Nikad izvini

After Overthrow of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000, freedom of speech was finally presented to Serbian society as granted. Author of serial, Srdjan Cesic, has had an idea to create a satiric puppetry about Serbian political scene, based on "Spitting images". This was offered, but refused by national broadcaster (RTS), as well as large, previously oppositional network, B92. Finally, sometimes after assassination of prime minister Zoran Djindjic, a contract was signed with TV Pink, a network which was not particularly popular for its "good satirical humor" (au contrary!).

An interesting team was engaged in this project: Cesic has become script writer, and it is mostly interesting that only one actor (Srdjan Miletic) covered most of the roles, even female characters (although, only few were present)! Rest of the crew were mostly animators, camera crew, technicians, and- of course- brilliant artists that have created puppets. Show premiered sometimes in August 2003. The concept was to broadcast one episode per working day after every news on "Pink", with a recapitulation of one particularly good episode on Sunday (probably selected by producers alone).

In first couple of weeks, and even months, it was obvious that "Nikad izvini" (lit. "Never sorry", meaning "No excuses") did not have a developed form. That, however, only underlines old Serbian expression: "First kitties should be thrown to water". Those episodes were parodying last months of Zoran Zivkovic's Government (that was, in fact, Djindjic's Government, only continued by a new leader). However, from episode to episode, show was becoming wittier and wittier. Episodes now included parodying popular songs in a political context, and to the some later point: popular TV shows and films (as "X-Files", "Star Wars", "Matrix"). However, it is notable that only a few episodes from this cycle were included in later "best of" DVDs.

After elections, in 2004., new Government, led by Vojislav Kostunica was elected. New concept, with new "main" characters has made this show "classic" (some statistic stated that as of 2005, it has been watched by ca. 1 million viewers daily, what is for Serbian conditions great success, as only central news on national broadcaster, and sport matches have more viewers).

Those episodes show a couple of intelligence-free politicians, dealing with real problems (mostly, those were their problems at the time!). Only "normal" person among them was neurotic vice-prime minister, Miroljub Labus. He is, however, inseparable from finance minister, Mladjan Dinkic, shown as mentally retarded, and who was annulling those few positive things that was Labus doing. Kostunica alone was portrayed as "uninformed", foreign minister Vuk Draskovic was trying to introduce to international society Serbian epic songs, infrastructure minister, Velja Ilic, is portrayed as vulgar, to-be president of Serbia, Boris Tadic, as completely stupid,...

Among episodes, worth of singling out are two New Year specials (first based on movie "Cabbaret", second on "Untouchables").

In 2005, one controversial episode included character of Zoran Djindjic, portrayed as a ghost. As Serbian milieu was still immature to accept that kind of humor, show was banned only day later (ironically, official reason was "lack of ratings", and at the time when show was most popular!). Although show was reattempted for some days (due to protests), it was banned without official explanation one week later. Since then, there was no so influential satire show on Serbian public scene (groups as "Indeksovo radio pozoriste", that were popular even in ex-Yugoslavia, were simply no more).

"The best of" DVDs were presented since 2006, as of the end of 2007. In 2008, actually, "Pink" considered resumption of show, and even some episodes were produced (one, particular, includes famous tycoon Miroslav Miskovic, rulling over both president Tadic, as well as his opponent Tomislav Nikolic). However, those episodes were not meant to be broad-casted, obviously as "Pink" management was afraid of Miskovic's political influence.

My only major objection to show (and that is why I have given 9, not 10 stars) is about some limited views. The author's intention was, obviously, to condemn blind conservatism in Serbia, what is good. So, maybe he missed the chance to make a parodies over more liberal politicians, which also had many affairs (especially Cedomir Jovanovic, to-be leader of Liberal-Democratic Party). Perhaps, he has not done it by intention, but it is still a great blunder. Yet, I would still by far accept even this kind of "Nikad izvini", in comparison to current situation, when any kind of open satire is "de facto" forbidden.