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SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014 OSN marks premiere of 4th season of Hareem Al-Sultan Theatrical performances planned across ME

A Sotheby’s employee looks at “Blau” 1988, by artist Gerhard Richter, during a photo call in central London yesterday. — AFP Colbert hosting ‘Late Show’ raises questions, hope ith the announcement that will be the in 2005, and for eight years before that as a bloviating “corre- new host of CBS’ “Late Show,” his fans likely feel a clash spondent” on the Stewart-hosted “Daily Show.” Wof emotions: Happiness that their hero has landed a Through it all, he stays in character - the “Stephen Colbert” sweet promotion. Regret that he’s leaving his Central character - with only a twinkle in his eye to let his audience know post. Uncertainty over who the Stephen Colbert hosting “Late HE knows that most of what he utters is purposely dimwitted or Show” will be. For nine years on “,” he has wrong. He wrings larger meaning from nearly everything he does, reigned as the founding father of Colbert Nation. He has won four illuminating it with self-contained mockery. For nearly two Emmys, two and a stake in the national conver- decades, he has not only sustained but fortified this identity, giv- sation. He hasn’t just satirized politics and culture, he has rolled ing it a full-bodied life of its own. It’s quite an act. SN, the region’s leading pay-TV network, is up his sleeves to organize a “Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear” Now he’s decided to move on. ( said he’ll end launching the premiere of the fourth season of on Washington’s with his Comedy Central colleague “The Colbert Report” in eight months.) Stewart voiced congratula- the critically-acclaimed and highly-anticipated , and to create a super PAC to draw attention to the tions on Thursday’s “”: “The exciting today is, O tyranny of money on elections. I no longer need a cable subscription for the privilege of watching Turkish series, Hareem Al-Sultan, with a series of the- And he has done it all behind a mask - the mask of “Stephen Stephen Colbert.” In a statement, Letterman endorsed him: “I’m atrical performances in malls in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Colbert,” a pompous, clueless conservative who, to his very excited for him, and I’m flattered that CBS chose him. I also Kuwait. happen to know they wanted another guy with glasses.” Audiences and fans of Sultan Suleiman and his his- Then on his show, Colbert reciprocated, saying Letterman “has torical reign of the Ottoman Empire can catch exclusive influenced every host who came after him, and even a few who performances embodying the essence of Hareem Al- came before him - he’s THAT good. “And I gotta tell you,” Colbert Sultan, from April 10 to 12, at Mirdif City Centre Dubai; added, drawing cheers and applause, “I do not envy whoever and from April 17 to 19, at Marina Mall Abu Dhabi, and they try to put in that chair.” Marina Mall Kuwait. The performances will run from 5 But Colbert Nation can be pardoned for greeting the news pm to 10 pm. with a measure of sadness. The Comedy Central show that Billed to personify the rise and fall of the Ottoman Colbert masterminded is not only unique among current TV fare, Empire, the performances will feature a musical drama- but is likely unique in television history. In exchange, he is casting tisation, where the actors will re-enact popular scenes his lot with a 60-year-old desk-and-couch genre whose conven- from the series, drawing visitors to tune into Season 4 tions its hosts defy at their peril. (Arguably the last attempt to rev- of the Arab world’s most popular show, which can be olutionize the late-night-talk hour was “The Wilton North Report” seen exclusively on OSN Ya Hala HD. As the first loca- on Fox in 1987, which was absolutely terrible and flared out in tion in the region to host the Hareem Al-Sultan theatri- less than a month). cal performance, visitors to Mirdif City Centre in Dubai Some will carp that Colbert is yet another white male with a will also have the opportunity to view an exhibit show- hosting job. And what about his age? Depending on when he signs on, he will be 50 or 51 (in other words, outside the “demo”). casing memorabilia, as well as manuscripts of famous poems from the storyline. Following the performance In this photo, Stephen Colbert (left) host of the ‘Colbert Meanwhile, his main rivals will still be in the bloom of youth: in Mirdif City Centre visitors can also walk away a com- Report’ on the Comedy Central Network, joins host David NBC’s “Tonight Show” host, Jimmy Fallon, will be 40 or 41; the Letterman on the set of the ‘Late Show with David host of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” will be 47 or 48. plimentary souvenir from the show and a chance to Letterman,’ in . — AP Besides, what political baggage will Colbert bring to CBS, even meet the performers. as he ditches his “Stephen Colbert” role? On Tuesday, Over the past three seasons, Hareem Al-Sultan nar- admirers, seems a funhouse version of a Fox News Channel star. host Bill O’Reilly (more than anyone the inspiration for “Stephen rated the story of his life, his family, wives and the con- He will leave “Stephen Colbert” behind when he heads to CBS Colbert”) tore into Colbert, branding him “one of the biggest flict he faces for the throne against other dominant sometime in 2015, taking over for the retiring mouthpieces for the progressive movement, ... playing exclusive- forces. This season, audiences will come face-to-face (who has not yet specified an exit date). But in lieu of “Stephen ly to other believers.” And, just hours after Colbert was named the with the manipulations of Hiam, the Sultan’s wife, Colbert,” who will Colbert offer up to his audience instead? Who new “Late Show” host, conservative commentator Rush whose selfish machinations drive her to question the is behind the “Stephen Colbert” mask? Limbaugh was growling that “CBS has just declared war on the loyalty of the crown Prince Mustafa, the Sultan’s son Even Colbert isn’t sure - or, if he is, he declines to say. “I won’t heartland of .” and rightful heir to throne, in favor of her own son. She be doing the new show in character,” explained Colbert in a state- “No longer is comedy going to be a covert assault on tradition- plants in the Sultan’s mind that Prince Mustafa is plot- ment on Thursday. “So we’ll all get to find out how much of him al American values (and) conservatives,” he went on. “Now it’s just ting to kill him to take over power. In a heart-wrench- was me.” As a performer who began with the Second City improv wide out in the open.” That may be a premature assessment. ing twist, we watch as Sultan Suleiman, overcome with troupe, then starred in the brilliant sketch comedy series “” O’Reilly may place Colbert in the ranks of “ideological fanatics.” grief, rethinks the future of the leadership of the and the screwball spoof “,” Colbert is hardly But ideology has never been at home on major late-night talk Ottoman Empire. Audiences can tune into the season a one-trick pony. But his genius has been largely exhibited, and shows, which traditionally shoot for reassurance and diversion. premiere of Hareem Al-Sultan Season 4 on April 21, his reputation sealed, through the “Stephen Colbert” persona he What do such constraints mean for Colbert, and for viewers who 2014, at 21:00 KSA, only on OSN Ya Hala HD. has played to perfection on “The Colbert Report” since its debut dote on what he does as “Stephen Colbert”? — AP