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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The Jewish Netflix show you haven’t heard about yet
“Family Business,” Netflix’s latest and most valiant stab at the Jewish sitcom, is many things. It’s a sort-of-kind-of compelling portrait of a family in crisis. It’s a confused comment on the current state of French Jewry. It is, depending on how you look at it, an argument for or against the legalization of marijuana. But…
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Here’s what inspired Lena Dunham’s new plus-sized fashion line
Lena Dunham wants everyone deserves a good miniskirt — not just thin women. The actress-slash-writer-slash-director has spent years in search of short skirts that fit her body, mostly to no avail. “I can’t wear it because I’m basically showing what my mother would refer to as my pupik,” she quipped to the New York Times….
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We tried the vegan meat winning over New York’s legacy delicatessens
I had an unreal Reuben last night. The Reuben was very good, but I’m using the word in its literal sense, because this was one seriously devious sandwich. Nestled between the sauerkraut and melted cheese were slices not of corned beef but “Corn’d Beef,” the signature product of Mrs. Goldfarb’s Unreal Deli, an upstart line…
The Latest
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On Stephen Sondheim’s birthday, 856 words to make you fall in love with one of the greatest artists of all time
Today is the birthday of Stephen Sondheim, perhaps the musical theater’s greatest composer and lyricist who has ever lived. Sondheim is responsible for the lyrics of the Broadway musicals “Gypsy” and “West Side Story,” and the music and lyrics of “Sweeney Todd,” “Into The Woods,” “Sunday In The Park With George,” “A Funny Thing Happened…
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Sarah Silverman urges non-Jewish fans: ‘Stop rolling your eyes and be our allies!’
Sarah Silverman knows her podcast has been circling a certain theme lately. “I feel bad, because I feel like this podcast has become very Jew heavy,” the comedian said on Thursday’s episode of her eponymous show, which went on to address the danger of stereotyping Jews as rich and powerful. After recalling her childhood in…
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Netflix will debut a follow-up to ‘Unorthodox’ — but it’s not what you think
Whether you are pining for more drama about formerly Haredi Jews or simply have an unending appetite for puns on the word “Orthodox,” Netflix has you covered. Almost a year after releasing the blockbuster miniseries “Unorthodox,” the streaming giant announced a reality show entitled “My Unorthodox Life,” about Julia Haart, a fashion executive who left…
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Gal Gadot is pregnant with her third child
Didn’t have another Gal Gadot pregnancy on your 2021 bingo card? Well, just imagine it. Hours after taking the stage at the Golden Globes, the “Wonder Woman” star, 35, announced on Instagram that she’s expecting her third child. She posted a picture of herself cuddling in bed with daughters Alma, 9, and Maya, 3, while…
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Brisket for breakfast is coming to Einstein’s — but it’s not your bubbe’s recipe
Have you been longing for a taste of the Passover seder on your daily commute? Probably not. That would be super weird. But you now have the chance to assuage this non-existent craving thanks to Einstein Bros’ Bagels, which recently debuted a brisket-for-breakfast sandwich. Although Einstein’s aims to imitate your local appetizing store, this brisket…
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Shira Haas to play Golda Meir in Barbra Streisand-produced series
(JTA) — Israeli actress Shira Haas, best known internationally for her star turn in Netflix’s “Unorthodox,” will portray Israel’s only female prime minister, Golda Meir, in an upcoming TV series. “Lioness,” produced by MGM/UA Television and not yet sold to a TV service or channel, is based on the book of the same name by…
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Is Britney Spears the Esther of our time?
The year was 2004. I was nine years old, and my access to pop culture was, in a word, limited: I consumed only the most age-appropriate public television programs and labored under a delusion that car stereos were exclusively intended for playing the “1776” soundtrack. But when Britney Spears got hitched in a pair of…
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Is Azealia Banks Jewish now?
Hip-hop artist Azealia Banks proudly posted her engagement ring on Instagram Monday, announcing conceptual artist Ryder Ripps had proposed to her. Unlike most women, who might be showing off a large rock, Banks’ finger was adorned with a chunky gold ring featuring a relief of a menorah. The photo was captioned “I’m Jewish now. MAZEL…
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