Category Archives: Woody Allen, Bar Mitzvahs & Bagels

2010/12/01 · 8:31 pm

On the First Night of Hanukkah Jumped The Snark Gave to You…

…one Sesame Street video…

 

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Filed under Bert-n-Ernie, Lady Holiday, Muppets, Woody Allen, Bar Mitzvahs & Bagels

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2010/11/19 · 3:24 pm

Top Chef Contestants are Just Like Us!

Not, not because we also wear Crocs!  GROSS!

But because we have the same taste in bagels as Top Chef: Chicago cheftestant Nikki Cascone.

Cascone kept a week-long diary of her meals for Grub Street’s Diet of the Week, and had this to say about her Saturday morning:

Second breakfast. I HAD to have one of my favorites: two eggs over-medium, Swiss cheese, and turkey bacon on a whole-wheat bagel from La Bagel Delight in Brooklyn. Take it from a born-and-raised New York girl: They are the best bagels in New York.

(it should be noted that Cascone is extremely pregnant and that is why she has been eating multiple breakfasts, NOT because she is a hobbit)

We could not agree more with Cascone’s assesment of Bagel Delight, which has long been our favorite bagel shop in the borough, nay, the whole world (just ask our brother in LA, whom we overnighted bagels for his birthday a couple years back.  La Bagel Delicious).  And we also respect Cascone’s sandwich order, although when we splurge we go for real bacon.  Can’t do better than the genuine article.  And, at that point, why get a whole wheat bagel?  Just go for the gusto, Brooklyn!

We also have to commend Cascone for having the courage to open a restaurant that specializes in Jew food, Octavia’s Porch, which is set to open at the end of the month.  Take it from a born and a raised Long Island Jew, we’d rather eat pizza.  But if she’s set on trying to make gefilte fish more palatable, well, god bless her.

And if any of you stop in at La Bagel Delight, ask for Frank or Amanda and tell ’em Seth sent you.

(can we also add how excited we are for Top Chef: All-Stars, premiering December 1?  We can?  Great!  We’re super excited for Top Chef:All-Stars, premiering December 1.  Can’t wait to see what kind of Crocs Marcel is going to wear)

Via Grub Street

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Filed under Local Flavor, Top Scallop, Woody Allen, Bar Mitzvahs & Bagels

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2010/10/28 · 5:39 pm

FINALLY! Billy Joel & Michael Ian Black!

Well, not quite.  But during a recent appearance on Howard Stern’s Sirius radio show, Stern did ask Joel if he had read Michael Ian Black‘s essay “What I Would Be Thinking About If I Were Billy Joel Driving Towards A Holiday Party Where I Knew There Was Going To Be A Piano” (from his delightful anthology, My Custom Van, now available in paperback), so it’s almost as if they collaborated.  Sure, Joel hadn’t read or even heard of the essay, but now he knows about it, and we’re sure if he did read it he’d agree with every word (we think he’d also particularly enjoy the essay “Why I Used a Day-Glo Magic Marker to Color My Dick Yellow”).

Beyond the brief discussion about Black’s essay and Joel’s actual experience of going to party and finding out he’s supposed to be the entertainment, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable interview that delves into Joel’s personal past, and also goes in depth about Joel’s new concert film/documentary Last Play at Shea.

So that makes it Billy Joel, Michael Ian Black, and the Mets all in one conversation!  That’s like Christmas for a Long Island Jew Comedy Nerd!  Mazel Tov!

Thanks to Kieran for the tip

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Filed under Freak Out Control, Intersection of the venn diagram of things that I love, Literarally, Local Flavor, Marconi & Cheese, Matt Christopher Books, The Big Screen, The State, Tyranasaurus Sex, Woody Allen, Bar Mitzvahs & Bagels

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2010/09/17 · 6:15 pm

Gut Yontiff, Jews

In honor of the high holidays, and the impending arrival of the holiest of holies, we present the opening to Bridget Loves Bernie, a short-lived, high-rated CBS sitcom from 1972 that was canceled by CBS execs in response to complaints from viewers about the interfaith relationship between a gentile and a gentleman that serves as the show’s core.  We must thank the A.V. Club’s Primer of 70s sitcoms, which brought this forgotten program to our attention just yesterday.

What is especially interesting about this is that after the show was canceled, stars Meredith Baxter and David Birney (not a Jew) wed.  And what’s especially interesting about that is that 35 years and one husband later Meredith Baxter came out as a lesbian.  Now imagine what that show would have been like!  Too soon, America?  Too real?

Alright, the sun will soon set so get in that last slice of pizza.  Let’s have an easy fast, guys.  A lot of hustle, a lot of focus.  And we’ll meet to break the fast tomorrow night.  I’ll bring the bagels, you bring the napkins.

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Filed under Lady Holiday, Makes You Think, Nostalgia Corner, Other people's stuff, Woody Allen, Bar Mitzvahs & Bagels

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2010/08/30 · 4:11 pm

Now, Amazon, That’s Just Offensive

Of course I would be interested in A Short History of the Jews, right?

C’mon, Amazon, open your mind.  It’s the 2010s.

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Filed under Count Bleh, Interweb, Woody Allen, Bar Mitzvahs & Bagels

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2009/12/19 · 12:41 pm

Hanukkah: The End

I initially resisted including this video in our Hanukkah clipdown, but since it’s really the be-all, end-all of Hanukkah faire in pop culture, really the only viable Festival of Lights carol.  Plus, I needed something to wash out the taste of “Kosher Face.”  And, you know what, when I watch it, I am overcome with a wave of warm Hanukkah cheer (followed quickly by the requisite Jewish Guilt).

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However, if you like your Jewish-related content a little more series (and a little more depressing) I cannot recommend A Serious Man enough.  Just make sure you study your Torah portion beforehand.

Hope you had a great Hanukkah and got all the socks your heart desired!  Next year in Jerusalem!

Off to Disney on Ice.

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Filed under Saturday Night Live, The Big Screen, Woody Allen, Bar Mitzvahs & Bagels

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2009/12/18 · 1:55 am

Hannukah: The Penultimate Night

Is it me or has using the world “penultimate” really come into fashion lately?  I know it’s not really relevant, but I felt like I had to say it.  Anyway…

My mom was recently laid off from her part-time job, and consequently her internet productivity has spiked considerably.  A major part of this increased output is a rise in the number of email forwards she sends my way.  Whereas I might receive one a week, now I’m looking at two, maybe three, a day.  Perhaps it’s just the holiday season, but it seems that, in lieu of having a job, mom is really working it (internet-wise).

And thus today brought us this fantastic little Judaic gem:  “Kosher Face”

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It’s like “The Hanukkah Song,” except that it’s set to the tune of Poker Face, makes almost no sense, and references Adam Sandler as a Jew (which is soooo meta).

But bonus points for including one of the less revered Nicktoons, Hey Arnold.

However, infinite negative bonus points for including Bernie Madoff.  At that point let’s just show Rob Schneider for a fourth time.  Even that would be preferable.

In retrospect, not sure if this video is for or against Jews.

Anyway, L’Chaim!  Penultimate!

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Filed under Nicktoons, Virulent, Woody Allen, Bar Mitzvahs & Bagels

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2009/12/16 · 8:28 pm

Hanukkah Night #Seis: Jewing it up on “Late Night’

Like many, I was hard on Jimmy Fallon when he first embarked on his new role as Late Night host back in March.  And the criticism was well-earned.  He seemed ill prepared, unfocused, giggly, and generally too impressed by his guests to offer up anything that resembled an acceptable interview.  However, while his Q&A skills are still raw, he has proven to showcase some of the best, most off-beat sketches on the late night talkies (take a note, Mr. Leno).  From Zack Morris‘ truly satisfying visit to the truly weird  “Let us play with your look” to the truly pitch-perfect Hills knock-off series “7th Floor West,” Fallon has taken advantage of the freedom of the 12:35am slot, and has begun to put together a pretty unique, entertaining show (and the place where revered mid-90s indie-rock heroes come to reunite.  See: Sunny Day Real Estate, Jawbox).  Which is all a long way of saying that Andy Samberg visited set the show last night under the guise of Jimmy’s cousin “Jewey Fallon” in order to spread a little Hanukkah cheer.  And you know what?  In comparison to Samberg I kind found myself liking Fallon as much as I have since 10th grade, when he was the new prince of SNL.  Go figure.

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However, as usual, The Roots were the best part.  Just.  Killing.  It.

And if that wet your whistle watch (or rewatch) Fallon and Kimbo Slice wreaking havoc in a commercial for breakaway furniture.

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Filed under Count Bleh, Saturday Night Live, Saved by the Bell, Talkies, Woody Allen, Bar Mitzvahs & Bagels

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2009/12/15 · 11:26 pm

Hanukkah Night #5: Jew They Know It’s Christmas

Moving away from Muppet news (however briefly), tonight’s Hanukkah post comes from musician and frequent The State collaborator Craig Wedren.  Back in the dark ages of 2005, Wedren and some of his closest friends (including State-alums David Wain and Joe Lo Truglio, as well as Paul Rudd, Zack Orth and Matthew Zickel) recorded a cover of the holiday classic “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” complete with the requisite lead singer impressions (including a couple Paul McCartney’s, and a Mel Gibson thrown in for good measure).

Listen to “Jew They Know It’s Christmas”

And, yes, we know.

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Filed under The State, Woody Allen, Bar Mitzvahs & Bagels, Yankee Swap

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2009/12/12 · 5:02 pm

H(appy + anukkah)!!!!

Sorry about the title, just took the GREs and I must have factoring on the brain.

Anyway!  Happy Festival of Lights!  Hope you have your menorah ready to light, latkes ready to burn,  dreidel ready to spin, and Hanukkah gelt ready not to eat and eventually just throw away a month from now.  It’s the most wonderful time of the (Jewish) year!  As such, enjoy this clip of Stephen Colbert listening to the merits of Hanukkah, and, ultimately, deciding it’s not for him:

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For night #1 I received socks, which might sound hackneyed and lame but is actually a gift I look forward to every year.  Cause, hey, who can’t use a good pair of socks once a year?

But I received an even better gift later in the night:

Turns out that Community‘s Alison Brie is a member of the tribe! (for those of you who eschew for those puerile 22-minute network comedies you might  know her better as Mrs. Pete Campbell on Mad Men)  And don’t worry, I cross referenced with IMDB and Wikipedia to make sure Brie, and not just the character, is Jewish.  And it turns out that as a child she performed at the Los Feliz Jewish Center, just a hop, skip and a jump down the road from here!

Boy, they didn’t have girls like that at Temple Beth Shalom.

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