Israel's Most Popular Sitcom Is Coming to the U.S.

Ha-hayim Ze Lo Hakol (Life Isn't Everything), Israel's most popular TV sitcom, will be coming to the U.S. soon. Broadcast on Channel 2, Israel's largest commercial channel, it's the nation's most popular and longest-running sitcom, lasting for 9 seasons with 150 episodes.

It has scored top ratings consistently, with a current share of 33%. For almost every week that it was broadcast, it ranked in the top 10 most-watched weekly shows.

As reported in Deadline TV by Nellie Andreeva,

The creator of the original series, Daniel Lappin, will be involved in the writing of the U.S. version. Lappin will co-write the script for CBS with comedy veteran Mike Sikowitz (Friends). Sony Pictures TV, where Sikowitz has an overall deal, will produce with Reshet, the Israeli company whose Channel 2 broadcasts the original series. Sikowitz is already in business with CBS and Sony TV – he serves as an executive producer on Rules Of Engagement.

Noa Tishby, who was involved in bringing to the U.S. In Treatment, the Israeli series that sparked U.S. networks’ interest in formats from the Middle Eastern country, shepherded Life Isn’t Everything‘s trip to Hollywood. She is executive producing with Sikowitz, Lappin and an executive from Reshet.

CBS’ multi-camera Life Isn’t Everything is about a middle-aged, recently divorced couple who were bad at marriage and discover they are now really bad at divorce – messy, can’t help but being involved in each others’ lives, still have sex, etc. “It is a romantic comedy about a couple who are divorced but can’t get out of each other’s lives,” Lappin said. Added Tishby, “you can’t divorce your ex.” She called the original a “classic, perfectly written sitcom. There is such a high divorce rate in the U.S., and no one has been able to capture the funny side of divorce.”

When the series starts playing in the U.S., we'll have an update. In the meantime, enjoy a classic clip from the Israeli version.

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