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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Marc Maron’s Latest Guest Is None Other Than Barack Obama
“I want to connect. I don’t want to do a policy discussion,” said Jewish funnyman, Marc Maron, in his introduction to his biweekly podcast before his biggest interview yet – with President Barack Obama. The host of spoke with The President in his (literal) garage in Pasadena, CA, for an hour last Friday as a…
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Led Zeppelin of Klezmer Rocks Kulturfest
If there was one musical moment that has stood out so far that encapsulates Kulturfest — the international festival of Yiddish music being played out in venues around Manhattan — it may have been when Polina Shepherd ‘ from Tatarstan by way of the UK — launched into a version of “Avinu Malkeynu.” The audience…
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What Jewish Dads Mean to You, Illustrated
– Esther Klein about her Jewish father. A couple of weeks ago, we put out a call to readers asking for stories about Jewish dads. The response was incredible — and especially moving given that my own Jewish dad (and mom) came to visit me this week. I don’t think we have ever really celebrated…
The Latest
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Jon Stewart has No Jokes About Charleston
You might have already gotten used to us sharing Jon Stewart’s amazing jokes about news-worthy item du jour, and let’s face it, since he’s leaving the Daily Show soon, we want to share as much as possible. But last night, Jon Stewart’s regular sobering dose of truth came unmasked with humor. “Sorry, no jokes tonight,”…
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Soroka Medical Center Gala Salutes Doc and IDF Soldier He Saved
At the American Friends of Soroka Medical Center’s June 15th Third Annual Gala at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Dr. Amit Frenkel, Soroka University Medical Center’s senior intensive care specialist and distinguished service honoree, saluted then shared the stage with Daniel Fish, a young Israeli soldier whose life he had saved. Emceed by NBC News Chief…
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Rob Zombie to Direct Groucho Marx Biopic
Marx Brothers and horror fans unite? Rob Zombie, musician turned film director, will direct the film version of Raised Eyebrows (1996), a book focusing on the final years of Groucho Marx, . Oren Moverman will write the screenplay. The story comes from author Steve Stoliar, who worked with Groucho Marx as his personal secretary and…
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Jessie Kahnweiler Tries (And Fails) To Get Arrested
(JTA) — The indefatigable web comic Jessie Kahnweiler, of “Dude, Where’s My Chutzpah?” and “Meet My Rapist” fame, is back with a new video, this one highlighting white privilege — the idea that whites can get away with doing something that would be way more likely to get a person of color arrested. In the video,…
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Melissa Rivers Will Co-Host ‘Fashion Police’
Joan Rivers certainly won’t be rolling over in her grave over the newest addition to her old show, “Fashion Police.” Melissa Rivers, Joan’s 47-year-old daughter and sometimes partner-in-crime, will co-host the show when the newest season airs, . The new episodes will also feature the two returning hosts, Giuliana Rancic and Brad Goreski, and add…
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Michael Douglas Talks About Reconnecting With His Jewish Identity
(JTA) — Michael Douglas hadn’t heard of the Genesis Prize when he found out that he’d won it. In fact, the Oscar-winning actor was surprised to discover he was even in the running for an award designed for those who inspire fellow Jews. His father, actor Kirk Douglas, is Jewish. But his mother, actress Diana…
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Hasidic Stars Bring Yiddish Soul to Central Park
It’s as if the rain knew to stop precisely at 6 o’clock. After one of the wettest days of the month, the sky turned from gray to blue, the clouds parted for the last hour of Tuesday sun, and Yiddish Soul took the stage at Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield. The concert, a showcase of cantorial…
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Tokyo Meets the Lower East Side at Kulturfest
It would have taken the fanciful imagination of a writer like Haruki Murakami or Salman Rushdie to have invented a scrappy quartet of Japanese musicians who play a punk-rock infused brand of Ching Dong — a style of Japanese street music roughly analogous to New Orleans parade band music — until one day the leader…
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