With the rise of digital streaming platforms that regularly release viewership rankings for Ramadan dramas, discussions about the most-watched shows often dominate social media.
Speaking to Maha Mohamed in Al-Ahram Arabic, El-Shennawy pointed out that each Ramadan drama season sparks debates among stars over titles such as Number One, Highest-Paid, or Most Popular.
As discussions dominate social media, actors often present themselves as leaders in the artistic scene, often by highlighting viewership numbers or social media engagement.
While such figures can shape audience perception, he explained, they are not necessarily an accurate measure of an artist’s true value or standing, since numbers can vary across platforms or according to how they are presented.
He added that the proliferation of digital platforms and social media has made accessing reliable information more complex, as each party may rely on different statistics or indicators to claim prominence.
El-Shennawy also observed that titles like "Most Popular" are often used as marketing tools and do not always reflect an artist’s true success or impact.
El-Shennawy's choices
In his media appearances, the critic shared his views on several TV series screened this Ramadan.
In previous interviews with Al-Ahram, he also highlighted a few series that caught his attention.
He praised Sohab Al Ard (People of the Land), commending director Peter Mimi and scenarist Ammar Sabry for a drama that addresses serious themes while staying connected to viewers.
He also commended Ein Sehreya (Magic Eye), noting that lead actor Essam Omar displayed charisma and presence, confirming his potential to attract audiences, supported by a solid script from Hisham Hilal and direction by Al Sadeer Massoud.
He then discussed Etnein Gherna (Two Other People) for its strong dramatic structure and unconventional setting, while expressing skepticism about Ahmed Ramzy’s leading role in Fakhr El Delta (Pride of the Delta), noting that the performance felt forced and that casting a young actor with limited experience carried risks.
By contrast, he described Mostafa Gharib’s lead role in Heya Kemya (Is It Chemia?) as a more logical bet, describing the actor as a “true comedic star,” supported by a strong ensemble cast and his prior experience across 40 works in film, TV, radio, and theatre.
More recently, in an interview with ET Bil-Arabi, El-Shennawy elaborated on Heya Kemya, praising actors Diab, Michel Milad, and Mimi Gamal. He called Milad a “different and sincere comedian” and highlighted Gamal’s performance as a “major surprise,” showing that quality of performance matters more than labels or trending titles.
El-Shennawy emphasized to Al-Ahram that the true measure of a star’s success goes beyond salary or trending status, encompassing the quality of their work, its impact on audiences, and its ability to endure in memory.
According to him, competition among stars is natural and exists in all art forms, but the top of the artistic field is not limited to a single performer. Multiple stars can succeed simultaneously, each making their mark in their own way.
He stressed that while focusing on the quality of the artistic work grants an artist their real standing, titles and trends remain temporary phenomena that do not always reflect true artistic value.
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