Reprinted from Al Hayat, 7 November, 2004, p.21, with permission. This year's Ramadan brings in its train, as usual, hundreds of serialized dramas, talk shows, and other standard format programs of the sort that increase year after year as a result of the burgeoning number of Arab satellite channels. What is …

"We want to go out of l999 with a smile, so we will celebrate comedy and open with a tribute to comedians throughout the 20th century at the 23rd Cairo International Film Festival, to be held from Nov. 24-Dec. 7," said Hussein Fahmy, president of Cairo Fest, speaking from the …