23 Years of 'Eretz Nehederet': Surprising Stories Behind Israeli Satire Hit
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
The Israeli satirical show "Eretz Nehederet" is celebrating 23 years since its premiere, having become a major ratings hit for Keshet 12. The show's creation was prompted by Erez Tal's departure from Keshet, and its name was suggested by Dana Modan. Early development included a failed pilot, and notable moments include Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's appearance in 2013 and a reference by U.S. President Barack Obama.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- "Eretz Nehederet" premiered in 2003 and is celebrating 23 years as a hit Israeli satire show.
- The show's creation followed Erez Tal's departure from Keshet, and its name was inspired by a song.
- The initial pilot episode was considered a creative failure by the show's creators.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared on the show in 2013 alongside his impersonator.
- U.S. President Barack Obama referenced the show during a 2013 visit to Israel.
- A famous "Civil War" sketch originated from comedian Assi Cohen's ideas.
The Israeli satirical television show "Eretz Nehederet" (A Wonderful Country), which premiered on November 2, 2003, has become a cornerstone of Israeli television and a major ratings success for Keshet 12. Now celebrating 23 years, the show, hosted by Eyal Kitzis, continues to deliver popular content, but its journey has been marked by several surprising behind-the-scenes stories.
The show's inception was linked to the departure of prominent figure Erez Tal from Keshet to Channel 10. This move necessitated a replacement for the show "Rak BeYisrael" (Only in Israel), leading to the creation of "Eretz Nehederet." The show's iconic name was not an original idea from writer Moli Shagav; it was suggested by Dana Modan, inspired by Yehoram Gaon's song "Shalom Lecha Eretz Nehederet" (Hello to You, Wonderful Country).
Despite its immense success, the show's early days were challenging. Shagav revealed that the initial pilot was a creative failure, with early attempts to find the right formula proving difficult. Writer David Lifshitz recounted that during the development of a subsequent pilot, Shagav instructed writer Assaf Shachmon to stay until the material was sufficiently funny.
A notable incident occurred on Independence Day in 2013 when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the studio and appeared alongside actor Mariano Idelman, who portrays him. Shagav mentioned that while some jokes were pre-planned, Kitzis surprised Netanyahu with unscripted questions, marking an unusual interaction between a politician and the show's satirical world.
In 2013, then-U.S. President Barack Obama, during a visit to Israel, referenced "Eretz Nehederet" in a speech in Jerusalem. He joked that the tension between him and Netanyahu provided material for the show's writers. Shagav later shared that he received advance notice of the joke minutes before the speech and found it hard to believe it would be delivered.
The memorable "Civil War" sketch featuring characters Shauli and Irena, which garnered significant reactions, originated as an idea from comedian Assi Cohen for his own show. Cohen had concerns about its potential extremism, but it was later incorporated into "Eretz Nehederet's" election broadcast, becoming one of the show's most discussed moments.
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