Krovim Krovim
Encyclopedia
Krovim Krovim is an Israel
i television
sitcom created by Ephraim Sidon
and B. Michael. The series which originally aired on the Israeli Educational Television
channel in the years 1983 - 1986 is known as the first Israeli sitcom.
The series focuses on an extended Israeli family which shares a residential apartment building in the center of Tel Aviv
.
The opening tune of the series was composed by Nurit Hirsch.
The series dealt mainly with a variety of topics from everyday life situations of typical middle class urban secular Israeli
families in Israel in the 1980s
, such as School play
s, IDF Flight course, Vegetarianism
, Astrology
, elections for the board of the Condominium
, dealing with burglary
, celebrating birthday
s, and other satirical and social topics such as the inflation
, Israel – United States relations, hiring a Israeli Arab house keeper, Mizrahim
-Ashkenazim
relations, Intermarriages, etc.
s.
channel which would deal with parental-children relationships. The original proposed name for the production during its pre-production stages was "The Family" (המשפחה). In an interview with Modi Bar-On, the director of the series Yitzhak Shauli stated that when he and the producer of the show Risha Tierman decided originally to produce an Israeli sitcom, they both traveled to the United States
where they watched the filming of the American sitcom "Three's Company
" in order to learn about the directing process and the production process of a successful sitcom. Shauli stated that their experience in the U.S. raised concerns that the conditions available to them in Israel are not sufficient, nevertheless they decided to try and produce an Israeli sitcom anyway.
The address of the building, which appears in the show as "Vitek 9", is in fact fictitious. The building which is shown in the opening sequence of the series and in which most of the plot allegedly takes place, is actually a building located on the crossroad between the Rothschild Boulevard and the Hasmonean street in Tel Aviv. The name "Vitek" stems from the name of the husband of the series' producer, Risha Tierman, who died a few months before the start of the production. The number 9 was chosen because the building focuses on 9 family members (Hanna, Yoram, Leora, Eviatar, Efrat, Molly, Tiki, Ilan and Galia). Although it is a simple and modest building, it later on became a famous landmark due to the immense popularity the series gained in the mid 1980s
in Israel.
Since the original air broadcast of the series, the series was aired in reruns quite often, mainly on the Israeli channel 23.
The reunion episode featured Tom Gal who played Nevo, Eviatar's son and Sivan Sasson, who played Galia (Galia Kedem retired from acting). Molly Segev refused to participate in the production.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
sitcom created by Ephraim Sidon
Ephraim Sidon
Ephraim Sidon is a renowned Israeli author, playwright and satirist, cherished for both for his satirical work and his children's books.-Biography:...
and B. Michael. The series which originally aired on the Israeli Educational Television
Israeli Educational Television
The Israeli Educational Television is a state-owned public television network which used to concentrate on producing and broadcasting programs for schoolchildren. The first Israeli children's show, featuring Kishkashta, aired on Channel 1 in the 1970s and '80s...
channel in the years 1983 - 1986 is known as the first Israeli sitcom.
The series focuses on an extended Israeli family which shares a residential apartment building in the center of Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
.
The opening tune of the series was composed by Nurit Hirsch.
Synopsis
The series focuses on an extended Israeli family which lives in three apartments iresidential apartment building in the center of Tel Aviv. Ilan and Tiki, and their daughter Galia live on the third floor, Yoram (Tiki's brother) and Liora live on the second floor with their three children - Eviatar, Efrat and Molly. Hannah, who is Yoram and Tiki's aunt, live on the first floor.The series dealt mainly with a variety of topics from everyday life situations of typical middle class urban secular Israeli
Hiloni
Hiloni , plural hilonim derived from the Hebrew word hulin, meaning secular or mundane, is the term used in Israel for non-religious Jews.As natives of Israel, hilonim speak Hebrew...
