The Schmooze lies at the intersection of high and low culture. Here, the latest developments and trends in Jewish art, books, dance, film, music, media, television and theater are all assimilated into one handy pop culture blog.
The Schmooze
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All The Lies You’ve Ever Heard About Hanukkah, Debunked
Hanukkah begins on December 12 this year. That is, Chanukah begins on December 12 this year. We light the menorah (or is it the hanukkiah?) and celebrate — oil. Lasting, high-quality lamp oil. Can that be right? If you don’t know your Hasmoneans from your Seleucids, read on. After all, a great miracle happened here!…
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Sacha Baron Cohen Will Pay All Your Mankini Fines
The mankini, the eye catching swimsuit popularized by Sacha Baron Cohen in the movie “Borat,” caused some trouble recently on a beach in Kazakhstan. Six Czech tourists have been arrested for “indecent” appearances and fined $67 each, for engaging in acts of public minor hooliganism. Not to worry, Sacha Baron Cohen is here to help….
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Catherine Zeta-Jones Says Every Day With Husband Michael Douglas Is A ‘Fantastic Party’
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas were married 17 years ago this Saturday in a petal-strewn, $1.1 million wedding at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Zeta-Jones says every day of their marriage still feels like a 12 hour party at a luxury hotel. On Saturday, the 49 year-old actress took to Instagram to celebrate…
The Latest
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The Celebrity Perv Apology Generator Is Up And Running
It might be time for celebrity public relations specialists to start browsing Indeed.com for new jobs because EW correspondent Dana Schwartz has just published their playbook. In her new website, the Celebrity Perv Apology Generator, Schwartz comes up with apologies for every conceivable form of celebrity sexual misdemeanor, from ‘I do not remember the 2009…
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Harrison Ford Can’t Stop Helping People In Emergencies
Harrison Ford continues today in his longstanding mission to impregnate me via quiet heroics — the 75 year-old actor rushed to the aid of a woman whose car rolled off the road on Sunday just outside of Los Angeles. According to reports, Ford and a friend were driving behind the woman when her car ran…
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‘I Have 100 Stories’: Natalie Portman On Workplace Sexual Harassment
I’ve had discrimination or harassment on almost everything I’ve ever worked on in some way,” Natalie Portman said during a Vulture panel this week. The world-famous actress noted that like all women, she is scared while walking down the street at night. Stars: They’re just like us. The actress said that she wasn’t aware until…
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Oreos Mogul Used ‘Debbie Friedman’ As Her Alias — So Wrong!
Irene Rosenfeld, the CEO of Mondelez International, which makes Oreos, Chips Ahoy, Sour Patch Kids, and more, is retiring after 11 years. In a New York Times Business section feature, we learn a lot about Rosenfeld — she was CEO of Kraft Foods and acquired the Cadbury company, despite the best efforts of Warren Buffet…
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Lea Michele Wants To Do A ‘Glee’ Reboot
What would the TV show ‘Glee’ look like if it was made in 2017? Kumail Nanjiani might guest star as a rapper who remixes the Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape for his podcast. Maybe Kurt would develop a crush on Justin Trudeau and the whole gang would put on an gender-bent musical version of “Wonder…
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Watch: Amy Schumer Watches Her Dad Stands Up, Despite MS
“My dad stood today with the help of a device,” Amy Schumer captioned her Instagram post. “But he stood.” The comedian captured a moving video of her father, Gordon Schumer, standing upright with the help of a standing frame, a doctor, and a nurse in a medical facility. Gordon Schumer was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis…
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Jon Stewart Solves The ‘Bernie Bernstein’ Robocaller Mystery In ‘Daily Show’ Return
Jon Stewart impersonating a political scammer impersonating a made-up Jewish journalist named Bernie Bernstein — it’s a Russian nesting doll of anti-Semitism and pop culture, just in time for the Hanukkah shopping season. Stewart appeared on the ‘Daily Show’ on Thursday night as ‘Bernie Bernstein,’ the sham Washington Post reporter in whose name fake robocalls…
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George Clooney Is Coming Back To Television After 18 Years With ‘Catch-22’
Great news for anyone who loves George Clooney or hasn’t gotten around to reading the 453-page Joseph Heller masterpiece “Catch-22” – the former will star in and direct a television adaptation of the latter, ending Clooney’s 18 year absence from the small screen. 56 year-old Clooney will play Colonel Cathcart in an adaptation of the…
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