Ha-Hamishia Hakamerit Online

"The Cameric Five" is the best comedy done by Israelis, mostly about Israelis. Each episode consisted of a few sketches. Some were satiric, some were not, but all were sophisticated humor, often with many "layers" of humor, that could only be fully understood when the viewer used his own wit and intellect. The sketches often showed the true face of people and society, and especially Israelis and the Israeli society. As a result, some sketches may not be understood by a foreigner, yet many sketches could be, and that is why the show has been sold for airing abroad. To summarize, "The Cameric Five" is the most sophisticated, hilarious and intelligent show ever to be made in Israel.

Hahamishiya Hakamerit was a one of a kind show, that dared to cross boundaries and send out an often mocked capture of Israeli reality, sophisticatedly and moronically at the same time. It merged a variety of writing genres and presented sketches in forms of black and white movies, sitcoms, documentaries, talk shows etc. It referred to such issues as politics, bureaucracy, religion, sex, commercialism, military, social gaps and so on. Due to its breakthrough, clever, experimental, opposite-mainstream character, some may say it was an upper-class show,trying to be overly sophisticated, or to put it more graphic - crap. And as much as I disagree, there is something in that claim. I mean, even I sometimes sat in front of the TV thinking "what the?!". So maybe the writers were a little mad, but hey, that's genius for you...

I think that one significant characteristic of a good creation is stepping outside your own culture, opening up to new ideas. And that's exactly what the show did. That's why it didn't have to be funny all the time, just very, very, interesting. I was in elementary school when the show aired, and I probably didn't understand a lot of the concepts. But yet, I liked watching it. I think it's because it was so special. I've watched some episodes on reruns over the years, and again this year, and although almost a decade has passed, it remains as funny, interesting, creative and original as it was in its time. Respect to the writers, actors, director and the rest involved.