ABC greenlights Matar’s Tall and Greenbaum

US network ABC has greenlit development of Israeli format Tall and Greenbaum after striking a deal with Matar Universal.

This is the latest Israeli format to travel to the US following the success of HBO psychological drama In Treatment and Fox’s forthcoming buddy comedy Mixed Signals.

The network is developing a pilot for the comedy; the show follows two friends that film weddings and bar mitzvahs while trying to manage their business and complicated personal lives. The US version will be produced by Sony Pictures TV and written by How I Met Your Mother producer Rob Greenberg.

The original 13x30mins Israeli version is produced by Matar Universal, the production company set up by Ami Amir and run in conjunction with advertising agency McCann Erickson. It will air on Keshet’s Channel 2 next year and Matar Universal is also distributing the Israeli version and format internationally.  

Lilach Dekel, VP, international distribution, Matar Universal, told TBIvision: “Matar produced this format; we actually self financed it without any Israeli broadcaster involvement and we will distribute the Israeli version internationally.”