Eretz Nehederet's New Season Opens With Forced Humor and Political Satire

The second episode of the new season of the satirical show "Eretz Nehederet" (A Land of Wonders), which returned to prime time last week for its 24th season coinciding with the 2026 election cycle, opened with a clip summarizing the "achievements" of the outgoing Netanyahu government. The clip depicted prominent government leaders in a white vehicle with a trailer, a subtle but deliberate allusion to vehicles used by Hamas terrorists. A new version of the song "Good Days" played in the background, but the mood was far from cheerful, showing images of burnt homes from the October 7th disaster, reservist fathers who don't remember their children's faces, and a general depiction of failing transportation, economy, education, and internal security, all presented with smiles and a party atmosphere.

The show's writers clearly fear the possibility of this government continuing, as evidenced by the opening sketch. The first studio sketch, however, was criticized for being overly long and drawn out. It featured impersonations of TV personality Yinon Magal by Eran Zarchowicz and Dr. Avishai Ben-Haim by Yaniv Biton. Zarchowicz's portrayal of Magal was described as forced and noticeable, with the reviewer questioning the necessity of the impersonation, suggesting it would be better to hire Magal himself, who is considered more inherently "delusional, hysterical, and funny." Biton's impersonation of Ben-Haim, despite being a precise imitation with improvisational potential, failed to elicit laughter from the studio audience or home viewers. A brief moment of potential satire occurred when Kitzis asked "Ben-Haim" about his presence on Channel 14, which allegedly denigrates Mizrahi Jews. Ben-Haim responded with a convoluted philosophy about being controlled by the "Ashkenazi hegemony," thus not being "real Moroccans."

Further into the show, tired impersonations of Mariano "Bibi" Netanyahu by Mariano Idelmann, who employed a new gimmick of showing a picture of "Sally's dad" (referring to Baba Sali), and a worn-out joke about Netanyahu also being "Mizrahi," were presented. Gadi Eisenkot, impersonated by Yuval Samo, appeared to be suffering from the portrayal, unlike Samo's genuine enjoyment when impersonating Miri Regev. Eli Finish, however, was credited with saving the show with his physical humor and improvisational talent, returning enthusiastically as Dudi Amsalem. His dramatic entrance from an ice cream box, complete with a somersault and a fall, elicited laughter before he even spoke.

The article suggests that the writing has been a major issue for "Eretz Nehederet" in recent seasons, with punches feeling forced and generally unfunny. A bright spot was the "More Headlines" segment, where Kitzis was given free rein to mock everyone, including Channel 12 itself. However, the reviewer noted that such content is abundant on social media and doesn't warrant waiting for a full show. A parody of "Come Eat With Me" featured Sharon Tayecher as Lieberman and Finish as Yair Lapid, with Finish's portrayal of Lapid being praised as superior to the real person. Tom Yar's impersonation of Boy George was deemed mediocre, and a recurring segment with recycled characters answering silly questions in street interviews was criticized as a sign of extreme lack of effort, with a recommendation to watch older episodes of "Laila Gov" for better examples of the format.

In conclusion, "Eretz Nehederet" is criticized for its lack of investment in its viewers, and at its current pace, it might not be re-elected for a 25th season.