AUDIO: Al Jolson stars as ‘The Jazz Singer’—Lux Radio Theatre 1947

By The Web Guy
Published on July 6, 2008

In this June 1947 production, Al Jolson reprises his most famous silver screen role as "The Jazz Singer."

Bipolar Express: ‘Idiot Box’ takes a trip

By Nick Street
Published on August 2, 2007

Rhoda, Mary, Laverne or Rachel would feel instantly at home in Donna Marquet's quirky-cute set for "The Idiot Box," a play currently at the Open Fist Theatre in Hollywood. The cloying "anyplace and no place" flatmates in the big city vibe is spot-on for "The Idiot Box," a shrewd, bittersweet pop-culture critique of American sensibilities post-Sept. 11.

Cute, menschy boy bands make traditional tunes cool

By Leah Hochbaum
Published on November 30, 2006

n June 2005, the Backstreet Boys released "Never Gone," an album filled not with the teeth-rotting pop confections of the group's youth, but with songs of a more adult contemporary style.The album's relative failure marked a turning point in mainstream music -- Backstreet wasn't selling, *NSYNC had disbanded and nobody ever really cared what happened to 98 Degrees. The era of the boy band was officially over. In the pop world, that is. In the Orthodox world, it had only just begun.

‘Jews for Jihad’ Just for Starters

By Amy Klein
Published on September 22, 2005

"Go Ahead, Make My Shabbos!" No, it's not Clint Eastwood turning religious, but a slogan on a T-shirt and coffee mug at Jewschool store, a Web site offering cheeky sloganned goods like T-shirts, underwear, caps, pins and bags.

‘Fear of Unknown’ Enters Pop Culture

By Tom Tugend
Published on September 4, 2005

This Sunday, as America commemorates the fourth anniversary of the World Trade Center attack, films, television, plays and books are just beginning to grapple seriously with the phenomena of suicide bombings and terrorism.

The lag time between a cataclysmic experience and its absorption into the popular culture is hardly surprising.

From Jew to Jewcy

By Hal Niedzviecki
Published on July 22, 2004

Last year was a big one for Jewish cool. Articles in The Forward; Time Out New York; conservative Candian newspaper, The National Post; and staid British dailies, The Times and The Observer all trumpeted the reinvention of Jewishness as hip and cool. Amalgamate the headlines of those articles and you get something like: "It's Hip to Be Hebrew: Edgy Jewish Chic Gets a Jewcy Makeover."

Giants of the Small Screen

By Shoshana Lewin-Fischer
Published on April 15, 2004

Andy and Opie. Archie and Meathead. The Professor and Mary Ann. Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia. We can all thank Sheldon Leonard, Norman Lear, Sherwood Schwartz and Susan Harris, respectively, for bringing these people into our living rooms and the pop culture landscape.

To some, they were the menches next door, but to the TV Land cable network they are "Moguls," the ones with the "golden touch," says Merv Griffin, host of the six-part series, which debuts Wednesday, April 21.

A Gift From Santa’s Jewish Helpers

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on December 25, 2003

In the sleeper hit "Elf," Buddy (Will Ferrell) is a lovable
childlike oaf, raised by elves, who returns to New York to find his real father
and spread Christmas cheer. It's a hip, witty, charming fairy tale that, like
much of Christmas cinema, was created by Jews.