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UPFRONTS 2013: The Overachievers 
EXCLUSIVE: Israeli formats continue to be a hot commodity. In a competitive situation, NBC has landed the rights to Israeli mystery drama Timrot Ashan, aka Pillars of Smoke, for Peter Traugott’s recently launched UMS-based production company to produce. Search is already underway for a writer to adapt the series created by Noah Stollman and Oded Davidoff, which is often referred to as Israel’s Lost. Described as Twin Peaks meets Northern Exposure meets Lost, the original Pillars of Smoke is an offbeat mystery series set in Israel’s remote, rural Golan Heights. When the members of a remote cult disappear leaving no traces behind, a police investigation slowly uncovers the darkest secrets of the region and its inhabitants, as well as a grander political conspiracy and environmental disaster from which the cult members are attempting to escape. Traugott will executive produce the NBC version with his development executive Rachel Kaplan. Also executive producing is Alon Aranya. Timrot Ashan, produced by Herzlia Studios, premiered in 2009 on Israeli’s Hot TV network, with a second season slated for this year. The project was packaged by Gersh’s Rob Golenberg. Over the last few years, there have been four U.S. scripted series based on Israeli formats: HBO’s In Treatment, CBS’ The Ex List, Fox’s Traffic Light and Showtime’s upcoming Homeland. Additionally, HBO is developing an adaptation of Israeli mystery drama The Naked Truth with former Dexter showrunner Clyde Phillips. That format also was brought over by Aranya, who is exec producing alongside Phillips.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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Sounds like an interesting idea that will no doubt be completely effed up by a legion of vapid, frightened, and unimaginative network execs. Way to go guys.
Wait, so you’re angry because the network’s trying to do something interesting and it might not work out?Would it be better for you if they didn’t try at all? Awesome logic. And just out of curiosity, Bob, what part of the industry are you failing in right now?
Yeah, Bob, but Robert Greenblatt supports creatives and is now in charge of NBC.
Well, we’ll have to wait and see what kind of moves he’ll make this season first. But I’m hopeful!
Yeah, it just sounds like an excellent premise that will sadly just fly over the heads of an American audience.
Man, the networks really love Israel. Not complaining, because Homeland sounds amazing and this sounds pretty good too. Kind of like The Event. Although, based on how not-well ratings wise The Event did on NBC this past year, this will probably only last one season.
If this is in fact referred to as “Israel’s Lost”, and now it’s being adapted by American TV, isn’t that just Lost? I’m just sayin’…
This sounds amazing, i just have a feeling that its going to be to smart for America to understand and the rating will be low. Just like the “Killing” and other intelligent programs.
John Garcia, I completely agree with you. “Americans just won’t get it”. People in Israel are just on a whole other level of intelligence. They didn’t “get” LOST.
I wish America could have your brain John. A person that can’t even use the proper form of “it’s” or “too”. I hope you understand that YOU ARE A CLICHE, no matter how many intelligently crafted cable tv series you watch.
I wish it luck, but don’t understand this interest in formats from israel??. so far none have been successful.
In Treatment had 3 seasons, more than most shows.
Too smart?? Is there such a thing?
Congrats to Alon! I’ve heard great things about this show!
Traugott’s killing it this season…
i’ve seen the original series, it’s really really good. i think that’s because it combines a fantastic script writing and a really talented cast. i’m sure that if the script is translated well and the cast is great, then the American version will be awesome too.
btw, it is nothing like lost. different story entirely.
fingers crossed
One of the worst and most boring shows on Israeli Tv. Reeks of Twin Peaks plagiarism, and it’s opening sequence is stolen completely form the True Blood opening. The show is so unoriginal, American-like, riddled with suspense clichés, its almost like selling ice to Eskimos. I can’t understand why (with the exception of the brilliant Be’Tipul who was adapted word by word, scene by scene, to In Treatment)Hollywood picks up the worst Israeli shows when there are so many other great shows. The original “The Ex List” was a failure in Israel, “Hatufim” which Homeland is based on is fake, soapy and melodramatic (I’ve seen Homeland and its great, completely skipping over all the weaknesses of the crap its based on) and Traffic Light was a nice show which no one believed will translate well because its too Israeli, and indeed it failed.
Is Jerri M a pseudonym for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad????? Mahmoud, you don’t know WTF you’re talking about. Pillars is fantastic. Have you seen it? Also, they shoot these shows for 250 – 300K per ep. Not bad.