families in Israel in the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
, such as School play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
s, IDF Flight course, Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
, Astrology
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
, elections for the board of the Condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
, dealing with burglary
Burglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
, celebrating birthday
Birthday
A birthday is a day or anniversary where a person celebrates his or her date of birth. Birthdays are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with a gift, party or rite of passage. Although the major religions celebrate the birth of their founders , Christmas – which is celebrated widely by...
s, and other satirical and social topics such as the inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
, Israel – United States relations, hiring a Israeli Arab house keeper, Mizrahim
Mizrahi Jews
Mizrahi Jews or Mizrahiyim, , also referred to as Adot HaMizrach are Jews descended from the Jewish communities of the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus...
-Ashkenazim
Ashkenazi Jews
Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim , are the Jews descended from the medieval Jewish communities along the Rhine in Germany from Alsace in the south to the Rhineland in the north. Ashkenaz is the medieval Hebrew name for this region and thus for Germany...
relations, Intermarriages, etc.
Main characters
Most of the characters in the series were called by the first names of the actors. In addition, it was decided that the main characters won't have last nameLast Name
"Last Name" is the title of a song composed by country singer Carrie Underwood, Hillary Lindsey and Luke Laird. It is the third single from Underwood's second studio album, Carnival Ride. It was released in the United States on April 7, 2008, by which point the song had already charted...
s.
- Ilan (Played by Ilan Dar) – Tiki's husband and Galia's father. Ilan works as an Insurance agent. Occasionally portraied as being stingyStingyStingy may refer to one of the following:*A miser*The name of a fictional puppet character on LazyTown* Stingy , single by Ginuwine* Stingy , 2011 single by Jordan Knight...
and manipulative. Ilan tends to often formulate sophisticated plans to gain wealth rapidly. Occasionally Ilan would seem to be the only normal person in the building. - Tiki (Played by Tiki Dayan) – Ilan's wife's and Galia's mother. Tiki is Yoram's sister. Tiki works as a Tour guideTour guideA tour guide provides assistance, information and cultural, historical and contemporary heritage interpretation to people on organized tours, individual clients, educational establishments, at religious and historical sites, museums, and at venues of other significant interest...
. She is very energetic, lively and practical. Tiki would occasionally talk on the phonePhoneWithin phonetics, a phone is:* a speech sound or gesture considered a physical event without regard to its place in the phonology of a language* a speech segment that possesses distinct physical or perceptual properties...
for hours. - Galia (Played by Galia Kedem) – Ilan and Tiki's only daughter.
- Yoram (Played by Yehoram GaonYehoram GaonYehoram Gaon is a Jewish Israeli singer, actor, director, producer, TV and radio host, and public figure...
) – Leora's husband, and the father of Eviatar, Efrat and Molly. Tiki's brother. Yoram is a mechanical engineer. Yoram is a hypochondriac who complains regularly about aches, painPainPain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...
, depression and diseases. Shows great proficiency in all types of medicineMedicineMedicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
s and means of healingHealingPhysiological healing is the restoration of damaged living tissue, organs and biological system to normal function. It is the process by which the cells in the body regenerate and repair to reduce the size of a damaged or necrotic area....
. - Liora (Played by Liora Rivlin) – Yoram's wife and the mother of Eviatar, Efrat and Muli. Leora works as an in a public employment agency. Tends to be quite pessimistic, uptight and cynical. Leora is a chronic smokerSmokerSmoker is a noun derived from "smoke"/"smoking" and may have the following specialized meanings:* Someone who smokes tobacco or cannabis, cigarette substitutes, or various other drugs* Smoking , smoker, an apparatus for smoking...
. - Eviatar (Played by Moshe Gershoni) – The eldest son of Joram and Leora. A bright young guy who during the series enlists in the Israel Defense ForcesIsrael Defense ForcesThe Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
. He then taken a Flying course but is eventually deposed from it. - Efrat (Played by Natalie Mairovich) – Yoram and Leora's middle daughter.
