Comedian MO Amer To Host the Next Season of QF’s Doha Debates Series

Acclaimed comedian and actor Mo Amer will serve as the host of the next season of Doha Debates’ flagship televised debate series, Doha Debates and its new production partner Film 45 announced today.

Filmed in Qatar’s Education City in front of a live studio audience, each episode of Doha Debates’ marquee program will feature a monologue, followed by solutions-focused discussions of timely events and global issues with celebrities and expert guests.

Amer continues to build off a stellar 2022 that saw the debut of his hit Netflix comedy, “Mo”—based on Amer’s own story as a Palestinian refugee in Houston—which has gained accolades for its portrayal of Arab-American life in America. The show was recently picked up for its second season. “Mo” was named one of The American Film Institute’s (AFI) top 10 television programs of 2022 and won a 2022 Gotham Award, while Amer is nominated for a 2023 Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor. He can also be seen alongside Dwayne Johnson in the DC superhero film “Black Adam” and his two stand-up specials on Netflix: “Mo Amer: The Vagabond” and “Mo Amer: Mohammed in Texas.”

Amer said: ​​“Doha Debates is proof that people with different points of view can have intelligent debates and work toward finding a consensus on the biggest problems we face today. I’m honored to serve as host for such an impactful show and hope to bring some humor to topics of change.”

To produce the new season of its marquee debate series, Doha Debates joins forces with Endeavor’s Film 45, the award-winning production company renowned for its non-scripted entertainment for film, TV, and digital platforms. Emmy® Award winner Katy Davis will serve as showrunner and Executive Producer. Davis is a veteran television executive with 20 years of experience creating and producing “The Oprah Winfrey Show”, the most successful show in the history of daytime television. Davis also created Oprah’s Angel Network, a charity that raised and distributed over USD $80 million. Most recently, she served as Executive Producer of “Nick Cannon” and, prior to that, as co-Executive Producer of “Red Table Talk” on Facebook Watch.

“Doha Debates is honored to work with Mo and an exceptional production team as we continue to address the world’s most pressing challenges through engaging content and lively debates,” said Amjad Atallah, Managing Director of Doha Debates. “Mo’s unique ability to authentically and honestly connect with people from all walks of life will enable us to reach new audiences around the globe. We’re especially pleased to host the series in Qatar Foundation’s Education City, a global center of learning and solutions-focused dialogue.”

Amjad Atallah, Jigar Mehta and Cornelis Jacobs will executive produce for Doha Debates.

Through live debates and town halls, podcasts, films, and educational content, Qatar Foundation’s Doha Debates empowers a new generation of leaders to bridge divides, find common ground, and work together to address the world’s biggest challenges. The organization’s programming and content is inspired by Majlis-style debates, which create a welcoming space for discussion of diverse views.