HaMisrad
Encyclopedia
HaMisrad is an Israel
i television sitcom, that began airing on August 10, 2010 on the Yes Comedy channel. It is a version of The Office
, a 2001-2003 British
sitcom that had already been remade in five other countries (see The Office#Counterparts). HaMisrad is a mockumentary
set in a branch of the fictional "Paper Office" (in English) office supplies
company, in the industrial city of Yehud
. The series stars Dvir Benedek
as Avi Meshulam, the branch's regional manager, a character based heavily on the character of David Brent
in the original series. It is co-produced by Yes and July August Productions.
Like the original series and many of its spinoffs, HaMisrad lampoons office life, as well as gender and ethnic relations. In the case of HaMisrad, the office and warehouse include native-born secular Jews, Arab
s, Orthodox Jews, and Russia
n and Ethiopia
n immigrants.
Most of the episodes in the series' first season were based on the 12 episodes from the British series. Many of the early episodes featured identical plots and some of the same dialogue, though as the season went on the episodes' plots diverged increasingly from the originals.
The series is broadcast in HD
. The first season finished airing in November 2010, and a second season is planned.
, an Israeli drama series that was later adapted as the American series In Treatment
.
HaMisrad was created with the approval of the British series' co-creators, Ricky Gervais
(who starred in the original) and Stephen Merchant
. Gervais, when asked about the Israeli series after it was first announced in early 2009, said he was "thrilled" about the idea, adding wryly, "who ever heard of Jewish entertainers?"
By agreement with the BBC
, the main characters had to match the main characters of the UK series, and the first three episodes had to correspond to the UK series' first three episodes. Weill decided to pattern the series even more closely than required on the original UK series, because he felt it was "an official satire
" which "had a lot to say about the world and about people." By contrast, Weill did not want to emulate the American version, which he considered "a parody
about funny people in a funny place with a lot of feel-good factors thrown in." Weill described his approach to adapting the source material as "In an English or American office, you would keep your views to yourself, but here, all the racial and religious aspects of our lives are out in the open. We’re constantly talking about it – it's why you come to work! So to create an embarrassing situation, you have to take it further comedy-wise. It's not based on 'what would happen if I say this totally horrible thing' because I've already said it. Instead, it's 'what will happen after I say it?'"
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i television sitcom, that began airing on August 10, 2010 on the Yes Comedy channel. It is a version of The Office
The Office (UK TV series)
The Office is a British sitcom television series that was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 9 July 2001. Created, written, and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the programme is about the day-to-day lives of office employees in the Slough branch of the fictitious...
, a 2001-2003 British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sitcom that had already been remade in five other countries (see The Office#Counterparts). HaMisrad is a mockumentary
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
set in a branch of the fictional "Paper Office" (in English) office supplies
Office supplies
Office supplies is the generic term that refers to all supplies regularly used in offices by businesses and other organizations, from private citizens to governments, who work with the collection, refinement, and output of information .The term includes small, expendable, daily use items such as...
company, in the industrial city of Yehud
Yehud
Yehud is a city in the Center District in Israel that is part of the joint municipality of Yehud-Monosson. In 2007, Yehud's population was approximately 25,600 .- History :...
. The series stars Dvir Benedek
Dvir Benedek
Dvir Benedek is an Israeli actor, and chairman of Shaham, the Israeli screen actors union. Benedek lives in Givaataim with his wife Irit Natan Benedek and their daughter, Yuli, born in 2010.-Theatre career:...
as Avi Meshulam, the branch's regional manager, a character based heavily on the character of David Brent
David Brent
David Brent is a fictional character in the BBC television mockumentary The Office, as well as a recurring character in the NBC series of the same name, portrayed by co-writer and director Ricky Gervais. Brent is a white-collar office middle-manager and the principal character of the BBC series...
in the original series. It is co-produced by Yes and July August Productions.
Like the original series and many of its spinoffs, HaMisrad lampoons office life, as well as gender and ethnic relations. In the case of HaMisrad, the office and warehouse include native-born secular Jews, Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
s, Orthodox Jews, and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n and Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n immigrants.
Most of the episodes in the series' first season were based on the 12 episodes from the British series. Many of the early episodes featured identical plots and some of the same dialogue, though as the season went on the episodes' plots diverged increasingly from the originals.
The series is broadcast in HD
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
. The first season finished airing in November 2010, and a second season is planned.
Production
The series' writer is Uzi Weill, and the director is Eitan Tzur. Both are Israeli television veterans, who had both previously written and directed for BeTipulBetipul
BeTipul is an Israeli television drama revolving around the personal and professional life of an Israeli psychologist, Reuven Dagan, played by Assi Dayan. The series portrays a psychologist who treats patients at his clinic five days a week and then seeks psychological treatment for himself...
