After shelving the project due to pressure from the European Broadcasting Union, KAN is now ready to air its satire comedy show about a terrorist plot against the Eurovision as soon as the contest ends.
The first episode of the miniseries titled Douze Points is finally slated to air on Wednesday, May 22, four days after the live grand finale of the Eurovision. And the public broadcaster is leaning into the controversy.
“The series that the Eurovision directors didn’t want you to see is coming to KAN,” the network wrote on Facebook, alongside a video promoting the show.
What was all the controversy about? KAN started planning the dark comedy show last year, after Israel won the 2018 Eurovision, and the right to host this year’s competition. The miniseries features TJ, a gay Muslim singer from France, who is participating in the competition in Israel. But TJ ends up being blackmailed by ISIS as part of a terrorist plot against the competition. Hilarity ensues, of course.
Months after the script for Douze Points was written, France selected Bilal Hassani – a gay Muslim singer – to represent it at the competition this year, and the storyline suddenly hit too close to home.
Initially, KAN steadfastly denied it would change or delay airing the show, maintaining it had to keep its editorial freedom. But it eventually caved in to the pressure, and agreed to push off the air date until after the competition.
“In a total coincidence, there is a similarity between the story of the French singer in the series and in reality,” KAN said in March. The public broadcaster said it received a “harsh” letter from the European Broadcasting Union, “claiming that broadcasting the show in Israel could cause significant security, political and legal issues, and that airing it is contrary to the agreement between the EBU and KAN.”
Now, with the show’s air date set and the Eurovision about to kick off, KAN is just hoping that satire will not become reality.