EGYPT'S distinct comedy made an appearance during the recent protests in Tahrir Square calling for the end of Hosni Mubarak's rule and political reform. Egyptian people are renowned for their sense of humor and nowhere was this more apparent than the protester who carried around a sign reading “Please leave. I want to get married” or the young woman whose placard read “If you decide to leave the country, don't worry, I'll call and ask about you”. One of the most popular cases that went viral on the Internet was about the Egyptian man who hadn't had a haircut for three months and whose sign read: “Can you leave your position please? I want to get a haircut and enjoy a shower.” Children also participated whole-heartedly in poking fun at the establishment. “May I know what kind of glue you're using to stick to your president's chair?” enquired one young protester's sign in Tahrir Square. Many used the opportunity to personalize their political statement. One man's sign – aimed at Hosni Mubarak – read: “My wife is going to give birth after two days and my son has said to me that he doesn't want to see your face”. Another man held up a dry, stale piece of bread to emphasize his poverty, which he blamed on the Mubarak regime. At the same time, a significant number of Egypt's celebrities – including prominent comedians – also joined protesters in the square, to express their anger at the regime. Since the advent of TV in the Arab world, Egyptians TV shows and movies have enthralled audiences across the region. By the end of the 19th century, Egyptians started producing movies and comedy series. Popular comedy actors started to spread the genre of comedy to the rest of the Arab world. These included Najeeb Al-Rayhani Ismaeel Yassen, Adel Imam, Foad Al-Muhandis, Saeed Saleh, Younis Shalabi, Mohammad Sobhi, Sameer Ghanem, George Saidhim, Ahmed Soad Younis, Soad Naser, Sohair Al-Babli, Shoykar and Hala Fakher. Egypt's new wave of comedy, meanwhile, was being carried forward by Mohammed Hunaidy, Ahmed Helmi, Mohammad Sa'ad, Ala Wali Al-Deen and Hani Ramzy and Asharaf Abdulbaqi.
