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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My Memories of The Donald
As Donald Trump is being credited for Fox News’s kvelling at the largest-ever viewership of the August 6th GOP primary debate, I thought back to my first Trump encounter at the June 1990 American Booksellers Association Convention in Las Vegas where the hottest ticket was the by-invitation-only reception launch of his book “Staying on Top”…
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Crossfit Guru Does Handstand on Holocaust Memorial, Posts to Instagram
When Crossfit “guru” Dave Driskell travelled to Berlin, he decided to go visit the city’s iconic Holocaust memorial. He didn’t know what to expect — or that he probably shouldn’t pose on it and send an uplifting fitness message to his 70,000 followers. His caption on Instagram reads: “Hello Berlin, Germany. 15 hour layover. Checking the…
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Mayim Bialik Launches Her Own Website, GrokNation
(JTA) — After acting in two major TV sitcoms, earning a doctorate in neuroscience and gaining a following as an online writer, Mayim Bialik has already accomplished more than most do in a lifetime. But that doesn’t mean she’s stopping anytime soon. In her next move, “The Big Bang Theory” star and four-time Emmy Award nominated…
The Latest
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‘The Wire’ Creator David Simon Working on Two New HBO Shows
(JTA) — It’s no secret that Jewish television writer David Simon is adored at HBO. His past productions for the cable channel, including “The Wire” and “Treme,” are some of the most critically acclaimed series in TV history. Nevertheless, it was surprising to hear last week that HBO had ordered not one, but two television pilots…
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JSwipe Wants Your Help to Fight Off JDate Lawsuit
The David and Goliath story has just been updated for the Tinder generation. A reminder: , making the vicious world of online dating just a bit more vicious. It’s turning out to be a very expensive battle of Jew vs Jew for JSwipe founder David Yarus, who has launched an IndieGogo campaign to help fund…
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How Jewish Family Values Keep Ivanka Trump Classy
(JTA) — A dishy dispatch in Vanity Fair has taken careful note of the skillful way that Ivanka Trump is supporting the scorched-earth presidential campaign of her father, Donald Trump, while avoiding any tinge to her own reputation. The answer, it appears, lies in a careful combination of Jewish family values, hard work and a…
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Former Bond Girl Jane Seymour Explores Family’s Holocaust Past
She was born Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg. But you probably know her as Jane Seymour. Turns out the actress and former Bond Girl is a proud member of the Tribe — with a storied family past. According to Seymour’s paternal grandfather, Lewin Frankenberg, left Poland for the United Kingdom in the late 1930s, leaving his two…
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Watch: It’s Broad Vs. Broad in This Epic Jewish Lip Sync Battle
The Jewesses of “Broad City” are back again! In case you don’t watch it, Jewish comediennes Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer star as two exaggerated versions of themselves on Comedy Central’s “Broad City.” It’s hilarious and super Jewy. Just watch this clip in which the two walk into a Subway car full of . Last…
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Christian Petzold Reflects on His Holocaust Revenge Film, ‘Phoenix’
Christian Petzold’s “Phoenix,” a beautifully crafted film noir, is one of two relatively recent Holocaust-related films that showcases revenge exacted with gusto by Jewish women characters — the other being Quentin Tarantino’s gory 2009 World War II action flick, ”Inglourious Basterds.” A fascinating, welcome addition to the post WWII cinema arena, “Phoenix” is an unfolding mystery…
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Pope Francis Invites Hollywood Jews to Vatican
Holy yarmulkes, Batman, the Jews are going to the Vatican! Yes, Pope Francis has invited several of Hollywood’s most influential people – many of them Jews – to discuss the image of the Church in Western media according to Reps of the Pope approached the two CEOs of William Morris Endeavor, an entertainment and media…
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Did Donald Trump Keep Hitler Speeches By His Bed?
In honor of The Donald’s candidacy for the Republican nomination, Vanity Fair has of Donald Trump, written by Marie Brenner. Remember, this was back before his hair (can we even call it that?) was fodder for every comic ever. Instead, they had to settle for his blatant sexism, racism, and overinflated ego. Related story: That…
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Most Popular
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Opinion The dangerous Nazi legend behind Trump’s ruthless grab for power
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Culture Did this Jewish literary titan have the right idea about Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling after all?
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Opinion I first met Netanyahu in 1988. Here’s how he became the most destructive leader in Israel’s history.
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Opinion A Holocaust perpetrator was just celebrated on US soil. I think I know why no one objected.
In Case You Missed It
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Culture In Germany, a Jewish family is reunited with a treasured family object — but also a sense of exile
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Opinion Trump’s heedless approach to an Iran deal could be a big problem for Israel
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Fast Forward In NYC, Itamar Ben-Gvir says he’s changed — and wants ‘the Trump plan’ in Gaza
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Opinion Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to a Jewish society at Yale exposed deep rifts between US Jews
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