Approximately 52 new TV series will hit the screens during the 2010 Ramadan season. These series are divided between genres: comedy, historical events, and romance are all presented through different mosalsalat (television series), and people are already planning their day around which shows they hope to watch. Given the fact that the day is only 24 hours, one can’t help but wonder about the possibility of watching more than two or three series on daily basis. Here is a list to help you choose:
Muslim Brotherhood:
One of the most anticipated series this year is al-Gama’a (The Group), starring Jordanian actor Iyad Nassar in the role of Hassan al-Banna, the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). The series got a lot of attention last year when scriptwriter Waheed Hamid refused to allow Saif al-Islam al-Banna, the son of Hassan al-Banna, access to the script before shooting. More problems are expected to arise when the series airs.
The Usual Suspects:
Yousra, Yehia al-Fakharani, and Nour al-Sherif are the most familiar faces during Ramadan. Most recently, Yousra starred in Bel-Sham’ al-Ahmer (Embossed), the latest addition to her stream of wholesome, wise, self-righteous characters posessing all the right answers about the universe. This time, Yousra plays a forensics doctor in a CSI: Miami-inspired show and she is, like always, out to get the bad guys and help the helpless.
Nour al-Sherif is back for the third time with his favorite character, al-Dali, in a new season of his hit series following the ups and downs of mysterious businessman, Saad al-Dali.
Yehia al-Fakharani drops the comedy this year in favor of the harsh Saidi drama, Sheikh al-Arab Hammam, a bio-series about the legendary head of Upper Egypt tribes.
The Royalty:
The former kings and queens of Egypt are a favorite subject for TV-viewers, and this year Queen Nazly, wife of King Fouad and mother of King Farouq, is being portrayed by Nadia al-Gendy in Maleka Fi al-Manfa (Queen in Exile).
Al-Gendy is not the only queen on this year’s screen. Syrian actress Solaf Foakhrji stars in Cleopatra, playing the famous ancient Egyptian queen.
Finally, Syrian actor Abbas al-Noury is expected to star in Souqout al-Khelafa (The Downfall of the Caliphate). The series is centered around the twenty years before the fall of the Ottoman empire.
One Hit Wonders:
Some celebrities might try their luck with TV series when other venues, such as cinema or music, are not as profitable, and they usually go back to their regular business after the holy month. The number of celebrities turning into TV stars gets bigger each year.
Singer Mohamed Foad, although promising his fans a summer movie, is back to TV with his latest series Aghla Men Hayati (More Precious Than My Own Life), in which he plays a poor guy taking care of his four sisters and trying to balance between his own future and theirs.
Ahmed Eid, following a series of cinematic flops, discovers that he is a rich man after the death of his wealthy uncle in Azmet Sokar (Sugar Crisis), but has to share the money with his cousins.
Montaha al-Esheq (The Ultimate Love Story) is a romantic series starring Mostafa Amar, whose production company thought it was a good idea to narrate the whole series online, leaving no surprises, including the shocking ending, for Ramadan viewers.
Starlets are taking their chances during the Ramadan season as well. Ghada Abdul-Razik stars in Zahra Wa Azwagaha al-Khamsa (Zahra and Her Five Husbands), playing a strong woman who marries five different men in five different stages of her life. Hanan Tourk plays a young lawyer scared of the corrupted world around her in Al-Qotta al-Amiya (The Blind Cat).
Sitcoms:
For the seventh year in a row, Ashraf Abdul-Baqi stars in his famous sitcom Ragel We Sit Settat (One Man, Six Women), and Sherif Ramzy plays the lead again in his comedy show Sherif We Nos (Sherif and a Half). Other sitcoms from last year did not manage to return with a sequel, but new sitcoms are hoping for a better fate. Among them are Mosh Friends (Not Much of Friends) and Hala Sodki’s Goz Mama (My Mother’s Husband).
Highlights:
Two personal favorites for this month are expected to bring the laughs. Hen Sabri is trying her luck with Ayza Atgawez (I Want to Get Married), a series based on a successful book of the same name about a young woman hoping to find the right groom. Ahmed Mekki, after concentrating on his movie career for the last four years, is back to TV, playing three characters: a father and two twin sons in al-Keeber Awi.
