Nikad izvini
Encyclopedia
Nikad izvini was a political satire television show in Serbia
which sometimes also treated the subject in a surreal
way. It ran every day on Pink television, between August 2003 and April 2005, following all "Pink" afternoon news. In the late September 2008, after a pause of three years, it has been announced that show would be returned to network`s broadcast programming; however, it has not been done yet.
and director of project, Srđan Češić, had got idea for this project even at late year 2000., following Overthrow of Slobodan Milošević, when Serbian medias began promoting freedom of speech
, as well as any government criticism. Basic idea was British puppet show
Spitting Image
, which ran on BBC
until 1996.
Authors of serial were claiming that Nikad izvini was offered to RTS
and TV B92
, but was refused. Finally, at the beginning of 2003, authors signed a contract with TV Pink- very popular, but frequently criticised network. Project was joined by puppet designers Roko Radovanović and Miroslav Lakobrija, puppet animators Cvetin Aničić, Sanela Milošević, Petar Konkoj, Ivana Peterski, Goran Filipaš and Marija Malbaša. The main actor was theatre Atelje 212
`s Srđan Miletić, who performed almost all roles, with assistance of his colleagues, Srđan Jovanović and Oliver Đaja.. Series were promoted at the beginning of August 2003, what was followed by first air, at the end of month.
government, featuring its crucial members- Vladan Batić
, Milan St. Protić
, Nebojša Čović
, Dragoljub Mićunović
, Prime minister himself, and others. Their main opposition (as well as in reality) were Vojislav Koštunica
, as well as members of Serbian Radical Party
- Tomislav Nikolić
and Aleksandar Vučić
. Some other important characters were Slobodan Milošević
, Vojislav Šešelj
, Vuk Drašković
, to-be president of Serbia Boris Tadić
. Soon, the government fell due to many problematic affairs and the show predicted opposition success in the next parliamentary election. Before a winter pause, a New year 2004 special, called "Cabaret" is aired, around 9 PM CET
, on 31 December 2003. It was created as an allusion
to Lisa Minelli`s same name film
. Approximately 30 minutes of material has been made, but due to network's rich schedule for New Year's eve, only 15 minutes were broadcast (the complete episode is featured on first DVD, published in 2006). In this episode, Government was represented by its powerless leader, while Koštunica, his successor was presented as "special" guest. It is notable that members of nationalist Serbian Radical Party
were singing Serbian comical versions of nazi
songs from the original film.
, series presented its vice-president Miroljub Labus
as de facto
leader. He has been shown as only rational person, which is often getting upset by other politicians. Ironically, he is inseparable from character of Mlađan Dinkić, his assistant, which is shown as retarded
. Vuk Drašković
is struggling for preservation of Serbian traditionalism, making comical situations, in which he learns English and trying to translate Serbian epical songs to it. Velimir Ilić
is shown as a vulgar
and badly behaved person. Some of old characters were Slobodan Milošević
and Vojislav Šešelj
. Ivica Dačić
, Milošević's vice-president was giving needed parliamentar support to Koštunica's Government. Češić had an idea to make allusion to some popular serials, including Star Wars
, The Matrix
, X-files, as well as South-American "soap"-series, which are very popular in Serbia. In Nikad izvini, one was called "Tandarella", and Koštunica was shown as main female character. „Koštunica`s Serbia seemed to me as some surrealistic anti-utopia of Hieronymus Bosch...“, mentioned Češić in an 2009 interview. Summer of 2004 marked the end of first season. During summer holiday, Boris Tadić
(already important character in series), became a president of Serbia. Some other politician also became important.
Bogoljub Karić
, infamous Serbian tycoon and candidate on Serbian presidential election, 2004
, became important political figure, so he was featured in serial as the best friend of Ilić
. Second New Year special was called "The Untouchables in curve of Spacetime
", and this time, characters were shown as favourite Eliot Ness
(Labus), and his incapable colleagues (Koštunica, Tadić, Drašković). They are trying to prevent smugglers of dangerous „Jujubana“ whiskey (Karić and Ilić). When Koštunica turns back his pocket-watch
, whole day before, 31 December 1931, is repeated. At the end, Ness managed to find what the problem is and break that watch, however, both he and his colleagues are already put in Sing-Sing
prison.
