The popular Israeli sitcom Checkout, which airs on KAN 11 and streams globally on Netflix, launched its sixth season this week in Israel as both the series and its accompanying film continue to captivate audiences. The show centers on staff and customers at the fictional Shefa Issachar supermarket, portraying a microcosm of Israeli society with humor that resonates widely. The movie adaptation, released this summer, drew over a million viewers, becoming the country’s top summer film despite competition from international releases such as Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
Yaniv Zohar, co-creator and co-head writer of Checkout, emphasized the deeper role of humor in Jewish culture, describing it as a survival tool rather than mere escapism. Zohar and fellow co-creator Nadav Frishman, along with writers Matan Blumenblat and Daniel Salganik, spoke about the creative process behind the series and its success. Despite the show’s popularity, the team expressed contentment with returning to the routine of producing television.
The series is noted for its ability to find comedy in the everyday interactions between diverse supermarket workers and customers. Fan-favorite characters include Ramzi, an optimistic Arab Israeli employee played by Amir Shurush; Cochava, a self-focused cashier; Anatoly, a Russian butcher; Shira, the ambitious manager modeled after Steve Jobs; and Amnon, a particular customer who has become a figure embraced by the political left. The ensemble cast reflects the complexity of Israeli society, united under the banner of the supermarket environment.
The new season introduces additional actors, such as Israel Katorza, Tal Friedman, Yael Shelbia, Meni Mamtera, Roy Kafri, and Ilan Peled, with Friedman appearing as himself. Storylines include a supermarket renovation led by a contractor played by Katorza and a politically themed episode centered on the upcoming elections that features actor Yaakov Zada-Daniel in a guest role. Despite the series generally avoiding overt political commentary, the election episode was crafted with a nonpartisan approach, grounded solely in humor rather than political ideology. Writers acknowledged the challenge of making an election-themed episode relevant after it had been written many months prior.
The program’s production has continued amid security challenges, including recent conflicts between Israel and Iran. The cast and crew documented moments when they sought shelter during filming, yet maintained an emphasis on comedy as a coping mechanism. Zohar reflected on the historical role of humor in difficult times, citing stories of people attending theater performances in Holocaust-era ghettos. The writers expressed a shared belief that comedy serves a vital psychological and social function, offering a temporary reprieve and reaffirming normalcy during crises.
Regarding the portrayal of Ramzi, Blumenblat noted that the character’s identity remains consistent and that his Arab background is not the defining feature. Salganik stressed that Ramzi’s personality transcends ethnicity, underscoring the creators’ focus on shared human traits rather than political divisions.
The writers also revealed ongoing work on an Arabic-language hospital comedy for KAN 11, set within Arab Israeli society and featuring predominantly Arab characters alongside two Jewish characters. This project aims to highlight common humanity and workplace cooperation between Arabs and Jews, reflecting themes also present in Checkout.
The creative team draws much of their inspiration from everyday supermarket experiences, with Blumenblat describing frequent visits even without shopping as opportunities to observe human behavior and interactions. Fans often approach cast members, identifying characters with people from their own lives, attesting to the show’s cultural resonance. The writers believe that such authentic, relatable portrayals help the series avoid clichés and maintain freshness after multiple seasons.