Ahmadinejad a new Israeli TV star

Israel's Yes TV satellite company is establishing a reputation for pushing the boundaries with its ads.

Last year, Yes created a minor furor when it produced a commercial featuring faux-angry mobs of Orthodox Jews dancing in the streets to the tune of the Village People's "YMCA" to protest the cable company's new high definition television.

The entertaining ad sparked protests, with one critic calling the ad "anti-Semitic."

(You can see the ad here or here.)

As a follow-up, Yes has just released a new ad likely to be just as controversial, but for entirely different reasons.

The latest commercial, which begins in Farsi with Hebrew subtitles, features an actor playing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad threatening to immediately destroy Israel with a nuclear weapon.

"After Monday, it's good-bye to Israel," says Ahmadinejad.

As the people shout "good-bye to Israel," an Iranian lawmaker in a robe and turban stands up and challenges Ahmadinejad.

"What do you mean 'good-bye to Israel?'" the man asks. "It's the last episode of Danny Hollywood." (Which is a popular Yes series.)

That sets off a countrywide demonstration with men with turbans and women in black chadors marching through the streets (singing in Hebrew) to protest Ahmadinejad's threat to destroy Israel because that would mean they wouldn't be able to watch their favorite Israeli shows.

"Leave the bombs," the crowds chant as Iranian soldiers and Ahmadinejad get funky. "See Israel Yes stars."

Here's the ad, along with a translation (below), courtesy of McClatchy special correspondent Cliff Churgin.

No reaction yet from the real Ahmadinejad...

Ahmadinejad: My brothers. The uranium is in our hands. After Monday, good-bye to Israel. (Translator's note: This is a bit of a pun, in Hebrew goodbye to Israel can also mean peace upon Israel, an idiomatic expression that all will be well.)

Crowds: Good-bye to Israel!

Man at press conference: What do you mean good-bye to Israel? It’s the last episode of Danny Hollywood (a popular cable show).

Man in coffee shop watching TV: What do you mean Monday?

Another man at press conference: And the series Papadizi and Srogim are starting.

Man in crowd on street: Don’t blow it up Ahmadinejad. (Crowd joins in:) I’m in the middle of an episode. I’ll go crazy if the series ends. There’ll be a mess in Tehran if there are no more series.

Women: I’ll simply be lost.

Crowd: What can you do? Leave the bombs, see Israeli Yes stars, what wonderful series. Leave the bombs, see Israeli Yes stars, what wonderful series... Yes!