`s „Hamlet
“. The fact that provoked public anger was feature of deceased Serbian Prime minister Zoran Đinđić`s ghost
. At the same time, ghost is also featured among the politicians in the audience (all characters were "doubled" - they are shown both as the audience, as well as the actors on scene).
On the very same day, supported by some other political organizations, Demokratska Stranka (whose leader was Đinđić) condemned this episode and required cancellation of series. On following day, "Pink" suddenly cancelled series due to "low ratings". This could not be explained, because servers of "Pink" and "Nikad izvini" web addresses were cluttered, following massive traffic. Two days later, the show was resumed; however, less than week later, the series was permanently cancelled. Months later, producers claimed that "Pink" put the series on "stand-by", although it had rating of a million viewers per day.
published on 26 September 2008, program producer of TV Pink, Tanja Vojtehovski announced that "Nikad izvini" would be resumed to program.. Certain number of new episodes has been recorded and is available through Youtube
, however, until 2010 it has not been aired, with lack of an official explanation. In an interview given to Serbian week-magazine "Standard" from mid-2009, Češić made a comment: „When friend of mine told me about sketch, in which owner
of Delta Holding
sings Everybody Кnows (with which new season of Nikad izvini should have begun), that he would not air it too, if he has a TV station, I answered that probably I wouldn't too... I never blamed television for cancellation. Responsibility for that state in medias is up to creators of "time spirit", or in German
, "Zeitgeist
". In our case, those are limited politicians, or persons behind them". Češić's latest project, „Iz nepoznatih razloga“("From unknown reasons"), was also cancelled from some networks, and available only online.
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
which sometimes also treated the subject in a surreal
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
way. It ran every day on Pink television, between August 2003 and April 2005, following all "Pink" afternoon news. In the late September 2008, after a pause of three years, it has been announced that show would be returned to network`s broadcast programming; however, it has not been done yet.
Idea and creation
Script writerScreenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and director of project, Srđan Češić, had got idea for this project even at late year 2000., following Overthrow of Slobodan Milošević, when Serbian medias began promoting freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
, as well as any government criticism. Basic idea was British puppet show
Puppetry
Puppetry is a form of theatre or performance which involves the manipulation of puppets. It is very ancient, and is believed to have originated 30,000 years BC. Puppetry takes many forms but they all share the process of animating inanimate performing objects...
Spitting Image
Spitting Image
Spitting Image is a British satirical puppet show that aired on the ITV network from 1984 to 1996. It was produced by Spitting Image Productions for Central Television. The series was nominated for 10 BAFTA Awards, winning one for editing in 1989....
, which ran on 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...
until 1996.
Authors of serial were claiming that Nikad izvini was offered to RTS
Radio Television of Serbia
Radio Television of Serbia or Serbian Broadcasting Corporation is the public broadcaster in Serbia. It broadcasts and produces a variety of news, drama, and sports programming through radio, television and the Internet. RTS is, since July 2001, a member of the European Broadcasting Union. RTS is...
and TV B92
B92
B92 is a radio and television broadcaster with national coverage headquartered in Belgrade, Serbia. The network's key demographic is chiefly urban and young audience. Its programs, including the news cover topics with fairly liberal political painted attitudes...
, but was refused. Finally, at the beginning of 2003, authors signed a contract with TV Pink- very popular, but frequently criticised network. Project was joined by puppet designers Roko Radovanović and Miroslav Lakobrija, puppet animators Cvetin Aničić, Sanela Milošević, Petar Konkoj, Ivana Peterski, Goran Filipaš and Marija Malbaša. The main actor was theatre Atelje 212
Atelje 212
Atelje 212 is a theatre in Belgrade, Serbia. It was officially founded on 12 November 1956 in the premises of the Borba building, in front of 212 chairs. The opening play was Faust, directed by Mira Trailović....
`s Srđan Miletić, who performed almost all roles, with assistance of his colleagues, Srđan Jovanović and Oliver Đaja.. Series were promoted at the beginning of August 2003, what was followed by first air, at the end of month.
