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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How World War II U.S. ‘Propaganda’ Films Painted an Idyllic America
A documentary gem at the Jewish Film Festival is Peter Miller’s “Movies in Wartime: Projections of America,” the behind-the scenes narrative about the dramatic U.S. “propaganda” films made 70 years ago by Oscar-winning screenwriter Robert Riskin, whose mission was to show WWII-liberated Europeans what America and Americans were really like. Riskin — who was married…
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Jewish ‘Carmen Sandiego’ Theme Writer Sues Rand Paul Over Marco Rubio Ad
Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? Why in a Rand Paul attack ad targeting Marco Rubio, that’s where. The Jewish composer of the theme music to the children’s educational game, “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego” is suing the Paul campaign for using his song to go after Rubio for his record of…
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Drake Sure Knows How to Celebrate His Jewish Momma
Rapper Drake really loves his Jewish momma. Sandi Graham, a teacher, raised Drake (full name Aubrey Drake Graham) all by herself in Toronto after she divorced his father, drummer Dennis Graham. Drake says the divorce deeply impacted him: “I had to become a man very quickly and be the backbone for a woman who I…
The Latest
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Why Jack Black Loves Easter at Brangelina’s Place
Jack Black doesn’t usually do Easter, but when he does, he does it with Brangelina. It may come as a surprise to some, but the Kung-Fu star and the singer of the best song in the world is pretty Jewish. Black’s mother was born Jewish, and his father converted to Judaism after they married. He…
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Israeli Composer of Indian Muslim Music Collaborates With Radiohead Guitarist
(JTA) — For most musicians working in the under-appreciated genre of world music, recording an album with Jonny Greenwood, the guitarist of the famed English rock band Radiohead, would be something of a pipe dream. And what about having that experience filmed by acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson (“There Will Be Blood,” “The Master,” “Boogie…
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When Larry David Shows Up at Your Birthday Party
Comedian J. B. Smoove was on Seth Meyers last night and dished about his recent 50th birthday celebration, a “classic man, burlesque, casino party,” according to Smoove. And the guest of honor was, of course, Smoove’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” co-star: Larry David! So what is it like to have the Jewish star and Bernie Sanders…
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8 Memorable Abe Vigoda Photos — On Screen and Off
The Godfather: The Doomed Tessio. Abe Vigoda knew how to act, and to have fun, as evidenced in these silver screen, small screen, and red carpet shots. The beloved Jewish character actor died Tuesday of, his daughter says, old age. He was 94. READ: The Forward’s Look at His Long Career Abe Vigoda With Cloris…
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Paul Rudd Challenges Stephen Hawking in Quantum Chess — and Wins
Paul Rudd beat Stephen Hawking in Quantum chess and changed the world of science forever! The actor and former Bar-Mitzvah DJ challenges the famous quantum physicist for a dramatic game of quantum chess in this new Caltech’s Institute for Quantum Information and Matter video, narrated by Keanu Reeves (another quantum physics dabbler in “The Matrix”…
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4 Jewish Things About the GLAAD Awards
The GLAAD Awards nominees are here and the Jews have a strong presence in the television and music categories. Here are four things you need to know about the 27th edition of the awards, which recognizes LGBT representations in the media. In the Outstanding Music Artist category, the multitalented Australian Troye Sivan is nominated. Sivan,…
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Josh Gad’s Striptease as Donald Trump is the Best Thing You’ll See Today
This might bring a smile to Megyn Kelly’s lips during the GOP debate Thursday night. Josh Gad, as Donald Trump, strips down to his boxers made of money to the Divinyls’ “I Touch Myself” on Spike’s “Lip Sync Battle.” That’s not enough to make you tune in? He also plants a passionate kiss on “Big…
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Yes, Woody Allen Has a Surprising New Co-Star — Miley Cyrus
Having previously announced he would be creating a six-episode series to stream on Amazon, 80-year-old Woody Allen has done something truly unthinkable — he has locked down Miley Cyrus to star alongside himself and Elaine May. Little is known about the series, aside from that it will be set in the 1960s. We do, however,…
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Culture Inside the ancient Christian theology driving modern antisemitism
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News Jews paused Indiana’s abortion ban — by turning a religious freedom law against the evangelical right
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Culture In 1989, Harold Pinter and Jerry Schatzberg made the perfect Holocaust movie for 2026
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Opinion The moral degradation of Israel’s far right is even worse than you think
In Case You Missed It
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Culture 70 years ago, this Jewish choreographer predicted our epidemic of loneliness and isolation
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Culture Gene Shalit, a mensch with a personality as big as his mustache, turns 100
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Looking Forward How a song about the food chain became a Seder mainstay
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Fast Forward Connecticut Catholic school punishes students who targeted ‘Jew Canaan’ rivals on social media
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