By Nick A. Zaino III Globe correspondent,Updated November 1, 2021
Loyal viewers of Ramy Youssef’s Hulu show “Ramy” might be forgiven for confusing Youssef with his character. The first two seasons of the show draw heavily from his stand-up comedy, even borrowing a few lines verbatim from his 2019 HBO special “Feelings.” Hulu Ramy is constantly struggling with his Muslim faith, his addiction to pornography, and the steady stream of bad advice his friends give him.
Viewers might even feel a little bad for him at the close of season two, seeing him destroy his relationships with his family and love interests, alone and living out of his truck with his dog. That gives Youssef a slight twinge of regret. “If I look back, I definitely would take a hard look at the character’s name, and maybe changing it,” he jokes.
Hulu Ramy is based on Youssef’s experiences but exists in an alternate universe where he can explore what could have been if he had made all the wrong decisions. “Sometimes people will make a show and they’ll make an idyllic version of themselves,” says Youssef, who brings his stand-up show to the Wilbur Theatre Thursday. “I chose to make a show and make the version of myself I’m afraid I could be capable of. In life, I think we give ourselves the benefit of making the right choice. A lot of the creative fun I have here is getting to make the wrong choice in this kind of safe space, that isn’t reality.”
Things are changing for both Ramys. Since the show debuted to critical and audience acclaim in 2019, Youssef has established himself as an actor, comedian, and creator. The week before his interview with the Globe, he had wrapped up 2½ months of shooting in Budapest for the upcoming film “Poor Things” alongside Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, and Mark Ruffalo. He’s developing a couple of television projects, including one for his longtime friend and “Ramy” costar Steve Way.
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