Dean Obeidallah

Dean Obeidallah received the first annual ‘Bill Hicks Spirit Award’ in 2005 for his ‘thought-provoking comedy,’ marking a significant milestone in a career that transitioned from law to stand-up and media. Obeidallah earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Fordham Law School and practiced law with Beattie Padovano from 1993 to 1998, during which time he also made his initial foray into comedy at the New Jersey State Bar Association’s stand-up show. Following his legal career, he joined the NBC Page program in 1998 and served as a rights and clearance researcher for NBC’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ from 1999 to 2007, simultaneously honing his stand-up skills in New York City. Building on this recognition, Obeidallah co-created and co-produced Comedy Central.com’s internet series ‘The Watch List’ in 2007, which featured Middle Eastern-American comedians, and also appeared on Comedy Central’s ‘Axis of Evil’ Comedy special.

In 2015, he co-created The Muslim Funny Fest, further contributing to the development of diverse comedic platforms. His extensive work as a journalist includes hosting ‘The Dean Obeidallah Show’ on SiriusXM Progress, where he engages listeners with political commentary and interviews. Currently, Obeidallah continues to be a compelling voice in media, with his ongoing contributions to CNN, The Daily Beast, and MSNBC, offering insightful analysis on current events. His ‘The Dean Obeidallah Show’ remains a staple on SiriusXM Progress, providing a platform for critical discourse and comedic relief.

He consistently performs stand-up comedy, having toured globally to appreciative audiences in locations such as Beirut, Haifa, Dubai, Ramallah, Amman, Cairo, Oman, and Sharm El Sheikh, solidifying his reputation as an internationally recognized comedian and commentator.