Egyptian-American comedian Ronnie Khalil may be based in Hollywood, but he says the real glitz and glamour is in the Beirut McDonald’s.

How did you get into stand-up?
The first time I did stand-up was in ninth grade for a talent show and I completely ripped off the routine of some guy on television. But my real introduction was in Miami. There was an open mic one night and I was so terrified. It was during urban night, with an all black crowd. They booed me off very quickly…

What was your journey to get where you are now?
I started locally and worked my way up. I had a job in public relations at the time; I used to work from nine till five then go to comedy clubs. I’d drive two hours there and two hours back for a couple of minutes on stage and wouldn’t get back till 2am. Eventually I had to choose between them, and I chose to quit comedy and focus on the PR job. That didn’t work out. I got so depressed – I had to follow my dream.

How is stand-up in the Middle East?
Comedy can and should thrive here, especially given the political environment. In the turmoil of this year, comedy is needed not only to make people laugh but also to make people think.

Have you performed in Beirut before?
I’ve performed in Beirut before in a comedy programme for LBC with my friend Nemr Abou Nasser, but this is my first solo show.

Do you like performing in Beirut?
I love Beirut! How can you not love Beirut? Beirut is fun and beautiful and energetic.

What kind of comedy do you do?
In the Middle East I do a lot more family-oriented jokes, about quirks that different cultures have. As Beirut’s more open and liberal than other places in the Middle East, I can be a lot more risqué here than in Abu Dhabi or Kuwait.

What are your ambitions?
I just finished directing and co-producing a horror comedy film called ‘You Can’t Kill Stephen King’. I started out wanting to be a film director and I worked pretty intensely on a romantic comedy that was supposed to be filmed in Egypt – but the revolution sidetracked that. And I produce the Middle Eastern Comedy Festival in Los Angeles; we feel that there aren’t enough three-dimensional Arab roles in Hollywood and we wanted to give Hollywood executives the opportunity to see us in a different light. We can’t really complain about the jobs we get if we’re not doing anything about it.

Tell me a joke.
Hmm… I congratulate Beirut for being the most stable country in the Middle East for the first time. I think Lebanese people deal with adversity in the best way possible – they get drunk and party. I find it funny that they have valet parking at McDonald’s. You can’t attempt to act posh and then order an 8-piece chicken McNuggets…