The popular Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef has signed a contract with the MBC Group and a new episode of his show will air on Friday, said a spokesman for the Dubai-based network. The private broadcaster CBC suspended Youssef’s show last fall after the season’s first episode. It was highly critical of the nationalist fervour gripping Egypt after the military removal of President Mohammed Morsi. Youssef is often compared to Jon Stewart for his scathing take on current events.
Her and Captain Phillips win at Writers Guild
Spike Jonze's Her and Billy Ray's Captain Phillips have earned top screenplay honours from the Writers Guild of America. Her, a futuristic exploration of a man's relationship with his computer, won the Best Original Screenplay prize, while the Somali pirate saga Captain Phillips won Best Adapted Screenplay. Sarah Polley's Stories We Tell won the documentary award. Among the guild's television winners were Breaking Bad and Veep. The Writers Guild Awards are Hollywood's final honours before the Oscars on March 2. – AP
Seth Meyers off SNL for new job
Seth Meyers has left Saturday Night Live, just weeks before he begins his new job as the host of Late Night. Meyers co-anchored Weekend Update on the NBC sketch-comedy series for eight seasons and was joined for his farewell newscast by SNL alumni Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Bill Hader and Fred Armisen. They told Meyers they had come to take him "to the other side". Meyers called his SNL tenure "the job I always wanted". He joined the cast in 2001. He'll take over at NBC's Late Night on February 24. The SNL head writer Colin Jost will replace Meyers at the Weekend Update anchor desk alongside Cecily Strong. He signs on March 1. – AP