Albasheer Show
البشير شو
GenreComedy, news satire, talk show
Created byAhmed Albasheer
Written byAhmed Albasheer
Directed byAndrée
(earlier)
Presented byAhmad Albasheer
StarringThaer Shuaib
Laith Jarala
Country of originIraq
Original languageArabic
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes142
Production
Executive producersAl-Hamza Mohammed
Othman Albasheer
ProducerOthman Albasheer
Production locationUSA
Running time35–55 minutes
Original release
NetworkAl-Shahid Al-Mustaqil
Al-Sumaria
NRT Arabia
DW Arabia
ReleaseAugust 30, 2014 (2014-08-30) 
present

Albasheer Show (Arabic: البشير شو) is an Iraqi satirical news programme, created and hosted by Ahmed Albasheer. It currently airs weekly on DW's Arabic language channel, with episodes also posted onto YouTube.[1] The show first premiered on 30 August 2014 and until 2017 aired intermittently on various Iraqi television channels. Pressure from the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission has meant that the show is no longer broadcast in Iraq, although citizens are able to access the programme online.[2] By 2015 the show had a recorded audience of 19 million, over half of Iraq's total population, and the show and its host has been called among the most influential in the country, with it being cited as playing a major role in the 2019-2021 Iraqi protests.

Development and content

Albasheer was born in Ramadi, Iraq, and worked for eight years as a political commentator on Iraq's state-owned television channels. In 2011, after being injured in a suicide bombing in which his friend was killed, Albasheer left Iraq and moved to Amman, Jordan, where he set up his own production company, Lagash, in 2012.[3]

The show has been likened to other satirical news programmes including The Daily Show in the United States and Al Bernameg in Egypt. Albasheer Show draws its satire from new stories, political figures, and media organisations, and often criticises the ongoing issues of corruption, sectarianism, extremism and terrorism in Iraq. Typical episodes open with a monologue from Albasheer, followed by exchanges between him and one or more correspondents, who adopt absurd or exaggerated takes on current events, against Albasheer's straight man persona. The final segment is often devoted to an interview with a prominent personality; this has included actors, musicians, writers, and political figures.

Albasheer, whose father and brother were killed during the Iraq War, and who was himself kidnapped and tortured in 2005, has stated his experiences heavily influenced the shape and content of the show, commenting "instead of getting revenge with a weapon, I try to fix the situation so nobody has to go through the things I went through. Instead of turning violent... I see this as the best way to respond to all the killing".[4]

List of episodes

Season 1

No.TitleNative titleOriginal air dateGuest(s)
1Sectarian Chickenدجاج طائفيAugust 30, 2014N/A
2Presidential Circumsitionتطهير رئاسيSeptember 5, 2014N/A
3TallitالطيلسانSeptember 29, 2014N/A
4Fake Protestsمظاهرات وهميةOctober 7, 2014N/A
5Indonesian Eidالعيد الاندنوسيOctober 11, 2014N/A
6How To Fight ISISكيف نحارب داعشOctober 17, 2014N/A
7Know Your Ministersتعرف على وزراءكOctober 24, 2014N/A
8The President's Alertانذار الرئيسNovember 7, 2014N/A
9KhreetiniousخريطينيوسNovember 14, 2014N/A
10ToleranceالتسامحNovember 21, 2014N/A
11Us And The Emiratesنحن والاماراتNovember 28, 2014N/A
12Alien Invasionالغزو الفضائيDecember 5, 2014N/A
13We Are The Ones Who Nobody Can Touch Usاحنا المحد يندك بيناDecember 15, 2014N/A
14The Airplane Fliesالطيارة تطيرDecember 19, 2014N/A
15Suspicious Pubertyمراهقة مريبةDecember 22, 2014N/A
16ConspiraciesمؤامراتDecember 26, 2014N/A
17PredictionsتنبؤاتDecember 29, 2014N/A
18Predictions 2تنبؤات 2January 3, 2015Akhlad Raouf, Hassan Al-Falluji (UTN1)
19Top 3توب 3January 5, 2015N/A
20Dangerous Discoveriesاكتشافات خطيرةJanuary 9, 2015N/A
21Their SignsابراجهمJanuary 13, 2015N/A
22Young Men For Saleشباب للبيعJanuary 16, 2015N/A
23Haibat Haibeetهيباط هيبيطJanuary 19, 2015N/A
24A Stick In The Envier's Eyeالحسود بعينه عودJanuary 23, 2015N/A
25The Budget's Solutionsحلول الموازنةJanuary 27, 2015N/A
26Budget / Displacedالموازنة / النازحينFebruary 1, 2015N/A

Season 1.5 (Season 2)

No.TitleNative titleOriginal air dateGuest(s)
1Extortionater of Themيا باهضهمJune 10, 2015Mark Critch
2Liberation of Mosulتحرير الموصلJune 20, 2015Khudhair Hadi
3Episode 3الحلقة 3October 11, 2015Curtis Cook
4Episode 4الحلقة 4October 20, 2015N/A
5Our LeadersقادتناJanuary 15, 2016Haider Al-Mulla

Season 3.2 (Season 3)

No.TitleNative titleOriginal air dateGuest(s)
1TechnocratتكنوقراطApril 15, 2016Ali Al-Essawi
2Mu'tasamadaمعتصماداApril 22, 2016N/A
3Silencing The Mouthsتكميم الافواهApril 29, 2016N/A
4The Extorted Parliamentالبرلمان المغتصبMay 6, 2016Maamoun Al-Nattah
5Media By The Ammo Sabah Wayالاعلام على طريقة عمو صباحMay 13, 2016N/A
6What's The Topicشنو الموضوعMay 20, 2016Aliya Nussayyif
7Cut The Soundاكطع الصوتMay 27, 2016N/A
8MithreediousمثريديوسJune 3, 2016N/A
9MetaphysicsميتافيزيقيةJune 10, 2016Shujaa Al-Khafaji
10Th Red Wallالحائط الاحمرJune 24, 2016Eva Kaili
11Us And Bahrainاحنة والبحرينJuly 1, 2016N/A
12Karrada And The Detergent Detectorالكرادة وكاشف الزاهيJuly 8, 2016Salim al-Jabouri
13K-9 Took The Blameكي ناين شال القضيةJuly 15, 2016N/A
14The Legendary Hotnessالحر الاسطوريJuly 22, 2016N/A
15Massoum Where Is The Halqoomمعصوم وين الحلقومJuly 29, 2016Fareed Lafta
16Abu Al-Kubbaابو الكبةAugust 5, 2016N/A
17Repentance Onlyتوبة الا نصوحةAugust 12, 2016N/A
18Reputation And Oilسمعة و نفطAugust 19, 2016N/A
19Five Clinksخمسة كلينكسAugust 27, 2016N/A
20Hoshiar Parkهوشيار باركSeptember 2, 2016N/A
21Houthis Is Hereالحوثيين يمناSeptember 9, 2016Claudia Roth
22Al Maliki Showالمالكي شوSeptember 16, 2016N/A
23Albasheer Show Emmyايمي البشير شوSeptember 23, 2016N/A
24Affectionate Fatherالاب الحنونSeptember 30, 2016Zainab Salbi
25The Owner Of The Long Tunnelصاحب النفق الطويلOctober 7, 2016N/A
26Take That, It's The Last Oneهاك الاخيرةOctober 14, 2016N/A
27Best Clips Of Season Threeافضل مقاطع موسم 3.2October 21, 2016N/A
28From Inside Albasheer Showمن داخل البشير شوOctober 28, 2016N/A

