Egyptian Satirist Bassem Youssef to Host Int'l Emmy Awards

Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef has been chosen to host the 2015 International Emmy Awards Gala in New York in November.

Youssef became one of the Arab world's most famous TV personalities as host of the groundbreaking TV political satire show "Al-Bernameg ("The Program"). He canceled the show last year after former army chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi was elected president.

Bruce L. Paisner, head of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, says in a statement Monday that Youssef "has been dubbed the Jon Stewart of the Arab world but in fact his talent has no borders."

Youssef is a resident fellow this spring at the Harvard Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. He says that as the first International Emmys host from the Middle East, he hopes to spotlight "the vibrant entertainment industry" in his region.