Judd Apatow. Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

By PJ Grisar December 19, 2022

Hey now! Happy Hanukkah! For the first night of the holiday, Dave Grohl and Greg Kurstin’s Hanukkah Sessions welcomed director Judd Apatow onto the stage to show off his vocal talents on Blood, Sweat & Tears’ “Spinning Wheel.”

Why “Spinning Wheel” and not, say, “I Have a Little Dreidel?” Apatow said up top that he chose the song because of sidekick Hank Kingsley’s memorable rendition on The Larry Sanders Show. 

“This is a tribute to Garry and to Hank,” Apatow said, referencing his friend and the star and co-creator of The Larry Sanders Show, the late Garry Shandling. He did not pay lip service to the actor who played Hank Kingsley, Jeffrey Tambor, who has been accused of sexual misconduct (Tambor denies the allegations).

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Accompanied by Grohl on drums and Kurstin on keys, Apatow even cut a rug during an instrumental break. Mercifully, it was better than Kingsley’s rendition. But I’ll let you compare them for yourself.

Kurstin and Grohl’s sessions, now in their second year, are set to drop a performance a night, with guest talent from Jews like Beck, Pink and Jack Black.

Spinning wheels are great and all, but they’re no substitute for Hank Kingsley’s rotating restaurant, a space I hope to see Apatow enter in the new year.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount