Behind the Scenes of Israel's Favorite Sitcom 'Kupa Rashit'

Following the conclusion of Yom Kippur, the highly anticipated new season of the hit comedy series "Kupa Rashit" (Checkout) premiered on Kan 11, bringing back beloved characters like Kohava, Amnon, and Ramzi to Israeli screens.

The Rejected Script and Educational TV's Gamble

It is hard to imagine Israeli television without "Kupa Rashit", but its path to the screen was filled with closed doors. Creators Yaniv Zohar and Nadav Frishman were turned down repeatedly by major broadcasting networks, who claimed the concept was not funny enough. It was only when they approached Israeli Educational Television that executives immediately gave it the green light. Interestingly, the writers had no idea about the similar American sitcom "Superstore" when they came up with the idea.

Casting Surprises: Dov Navon and Keren Mor

Some of the show's iconic casting choices almost turned out entirely differently. The role of Kohava Shavit was first offered to actor Ilan Peled, who declined but suggested Keren Mor. Mor read the script, fell in love instantly, and declared, "I am Kohava." On the other hand, Dov Navon, who plays Amnon Titinsky, initially did not even want to attend the audition. Navon thought the script was not funny, but once he auditioned, the creators knew no one else could play the part.

"Since the show aired, passersby on the street are convinced I am hopelessly cheap in real life as well," Navon shares.

Ramzi's Signature Style and Improvised Butcher Shop

One of the most surprising facts involves Ramzi Abed Ramzi. Actor Amir Shuroush does not speak Arabic in real life. All of Ramzi's iconic body language, facial expressions, and vocal tone were completely improvised by Shuroush during his very first audition. Similarly, Daniel Stopin, who plays Anatoly from the butcher shop, does not speak Russian and has no accent in daily life. His heavy accent and legendary quotes with partner Nisim (Yaniv Swissa) were largely born from on-set improvisation.