Season 4

No.TitleNative titleOriginal air dateGuest(s)
1The Mission Is Not Impossibleالمهمة مو مستحيلةApril 21, 2017Dr. Sabah Al-Tameemi
2Umm Ahmed Is Our Causeام احمد قضيتناApril 28, 2017Awad Al-Awadi
3Tomato Commissionمفوضية الطماطةMay 5, 2017N/A
4The Land Is Soldمبيوعة الكاعMay 12, 2017Ibrahim Al-Effendi
5The Iraqi Experienceالتجربة العراقيةMay 19, 2017N/A
6Angels And Clansملائكة و عشائرMay 26, 2017N/A
7Number Seven Is The Reasonرقم سبعة السببJuly 7, 2017N/A
8The Hidden Shieldالدرع الخفيJune 2, 2017Raad And Methak
9Ramadan Competitionsمسابقات رمضانJune 9, 2017Joe Raad
10Detachable Voidانفصال باطلJune 16, 2017N/A
11The Poorest Party On The Planetافقر حزب بالكرة الارضيةJune 23, 2017N/A
12Hot Clipsمقاطع ساخنةJuly 14, 2017Larry Charles
13The Shaded Trainالقطار المظللJuly 21, 2017Sarwa Abdel Wahed
14The Sad Weekالاسبوع الحزينJuly 28, 2017N/A
15Under The Razorتحت موس الحلاقAugust 4, 2017Maysoon Al-Damluji
16Wak Iqbalوك اقبالAugust 11, 2017Joseph Saliwa
17Anbar And Basraالانبار و البصرةAugust 18, 2017N/A
18The RiceالتمنAugust 25, 2017Rehab Al-Abouda and Razan Sheikh Delir
19BusesالباصاتSeptember 8, 2017N/A
20Albasheer Show Emmy 2ايمي البشير شو 2September 15, 2017N/A
21Kurdistan Referendumاستفتاء كردستانSeptember 22, 2017N/A
22The Big Plotالمؤامرة الكبرىSeptember 29, 2017N/A
23Religious Or Civil Partiesالاحزاب الدينية او المدنيةOctober 6, 2017Mohamed Masoud Jomaa
24Friday The 13thالجمعة الـ13October 13, 2017N/A
25The Time That We Messed Itزمان لعبنا بهOctober 20, 2017Hussam Al-Rassam
26Our StagesمراحلناOctober 27, 2017N/A
27The Most Beautiful Clips Of The Seasonأجمل مقاطع الموسم 4November 3, 2017N/A

Season 5

No.TitleNative titleOriginal air dateGuest(s)
1Am Back For ThemراجعلهمMarch 30, 2018N/A
2Electoral Circumcisionطهور انتخابيApril 6, 2018N/A
3ServiceخدمةApril 13, 2018Falah Almashal
4We Can Do Thisاحنا كدهاApril 20, 2018Laith Aldilamy
5What Have You Done To Us ?شسويتولناApril 27, 2018Dr.Ali Alrufaie
6The Person That's Been Chosen Doesn't Chosen Againالمجرب لا يجربMay 4, 2018Hamad Al-Mosawi
7That's EnoughكافيMay 11, 2018Shorouq Alabaiji
8Tuk Tukتك تكMay 18, 2018N/A
9GloatingشماتةMay 25, 2018N/A
10CookطبخةJune 1, 2018Ali Almansory
11Iraq To Where ?العراق الى اينJune 29, 2018N/A
12The Clean Episodeالحلقة النظيفةJuly 6, 2018N/A
13HeatحرارةJuly 13, 2018N/A
14Country Demonstrationsمظاهرات وطنJuly 20, 2018N/A
15How We Demonstration ?كيف نتظاهرJuly 27, 2018N/A
16Corrupt Ministryوزارة مضروبةAugust 3, 2018N/A
17The Miracle Childالطفل المعجزةAugust 10, 2018Husam Alhaj
18We And Iranاحنا و ايرانAugust 17, 2018N/A
19Wonders And Marvelsعجائب و غرائبAugust 24, 2018Bassem Khashan and Fares Haram
20ContaminationتلوثAugust 31, 2018Mohamad Alfaras
21Ferris Wheelدولاب الهواءSeptember 7, 2018N/A
22Soleimani And McGurkسليماني و ماكغوركSeptember 14, 2018N/A
23The Young Presidentالشاب الرئيسSeptember 21, 2018N/A
24My ResignationاستقالتيSeptember 28, 2018N/A
25WiiiiiوييييييOctober 5, 2018N/A
26The Last Meetingاللقاء الاخيرOctober 12, 2018N/A
27Everything Behind The Sceneالكواليس كالوس كالوسOctober 19, 2018N/A
28The Season Clipsمقاطع الموسمOctober 26, 2018N/A

Season 6

No.TitleNative titleOriginal air dateGuest(s)
1The RepublicالجمهوريةJuly 19, 2019N/A
2PunishmentsالعقوباتJuly 26, 2019N/A
3Government Of WhatsAppحكومة الواتسابAugust 2, 2019N/A
4The DreamsالاحلامAugust 9, 2019N/A
5The CourtالمحكمةAugust 16, 2019N/A
6AchievementsالإنجازاتAugust 30, 2019Zahra Habib Ben Mime
7The GuessingالحزورةSeptember 6, 2019N/A
8CrimesجرائمSeptember 13, 2019N/A
9The Speed Eraعصر السرعةSeptember 20, 2019N/A
10Iraq Is Risingالعراق ينتفضOctober 4, 2019N/A
11DictatorshipالدكتاتوريةOctober 11, 2019N/A
12The Arguments Of Adelتركيعات دلدلOctober 18, 2019N/A
13The Final Reportالتقرير النهائيOctober 25, 2019N/A
14awakening of peopleصحوة شعبNovember 1, 2019N/A
15Scapegoatكبش الفداءNovember 8, 2019N/A
16Not That Muchمو هلثوخونNovember 15, 2019Olena Sotnyk
17Pistachio Governmentحكومة فستقNovember 22, 2019N/A
18We Are Where We Areنحن حيث نحنDecember 6, 2019N/A
19Punishments 2العقوبات الجزء الثانيDecember 13, 2019N/A
20Treasury Demonstrationsمظاهرات الخزانةDecember 20, 2019N/A
21The Cassettee Revolutionثورة الكاسيتDecember 27, 2019N/A
22We annoyed themازعجناهمJanuary 3, 2020N/A
23The Great Generationجيل الطيبينJanuary 10, 2020Bilal Wahab
24Duldul and Chinaدلدل والصينJanuary 17, 2020N/A
25Psychological Problemsمشاكل نفسيةJanuary 24, 2020Joey Hood
26Hear and Obedienceسمعاً و طاعةJanuary 31, 2020N/A
27The Republic Scenesمشاهد الجمهوريةFebruary 7, 2020N/A
28Behind The Scenesكواليس الجمهوريةFebruary 14, 2020N/A

Critical reception

The popularity of Albasheer Show amongst Iraqi audiences has been attributed to both Albasheer's comedy, which includes utilising dark sarcasm, local stereotyping and sexual innuendos, alongside his relatability due to public recognition of losses he experienced, like many Iraqi citizens, during the Iraq War.[5] Albasheer's outspoken nature, and in particular his holding the Iraqi government to account, has been cited as empowering many Iraqis to speak out in protest, and he and the show have been cited as major influences over ongoing protests in Iraq.[6][7]

The show's content has led to threats being made to Albasheer, who no longer lives in Iraq. One consistent target for mockery on the show has been the Islamic State, which controlled the city of Mosul between 2014 and 2017, who made several death threats against Albasheer as a result.[8] Attempts have also been made by various groups to ban the broadcast of the show; the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission successfully stopped Iraqi television channels from broadcasting the show, while in Albasheer's hometown of Ramadi, the show was criticised as being an "apostate" programme, meaning anyone found watching it could be flogged.[9]

The government of Iraq has been critical of the content of Albasheer Show and launched a criminal prosecution against Albasheer for producing the programme, which led to him being imprisoned for four days and delaying the premiere of the third season.[10] While the show continues to be broadcast into Iraq, multiple attempts have been made to attempt to block the programme, although more recently some Iraqi politicians have appeared as guests on the programme.

References

  1. "عربية DW قريبا: "البشير شو" على" (in Arabic). Deutsche Welle. 7 April 2016.
  2. هيئة الاعلام والاتصالات تقرر ايقاف برنامج البشير شو (in Arabic). Alsumaria. 25 April 2016.
  3. Rosenberg, Tina (2019-12-26). "Opinion | 'You Are Killing Us? We Will Make You a Joke.' Meet Ahmed Albasheer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  4. "Baghdad Burlesque?". 6 October 2017.
  5. Kalian, Yousif (2017-10-06). "Baghdad Burlesque?". The American Interest. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  6. Rosenberg, Tina (2019-12-26). "Opinion | 'You Are Killing Us? We Will Make You a Joke.' Meet Ahmed Albasheer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  7. Sky, Emma (11 October 2019). "The enemies at home". New Statesman. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  8. "Risking one's life for a laugh". www.tea-after-twelve.com (in German). Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  9. Kalian, Yousif (2017-10-06). "Baghdad Burlesque?". The American Interest. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  10. Kalian, Yousif (2017-10-06). "Baghdad Burlesque?". The American Interest. Retrieved 2020-05-15.
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