‘The Office’ Gets Israeli Makeover
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Israeli TV viewers are getting their own branch of “The Office.”
The country’s cable company Yes has signed a deal with BBC Worldwide to adapt the British hit, allowing for Hebrew-speaking actors to play versions of the characters originated by English comedian Ricky Gervais and his cast. The Yes series will make Israel the sixth country to produce its own take on the show, following adaptations in such countries as Russia, Chile and France. Yes has yet to audition cast members or announce details of the Israeli version, though it will likely be set in one of the country’s less glamorous cities, as has been the case with its predecessors.
Gervais, who played bumbling boss David Brent in the BBC series, expressed pleasure over the forthcoming Israeli interpretation.
“I am thrilled and amazed that Israel [is] making ‘The Office’ with local writers, directors and actors. I mean, who ever heard of Jewish entertainers?” he joked to England’s Guardian newspaper, which first reported the deal.
The American version of “The Office,” which is broadcast on NBC and stars Steve Carell, already has a strong track record with Israeli audiences. Yes’s main rival, Israel’s HOT cable company, will start airing the fifth season of the NBC series this month.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
