Ramy Youssef

And I think this show, you know, one of my favorite things about wanting to do an animated thing is, you know, I initially had this idea that it would be amazing to see an animated family that looked different when they were inside the house and when they were outside of the house, which I think is just. universally human. I mean, like yourself being like, oh, reminds me of my immigrant family.

But then, you know, really just people who are Italians from New Jersey being like, man, I really know that feeling. That's like, I feel like I got to be a different person. The second I step out my front door, the second I get on my front lawn and show the world something and hide something about who I am.

But then, you know, really just people who are Italians from New Jersey being like, man, I really know that feeling. That's like, I feel like I got to be a different person. The second I step out my front door, the second I get on my front lawn and show the world something and hide something about who I am.

Changing his clothing, changing his voice, you know, and then the family kind of does this like through the whole series. If they're, you know, leaving the house, you know, the daughter, her curly hair becomes straight immediately, you know, like she's got to straighten it.

Changing his clothing, changing his voice, you know, and then the family kind of does this like through the whole series. If they're, you know, leaving the house, you know, the daughter, her curly hair becomes straight immediately, you know, like she's got to straighten it.

And, you know, our dad's beard turns into a mustache immediately because, oh, my God, I can't be viewed as this, you know, fully bearded man. You know, Rumi immediately hides all his curly hair with a hat, which I always did as a kid and continue to do into adulthood out of habit. But it's like that that presentation happens. you know, that you're kind of picking up on.

And, you know, our dad's beard turns into a mustache immediately because, oh, my God, I can't be viewed as this, you know, fully bearded man. You know, Rumi immediately hides all his curly hair with a hat, which I always did as a kid and continue to do into adulthood out of habit. But it's like that that presentation happens. you know, that you're kind of picking up on.

It's a very human thing, and I think that's what excites me about the show. And, you know, if you ask me, like, really what the show is about, it's about people trying to figure out how to be themselves in the middle of all of that. It happens to be set in the early 2000s, but it is about right now in this really eerie way. It is about right now, and it's about people who are...

It's a very human thing, and I think that's what excites me about the show. And, you know, if you ask me, like, really what the show is about, it's about people trying to figure out how to be themselves in the middle of all of that. It happens to be set in the early 2000s, but it is about right now in this really eerie way. It is about right now, and it's about people who are...

you know, in a lot of ways also to dealing just with the financial burdens of capitalism and just, you know, man, like I got to stretch who I am in order to make a living. And I got to stretch who I am in order to kind of like move, move forward and move through and, and to get to do that in such a silly way with like music and jokes and, and crazy, you know, characters.

you know, in a lot of ways also to dealing just with the financial burdens of capitalism and just, you know, man, like I got to stretch who I am in order to make a living. And I got to stretch who I am in order to kind of like move, move forward and move through and, and to get to do that in such a silly way with like music and jokes and, and crazy, you know, characters.

There is big musical numbers.

There is big musical numbers.

It's kind of just how like any conversation works, right? I've always felt things kind of open up when you're willing to be vulnerable with people. And I think the act of just making it clear that you're putting yourself under the microscope is universal in and of itself because I think, you know,

It's kind of just how like any conversation works, right? I've always felt things kind of open up when you're willing to be vulnerable with people. And I think the act of just making it clear that you're putting yourself under the microscope is universal in and of itself because I think, you know,

I think people are really genuinely good and introspective and kind of walk around all day going, should I have said that? Should I have done that? Should I have worn this shirt? And I think that's what ends up making it a connection point.

I think people are really genuinely good and introspective and kind of walk around all day going, should I have said that? Should I have done that? Should I have worn this shirt? And I think that's what ends up making it a connection point.

Uh, I think I'm reacting to, uh, when we put out Rami on Hulu, I remember seeing a headline that was like Muslims, here's the show for you. And then like my heart sinking and going, no, no, this is not, we are 2 billion people. And like a lot of them are not going to like what I'm doing and they shouldn't because I am, you know, a guy from New Jersey who thinks this type of thing is funny.

Uh, I think I'm reacting to, uh, when we put out Rami on Hulu, I remember seeing a headline that was like Muslims, here's the show for you. And then like my heart sinking and going, no, no, this is not, we are 2 billion people. And like a lot of them are not going to like what I'm doing and they shouldn't because I am, you know, a guy from New Jersey who thinks this type of thing is funny.

And I think, you know, putting the representation warning for me was a really cathartic thing of just being like, listen, I, this is not funny.