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
-
Did Kirk Douglas Have a Secret Tunnel to the Playboy Mansion?
Kirk Douglas with Eve Miller in ‘The Big Trees’ // Wikimedia Commons Alas, we discovered this was all an elaborate Playboy April’s fools joke! Oh, the things you come across when looking for pictures to make Hugh Hefner’s birthday collage. A couple of editors at Playboy were rummaging through the magazine’s archives looking for material…
-
Why British TV Handled Race Worse Than Starbucks
As Americans were watching Starbucks unveil its short-lived “Race Together” campaign — a push to talk about race in classic coffee klatch tradition — Brits were watching Trevor Phillips, the chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Head of the Commission for Racial Equality under Prime Minister Tony Blair, also talking about race,…
-
Nursing Home Residents Shake It to Beastie Boys
Growing old doesn’t mean you can’t bust a move. Watch these residents of Belvedere Assisted Living Facility stick it to the Man (in this case, the nursing home staff) in an amazing rendition of The Beastie Boys’ “Fight For Your Right To Party.” Bling, booze and walkers — it’s got it all. May we all be…
The Latest
-
Anne Frank Gets the Animation Treatment
Photos from Yair Naveh’s Culture blog. 3d Animation by Andy Gent, 2d animation by Yoni Goodman An Anne Frank animated movie would’ve sounded like a terrible joke to me in the past. In fact, “Saturday Night Live” made that joke in the 90s. But to hear that Ari Folman, the director of “Waltz with Bashir”…
-
Trevor Noah’s Already in Trouble for Anti-Semitic Tweets
Getty Images Just like you clear those less-than-flattering pictures of your trip to Cancun before you add your crush on Facebook, it’s usually a good idea to give you Twitter feed a quick skim when getting hired for a new job. Looks like Trevor Noah skipped that step. The comedian set to replace Jon Stewart…
-
Dr. Ruth in Harmony With HaZamir International Jewish Choir
The HaZamir International Jewish High School Choir March 22nd Performance program at its 22nd Anniversary concert at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall was a melding of new and old, innovative and traditional, contemporary and heymish. “How thrilling it is to have 350 Jewish teenagers (plus 50 alumni)! from America and Israel solidifying their relationship with…
-
‘The Dovekeepers’ Turns Masada Into Melodrama
It’s hard (and probably not kosher) to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. That’s largely the problem with CBS’s “The Dovekeepers,” airing March 31 and April 1. The filmmakers based this disappointing limited edition series on the best-selling Alice Hoffman novel of the same name, which chose to interpret the tale of…
-
#OyDate: Why Passover Is Not Date Night
Even a happy couple in love can have a bad date. That’s exactly what happened to me and my husband on our Passover together. And after Naomi Tomky shared her lonely Seder story, I was inspired to share ours. Have you and your partner had a terrible date? Or do you have a funny #Oydate…
-
What Does Trevor Noah Think About Israel?
Getty Images (JTA) Many late-night comedy fans had the same reaction Monday morning when it was announced that Trevor Noah, a 31-year-old South African standup comedian who is relatively unknown in the United States, will replace Jon Stewart as the next host of “The Daily Show”: Who exactly is this guy? Viewers had been calling…
-
6 Things You Should Watch to Get in the Passover Mood
Passover is now five days away. That means matzo, matzo, and more matzo — kind of a mood killer, I know. But if hours and hours of Seder, an inevitable family fight over which kid (ok, adult) found the Afikomen, and stuffing your face with coconut macaroons aren’t enough to get you excited for the holiday,…
-
Trevor Noah to Replace Jon Stewart as ‘Daily Show’ Host
Getty Images (Reuters) — Comedy Central said on Monday it has chosen South African comedian Trevor Noah, a relative newcomer to U.S. television, to replace Jon Stewart on its parody newscast, “The Daily Show.” In a statement, Viacom Inc-owned Comedy Central said it would announce the launch date for the new show later. “Trevor Noah is…
Most Popular
- 1
Fast Forward ‘I will never set foot there again’: Jewish Dems boycott Hymie’s deli in Philly after Trump ad
- 2
Fast Forward Every time Donald Trump has invoked Hitler and the Nazis
- 3
Fast Forward Trump said Hitler did ‘good things’ — he’s not the only one who thinks that
- 4
Opinion Shirel Golan survived the Nova massacre but died by suicide. Online denial may be to blame
In Case You Missed It
-
Culture How a brilliant Jewish philosopher anticipated the cult of Donald Trump
-
Fast Forward Phil Lesh, Grateful Dead bassist who hosted musical Passover seders, dies at 84
-
Fast Forward Holocaust survivor condemns Harris labeling Trump a ‘fascist’
-
Fast Forward In closing campaign arguments, Jewish partisans articulate Jewish fears
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism