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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Sacha Baron Cohen Signs on to Play ‘Mandrake the Magician’
British funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen has signed on to play the classic 1934 comic book illusionist “Mandrake the Magician.” Based on Lee Falk’s newspaper comic strip of the same name, Variety reports that Cohen will play the mysterious Leon Mandrake, a magician that uses hypnotism to fight villains, “gangsters, mad scientists, extraterrestrials and characters from…
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Helen Mirren Urges Senate to Pass Bill That Would Assist Recovery of Stolen Art
WASHINGTON — Helen Mirren testified to the U.S. Senate about the importance of restoring art stolen by Nazis to its rightful owners. Mirren, the Oscar-winning British actress, appeared Tuesday at a hearing on a bill that would grant claimants more time to reclaim stolen art works. Mirren said she became steeped in the issue while…
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Jewish Lights Sold to Nashville’s Turner Publishing
When Stuart Matlins and his wife Antoinette founded Jewish Lights Publishing in 1990 their intentions were clear. “We decided part of our life goals was to influence and affect the Jewish future, not just talk about it and complain,” Matlins told the Forward over the phone. Since then, the small press, which grew out of…
The Latest
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Argentine-Israeli Soccer Star Powers Team to Title, League Promotion
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentine-Israeli soccer star Eial Strahman led the Argentine team Talleres to the national B Division championship and a promotion to the premier A league. Strahman, 26, who formerly played for the Maccabi Haifa team in Israel, is now being called “Strahman the super hero” by media in the Cordoba province for…
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WATCH: Amy Schumer and Seth Rogen Cheer for Gay Marriage in Bud Light Ad
Amy Schumer and Seth Rogen’s latest Bud Light commercial features the pair celebrating at a same-sex wedding. Because, love is love. “Bud Light proudly supports everyone’s right to marry whoever they want,” Rogen says before guests raise their beer bottles in a cheer to the two grooms. The Jewish comedic duo also make fun of…
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Jerry Seinfeld Gets Caffeinated to the Max in New ‘Comedians in Cars’ Trailer
“Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” is back, so grab your caffeinated drink of choice and, as the tagline promises, settle in for a “concentrated cup of comedy.” The eighth season of Jerry Seinfeld’s Emmy nominated ode to comedians will feature Judd Apatow, Margaret Cho, Jim Gaffigan, Lorne Michaels, John Oliver and J. B. Smoove. Apatow,…
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Ivanka Trump Writes Female Empowerment Book — as Donald Trump Underpays Women
Ivanka Trump announced Sunday that she is publishing a career-advice book to “empower” working women, on the heels of a report that showed female campaign staff working for her father, Donald Trump, earned one third less than male staff did. In a video announcement on her website, Trump appeared flawlessly coiffed and made-up, and jokingly…
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Muhammad Ali Remembered and Honored as Humanitarian
Muhammad Ali — assisted by his wife Lonnie — mounted the stage at the November 9th 2006 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Inaugural Double Helix Medal Dinner at New York’s Mandarin Oriental and delivered a heartfelt plea for the support for research to help “rid the world of Parkinson’s disease!” Then Emcee co-host of NBC’s “Today…
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When Billy Crystal Paid Tribute to Muhammad Ali
Billy Crystal, the Jewish comedian and longtime friend of Muhammad Ali, will deliver a eulogy at the boxing legend’s funeral next Friday. Former President Bill Clinton and Bryant Gumbel will also speak the memorial service in Ali’s hometown of Louisville, ESPN reported. “This is what was chosen for him: to be the great ambassador for…
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Amy Poehler, BBC America Buy Rights to Israeli Army Girls Comedy
BBC America has secured the rights to adapt “Zero Motivation,” an Israeli female-centric comedy about army life with Amy Poehler’s production company, Paper Kite Productions. Variety reports that “Zero Motivation,” a feature length film that premiered at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, will be adapted as a television series for American audiences and will be…
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You’re Welcome, Anti-Semites: Here Are Some More (((Jews))) For You
The Internet reverberated yesterday with details about how, exactly, neo-Nazis identify and target Jews on social media and online. By placing an “echo,” a symbol consisting of three parentheses around a (((Jewish-sounding name))), white supremacists and anti-Semites — many of them self-identified Trump supporters — signal to each other who is (((Jewish))) and band together…
Most Popular
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Opinion I’m a Jew of color. Ta-Nehisi Coates can’t apply US lessons to Israel.
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Culture Columbus may have had Jewish heritage — that doesn’t mean he was Jewish
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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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