, an Israeli drama series that was later adapted as the American series In Treatment
In Treatment
In Treatment is an American HBO drama, produced and developed by Rodrigo Garcia, about a psychologist, 50-something Dr. Paul Weston, and his weekly sessions with patients, as well as those with his own therapist at the end of the week. The program, which stars Gabriel Byrne as Paul, debuted on...
.
HaMisrad was created with the approval of the British series' co-creators, Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais
Ricky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, radio presenter, producer, musician, and writer.Gervais achieved mainstream fame with his television series The Office and the subsequent series Extras, both of which he co-wrote and co-directed with friend and frequent collaborator...
(who starred in the original) and Stephen Merchant
Stephen Merchant
Stephen James Merchant is an English writer, director, radio presenter, comedian, and actor. He is best known for his collaborations with Ricky Gervais, as the co-writer and co-director of the popular British sitcom The Office, as the co-writer, co-director and a co-star of Extras, and as the...
. Gervais, when asked about the Israeli series after it was first announced in early 2009, said he was "thrilled" about the idea, adding wryly, "who ever heard of Jewish entertainers?"
By agreement with the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, the main characters had to match the main characters of the UK series, and the first three episodes had to correspond to the UK series' first three episodes. Weill decided to pattern the series even more closely than required on the original UK series, because he felt it was "an official satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
" which "had a lot to say about the world and about people." By contrast, Weill did not want to emulate the American version, which he considered "a parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
about funny people in a funny place with a lot of feel-good factors thrown in." Weill described his approach to adapting the source material as "In an English or American office, you would keep your views to yourself, but here, all the racial and religious aspects of our lives are out in the open. We’re constantly talking about it – it's why you come to work! So to create an embarrassing situation, you have to take it further comedy-wise. It's not based on 'what would happen if I say this totally horrible thing' because I've already said it. Instead, it's 'what will happen after I say it?'"
Characters
- Avi Meshulam (Dvir BenedekDvir BenedekDvir Benedek is an Israeli actor, and chairman of Shaham, the Israeli screen actors union. Benedek lives in Givaataim with his wife Irit Natan Benedek and their daughter, Yuli, born in 2010.-Theatre career:...
) – Regional Manager. An obnoxious, overweight and dimwitted boss who tries unsuccessfully to ingratiate himself with his employees. (Based on David BrentDavid BrentDavid Brent is a fictional character in the BBC television mockumentary The Office, as well as a recurring character in the NBC series of the same name, portrayed by co-writer and director Ricky Gervais. Brent is a white-collar office middle-manager and the principal character of the BBC series...
.) - Yariv Shauli (Maayan Blum) – Assistant to the Regional Manager. A proud veteran of what he refers to as a secret branch of the Israeli Army, who is extremely loyal to Meshulam and tries hard to maintain office discipline. (Based on Gareth KeenanGareth KeenanGareth Keenan is a fictional paper salesman on BBC's comedy The Office. He is portrayed in the series by Mackenzie Crook as a gaunt, self-important team leader proud of his alleged lieutenant status in the Territorial Army...
.) - Yossi (Eldad Fribas) – Senior Sales Representative. Sarcastic and underachieving, with a long-term unrequited crush on Dana. (Based on Tim CanterburyTim CanterburyTim Canterbury is a main character in the BBC sitcom The Office, played by Martin Freeman. He is a 30-year-old sales representative for paper merchants Wernham Hogg and lives with his parents. He spent one year at a university before dropping out, and one day hopes to return to get a psychology...
.) - Dana (Mali Levi) – Receptionist. A generally optimistic person, stuck in a job and a long-term engagement, neither of which she's happy with. (Based on Dawn TinsleyDawn TinsleyDawn Tinsley is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom The Office, played by Lucy Davis. She is a receptionist for paper merchants Wernham Hogg and is engaged to warehouse worker Lee. Her American The Office equivalent is Pam Beesly...
.) - Lavi (Alon Hamawi) – Dana's fiance, who works in the company warehouse. Macho and often insensitive. (Based on Lee.)
- Shimi Guetta (Shai Avivi) – Travelling Sales Representative. Obnoxious, bullying, and prone to insulting jokes. (Based on Chris FinchChris FinchChris Finch is a character in the BBC comedy show, The Office. He is played by Ralph Ineson.Finch is an outside sales representative for the paper merchant Wernham Hogg, in whose Slough office the show is set, and as such is frequently on the road...
