Israel, United States and Television

In the past few years, dozens of Israeli TV formats have been sold to US’s leading networks. But while these shows are local hits, most of them never quite took off abroad. Perhaps it has something to do with our little country’s unique culture.

There is something about American television that addresses every single person in the entire world. From game shows to talk shows to dramas and even sketch comedies – if it’s made in the USA, it’s almost immediately good entertainment worldwide. As a matter of fact, here in Israel we watch more American television than original content. All it takes is Hebrew subtitles.

Even though the United States is a global entertainment enterprise, American networks still make foreign purchases, mostly of formats, which are being adapted to the American audience. Although it seems like you don't need our small country to help you make good TV, American television networks have purchased dozens of Israeli concepts for television. In fact, Israel was recently“>so it was reported on The Hollywood Reporter, “centers on Shira, a happily married but harried mother struggling to balance family, life and work. Between her job as a ghost writer for a demanding celebrity chef and having three children — ranging in age from preschool to 7 — she feels like the world's worst mother because of her tendency to cut corners.” The show never took off.

Traffic Light was a hilarious comedy with a witty script and brilliant writing and acting. It is also a very-Israeli show. The situations and conflicts that were brought up on the show can only be described as “Israeli.” The characters are Israeli and their nuances are Israeli. No one in Israel can imagine the show taking place anywhere else in the world. That is why it was so successful here- “it’s funny 'cause it's true”. The show’s 4-season run ended this year, to the dismay of pretty much everyone. Traffic Light won the 2010 International Emmy awards for best comedy, and was later purchased by Fox . The network tried to adjust the show to the American way of life, but on the way, it lost its touch. The American version was announced a flop and was cancelled after only thirteen episodes.

There were other shows, such as In Treatment (HBO) and Homeland (Fox), which won Golden Globes and Emmys. Both got great reviews and the attention of American viewers, but they were altered. The original Israeli point of view was changed almost entirely, and only the general concept remained.

The Israeli Homeland  (Prisoners of War) was written while Gilad Shalit was held captive, and dealt with the most burning open wound that the nation had at that time. What brought Shalit home, more than anything, was the very Israeli way of uniting together for a shared cause- bringing “the son of us all” back. That alone is enough to examine the way Israel deals with captives as opposed to the way the USA deals with them in order to realize the two very different perspectives Americans and Israelis have. Accordingly, the Israeli and the American versions of the show have very few similarities.

This brings me to the almost obvious conclusion that the truly great shows in Israel are so great because they're so Israeli. They are meant only for us, because we have our own special way of life. We all share this small piece of land and know every little thing that happens here. Every news story relates to everyone; Every original television series relates to everyone, and depicts our daily experiences; Every one of us knows at least one contestant of at least one reality show. This won’t stop leading American networks from purchasing Israeli formats, but unlike American television, that addresses and touches and relates to the entire world, Israeli television addresses a very small population. That’s why, hopefully, every smart Hollywood producer knows by now that in order to make an Israeli format successful, changers and adaptations must be made.

Homeland– made in the U.S