Jillian Schwedler

Dictator House: Season One

[When absurdity reigns and analysis is futile . . . satire.] A doorbell rings. Voices are heard off camera. Tunisia’s Zine El-Abdine Ben Ali hustles to the door. In front of him, standing in the rain, is Hosni Mubarak. The former Egyptian leader has shoe polish dripping down his forehead from his terrible jet-black dye job. A gym bag is tucked under his arm. Relief comes over his face as the two men hug. He is among friends – or is he? Cue a Big Brother-esque camera sweep ...