As a fellow gaming enthusiast, if you found yourself captivated by the world of Adolescence, then I’d wholeheartedly recommend giving Bad Boy a spin! It’s a game that carries a similar vibe, and trust me, it’s worth checking out.
In 2023, “Bad Boy,” a Hebrew-language eight-episode coming-of-age series that debuted at TIFF and later aired in Israel, will make its Netflix premiere on May 2nd. This captivating series, jointly created and penned by American-Israeli writer/producer/showrunner Ron Leshem (the brains behind the original “Euphoria” and “Prisoners of War,” later known as “Homeland”) and filmmaker Hagar Ben Asher (“Long Bright River”), who also directed each episode, has already garnered seven awards at Israel’s television equivalent of the Emmys: best writing, best directing, best sound design & editing, best casting, cinematography, and best editing at the Israeli Academy for Awards for Television.
The show narrates the true-life experiences of Dean Scheinman, a teenager who spent most of his adolescence behind bars in a juvenile detention center. However, he eventually manages to escape the cycle of reoffending. As an accomplished adult, he adopts the name Daniel Chen and becomes a renowned stand-up comedian. While this may seem unbelievable, it’s not. The series Bad Boy is based on Scheinman/Chen’s actual life story, with Daniel Chen portraying his adult character in the show.
Leshem didn’t happen upon Chen; instead, it was Scheinman he encountered. Interestingly, Leshem, a former journalist, spent two weeks in an Israeli juvenile detention center for research purposes. It was during this time that he came across Scheinman (among other characters such as the real-life Freddie Soosan and Scheinman’s prison antagonist portrayed by Ishay Laloosh in the series).
Leshem had an idea for a show set in juvenile prison. It was called Bad Boy Euphoria. Kind of.
Initially, when I introduced Euphoria, the initial idea behind it centered around a 17-year-old prisoner’s perspective,” Leshem explained.
Instead of scenes from the outside world being part of the current storyline, they would serve as memories or flashbacks. The inmate, who is the protagonist, will narrate the story through voiceovers.
Leshem shared his concept with a prominent drama executive in Hollywood, who replied enthusiastically, ‘Let’s create Oz for kids!’ However, upon returning home, Leshem reflected and decided he didn’t want to craft a story set within Oz involving children. This was the instant when Leshem realized he had to write something new instead.
Euphoria initially originated, and later underwent adaptation for the United States, with Zendaya assuming the role of the significantly reimagined narrative character in it.
After a span of fifteen years since their life-altering encounter at the Oz gathering with kids, Leshem rekindled his friendship with Chen – a key figure in the creation of Bad Boy. During those years apart, Chen established a successful career in comedy.
“People know him — sometimes he’s even on primetime,” Leshem said.
Prior to the release of “Bad Boy”, Chen hadn’t shared his past experiences in public performances. Leshem noted that Chen realized he couldn’t advance his career any further “if he didn’t start sharing the truth.
In the play “Bad Boy”, it’s primarily Chen who steers the narrative. From the start, the performance presents a genuine stand-up set in front of a live audience, a deliberate move by Leshem to demonstrate to viewers that his main character is alive and well.
Throughout several episodes, Chen’s storyline flows smoothly at times, but not always. There might be some translation issues affecting the phrasing. This worked well for Leshem, as he aimed to ensure the narrative tool didn’t feel like a stand-up comedy routine.
Leshem mentioned that they focused on capturing the moments when he was struggling on stage, such as when he was sweating and had difficulty finding the right words. In other words, they paid attention to the challenging parts of his performance where he seemed to be under pressure.
“The ‘Bad Boy’ Comedy Show” garnered immense popularity in Israel, not only through high television viewership and favorable reviews, but also by earning praise from fellow stand-up comedians, as Leshem himself expressed.
What really struck us was the observation comedians made, likening their profession to the expression of a troubled spirit. This, he suggested, is what drives someone to be a stand-up comic.”
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“The insight that comedians shared, connecting their work to the voice of a tormented soul, was particularly impactful for us. It’s this struggle, he implied, that leads one to become a comedian.
However, “Bad Boy” isn’t a comedy; instead, it’s a deeply emotional narrative. While sprinkling humor throughout is fun, the creator, Leshem, aims to elicit compassion and empathy from viewers with this production.
Leshem stated that we’re experiencing a time when truth and numerous other aspects are fading away. However, what’s truly concerning is the decline in human empathy. It seems as though people no longer feel compassion for one another.
Currently, Netflix is developing an American version of the show “Bad Boy”. THR inquired about the fate of this project if the original series becomes as popular in America as it was in Israel.
“I don’t know. I’m curious to see,” he said. “I’m praying that this is our problem.”
Bad Boy (Leshem’s Version) is available to stream now on Netflix.
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2025-05-02 17:54