Kupa Rashit: Behind the Scenes of Israel's Hit Sitcom

The beloved Israeli sitcom "Kupa Rashit" (The Supermarket) has returned to television screens with its new season on Kan 11, following the recent success of its feature film adaptation. The show, which began as a modest gamble, has become one of Israel's biggest television hits in recent years, celebrated for its unique humor and memorable characters.

The journey to the screen was not easy, with creators Niv Zohar and Nadav Frishman facing numerous rejections from major broadcasters who deemed the concept not funny enough. The show was eventually greenlit by the Educational Television network, which later became part of Kan 11, marking a significant moment in Israeli television history. Notably, the creators were unaware of the similar American series "Superstore" when developing their concept.

Casting almost took different turns. The role of Kochava Shavit was initially offered to actor Ilan Peled, who declined but recommended Keren Mor, who embraced the character. Dov Navon, who plays Amnon Titinsky, was initially hesitant to audition, finding the script unconvincing. However, upon auditioning, his suitability for the role was immediately apparent, and he now finds himself recognized on the street as his miserly character.

Surprising to many, Amir Shurush, who plays the dedicated employee Ramzi Abed Ramzi, does not speak Arabic in real life. His distinctive mannerisms, gestures, and speech patterns were improvised during his audition, with the character itself inspired by a real supermarket employee the director once met.

Daniel Stupin, portraying Anatoli from the butcher shop, also improvises much of his character's heavily accented Russian dialogue with co-star Yaniv Swissa. The actors were given significant creative freedom by the director, leading to many of the iconic lines.

While the current season is filmed in a dedicated studio in Petah Tikva, the first season's production was more challenging. Scenes were shot in a real, operating supermarket during night shifts, from 8 PM to 6 AM, to avoid disrupting customers. The unseen interviewer, "Shenkin," who questions the characters, is voiced by the show's actual director, Oren Shkadi.