramy' Renewed For Season 2 On Hulu". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  2. Hipes, Patrick (January 17, 2020). "Hulu Sets Premiere Dates For 'The Great', 'Ramy' And 'Solar Opposites' – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  3. Deb, Sopan (April 18, 2019). "'Ramy' Is a Quietly Revolutionary Comedy". The New York Times. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  4. Otterson, Joe (July 9, 2020). "'Ramy' Renewed for Season 3 at Hulu". Variety. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  5. Petski, Denise (May 2, 2018). "Hulu Picks Up Mindy Kaling's 'Four Weddings And A Funeral', Ramy Youssef Comedy To Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  6. VanArendonk, Kathryn (April 18, 2019). "Ramy Isn't Telling a Universal Story of the American Muslim Experience. That's Why It's So Good". Vulture. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  7. Murthi, Vikram (May 10, 2019). "'Ramy' Presents a Nuanced Slice of Life for Millennial Muslims". Vulture. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  8. St. Félix, Doreen (May 18, 2020). ""Ramy" 's Comedy of Spiritual Errors". New Yorker. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  9. "Ramy – Synopses". Hulu. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  10. Andreeva, Nellie (October 4, 2017). "Ramy Youssef Muslim Comedy From Jerrod Carmichael & A24 Gets Hulu Pilot Presentation Order". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  11. Otterson, Joe (May 2, 2018). "Hulu Orders Mindy Kaling's 'Four Weddings and a Funeral,' Ramy Youssef Comedy to Series". Variety. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  12. Jarvey, Natalie (May 2, 2018). "Ramy Youssef Comedy From 'Carmichael Show' Team Lands Series Order at Hulu". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  13. Petski, Denise (February 11, 2019). "Hulu Sets Premiere Dates For 'Into The Dark', 'I'm Just F*cking With You', 'All That We Destroy' & 'Ramy' – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  14. Petski, Denise (October 19, 2018). "'Ramy': May Calamawy Cast As Series Regular In Ramy Youssef Hulu Comedy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  15. White, Peter (July 26, 2019). "'Ramy': Mahershala Ali To Guest Star In Second Season Of Hulu Comedy – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  16. Petski, Denise (November 26, 2019). "'Ramy': Laith Nakli Upped To Series Regular For Season 2 Of Hulu Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  17. Wiseman, Andreas (August 6, 2019). "Starzplay Picks Up European Streaming Rights To Comedy Series 'Ramy'". Deadline. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  18. N'Duka, Amanda (January 16, 2019). "SXSW: Seth Rogen/Charlize Theron Comedy, Matthew McConaughey's 'The Beach Bum' Among 2019 Feature Lineup". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  19. "Ramy: Season 1 (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  20. "Ramy: Season 1". Metacritic. CBS. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  21. Horton, Adrian (January 6, 2020). "The full list of Golden Globes 2020 winners". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  22. Hammond, Pete (December 8, 2019). "'The Irishman', 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' Lead Critics' Choice Nominations; Netflix Dominates With 61 Noms In Movies And TV". Deadline. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  23. Horton, Adrian (January 6, 2020). "Golden Globes 2020: Fleabag and 1917 lead British invasion with major wins". The Guardian. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  24. Sharf, Zack (December 3, 2019). "Gotham Winners: 'Marriage Story' Wins Big as Gerwig, Awkwafina Steal the Show Backstage". IndieWire. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  25. Gomez, Patrick (June 11, 2020). "Exclusive: Ramy Youssef's Peabody Award speech—plus the (thankfully) diverse list of 2020 winners". AV Club. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  26. Debruge, Peter (March 16, 2019). "SXSW Audience Awards Show Love for 'Running With Beto' and 'Peanut Butter Falcon'". Variety. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  27. "2020 Primetime Emmy® Awards – Nomination Press Release" (PDF). Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  28. Mitovich, Matt Webb (July 9, 2020). "TCA Awards: Watchmen, Unbelievable and Schitt's Creek Lead Nominations". TVLine. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
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