- Muli (Played by Muli Segev) – Yoram and Leora's youngest son.
- Hanna (Played by Hanna MaronHanna Maron- See also :* List of Israel Prize recipients...
) – Yoram and Tiki's aunt, who lives in her own apartment in the same building. Hanna, who is vibrant, sassy, and full of energy, tends to regularly comes up with bright and amusing ideas. Despite being the oldest in the group Hanna proves to actually be the youngest in spirit and openness to new ideas. Hanna would occasionally have conversations with her plants to relieve her boredom. The way Hanna used to answer the door become the main hallmarks of the series.
Recurring characters
- Mr. Kuzilevich (Played by Samuel Segal) – Chairman of the CondominiumCondominiumA condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
. - Doron (Played by Doron Nesher) – Hanna's sub-tenant.
History
The original idea was to produce a comedy TV series for the Israeli Educational TelevisionIsraeli Educational Television
The Israeli Educational Television is a state-owned public television network which used to concentrate on producing and broadcasting programs for schoolchildren. The first Israeli children's show, featuring Kishkashta, aired on Channel 1 in the 1970s and '80s...
channel which would deal with parental-children relationships. The original proposed name for the production during its pre-production stages was "The Family" (המשפחה). In an interview with Modi Bar-On, the director of the series Yitzhak Shauli stated that when he and the producer of the show Risha Tierman decided originally to produce an Israeli sitcom, they both traveled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where they watched the filming of the American sitcom "Three's Company
Three's Company
Three's Company is an American sitcom that aired from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984, on ABC. It is based on the British sitcom, Man About the House....
" in order to learn about the directing process and the production process of a successful sitcom. Shauli stated that their experience in the U.S. raised concerns that the conditions available to them in Israel are not sufficient, nevertheless they decided to try and produce an Israeli sitcom anyway.
The address of the building, which appears in the show as "Vitek 9", is in fact fictitious. The building which is shown in the opening sequence of the series and in which most of the plot allegedly takes place, is actually a building located on the crossroad between the Rothschild Boulevard and the Hasmonean street in Tel Aviv. The name "Vitek" stems from the name of the husband of the series' producer, Risha Tierman, who died a few months before the start of the production. The number 9 was chosen because the building focuses on 9 family members (Hanna, Yoram, Leora, Eviatar, Efrat, Molly, Tiki, Ilan and Galia). Although it is a simple and modest building, it later on became a famous landmark due to the immense popularity the series gained in the mid 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
in Israel.
Broadcast History
Although the series was produced by the Israeli Educational Television, it originally aired during the evening hours of the Israeli Channel 1 (on behalf of the Israeli Broadcasting Authority) and between February until May 1983 (first season), 1984 (second season) and 1986 (third season) and in re-runs between July to October during the afternoons.Since the original air broadcast of the series, the series was aired in reruns quite often, mainly on the Israeli channel 23.
Reunion episode production
During the early 2000s Yoram Gaon was interviewed in an Israeli Radio show in which he was asked why a reunion episode for the series has not been produce yet. As a result, the hosts of this Radio show began subsequently a radio campaign aimed at getting support for the production of such an episode and soon afterwards the radio station reported that there are intensions of producing a reunion episode for the series. Most of the original main cast agreed to participate in the production. Efraim Sidon expressed his support while writing a script that would corresponds to the 2000s. Yafa Vigaodcaki, the CEO of the Israeli Educational Television (which retains the rights to the series) agreed and the Discount Bank agreed to finance the production. The reunion episode was named "Hamatzav Tzav" was filmed in the studios of the Israeli Educational Television on November 11, 2004 in front of an audience, and was broadcast in the Israeli Channel 2 on 24 March 2005.The reunion episode featured Tom Gal who played Nevo, Eviatar's son and Sivan Sasson, who played Galia (Galia Kedem retired from acting). Molly Segev refused to participate in the production.