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Israeli producers have briefly tried their luck in the past with the reality TV show Dancing with the Stars, but the global hit franchise didn't pull off more than seven seasons in the country.
The show has been on the air for 30 years in the U.S. and 20 years in Britain, where the format first originated under a different name. But in Israel, the show was canceled in 2012 due to low ratings. Now, 10 years later, Channel 12 is hoping the Israeli viewer will give the show a second chance.
The first episode of the show's latest run finally aired on Sunday. The gorgeous Lucy Ayoub is hosting this season which is pre-recorded, unlike previous ones.
This season's star-studded cast features names such as Prof. Idit Matot of the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv — who rose to celebrity status for her work during the COVID-19 pandemic; Olympic gymnast Alex Shatilov, comedian Adi Ashkenazi, model Bar Zomer, and singer Liran Danino.
The judges' panel is comprised of veteran dancer Eli Mizrahi, choreographer David Dvir and former Dancing with the Stars contenders Rona-lee Shimon and Ana Aharonov.
After the new season's debut, the judges faced criticism for being overly forgiving, passing out compliments freely that often felt out of place.
"If this is a competitive show, judges should give scores accordingly and express a professional opinion," one critic lamented.
"If everyone danced so wonderfully, let's pack up and go home," another commented.