Second half of 2003
First dozens of episodes cover final months of ex-Prime minister, Zoran ŽivkovićZoran Živkovic (politician)
Zoran Živković is a former Prime Minister of Serbia who replaced assassinated Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić in March 2003. He was born on December 22, 1960 in Niš where he finished high-school Bora Stanković. Živković received a community college diploma in Economics in Belgrade and worked as...
government, featuring its crucial members- Vladan Batić
Vladan Batic
Vladan Batić was a Serbian politician. He graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law. He was the Minister of Justice in the Serbian Government from 2000 to 2003. It 2001, Batić announced that warrants would be made for the arrests of former persons in power before the 5 October...
, Milan St. Protić
Milan St. Protic
Milan St. Protić is a historian, politician and diplomat from Serbia. He is the current Ambassador of Serbia to the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Lichtenstein.-Early life and education:...
, Nebojša Čović
Nebojša Covic
Nebojša Čović, Ph.D is a Serbian politician and businessman. He is the President of the Social Democratic Party...
, Dragoljub Mićunović
Dragoljub Micunovic
Dragoljub Mićunović, PhD is a prominent Serbian politician and philosopher.-Early life:...
, Prime minister himself, and others. Their main opposition (as well as in reality) were Vojislav Koštunica
Vojislav Koštunica
Vojislav Koštunica is a Serbian politician, statesman and the president of the Democratic Party of Serbia. He was the last President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, succeeding Slobodan Milošević and serving from 2000 to 2003...
, as well as members of Serbian Radical Party
Serbian Radical Party
The Serbian Radical Party is a far-right Serbian nationalist political party in Serbia, founded in 1991. Currently the second-largest party in the Serbian National Assembly, it has branches in three of the nations that currently border Serbia – all former federal republics of Yugoslavia...
- Tomislav Nikolić
Tomislav Nikolic
Tomislav "Toma" Nikolić is a Serbian politician, President of the Serbian Progressive Party. He is also a former member of the Serbian Radical Party, where he served as Deputy Leader of the party and parliamentary leader during the absence of Vojislav Šešelj...
and Aleksandar Vučić
Aleksandar Vucic
Aleksandar Vučić is a Serbian politician, Deputy President of the Serbian Progressive Party. He is a former secretary-general of the Serbian Radical Party and was President of the Serbian Radical Party's city parliamentary club before joining the Serbian Progressive Party. Besides Serbian,...
. Some other important characters were Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
, Vojislav Šešelj
Vojislav Šešelj
Vojislav Šešelj, JD is a Serbian politician, writer and lawyer. He is the founder and president of the Serbian Radical Party and was vice-president of Serbia between 1998 and 2000...
, Vuk Drašković
Vuk Draškovic
Vuk Drašković , leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement, is a Serbian politician who served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Yugoslavia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia.He graduated from the University of Belgrade's Law School in 1968...
, to-be president of Serbia Boris Tadić
Boris Tadic
Boris Tadić is the President of Serbia and leader of the Democratic Party. He was elected to a five-year term on 27 June 2004, and was sworn into office on 11 July. He was re-elected for a de facto second five-year term on 3 February 2008 and was sworn in on 15 February...
. Soon, the government fell due to many problematic affairs and the show predicted opposition success in the next parliamentary election. Before a winter pause, a New year 2004 special, called "Cabaret" is aired, around 9 PM CET
Central European Time
Central European Time , used in most parts of the European Union, is a standard time that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time . The time offset from UTC can be written as +01:00...
, on 31 December 2003. It was created as an allusion
Allusion
An allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, people, places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication. M. H...
to Lisa Minelli`s same name film
Cabaret (film)
Cabaret is a 1972 musical film directed by Bob Fosse and starring Liza Minnelli, Michael York and Joel Grey. The film is set in Berlin during the Weimar Republic in 1931, under the ominous presence of the growing National Socialist Party....
. Approximately 30 minutes of material has been made, but due to network's rich schedule for New Year's eve, only 15 minutes were broadcast (the complete episode is featured on first DVD, published in 2006). In this episode, Government was represented by its powerless leader, while Koštunica, his successor was presented as "special" guest. It is notable that members of nationalist Serbian Radical Party
Serbian Radical Party
The Serbian Radical Party is a far-right Serbian nationalist political party in Serbia, founded in 1991. Currently the second-largest party in the Serbian National Assembly, it has branches in three of the nations that currently border Serbia – all former federal republics of Yugoslavia...
were singing Serbian comical versions of nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
songs from the original film.
