Why Taking Over the 'Daily Show' Would Be Hard, Even for 'Egypt's Jon Stewart'

— -- He’s the megastar you might not have heard of: Bassem Youssef is known as “The Jon Stewart of Egypt,” a wildly popular Egyptian political satirist.

Youssef was the face of the groundbreaking show “Al Bernameg,” averaging an audience of 40 million viewers each week and becoming the most-watched show in the history of Egyptian TV.

Could this irreverent Middle Easterner be in line to host “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central? Youssef eschewed the idea, telling ABC News’ David Wright Stewart will leave “huge shoes to fill,” and joking that it would be “the worst rebound ever, like a bad rebound boyfriend for the show.”

But why not Youssef? He already has the seal of approval from Stewart, who has called his pioneering comedy “heroic.” The 40-year-old points to the U.S. audience.

“First of all, I don't think Americans are ready for a Middle Easterner like me to lecture them all on political satire. We need to cross a bridge and then maybe wait another fifty years,” he said. “Like the civil rights movements, they have a black president fifty years later, so we can have a Middle Eastern satirist fifty years from now. At that time I will be ninety years old.”

Despite the fame, Youssef’s show was taken off the air in Egypt. But, he says, not for lack of laughter.

“The whole show was hilarious. People were laughing their asses off,” he said. “I think because we were too funny I think we were banned.”

A cardiac surgeon by trade, Youssef rose to popularity after the Arab Spring.

“I was like a regular everyday-life heart surgeon,” he explained. “And suddenly I had a revolution and they were out on the streets and I was doing my part helping the wounded people of Tahrir Square.”

With the help of a friend, Youssef decided he would “do Jon Stewart on the Internet.” He worked out of his laundry room and says he only expected about 10,000 views – but in mere months, his routine had been seen 5 million times. That led to his television show, and multiple appearances on “The Daily Show.”

In a 2013 appearance, Jon Stewart told Youssef he was “carving out the space for people to breathe and express themselves in a way that I think is incredibly admirable.”

Youssef says his admiration for Stewart goes beyond hero worship, telling ABC News, “This guy is not just an idol, he’s a brother.”

He may not be hosting these days, but Youssef is still plenty busy. He’s a fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics and is working on a documentary about satire and free speech in the Middle East, titled "Tickling Giants."

But if he were hosting, would he find room for humor in some of the world biggest headlines, including ISIS?

“Look at YouTube in the Middle East. People are making fun of ISIS left right and center.”

Looks like Youssef is well on his way to a second act.