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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James Franco, Paparazzo
James Franco is channeling Perez Hilton on his Instagram feed this week. The “This Is The End” star has made a collage of pictures showing him doing fairly innocuous things, complete with scandalous headlines scrawled in MS Paint. One set, captioned “James Franco in love?” shows him cuddling with another man, addressing the many jokes/rumors/quips…
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‘Jewtopia’ Isn’t the Jewish Utopia We Were Looking For
One of the toughest tickets on Broadway today is “Book of Mormon,” the hilarious spoof on the Church of Latter Day Saints. It is a hoot. But I distinctly remember how uncomfortable I was as I watched, even while laughing out loud. My personal litmus test in these situations is, what if the writers were…
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Why Is Sarah Silverman Wearing a Cross?
Last week, Sarah Silverman made an appearance on comedian W. Kamau Bell’s talk show, “Totally Biased.” As usual, she was wonderful. But in between quips about the James Franco roast, and how she is actually genuinely hurt by jokes about her age, one couldn’t help but zoom in on the very unusual piece of jewelry…
The Latest
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‘Sukkah City’ the Movie
Fortunately for us, Jason Hutt decided not to let another Festival of Tabernacles go by without completing his “Sukkah City” documentary film about the 2010 architectural design competition and exhibition of the same name. Having had its world premiere in Jerusalem this past summer, the film is now ready for Jewish holiday prime time, with…
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Versailles McMansion Couple Returns to Small Screen
The Siegels are back. David and Jackie Siegel, last seen in the Documentary “The Queen of Versailles,” are the first guests in a new CNBC program, “Secret Lives of the Super Rich,” premiering September 25 at 9 p.m. Even in a show dedicated to conspicuous consumption, the Siegels are special. When last seen, the Siegel…
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Drake Gives $10K to Grieving Mother
Sometimes, Drake can be a real mentsch. The Jewish Canadian rapper has just pledged $10,000 to an Ohio woman who lost her entire family (including her five children) to a fire on Sunday. The money will go to pay for the funerals. Fellow rapper The Game matched the sum, bringing the total up to $20,000….
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So, Zac Efron Went to Rehab
Apparently, America’s favorite squeaky clean celebrity spent some time in rehab this year. According to E!News, the 25-year-old actor completed treatment roughly five months ago for what was initially thought to be alcohol abuse. But sources told TMZ that Efron, set to star as a frat boy in Seth Rogen’s upcoming film “Neighbors,” was actually…
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Celebrate Sukkot Coney Island Syle
Most people wouldn’t consider Coney Island’s Luna Park, with its historic B&B Carousel, Parachute Jump and iconic Cyclone rollercoaster (now celebrating its 86th anniversary), as the ideal setting for a religious observance. But that is exactly what it will be from September 21 to 25, when the amusement park plays host to its second Sukkot…
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George Segal on ‘The Goldbergs’ and Playing Pops Solomon
ABC’s newest comedy is called “The Goldbergs.” At least, now it is. Created by Adam F. Goldberg and loosely based on his life growing up in a Jewish family in the 1980s, the show was originally called “How the F***| Am I Normal?” Its new name is likely more acceptable to newspaper TV listing editors,…
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‘Homeland’ Will Not Shoot in Israel Because of Syria
Producers of “Homeland” have cancelled plans to film third season scenes in Israel because of concerns about the situation in Syria. Deadline Hollywood reports that the show will use Morocco as a stand-in. An unnamed Israel-based producer was quoted as calling the switch “frustrating.” The season three series debut is September 29. At a news…
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Jews of the Forbes 400
The Forbes 400 list of the richest people of America was released on Monday. As expected, Bill Gates (#1) and Warren Buffet (#2) topped the list with $72 billion and $58.5 billion, respectively. But members of the tribe made notable appearances, taking up eight spots in the Top 20. Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle Corporation…
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