New Israeli Sketch Comedy 'People I Met' Falls Short of Potential

The new Israeli sketch comedy series "People I Met," which premiered on Kan 11, centers on characters from a neighborhood in Beersheba, similar to the popular "The 80s." Created by Matan Half, the show features a cast of classic "types," including a pizzeria-owning couple, enthusiastic children, a bitter widow, and a failed exterminator. While the premise aims for empathy and humor, the sketch format, with short, disconnected segments, fails to capitalize on the characters' potential.

In the first two episodes, the humor is largely absent, with only brief moments of comedic success, such as Asi Cohen's performance as a marketing charlatan and Orna Banai as the widow. The show's creators, Half, Adar Miron, and Omri Amitai, seem to have struggled to translate their ideas into effective sketches, with punchlines often falling flat and the narrative momentum lost.

The series attempts to balance the familiar comedic tropes of shows set in peripheral neighborhoods with a more original and daring approach. However, it ultimately falls short, failing to deliver the broad entertainment found in more populist shows while also neglecting bolder comedic directions. The result is a show that is described as "too human," lacking the sharp comedic edge needed to make its characters and situations truly memorable.

In a separate note, the article briefly mentions that the new season of "Slow Horses" on Apple TV+ surpasses its predecessor, but suggests it might be time to consider a farewell for the spy team before their legacy is tarnished.