Former ‘Ramy’ Staff Writer Says No Women Writers Were Asked Back for Season 2
Four new female writers were hired, according to a person with knowledge of production
Margeaux Sippell | September 18, 2019 @ 3:18 PM
Last Updated: September 26, 2019 @ 3:39 PM
A scene from Hulu's "Ramy." (Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu)
A former staff writer on the Hulu series “Ramy” said that she was “not asked to return” for the second season of the comedy-drama, and that “none of the other women on staff were asked back either.” But a person with knowledge of the production said the decision was part of a restructuring of the writers’ room unrelated to gender, and that the show hired four female writers for its second season.
“I was not asked to return for the 2nd season on a show that had a critically acclaimed first season. And none of the other women on staff were asked back either. Who did get asked back? The male office PA and a male EP w/no previous writing experience,” former staff writer Minhal Baig said in a Twitter thread Wednesday.
It is not uncommon for writers’ rooms on television series to undergo a complete restructuring after its first season.
Seven people received writing credits on Season 1 episodes of “Ramy.” The three men who received writing credits were the show’s co-creators. Of the four women who received writing credits, one was the showrunner.
The person with knowledge of the writer’s room told TheWrap that seven new staff writers were hired for Season 2 — four women and three men.
The “male EP” with “no previous writing experience” to whom Baig refers in her tweet is one of the show’s co-creators.
Reps for “Ramy” star and co-creator Ramy Youssef, Hulu, and A24 declined to comment.
“Ramy” is a comedy-drama series that follows fictional character Ramy Hassan, a first-generation Egyptian-American who is on a spiritual journey in his politically divided New Jersey neighborhood, caught between a Muslim community that thinks life is a moral test and a millennial generation that believes life has no consequences. The series is based on Youssef’s real-life experiences.
Though Baig did not call out Youssef by name in her tweets, “Ramy” was the only series on which Baig served as a staff writer in its first season. “Ramy” was renewed for a second season in May.
Baig is a screenwriter and director whose recent film “Hala” debuted in 2019. In the past, she’s served as a story editor on Netflix’s “Bojack Horseman,” and is currently serving as an executive story editor on the upcoming WarnerMedia series “Dune: The Sisterhood.”
Baig said that the experience of not being asked back to write for “Ramy” was “the most hurtful thing I’ve experienced professionally,” but added that she “wished the best of luck to the creator… I love the show and the work that we did.”
I was not asked to return for the 2nd season on a show that had a critically acclaimed first season. And none of the other women on staff were asked back either. Who did get asked back? The male office PA and a male EP w/no previous writing experience. #NotWorthLess
10 Stars Who Just Need an Emmy to EGOT, From Elton John to Stephen Sondheim (Photos)
The EGOT -- an acronym for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony -- is among the greatest and most elusive honors in entertainment. These stars are (or were) close to achieving it.
Henry Fonda, actor (1905-82) Grammy: Best Spoken Word Album, "Great Documents" (1977) Oscar: Best Actor, "On Golden Pond" (1981) Tony: Best Actor, "Mister Roberts" (1948); Best Actor, "Clarence Darrow" (1975)
Elton John, composer and musician (1947-) Grammy: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group, "That's What Friends Are For" (1986); Best Instrumental Composition, "Basque" (1991); Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (1994); Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, "Candle in the Wind" (1997); Best Show Album, "Aida" (2000) Oscar: Best Original Son, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from "The Lion King" (1994) Tony: Best Score, "Aida" (2000)
Oscar Hammerstein II, lyricist and producer (1895-1960) Grammy: Best Original Cast Album, "The Sound of Music" (1960) Oscar: Best Original Song, "The Last Time I Saw Paris" from "Lady Be Good" (1941); "It Might As Well Be Spring" from "State Fair" (1945) Tony: Three awards for "South Pacific" (1950); Best Musical, "The King and I" (1952); Best Musical, "The Sound of Music" (1960)
Stephen Sondheim, composer and lyricist (1930-) Grammy: Best Show Album, "Company" (1970); Best Show Album, "A Little Night Music" (1973); Song of the Year, "Send in the Clowns" (1975); Best Show Album, "Sweeney Todd" (1979); Best Show Album, "Sunday in the Park With George" (1984); Best Cast Show Album, "Into the Woods" (1988); Best Show Album, "Passion" (1994); Oscar: Best Original Song, "Sooner Or Later (I Always Get My Man)" from "Dick Tracy" (1990) Tony: Best Musical, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," (1963); Best Score and Best Lyrics, "Company" (1971); Best Score, "Follies" (1972); Best Score, "A Little Night Music" (1973); Best Score, "Sweeney Todd" (1979); Best Score, "Into the Woods" (1988); Best Score, "Passion" (1994)
Alan Jay Lerner, lyricist and writer (1918-86) Grammy: Best Original Cast Album, "On a Clear Day" (1965) Oscar: Best Original Screenplay, "An American in Paris" (1951); Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Song, "Gigi" (1958) Tony: Best Musical, "My Fair Lady" (1957); Best Original Score, "Gigi" (1974)
Frank Loesser, composer (1910-69) Grammy: Best Cast Album, "How to Succeed..." (1961) Oscar: Best Song, "Baby, It's Cold Outside" from "Neptune's Daughter" (1949) Tony: Best Musical, "Guys and Dolls" (1951); Best Musical, "How to Succeed..." (1962)
Alan Menken, composer (1949-) Grammy: Best Recording for Children and Song for TV or Film, "The Little Mermaid" (1990); Best Recording for Children, Song for TV or Film, Instrumental for TV or Film, "Beauty and the Beast" (1992); Song of the Year, "A Whole New World," Best Recording for Children, Song for TV or Film, Instrumental for TV or Film, "Aladdin" (1993); Best Song for TV or Film, "Colors of the Wind" (1995); Best Song for Visual Medium, "I See the Light" (2011) Oscar: Best Score and Song, "The Little Mermaid" (1989); Best Score and Song, "Beauty and the Beast" (1991); Best Score and Song, "Aladdin" (1992); Best Score and Song, "Pocahontas" (1995) Tony: Best Score, "Newsies" (2012)
Jule Styne, composer and songwriter (1905-94) Grammy: Best Cast Album, "Funny Girl" (1964) Oscar: Best Song, "Three Coins in the Fountain" (1954) Tony: Best Musical and Best Score, "Hallelujah Baby" (1968)
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, composers (both 1985 - ) Grammy: Best Musical Theater Album, "Dear Evan Hansen" (2018) Oscar: Best Original Song, "La La Land" (2017) Tony: Best Original Score, "Dear Evan Hansen" (2017)
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A select group of entertainers can round out their trophy cases with a competitive win from the Television Academy
The EGOT -- an acronym for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony -- is among the greatest and most elusive honors in entertainment. These stars are (or were) close to achieving it.
