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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This Encounter Between Lena Dunham and a Male Producer is Horrifyingly Sexist
Today in misogynist news, “Girls” showrunner Jenni Konner penned a note for Lenny Newsletter about a hideous encounter that went down between Lena Dunham and a male television producer. The story began when Dunham was “cornered” by the producer while out to eat with a few “Girls” co-workers. According to Konner, he asked Dunham to…
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Amy Schumer Becomes First Woman to Make ‘Forbes’ Top Paid-Comedian List
Amy Schumer drove home another win this week, nabbing a spot on Forbes’ round up of the ten highest-paid comics—the first time a woman has ever cracked the list. Racking in an income of $17 million thanks in part to her book, “The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo,” and movie, “Trainwreck,” Schumer came in…
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Chelsea Handler Destroys Ann Coulter After Bailing on Talk Show Appearance
Chelsea Handler was just attempting a balanced dialogue when she invited Ann Coulter onto her Netflix show. “Since I’m always accused of not representing both sides in this election I went out on a limb and booked one of the most vocal Trump supporters in the country,” the comedian told her audience on Wednesday. But…
The Latest
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Ronald Lauder Welcomes Austria’s Christian Kern at Neue Galerie
“You all think ‘he’ came here for the United Nations when in reality he came to see the [new] Klimt show here—which we think is more exciting than the United Nations”— joshed Ronald Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress, welcoming Austria’s Chancellor Christian Kern to the Neue Galerie. Introducing him as “very much a…
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Howard Stern Feels Trumped Up By First Debate
Howard Stern never expected he’d figure into an American presidential race. The talk-show host told BuzzFeed News that it felt surreal when he got name-checked at Monday night’s debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, as the candidates disputed Trump’s opposition to the Iraq War. “Now I can check that off on my bucket list,”…
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6 Shofar Shockers: You Won’t Believe Number 5!
It’s almost Rosh Hashanah, and we’re rounding up all the wacky, quirky, delicious (yes, delicious) things you might not know about shofars. 1. They might break your bank. This one goes for $1,678. Pricey, but definitely easy on the eyes. It’s got some intricate, colorful designs of candlesticks, challah, the moon and animals. 2. You…
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Meet the Man Who Gave Shofars a New Calling: Musical Instrument
If you listen closely to the opening notes of “West Side Story,” you’ll hear the gentle blow of the shofar. That’s because the shofar is a musical instrument, not just a ritual one, according to composer Raphael Mostel. “You can’t really pin [shofars] down,” Mostel said. “They do all sorts of things you don’t expect….
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This 6-Year-Old Threw the Ultimate Drake Themed Birthday Party
6-year-old Leah Saldivar might just be Drake’s biggest fan. And she had a birthday party to show for it—including balloons with the rapper’s face emblazoned on them, fake $100 bills thrown on the table, and posters highlighting the singer’s OVO record company and latest albums. Those lucky enough to score an invite were sent this…
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Daniel Radcliffe Compares Trump to Voldemort—Finds One Big Difference
Daniel Radcliffe doesn’t think it’s so crazy to compare Donald Trump to Voldemort. When asked by Sky News yesterday about similarities between the Republican nominee and Harry Potter’s fictional nemesis, the 27-year-old gave his own insightful analysis. “I sort of think Donald Trump might not be as ideologically pure as Voldemort,” he said. “My thing…
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Remembering Shimon Peres “A Peacemaker Among Peacemakers”
Shimon Peres —former Prime Minister of Israel and Nobel Laureate who died in Tel Aviv at 93 on September 27— left a most memorable imprint with his address at the September 18, 2000 Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation dinner at the Waldorf Astoria at which he was the honoree. In keeping with…
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Opinion Editor Sigal Samuel Honored With Canadian Literary Prize
“The Mystics of Mile End,” by The Forward’s opinion editor Sigal Samuel, will receive the Canadian Jewish Literary Award for Best Novel. At a gala awards ceremony to be held on October 30, 2016 at York University, Samuel will be honored along with such authors as Agata Tuszyńska and Sarah Philips Casteel. “‘The Mystics of…
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Opinion The most antisemitic university president you’ve never heard of
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Culture Why Doug Emhoff shared his bar mitzvah with a guy named Scott
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Opinion Take it from someone who’s both Black and Jewish: Ta-Nehisi Coates weaponizes race to spread antisemitism
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Opinion I’m a Jew of color. Ta-Nehisi Coates can’t apply US lessons to Israel.
In Case You Missed It
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Fast Forward Mayor of Portland, Maine, says he regrets voting to divest from Israel
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