Summer Preview: What’s Next on TV?
To start the summer off, we thought we’d take a look at some TV shows that are currently trending around the world.
Whereas Hollywood once relied heavily on recycled Britcoms for hits, they are now reaching out to some previously unexplored territory. Homeland, the hit Showtime series with Claire Danes, is based on an Israeli show of the same name. Ditto HBO’s In Therapy. And Denmark was the origination point for The Killing, the new AMC thriller.
Today, in Part 1 of our Summer Previews, we’ll take a look at breaking shows from the US, Israel and Australia.
KIT’s Director of Social Media, Farhana Rahman, shines a spotlight on Don’t Trust The B—- in Apt. 23 which has been rapidly gaining a following on the ABC network here in the US.
Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 (commonly referred to as Apartment 23) is a half-hour sitcom starring Krysten Ritter as Chloe, and Dreama Walker as June Colburn. The show is set in New York City. June becomes Chloes roommate and realizes that Chloe is a con artist. They form an unusual friendship despite being polar opposites. Viewers across the U.S adore the show for its random and edgy comedic timing, and frequent appearances by Dawsons Creek star, James Van Der Beek. It is quickly becoming a guilty pleasure for young adults. To the delight of Dawsons Creek fans of the 90’s, Van Der Beek plays a fictionalized version of himself in this show. Many viewers compare Apartment 23 with The Odd Couple, because of the premise of mismatched roommates living together. This show was created by television writer/producer Nahnatchka Khan. Khan formerly worked on American Dad and Malcolm in the Middle. Ritter was previously known for her recurring roles in hit dramas Veronica Mars and Gilmore Girls, and supporting roles in romantic comedies. Walker was previously seen on Gossip Girl, and The Good Wife. Apartment 23 developed a strong following within the first few episodes, but many question the longevity of it because it lacks originality. So far, viewers are coming back for more because the actors portray their characters very well. Unlike most other sitcoms- punch lines are delivered when least expected. Viewers also find Apartment 23 refreshing to watch because it’s a fresh new addition in a mix that mostly consists of reality shows.
Eaon Pritchard, Director of Innovation at our Australian subsidiary Sputnik, introduces us to hit reality show from Down Under, Channel 10′s The Shire.
The next big breaking show out of Australia is expected to be The Shire, the latest in the ‘dramality’ (drama reality) series trend and the first of these to come out of Oz. The Shire is expected to drop in July this year. The Shire is reportedly inspired (if that’s the right word) by US series Jersey Shore and the UK’s The Only Way is Essex – and will feature some colourful residents of Sutherland Shire in New South Wales, essentially the Essex of Sydney, kinda thing. There’s already a fair bit of controversy surround the show as the Mayor of Sutherland slammed the producers for exaggerating the area’s ‘bogan’ image. ‘Bogan’ being the Aussie parlance for what would be described as ‘chav’ in the UK or perhaps ‘guido’ or even ‘white trash’ in US. The bogan ‘stars’ of the Shire will include Aussie singer KC Osborne, looking to give her profile a boost after failing to crack the US poppette market amongst a cast reputed to contain “..the boys next door, the girls next door, the heart-breakers, and the home-wreckers’ ie wannabe gangsters and porn stars. So the bogans on display are more likely to be of the ‘cashed-up’ variety. Expect scenes of gratuitous conspicuous consumption and boob jobs.
The Shire comes hot on the heels of the announcement of another Channel 10 corker Being Lara Bingle, a reality series that follows round the blonde fashion model who is also from Sutherland Shire, though who’s bogan credentials are unconfirmed. So it’s all pretty highbrow stuff, but in all likelyhood The Shire will become one of the most talked-about shows on TV over here.
Even in mid production the controversy continues.
Moving to another corner of the globe, our special correspondent Eitan Chitayat, Creative Director at Tel Aviv based Natie, recommends 30 NIS Per Hour, a new series from Channel 1 that is drawing attention due to its focus on the lowest levels of Israeli society.
30 NIS (New Israeli Shekels) Per Hour is a brand new drama series. It focuses on 3 heroines – Osnat, Irena and Amal – who each come from three distinctly different sectors of Israeli society. One is a single mother of 40, another, a new immigrant from Ukraine who left her daughter behind when she came to Israel, and an Arab girl who fled from her family and who’s collaborating with Israeli Intelligence.
The series follows them around a successful media company, one that they clean every day. Each one works on a separate floor and has minimal contact with the other, until they’re laid off. This dramatic event bonds them and they decide to join forces, defy the organization that once employed them and go independent.
The story explores the how women survive together in a tough world. It’s peppered with their personal trials and tribulations, strggles with love, family life and more. Gradually, cracks appear between the partners as personal goals conflict with their common business interests, and personal rivalries, jealousy and conflicts of passion boil to the surface 30 NIS per hour isn’t an entertaining series in the sense that you can lay back and chuckle every few seconds. It draws the viewer in and beckons them to become emotionally vested in the lives of three strong, fascinating women who live in a complex world where of no absolute evil or good. It’s a world of the ‘simple’ people that most would normally not take notice of. They’re put in the spotlight for a moment, and are celebrated.
Alongside known actors like Ruth Bornstein, Yigal Adika and Vladimir Friedman, new faces appear in the series such as Sophia Austritzki, punk singer of Rock band “Midnight Prayer”, Samira Sarayah, and Jacob Burke writer and businessman (founder of “Evergreen”). Screenplay: Yossi Madmoni. Director: David Ofek and Sari Ezouz Cinematographer: Shai Goldman Editor: Sari Ezouz Producer: Haim Sharir