First half of 2004
After a short winter break, show was resumed. Mentioned political changes in Serbia were completed. Although new Prime minister was Vojislav KoštunicaVojislav Koštunica
Vojislav Koštunica is a Serbian politician, statesman and the president of the Democratic Party of Serbia. He was the last President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, succeeding Slobodan Milošević and serving from 2000 to 2003...
, series presented its vice-president Miroljub Labus
Miroljub Labus
Miroljub Labus is a Serbian economist and politician. Currently he's a University of Belgrade professor, lecturing political economy at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law...
as de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
leader. He has been shown as only rational person, which is often getting upset by other politicians. Ironically, he is inseparable from character of Mlađan Dinkić, his assistant, which is shown as retarded
Mental retardation
Mental retardation is a generalized disorder appearing before adulthood, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors...
. Vuk Drašković
Vuk Draškovic
Vuk Drašković , leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement, is a Serbian politician who served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Yugoslavia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia.He graduated from the University of Belgrade's Law School in 1968...
is struggling for preservation of Serbian traditionalism, making comical situations, in which he learns English and trying to translate Serbian epical songs to it. Velimir Ilić
Velimir Ilic
Velimir "Velja" Ilić is Serbian politician and a former Minister of Capital Investments in the Serbian government in the cabinet of Vojislav Koštunica.- Biography :...
is shown as a vulgar
VULGAR
Vulgar is the fourth studio album released by Dir En Grey on September 10, 2003 in Japan and on February 21, 2006 in Europe. A limited edition containing an additional DVD was also released. It featured the video of the song "Obscure", albeit a censored version...
and badly behaved person. Some of old characters were Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
and Vojislav Šešelj
Vojislav Šešelj
Vojislav Šešelj, JD is a Serbian politician, writer and lawyer. He is the founder and president of the Serbian Radical Party and was vice-president of Serbia between 1998 and 2000...
. Ivica Dačić
Ivica Dacic
Ivica Dačić is a Serbian politician. He is the leader of Socialist Party of Serbia and is First Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of Internal Affairs....
, Milošević's vice-president was giving needed parliamentar support to Koštunica's Government. Češić had an idea to make allusion to some popular serials, including Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
, The Matrix
The Matrix
The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction-action film written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, and Hugo Weaving...
, X-files, as well as South-American "soap"-series, which are very popular in Serbia. In Nikad izvini, one was called "Tandarella", and Koštunica was shown as main female character. „Koštunica`s Serbia seemed to me as some surrealistic anti-utopia of Hieronymus Bosch...“, mentioned Češić in an 2009 interview. Summer of 2004 marked the end of first season. During summer holiday, Boris Tadić
Boris Tadic
Boris Tadić is the President of Serbia and leader of the Democratic Party. He was elected to a five-year term on 27 June 2004, and was sworn into office on 11 July. He was re-elected for a de facto second five-year term on 3 February 2008 and was sworn in on 15 February...
(already important character in series), became a president of Serbia. Some other politician also became important.
Second half of 2004 and first half of 2005
Second season was premiered in late summer of 2004, and production was continued on the very same tempo.Bogoljub Karić
Bogoljub Karic
Bogoljub Karić ) is a businessman and politician from Serbia.- Early life :Bogoljub Karić was born on January 17, 1954 in Peć, Kosovo, Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia, to Janićije Karić and Danica Kuzmanović. He earned a degree in Geography from Prirodno-matematički fakultet in Priština and his Master's...
, infamous Serbian tycoon and candidate on Serbian presidential election, 2004
Serbian presidential election, 2004
Serbia held the first round of its 2004 elections for President of Serbia on Sunday, 13 June 2004, and the second round on Sunday, 27 June 2004. Boris Tadić, the pro-western Democratic Party's candidate, was the eventual victor...
, became important political figure, so he was featured in serial as the best friend of Ilić
Velimir Ilic
Velimir "Velja" Ilić is Serbian politician and a former Minister of Capital Investments in the Serbian government in the cabinet of Vojislav Koštunica.- Biography :...
. Second New Year special was called "The Untouchables in curve of Spacetime
Spacetime
In physics, spacetime is any mathematical model that combines space and time into a single continuum. Spacetime is usually interpreted with space as being three-dimensional and time playing the role of a fourth dimension that is of a different sort from the spatial dimensions...
