The Good Hour
A landmark Israeli television interview and entertainment program that brought public figures, artists and international guests into viewers’ homes
The Good Hour was a biweekly interview and entertainment program broadcast on Israel’s Channel 1 from September 1979 through July 1984. Filmed before a live audience, it combined conversations with public figures and cultural personalities with musical performances, comedy and other entertainment segments. During its five years on air, the program became one of the recognizable television formats of Israel’s early broadcasting era.
The program was produced by Aharon Goldfinger. Manny Pe’er hosted it at first, until December 1982. Several presenters followed, including Daniel Pe’er, Amnon Barzilai, Odette Danin—later known as Odette Schwartz—and Avi Etgar. Etgar hosted a number of episodes, including the season finale broadcast on July 8, 1983, whose guests included Natan Yonatan, Shlomo Artzi, Mike Burstyn and Yossi Banai.
A stage for Israeli and international culture
The Good Hour stood out for bringing together the interview, the stage performance and accessible popular entertainment. Alongside Israeli public figures, the program welcomed international celebrities visiting Israel. Its guests included French film director François Truffaut in 1980; actors Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon in a joint interview in 1982; and Brooke Shields and Chan Kanesta in 1983.
These appearances broadened the cultural horizons of Israeli viewers at a time when Channel 1 was a central focus of national television. The program placed figures from cinema, literature, music and entertainment alongside familiar Israeli voices, documenting the country’s growing engagement with international culture.
Comedy that continued beyond the program
The Good Hour also provided an early platform for Shlomo Nitzan’s satirical segment, “Nu...”. The feature later continued on Reason for Celebration, the program generally regarded as its successor. In this way, The Good Hour did more than reflect the popular culture of its period: it helped develop television features and performers that remained part of Israeli entertainment after the program ended.
A changing television culture
Beginning in October 1983, the program was hosted by writer and journalist Meir Shalev. During his tenure, right-wing voices claimed that the program had taken a more left-wing direction. Those claims are part of the background associated with the decision to take the program off the air in July 1984. Its blend of interviews, music and entertainment continued in Reason for Celebration.
Echoes in popular culture
The program’s place in Israeli public consciousness was reflected in its mention in Shlomo Gronich’s song “Simple Songs.” The reference suggests how The Good Hour had entered everyday cultural language, extending its presence beyond its scheduled broadcasts.
Why The Good Hour belongs in Moreshet
The Good Hour merits inclusion in Moreshet because it preserves an important chapter in the development of Israeli television and the public culture that grew around it. It brought artists, writers, entertainers and public figures to a broad audience, hosted international visitors, and made conversation, music and satire part of a shared national viewing experience.
Its significance also lies in its continuity. A feature developed on the program moved to its successor, while the presenters and performers associated with it contributed to the wider cultural landscape of Israel. For Moreshet.com, documenting The Good Hour preserves more than the name of an old television show: it records how public broadcasting created a meeting place between Israeli society, culture and entertainment.
