The all-encompassing circus of Ramadan TV is right around the corner -- cairolive.com tries to get in the right frame of mind
by Tarek Atia
(cairolive.com, November 15, 2001)
Who has the time to find out what's going to show this Ramadan on TV? Pre-occupied by everything else (i.e. war, the economy, etc), it's hard to concentrate -- as you could in previous years -- on the fact that Ramadan is right around the corner, about to begin.
But the all-encompassing circus Ramadan TV has become is bound to catch on once the month begins. Already, the papers are filled with both critiques and acclaims of what's to come. Al-Wafd headlined a recent story, "Repetitive stars... and those we're used to have gone missing" -- seemingly a contradiction, but also making sense at the same time, when you consider that there are tons of dramas, talks shows, game shows, and whatnot, featuring any combination of stars.
Nile Variety is providing 30 ways to waste away those few hours before sunset -- this
Ramadan the channel will show a different comedy film every day at two pm, as part of a series including the thirty best comedy films of all time, and featuring a grand total of 300 Egyptian comic stars. Al-Wafd calls "Shabab Online" -- a new show set to air on Egyptian TV every night during Ramadan -- Egypt's answer to the popular US sitcom Friends. The 15 minute episodes about a private telecom company's young staff sound potentially interesting . Channel 2's headliner show looks to be A'ilat Al-Hagg Metwalli, starring Nour El-Sherif. The soap opera about a much-loved fabric merchant -- who has four wives -- should reconfirm El-Sherif's reputation as Ramadan's drama king.
Egyptian drama is the king of the satellite market, and in the lead-up to Ramadan we see the usual crop of news items about the rights to LE50 million worth of broadcasting being sold to Arab satellite channels for Ramadan. Some 20 shows, reported Al-Ahram, comprising over 600 hours of TV were involved in the deal.
Sales of television sets also take on a strong prominence in Ramadan. With TV the focus of many household and commercial evenings during the month, the papers are packed with ads for new TVs -- the focus this year being superior sound quality. Toshiba boasts "Digital Sound" while Goldi is calling itself "BoomBastic". That word is actually splashed across a full-pager on the back of Akhbar Al-Youm.
For those who do manage to get out of the house, and away from the tube, a cultural bonanza is to be had at some 50 venues across the country. The Ministry of Culture programs taking place in cultural centers and historic houses have become a Ramadan staple. Those who venture out will be treated to 65 musical, theatrical and folkloric troupes putting on 1200 performances throughout the month.
