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Yossi Brent? 'The Office' to get Israeli version
By Ruta Kupfer
Tags: Israel News, Ricky Gervais 

An Israeli version of the smash British television show "The Office" will be broadcast on the Yes satellite carrier starting in April of next year. The 15 episodes, each 25 minutes long, will be written by Uzi Weill, who directed the hit program Betipul, and directed by Eitan Tzur, whose past credits include "Hahamishia Hakamerit."

The Israeli version of the series that Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant created will take place at the dreary workplace of "Super Office," a fictional office-supply firm in Petah Tikva.

Weill is already hard at work on episode scripts, basing some on their British counterpart and others on original scenarios characteristic of the Israeli work environment, which have been approved by Gervais and Merchant.
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The cast will include a variety of Israeli types - an Arab warehouse manager, an ultra-Orthodox saleswoman and a bitter Russian accountant. The Israeli answer to David Brent, the obnoxious boss of the U.K. program, will be named Avi Meshulam, though an actor has yet to be pegged for the role.

This is the sixth international copy of the British series, following successful runs in Canada (acted in French), Chile, Russia, Germany, and an Emmy-awarding winning U.S. version with Steve Carell portraying a tactless American version of Brent by the name of Michael Scott.

In response to the news, Gervais told the U.K. newspaper The Guardian, "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?"
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  1.   Hopefully it`ll be good 03:37  |  Brian Justin Roffman 31/03/09
  2.   Great 05:47  |  Z 31/03/09
  3.   why is there no good, original comedy in Israel? 08:03  |  danny 31/03/09
  4.   gervais 08:19  |  Vic Ceff 31/03/09
  5.   OH VOI 08:29  |  SJ 31/03/09
  6.   Was going to say something 09:33  |  Chris Linthwaite 31/03/09
  7.   no Jewish entertainers? 10:20  |  Freda 31/03/09
  8.   just keep the sex to a minimum please 11:16  |  Kenny 31/03/09
  9.   Yet another show not to watch. 11:23  |  Liz 31/03/09
  10.   British undertstatement 13:33  |  True Brit 31/03/09
  11.   #10 True Brit 14:01  |  Chris Linthwaite 31/03/09
  12.   #7 Freda - that WAS British understatement 14:06  |  Bruno 31/03/09
  13.   "Yossi Brent and the Israeli Office" 14:46  |  DT 31/03/09
  14.   Liz - Big Brother is Dutch 22:47  |  Ben 31/03/09
  15.   I love the American version but unfortunately 00:48  |  Robert Haymond 01/04/09
  16.   Israeli Michael Scott 01:57  |  Brian Justin Roffman 03/04/09
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