.) - Yelena (Helena Yaralova) – Corporate Supervisor. Avi's boss, and a Russian immigrant who is straitlaced and business-focused. (Based on Jennifer Taylor-ClarkeJennifer Taylor-ClarkeJennifer Taylor-Clarke is a fictional character on the BBC2 comedy television series The Office. She is the corporate manager overseeing at least the Slough and Swindon branches of the fictitious paper merchant, Wernham-Hogg. She is portrayed by Stirling Gallacher.Jennifer, like Neil Godwin, is...
.) - Karol (Roberto Pollak) – Accountant. A lecherous, cynical Romanian immigrant who hates his wife.
- Yevgeni (Dima Ross) – Accountant. A socially awkward Russian immigrant. (Based on Keith BishopKeith Bishop (The Office)Keith Bishop is a fictional character in BBC's The Office, played by Ewen MacIntosh. He works as an accountant for the fictional paper merchants Wernham Hogg, as run by David Brent. An overweight man, his nickname is appropriately 'Big Keith'....
.) - Leah (Ayelet Robinson) – Office worker. A pregnant Orthodox Jew who is very opinionated.
- Abed (Jamil Khoury) – Sales representative. A gay Israeli Arab who is assimilated into Israeli society but feels alienated.
- Ababa (Avi) Sharon (Yossi Vassa) – Accountant, merged in from the Kiryat Ono branch. An Israeli-born Ethiopian Jew. Mild-mannered, and dislikes being viewed as different. (Based on Oliver.)
- Riki (Hilla Sarjon) – Office worker, merged in from the Kiryat Ono branch. A wheelchair-bound woman who is aggressively looking for love. (Based on both Brenda and Trudy.)
- Regev Steiner (Amir Wolf) – the temp. Is descended from the Rothschilds and is somewhat contemptuous of the rest of the office. (Based on Ricky.)
- Shiri (Noa Wollman) – new office worker. Fun-loving and ditzy. (Based on both Donna and Rachel.)
- Sami (Yaniv Suissa) – Warehouse Foreman. Very dismissive of Avi. (Based on Taffy.)
List of episodes
- Episode 1 – The staff is introduced; Yelena informs Avi that the branch may be closed down. (Based on Episode 1 of the UK Office, "Downsize".)
- Episode 2 – Rumors of the potential branch closing continue; Avi introduces new office worker Shiri; a pornographic email leads to an investigation. (Based on Episode 2 of the UK Office, "Work Experience".)
- Episode 3 – It is Yossi's 30th birthday; some of the staff attend a quiz night. (Based on Episode 3 of the UK Office, "The Quiz".)
- Episode 4 – News of a military incursion into GazaGazaGaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
has the office on edge; Leah suspects Abed is talking to the enemy.
- Episode 5 – An outside facilitator holds a training session about customer relations; Avi reminisces about his musical past. (Based on Episode 4 of the UK Office, "TrainingEpisode Four (The Office, Series One)Episode Four is the fourth episode of the first series of The Office. "Training" is an alternative title for the episode. It was originally broadcast on 30 July 2001...
".)
- Episode 6 – Avi hires a personal secretary; some of the office staff go out to a bar. (Based on Episode 5 of the UK Office, "New Girl".)
- Episode 7 – Yariv finds out that Abed is gay; Abed preemptively tells the entire office, and introduces his boyfriend; Avi is pressured by Yelena to fire his new secretary, who then accuses him of sexual harassmentSexual harassmentSexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
; Avi then manages to successfully (but wrongfully) accuse her of leaking company secrets, which ends the internal investigation.
- Episode 8 – Yelena informs Avi that his branch will be shut down in favor of the Kiryat Ono branch, but that Avi himself will get a promotion; Avi tells the staff, who are dispirited at the news. Yelena then convinces Avi to trick his employees into signing away their rights to a hefty severance packageSeverance packageA severance package is pay and benefits an employee receives when they leave employment at a company. In addition to the employee's remaining regular pay, it may include some of the following:* An additional payment based on months of service...
(which Avi had previously incorrectly given them). Avi's former secretary decides to press a criminal sexual harassment charge against Avi, which causes the company to decide to fire Avi instead. After Yelena tells him the news, Avi puts the signed release forms in the shredder instead of handing them over to her, which forces the company to keep the Yehud branch and terminate the Kiryat Ono one instead. (Loosely based on Episode 6 of the UK Office, "Judgment".)
- Episode 9 – Two employees of the closed Kiryat Ono branch who have been merged in to the office are introduced: Riki and the Ethiopian Avi (whom Avi the boss insists on calling "Ababa", his original name). Avi the boss tells a racially-offensive joke, which causes a staff complaint; there is an altercation between Lavi and Yossi. (Based on Episode 7 of the UK Office, "Merger".)
- Episode 10 – Yelena tells Avi that she has been secretly giving consulting advice to another company, against company rules, and asks Avi to keep it a secret; Lavi apologizes to Yossi for hitting him; the staff are required to give appraisals of their own work, as well as of Avi; lukewarm appraisals of Avi from the two new employees cause him to take them out to lunch in order to try to gain their approval, but the lunch goes poorly; Shiri begins openly flirting with Yossi; Yelena promises to deliver positive news about Avi's feedback in return for his silence. (Loosely based on Episode 8 of the UK Office, "Appraisals".)
- Episode 11 – Avi is asked to speak at a motivational seminar, then brags to the office about how much he will be making; Yevgeny begins publishing heavily on TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
in order to win a "Twitter of the month" contest, and most of his "tweets" are embarrassing facts about Avi; the office has a fire drillFire drillA fire drill is a method of practicing the evacuation of a building for a fire or other emergency. Generally, the emergency system is activated and the building is evacuated as though a real fire had occurred...
, during which Avi and Yariv leave Riki in the stairwell, then forget about her for the rest of the day; Yevgeny wins the contest, which causes Yariv to start publishing heavily on Twitter as well, revealing embarrassing information about other co-workers, as well as company secrets; Yelena tries (unsuccessfully) to pressure Avi to fire Yariv as a result; Yossi begins dating Shiri, which makes Dana uncomfortable. (Very loosely based on Episode 9 of the UK Office, "Party"; fire drill plot based on Episode 8.)
- Episode 12 – Yariv bonds with the visiting computer geek; Avi and Dana travel so that Avi can present at a motivational seminar, where he gives a rambling talk that bewilders the audience. (Based on Episode 10 of the UK Office, "Motivation".)
- Episode 13 – Dana breaks up with Lavi over his refusal to set a wedding date; Avi plans an office-wide production for PurimPurimPurim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from destruction in the wake of a plot by Haman, a story recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther .Purim is celebrated annually according to the Hebrew calendar on the 14th...
(which he calls "the most important Jewish holiday"), featuring comedy and dance; Avi indirectly causes Leah to eat a (non-kosher) cheeseburgerCheeseburgerA cheeseburger is a hamburger with cheese that has been added to it. Traditionally, the cheese is placed on top of the patty, but the burger can include many variations in structure, ingredients, and composition...
, which she then tries to throw up; Yossi breaks up with Shiri; Yelena fires Avi over his inability to put together a productivity plan; Avi tells the staff he was fired, then holes up in his office, leaving only after everyone else has gone. (Loosely based on Episode 11 of the UK Office, "CharityEpisode Five (The Office, Series Two)Episode 5 of the second series of The Office was first broadcast on BBC Two on 28 October 2002.-Plot:It is Red Nose Day at Wernham Hogg, which David Brent treats like a national holiday...
".)
- Episode 14 – Avi, still at the office for the duration of the week, is in good spirits about his planned next ventures: a motivational-speaking career and a motivational book he's co-writing with a female journalist. Yelena asks Yossi to become the new manager, but he turns it down, saying he's leaving the company to become a student. With no other options, Yelena asks Yariv to become the new manager instead. Dana decides to leave as well, in order to study painting; Yossi suggests to Dana that they get an apartment together, since they're both looking for a new place, and Dana agrees. At the farewell party for Avi at a bar that night, Avi alienates his journalist co-author, and finds out that the motivational-speaking company is not interested in employing him. (Loosely based on Episode 12 of the UK Office, "InterviewEpisode Six (The Office, Series Two)Interview is the sixth and final episode of the second series of the British television comedy The Office. It was originally aired on BBC 2 on November 4, 2002...
".)
- Episode 15 – It is around two weeks later, and Avi is an unsuccessful travelling salesman, living out of his car. He visits the office, but gets little reaction, and Yariv informs him that he has gotten a raise over Avi's old salary. Dana and Yossi are both still at the office, near the end of their two weeks' notice. Regev goes into Yariv's office to complain about Yariv's sexual harassment of Shiri, they get into an argument and Yariv fires Regev. Yariv then also fires Ababa and Sami in quick succession when he feels a lack of respect from both of them. Yelena finds out about the firings, then un-fires the three and demotes Yariv back to his old position. She finds Avi sleeping in his car in the parking lot, and asks him to become the manager again; Avi enthusiastically agrees. Lavi, contrite over the breakup with Dana, re-proposes to Dana in the office, promising to treat her better; Dana accepts. While the staff celebrates, Avi returns with his own good news; Yossi then walks in, sees Dana together with Lavi, and slinks out of the office.