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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What Was It Like Writing Jokes For Joan Rivers? Ask Comedian Guy Branum
Guy Branum is trying to reinvent late night television. The 41-year-old comedian, whose writing credits include “The Mindy Project,” “Chelsea Lately” and “Fashion Police,” has tossed the contents of primetime chat shows into a blender, shaking up all their predictable, formulaic bits. The result is the refreshingly silly “Talk Show the Game Show,” which jovially…
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‘Twin Peaks’ Returns, And More To Read, Watch, And Do This Weekend
Is “Twin Peaks,” the famed surrealist crime drama, really Jewish? Not overtly, but the Forward’s Seth Rogovoy, returning to the original series in advance of this weekend’s premiere of its reboot, found a plethora of Jewish characteristics. Read about them here, and catch the first episode of the new series on Sunday. If you’re feeling…
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Chinese Workers Allegedly Earning $1/Hour Making Ivanka Trump Clothing
The nonprofit China Labor Watch has reported that workers in two factories producing Ivanka Trump’s brand are being significantly underpaid and overworked. According to Bloomberg, the organization wrote a letter to the president’s daughter, explaining that employees are working 12 1/2 hours a day, six days a week, with a monthly salary of around 2,500…
The Latest
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‘Hamilton’ Star Daveed Diggs Coming To A Small Screen Near You
Daveed Diggs, who originated the roles of the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in “Hamilton” — a performance that earned him both a Tony Award and a spot in the 2016 Forward 50 — will star in a pilot of a new TV show based on the 2013 movie “Snowpiercer.” The film, which starred…
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WATCH: These Classic Hollywood Movies Get A Yiddish Makeover
Who knew Darth Vader had such an impressive grasp of the Yiddish language? I mean, not really, but the folks over at Yidlife Crisis, a Yiddish comedy web series, have done a truly solid job of dubbing over the “Luke, I am your father” line. The team released a montage of classic movie moments this…
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‘Crazy Jewish Mom’ And Her Daughter Dish On Dating, Feminism And Mansplainers
Because I use a tape recorder when I do interviews, I am able to state with authority that it took fewer than ten minutes for Kim Friedman, the inspiration behind the Instagram “Crazy Jewish Mom” to try to set me up with a nice Jewish boy named Zach. A cultural institution in the Instagram age,…
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‘Orange Is The New Black’ Creator Made A Feminist Wrestling Show
Dig out those leg warmers and puffy jackets. There’s a new 80’s Netflix show coming out — and it looks like all kinds of vintage feminist magic. “Orange is the New Black” creator Jenji Kohan teamed up with Allison Brie and Marc Maron for the upcoming series “Glow,” which tells the story of the very…
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Brad Grey, Former Paramount Pictures Chairman, Dies At 59
Brad Grey, former Paramount Pictures chairman, died on Sunday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 59. The CEO, who produced such hits as “The Sopranos,” “The Wedding Singer,” and “Star Trek,” had cancer, according to a report from his spokesperson. Born in the Bronx, Grey worked as a belt buckle salesman for his…
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Gloria Steinem Wants Young People To Laugh, Have Sex And Revolt
In a commencement speech at New York City’s School of Visual Arts last week, activist and icon Gloria Steinem spoke urgently on the state of the union. “We are in a time of maximum change. On the one hand there is great danger, and I am not for a moment diminishing how great that danger…
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This Homer Omer Counts The Most Jewish ‘Simpsons’ Moments
For some, the practice of counting the Omer is sooooo 2,000 years ago. Following ancient instructions to count imaginary amounts of barley for 49 days just doesn’t have the sex appeal of other Jewish ritual practices, say shaking the lulav, or performing havdallah. Enter the Homer Omer, a website and Facebook page dedicated to counting…
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WATCH: Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks and Iris Apfel Are Living Ferociously At 90+
Is there a secret to living well into your 90’s? Iris Apfel, 95, Mel Brooks, 90, and Carl Reiner, 95, don’t quite have the answer for you — but they’re sure having a hell of a time doing it. The three stars join on-screen legends Dick Van Dyke, Betty White, Kirk Douglas and Norman Lear,…
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Most Popular
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Fast Forward Unarmed man who tackled Bondi Beach Hanukkah attacker identified as Ahmed al-Ahmed
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Opinion I grew up believing Australia was the best place to be Jewish. This Hanukkah shooting forces a reckoning I do not want.
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Fast Forward Hanukkah shooting leaves at least 15 dead at Australia’s most popular beach
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Fast Forward Father and son suspects in Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack identified as Sajid and Naveed Akram by law enforcement
In Case You Missed It
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Fast Forward Norman Podhoretz, Commentary editor and archetypal Jewish neoconservative, dies at 95
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Opinion I’m a neuroscientist. Here’s why Ahmed al Ahmed’s bravery at Bondi Beach strains our narratives.
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Opinion The Israel news we don’t hear – and the forces that silence us
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Fast Forward Zohran Mamdani visits the Rebbe’s Ohel, increasingly a pilgrimage site for politicians
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