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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Katy Perry Angers Fans With ‘Pray for Israel’ Tweet
It seems that some Katy Perry fans have proven they can turn “Hot N Cold” at the mere posting of a tweet. While some were getting hot under the collar, others were now giving their once-favorite singer the cold shoulder. Why? Because, as conservative writer, columnist and Fox News contributor Michelle Malkin wrote on her…
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Rebels Sang Israeli’s Song as They Advanced on Tripoli
In news today from the “it’s a brave, new, global world” department, Michal Levertov, in a piece for Institute for War & Peace Reporting, wrote that television reports this past week have shown Libyans singing and dancing to “Zenga Zenga” as the rebels advanced on Tripoli. This is brave, new and global because “Zenga Zenga”…
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Books The Great Media Non-Conspiracy
The Influencing Machine: Brooke Gladstone On the Media By Brooke Gladstone, Illustrated by Josh Neufeld W. W. Norton & Company, 158 pages, $26.00 An icon of many a household’s Sunday listening, Brooke Gladstone and her show “On the Media,” with Bob Garfield as co-host, has for my (pledge) money the liveliest program on National Public…
The Latest
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Q&A: ‘Hardcore Pawn’ Stars Les and Seth Gold
Slow down, guys — “Hardcore Pawn” is not what it sounds like. It’s actually a hit show for the truTV cable network about third-generation pawnbroker Les Gold and his family, and their 50,000-square-foot business, American Jewelry and Loan. Located in the tough Eight Mile section of Detroit, the business has customers lining up outside hours…
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Glenn Beck Gears Up For Big Jerusalem Show
Glenn Beck’s back in Israel this week, in a trip that will conclude tomorrow with a program held at Jerusalem’s Davidson Center, not far from the Western Wall. This is the second visit by Beck since the end of his inflammatory run as a host at Fox News, and the first since July, when he…
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When Circumcision Becomes Amputation
The Shmooze can think of at least one guy who won’t be performing a bris anytime soon. John Patterson, a doctor at Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Ky., is in court this week, facing a lawsuit for amputating a penis during what was intended to be a circumcision. He’s being sued by Phillip Seaton, who’s already…
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The Lions of Zion, Chapter Five
What would have happened had there been a Jewish team in the Major Leagues? In an original novel serialized on The Arty Semite, Ross Ufberg imagines the trials and triumphs of The Lions of Zion, an all-Jewish team competing in the National League in 1933. Read the first four chapters here. Man tries and God…
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Israeli Pop Star Margol’s Mug Shots Leaked
According to a report by Israel’s Channel 2 News, someone is going to be in big trouble. And it’s likely going to be someone working in the Israeli Prison Authority. Apparently, someone has leaked mug shots of Israeli singer and celebrity Margalit Tzanani (often referred to in the Israeli press by the nickname Margol) taken…
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Puppies of Pop
Crossposted from Haaretz Klavlavei Hapop is a name that in recent months has been whispered about in small clubs, on fringe music blogs, Facebook pages, student radio stations, between tents and at supermarkets open all night and at art schools. This was before the musical quintet behind the name released its premiere album or even…
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‘Hound Dog’ Songwriter Jerry Leiber Dies at 78
“They corrupted us with pleasure.” That, according to the Los Angeles Times, was the eminent critic John Lahr’s assessment of Jewish songwriting team Leiber and Stoller, whose indelible repertoire includes Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” and Peggy Lee’s “Is That All There Is?” Jerry Leiber, “the words half of the duo,” died today of cardiopulmonary failure…
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Jon Voight Visits Terrorism Victims at Soroka Hospital
He’s known to many as the father of superstar and international do-gooder Angelina Jolie, but Jon Voight is also recognized as a longtime supporter of Israel. The actor made a Chabad-sponsored trip over the weekend to Israel, surprising victims of last week’s terrorist attacks and the ongoing missile barrages from Gaza with a visit to…
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