For over 40 years, audiences have been accustomed to watching the "hidden camera" prank shows, eagerly anticipating them each year during Ramadan. These programs have become a key feature of the television broadcasts during this time.
اضافة اعلان
Fouad El-Mohandes: The First to Present Hidden Camera
What many don't know is that the late actor Fouad El-Mohandes was the first to present hidden camera prank shows. In the early 1980s, Egyptian television produced a program called "The Hidden Camera," which was aired on the second Egyptian channel. The show's concept involved Fouad El-Mohandes appearing in the studio, introducing the prank and providing a comedic opening, before the scene shifted to the streets, where actor Ismail Yousry would execute pranks on the public in shops, restaurants, and various locations.
Ibrahim Nasr Masters Prank Shows
Afterward, hidden camera prank shows saw a new development with the late actor Ibrahim Nasr taking over the hosting duties. While the program's name remained "The Hidden Camera," it differed from what Fouad El-Mohandes presented, as Ibrahim Nasr would carry out the pranks himself. He would disguise his identity and interact with the public, pulling light-hearted pranks on unsuspecting people.
"Edeeni Aqlak" Competes with Ibrahim Nasr
Around the same time Ibrahim Nasr was hosting "The Hidden Camera," another show emerged to compete with it in the prank genre, titled "Edeeni Aqlak" (Give Me Your Mind). The program, presented by actors Hussein Mamlook, Monir Makram, and Fathy Saad, was hugely successful. The late actor Talaat Zakaria also joined the show, which was later renamed "Ilhaqouna" (Help Us).
Hussein El-Imam Innovates the Prank Show Concept
In 2002, prank shows underwent an unprecedented evolution, with the late actor Hussein El-Imam taking on the task of innovating the concept. He introduced a new approach by focusing on celebrities and famous personalities, rather than ordinary members of the public. In 2002, Hussein El-Imam launched the show "Hussein Ala El-Hawa" (Hussein on the Air), and continued presenting it for several years. The show featured celebrities who would fall victim to pranks in the studio. Around the same time, actor Ashraf Abdel-Baqi also presented a prank show called "Maqlab Dot Com," which became one of the most popular prank shows during that period.
Ramy Gamal's Major Pranks
Prank shows have not only remained a staple in Ramadan television but have grown immensely in production and popularity, especially with the entry of actor Ramy Gamal into the field. Known for pranking his celebrity friends, Ramy Gamal began his series of pranks in 2011 with "Ramy's Heart of Lion" (Ramz Qalb Al-Asad). The show achieved massive success in Egypt and several Arab countries, and Ramy continued to deliver new seasons each year. His pranks have now become legendary, with the current show "Ramy's Elbow Egypt" airing as the 15th season of his pranks on MBC Egypt.
