"Warring Land" promo, February 7, 2024/12 Sagittarius
Actor Lior Ashkenazi has a strange hobby: he likes to lie to journalists. That's why even his Wikipedia entry had a debate surrounding his date of birth. To his credit, he does not hide this hobby. He enjoys it. In 2005, he was interviewed by the "Haaretz" supplement and talked about a mental breakdown following drug and alcohol addiction. Three years later he was interviewed by the same newspaper and admitted that he made the things up. Why? Because he was bored. This admission didn't make him stop being a sought-after interviewee, and it didn't stop journalists from continuing to quote his explosive headlines, which he probably fabricated from his fevered mind.
One can wonder about the state of the Israeli press (in general) which repeatedly gives a platform to a person who does not hide his disdain for it. And on the other hand, it's a matter of chicken and egg, if you repeatedly give something to a person who depends on you - how can you not be treated with disdain? And yet it's hard not to tell the truth: Lior Ashkenazi's unique practice of creating new biographical details for himself in every interview is first and foremost a fine comedy.
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Ashkenazi as Gantz/screenshot, Keshet 12
All this preface is to remind that Lior Ashkenazi is a very funny man. He doesn't seem to get enough credit for this, and for pretty obvious reasons. It is about the troubles of the rich: Lior Ashkenazi is the symbol of the beautiful Israeliness of the 21st century. A kind of modern Eric Einstein, minus the singing voice. A Jew of Eastern origin, a fighter in the IDF, an award-winning actor who is internationally recognized and, by and large, a man to bring home to his mother. The British star Morrissey loved Ashkenazi so much in the film "Walking on Water" that he invited him to be his guest at his concert in London, and even dedicated it to him A whole section in his autobiography. After all this, to say that he is "funny" is almost insulting.
Nevertheless, while watching the last program of "Wonderful Land" last night, I realized that in many ways, Ashkenazi is one of the anchors of the most successful humor program in the history of Israel. This, despite He is technically on the standard of a guest in the cast. Reminder: at the beginning of 2019, a total of five years ago, even if it feels much longer, Lior Ashkenazi appeared in Israel as a guest star in the role of Benny Gantz, then the rising star of Israeli politics. He has since made several other characters Little things here and there (including a perfect imitation of Guy Maroz) but his main role in the force is that rather simple imitation of the former Chief of Staff and whom the polls predict - and not for the first time - that he will be the next Prime Minister.
Gantz's impersonation does not require Ashkenazi to have superior imitating abilities, and he really does not need to bring to the screen the wonderful playing abilities that made him a Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball player of the Ophir Awards. Gantz's impersonation requires Ashkenazi to do the thing he hates doing in interviews: let the truth come out Out naturally. He's good at it. The fact that in truth, as in lies, it's just funny.
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Not weak and not weakened. Imitation of Netanyahu by Mariano Idelman/screenshot, Keshet 12
As far as politicians are concerned, there are better and more accurate impersonations in Eretz (Liat Har Lev's Tali Gottlieb, for example), there are more mocking imitations (Yuval Samo's Miri Regev) and funnier imitations (Eran Zarhovich's Yoav Galant). The annoying imitations of Netanyahu and Ben Gvir, who present dangerous characters as lovable and clownish, have already been written extensively in this section. The imitation of Benny Gantz is exactly the mirror image of the latter. Benny Gantz's imitation is not the most successful imitation of a great country, but it is the most consistent, the most realistic - and therefore, in many ways, it is also the most important. He is also the proof that the satirical heart of "Eretz" is in the right place, and that humor is above any other agenda.
The program of "Eretz" yesterday was not particularly balanced. Excellent ideas such as the politicians' version of "We are the world", surprisingly good imitations (Sharon Teicher as Steve from "Beverly Hills 90210") and also ones that are less so like the faltering attempt to present to the audience of a great country a phenomenon like Sasson Shaolov. And yet, precisely in the satirical areas of the program, jarring screeches were heard. In a week with political incendiary materials such as the crisis facing the US and the conscription law storm, to settle for a (funny) imitation of Eitan Cable, who has not been part of the political map since 2019, felt like a disconnection from reality. And also, the comparison between the vice president of the US and the character of J. And Leah Roberts in "Beautiful Woman" (reminder: street prostitute) felt like an unrefined attempt to get some ratings overseas, and not overseas.
pleasantly surprised. Teicher as Ian Ziering/screenshot, Sagittarius 12
If throughout the season it was possible to understand the restraint around issues related to the war, yesterday there was no need for brakes. And yet we got Bibi as a weak loser again, this time with untidy hair and a crooked tie. It's not funny simply because it's not true. Bibi is neither weak nor weakened. Even today, despite his position in the polls and his apparent medical condition, he is still the most powerful man in Israel. A tyrant who manages to still rule this country undisputedly even though he is leading it to a new low every day. The citizens see the world moving away from us, our greatest friend turning his back on us and all this before we even talked about what the hell is going on with the war if there are still missiles on Ashdod and hostages in Gaza. According to a great country, we are supposed to feel sorry for the supreme leader. Such dangerous.
And this is why the imitation of Benny Gantz is so important, because it presents the greatest alternative of this man as he is depicted in reality: a useful and spineless idiot. It is customary to mention that this is a hero of Israel, a privileged chief of staff and a man who could have made a fortune for himself but chose to enter and get dirty in the political arena. In practice, it is unpleasant to admit, this is a puppet. Just a puppet. Like the mystical monster from Prague, it is a humanoid puppet, created by Jews with intentions Better than a convenient material for sculpting. The golem was meant to protect and terrorize, but in practice it did more harm than good.
Lior Ashkenazi's simple imitation of Gantz does the job without exaggerations, without gimmicks and without catchphrases. He doesn't need Yair Lapid's funny "Hello to you" Or Gallant's "Ma'am". He is simply Benny. A head of a kalbasa who exudes statesmanship while he maintains the worst government in Israel's history with his own hands. Sometimes it seems that Ashkenazi comes on stage without an original script, but simply with the headlines of the newspapers. Benny threatens, Benny scolds, Benny tweets - and in the end, Benny keeps Netanyahu united. "Eretz" finally took off the gloves yesterday against Benny Gantz, and it was as painful as it was important. What's for sure, it won't move Degenert, who suffers much worse humiliations on a daily basis from his fellow members of the government. If it is indeed the next prime minister, it is not at all certain that it will be in the best interest of the country, but at least we will gain some good satire.
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