Prime Video shares first look at Ramy Youssef's absurd post-9/11 satire

You can count on Ramy Youssef for cultural commentary that’s as poignant and funny as it is sardonic. The comedian and Ramy creator is back with a new adult animated series called #1 Happy Family USA, produced in association with A24, Prime Video, and his own Cairo Cowboy banner. 

The show will follow the “maniacally upbeat Husseins – the most patriotic, most peaceful, and most definitely-not-suspicious Muslim family in post-9/11 ‘Amreeka.'” The official synopsis continues: “With satire and absurdity, it redefines finding humor in hardship as they navigate the early 2000s under the watchful eyes of their terrified neighbors.” Youssef himself will voice one of the characters, along with Alia Shawkat, Mandy Moore, Chris Redd, Salma Hindy, Randa Jarrar, Akaash Singh, and Whitmer Thomas.

Despite the fact that the eight-episode series is set over two decades ago, many of the issues explored in #1 Happy Family USA are unfortunately still issues today. “This show could only be animated. If you tried to do it another way, it would just be incredibly offensive,” Youssef told Collider of the series. He also reflected that the 2001-specific subject matter felt like a “time capsule” when he started working on it in 2020, but “by the time we’re putting it out in 2025, it feels like right now. That heightened surveillance state, the fear of being perceived as a threat—it never really went away. It just changed shape.” While all of that is quite bleak, Youssef hopes the show helps Muslim kids currently facing similar circumstances today feel seen. “I think if this show had existed when I was a kid, I would’ve felt way less alone,” he said. “It probably would’ve been too inappropriate for me, but I would’ve watched it anyway. Just seeing someone call out the absurdity of what was being said about us—it would’ve meant so much.”

#1 Happy Family USA premieres April 17 on Prime Video. Check out some first look images below: