For a country with bomb-detecting security scanners in every shopping centre and leaders who constantly talk about the Iranian nuclear programme, Israel’s latest television craze is surprising — a bomb-themed quiz show.
In Boom, contestants face a ticking bomb which, when it gets to zero, shakes the studio and causes them to lose prize money. Contestants win by answering questions correctly and snipping wires that would otherwise allow the bomb to “detonate”.
By appropriating one of the most dreaded objects in the Israeli psyche, a bomb, the show has gained a dedicated following. “It makes light out of something that has caused us so much grief, and this makes for a good gimmick and a really entertaining show,” said Michael Tzadiki, an entrepreneur in his 30s.
He added: “Although the bomb theme may seem inappropriate to outsiders, we learn in Israel not to have taboos.”