That's Entertainment (Emirati TV program)

Marwan DJ Bliss, presenter

Marwan Parham Al Awadhi (commonly known as DJ Bliss) is an Emirati disc jockey, emcee, TV presenter and radio personality working in Dubai. In addition to being actively involved in the nightclub and DJ scene in Dubai,[1][2] he is known for his music production including co-producing Wyclef Jean[3] and releasing his own single and compilation album The Projects. The album was released on BMGI Middle East and was top 10 on Middle East album chart of Virgin.[4] He is also credited as one of the first Iranian DJ to go on world tour.[5] He currently hosts the television show That's Entertainment on Dubai Oneas well as the radio show The Real Flava on Channel 4 in Dubai.[6]

Bliss was born and raised in Dubai[7] and began his career while still in high school. His brother taught him how to play both the guitar and drums which is what he attributes for his love of music.[8] Bliss had a radio show while still in school and at the beginning of college. He was also in a band named KRAK (later changed to Cyanide) and also began to DJ at the same time,[8] playing at parties of his friends.[7] Bliss used to appear on Radio 1 as a guest DJ on Teenzpoint.com and Crazyspin.com.[7]

Bliss is known as one of the top DJs in the Emirates.[2] In 2005, he won the top prize at a Middle East DJ competition. This gave him the opportunity to DJ at Ministry of Sound, a renowned night club in London.[2] He has also spun at private parties for musicians such as Kanye West and Akon.[2] He performs in clubs such as People by Crystal where he hosts his 411 Nights.[9] He has also toured internationally playing at venues in Mauritius, Paris, Barcelona, Hong Kong and Malaysia.[7]

As part of his work on That's Entertainment, he has interviewed celebrities such as James Blunt,[10] Nicki Minaj,[11] and Paris Hilton.[12]

In late 2011, Bliss released his first single entitled Everything About You.[13][14] He followed up in 2012 with the release of his first music video entitled Let It Go. The video featured Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall who also performed lyrics in the song. Bliss and Offishall originally met in 2009 when Offishall was on tour with Akon.[15] In late 2012, it was announced that Bliss would part of the international judges panel for the 1st annual Dubai International Music Awards in November 2013 along with Hype Williams, SoFly and Nius, Woo Rhee, and Mokobé.[16]

Bliss has been referred to as the "Middle East's representative of Beats" by Dr. Dre.[6] In 2013 he flew to Miami to be featured in a Wyclef Jean song entitled Mid Life Crisis, which was produced by Bliss and Prince Q.[6][17] Bliss is also the founder of Bliss Inc Entertainment, an events and promotion company based out of Dubai.[18]

Dina Butti, co-presenter

Dina Butti is an Egyptian/Canadian TV presenter, writer and artist working in Dubai. She launched her television career in Dubai by training at CNN Arabia, reporting at the Dubai International Film Festival and interviewing her first celebrities.[19] She briefly worked at MTV Arabia to help launch a new show called Hip Hop Na, which was aimed at finding new Arabic rappers. At the age of 23, Dina was hired as the Editor-in-Chief and principal writer of an international luxury wellness and lifestyle magazine titled Talise for the Jumeirah Group,[20][21] which was awarded the Gold Award at the Dubai Print Awards in its first year of publication.

In 2009, Dina was given her first onscreen gig as a social scout on a weekly show called City Wrap.[22][23] She continued to develop her presenting skills and eventually secured a full-time presenting position in 2010 when she became a reporter and relief host for Studio One.[24] In 2012, Butti joined Dubai One's flagship show, Out and About, for two months as a relief host and writer.[25] In the meantime, Dina began doing voiceovers and conducting interviews for That's Entertainment with celebrities [26] The Jacksons,[27] Il Divo, Kajol, Jason Momoa,[28] Chris Daughtry and Akshay Kumar.[24] In 2013, Dina joined That's Entertainment full-time, presenting segments of the show alongside the host Marwan DJ Bliss while continuing to conduct celebrity interviews and reporting behind the scenes of local film and music productions.

While working full-time in television, Dina has freelanced for a number of projects. In 2010, she spent her weekends working as a production assistant on the set of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol while filming scenes at the Burj Khalifa and DIFC alongside Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg and Jeremy Renner.[24] Later in the year, she contributed articles reviewing Arabic albums to Rolling Stone Middle East's first edition.[29] In 2011, Dina began regularly emceeing for events and also established herself as a voiceover artist, regularly voicing promos and trailers for television. In 2011, Dina briefly filled in for radio host, Priti Malik, presenting the gossip on The Kris Fade Show on Virgin Radio Dubai[30] and she reappeared on radio in 2013 when she co-hosted a week of Dubai Today on [Dubai Eye].

In 2012, Dina and her husband, Omar Butti, were selected as part of Ahlan!'s annual Hot 100 list in the Trendsetters category.[31] Their residence was also featured on the Ahlan! Hot 100 Homes list for the same year.[32] In 2012, Dina was selected as a Finalist for the Best In Dubai Awards in the 'Best Personality' category.[33] In 2013, both Dina and Omar joined Tag Heuer's Middle East Celebrity Club, becoming ambassadors for the luxury Swiss watch brand.[34]

Hollywood film and TV interviewees

Singer/band interviews

Bollywood interviewees

Arab celebrity interviewees

References