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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101 Years of the Maxwell House Haggadah
If you’ve been to a Seder in the United States some time in the last 80 years, you’ve probably come across the Maxwell House Haggadah. The iconic blue cover and dual-column Hebrew and English translations have arguably become almost as emblematic of the holiday as the Seder plate and Elijah’s cup among Jews of the…
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4 Biggest Snafus of Barack Obama’s Israel Trip
Well, it’s over. After three days of meeting, greeting, cheering, and even a heckle or two, President Obama has bid adieu to Israel. While the overall trip was successful, we couldn’t help but round up the some of the more, ahem, entertaining moments. 1. The Thin Red Line What is it with Benjamin Netanyahu and…
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Happy Birthday, Stephen Sondheim!
Stephen Sondheim turns 83 today — a birthday always worth noting, though this time it will pass without an entire year of galas and concerts, as was the case on the composer’s 80th. Even considering the Jewish contributors to modern American musical theater — Jerome Kern, George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz…
The Latest
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Seth Rogen Will Return to Director’s Chair
“This Is the End,” Seth Rogen’s co-directorial debut with Evan Goldberg, won’t be out in theaters for another three months, but the pair has already signed on to co-direct and co-produce another movie titled “The Interview.” Rogen will also star in the film. As we wait for “This Is the End,” to arrive in theatres…
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Ben Feldman Hams Up Jew Factor on ‘Mad Men’
Advertising, it’s fair to say, is in Ben Feldman’s blood. Yes, he technically plays a fictional advertiser, the Jewish copywriter in AMC’s award-winning drama “Mad Men.” But Feldman says it was his excellent marketing skills that landed him the role. “The casting loved that I was a Jew in real life,” Feldman told JTA. “They…
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Bar Refaeli Ad Airs Despite Army Objection
When it comes to tourism, Israel has a lot of things going for it. The weather is almost always perfect, the food is delicious, and the people are good looking. Really, really good looking. So when the Israeli Defense Force objected to an ad featuring Israel’s most beautiful of “beautiful people” — Bar Refaeli —…
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Books The Man Who Made the Soundtrack to Our Lives
It’s hard to pick up a newspaper or turn on the television lately without running into Clive Davis. He is promoting his memoir, “The Soundtrack of My Life” a book that might just as easily be called “The Soundtrack of Your Life.” Yes, you. Davis, 80, is a recording industry executive who helped start or…
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The Wit and Witticisms of Shoshana
Season two of “Girls” wrapped up last weekend, but here’s something to tide fans over for a bit. New York Magazine put together this collection of the “The Wit and Witticisms” of Shoshana, the show’s most Jewish character (see below). And if you haven’t done so yet, read our piece about how Shoshana reinvented the…
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Leonard Cohen: The Musical
“Leonard Cohen: The Musical.” What would such a creation possibly look like? I don’t know, but I’m curious to find out. According to the CBC, Canadian playwright Tracey Power, who also wrote “Back To You: The Life and Music of Lucille Starr,” is working on just such a production. “Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard…
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#ObamaInIsrael Has Its Own Pinterest Page
Social media loves a good diplomatic visit. Pictures abound, attempts at speaking other languages often fail, and the agonizing possibility that something will go horribly wrong — like a car breaking down, perhaps? — makes for great third party commentary. All of you avidly following President Obama’s trip to Israel this week will be happy…
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Tavi Gevinson, Female Characters and ‘Archer’
In March 2012, teenage fashion writer Tavi Gevinson gave a TED talk bemoaning the lack of strong female characters in pop culture. “Strong,” she said, doesn’t mean “two dimensional super-women who maybe have one quality that’s played up a lot.” Rather, she argued, we need “strong characters who happen to be female.” In a recent…
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