", and this time, characters were shown as favourite Eliot Ness
Eliot Ness
Eliot Ness was an American Prohibition agent, famous for his efforts to enforce Prohibition in Chicago, Illinois, and the leader of a legendary team of law enforcement agents nicknamed The Untouchables.- Early life :...
(Labus), and his incapable colleagues (Koštunica, Tadić, Drašković). They are trying to prevent smugglers of dangerous „Jujubana“ whiskey (Karić and Ilić). When Koštunica turns back his pocket-watch
Watch
A watch is a small timepiece, typically worn either on the wrist or attached on a chain and carried in a pocket, with wristwatches being the most common type of watch used today. They evolved in the 17th century from spring powered clocks, which appeared in the 15th century. The first watches were...
, whole day before, 31 December 1931, is repeated. At the end, Ness managed to find what the problem is and break that watch, however, both he and his colleagues are already put in Sing-Sing
Sing-sing
Sing-sing is a gathering of a few tribes or villages in Papua New Guinea. People arrive to show their distinct culture, dance and music. The aim of these gatherings is to peacefully share traditions. Villagers paint and decorate themselves for sing-sings....
prison.
Sudden cancellation of TV broadcast
At the beginning of April 2005, "Pink" aired the most controversial episode called "Hamlet". In the episode, the politicians are shown as very bad theatre-troop, in which only Labus can distinct real life from the performance— ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
`s „Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
“. The fact that provoked public anger was feature of deceased Serbian Prime minister Zoran Đinđić`s ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
. At the same time, ghost is also featured among the politicians in the audience (all characters were "doubled" - they are shown both as the audience, as well as the actors on scene).
On the very same day, supported by some other political organizations, Demokratska Stranka (whose leader was Đinđić) condemned this episode and required cancellation of series. On following day, "Pink" suddenly cancelled series due to "low ratings". This could not be explained, because servers of "Pink" and "Nikad izvini" web addresses were cluttered, following massive traffic. Two days later, the show was resumed; however, less than week later, the series was permanently cancelled. Months later, producers claimed that "Pink" put the series on "stand-by", although it had rating of a million viewers per day.
Video editions
Months after the cancellations, some episodes were available on the Nikad izvini website In March 2006, Media Global Agency and First Production began publishing a set of 4 DVDs featuring best episodes. First one included 46 episodes, of which 2 were latter recorded (partially animated, because puppets were pulled back due to TV cancellation): „Amfilohije“ and „All people of Prime Minister", as well as "behind the scene" photo gallery.. As far as 2007, all 4 DVDs were published.Unreleased TV resumption
In an interview to "Politika TV review"Politika
Politika is a Serbian newspaper. It is considered the newspaper of record and is the oldest daily in the Balkans, having been founded on January 25, 1904 by Vladislav Ribnikar. It is currently being published by Politika Newspapers and Magazines , a joint venture between Politika AD and...
published on 26 September 2008, program producer of TV Pink, Tanja Vojtehovski announced that "Nikad izvini" would be resumed to program.. Certain number of new episodes has been recorded and is available through Youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, however, until 2010 it has not been aired, with lack of an official explanation. In an interview given to Serbian week-magazine "Standard" from mid-2009, Češić made a comment: „When friend of mine told me about sketch, in which owner
Miroslav Miškovic
Miroslav Mišković is a Serbian businessman, the owner of Delta Holding...
of Delta Holding
Delta Holding
Delta Holding is the third largest company in Serbia. The company was founded in Belgrade. Delta Holding performs a variety of services, such as import-export,real-estate , banking, insurance, retail, wholesale, etc. The president is Miroslav Mišković...
sings Everybody Кnows (with which new season of Nikad izvini should have begun), that he would not air it too, if he has a TV station, I answered that probably I wouldn't too... I never blamed television for cancellation. Responsibility for that state in medias is up to creators of "time spirit", or in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, "Zeitgeist
Zeitgeist
Zeitgeist is "the spirit of the times" or "the spirit of the age."Zeitgeist is the general cultural, intellectual, ethical, spiritual or political climate within a nation or even specific groups, along with the general ambiance, morals, sociocultural direction, and mood associated with an era.The...
". In our case, those are limited politicians, or persons behind them". Češić's latest project, „Iz nepoznatih razloga“("From unknown reasons"), was also cancelled from some networks, and available only online.