America: (The book ban)

If 2004 was Jon Stewart’s cultural coming out party, then 2005 is shaping up to be much of the same. Earlier this month, a Gulfport, Miss., library banned the Jewish satirist’s best-selling book “America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction” for, among other things, showing the heads of Supreme Court justices superimposed on naked bodies. But just days later a library board reversed the decision, thereby helping all in the area get an education on our wonderful judicial system.

Let’s make a deal

Uber-Jewish producer Jerry Bruckheimer had two drama pilots picked up: one called “E-Ring” for NBC which is described as a “West Wing” for the Pentagon, and an untitled one for The WB. … In other deal news, Comedy Central has green lit a project by Michael Ian Black which, as the Hollywood Reporter describes it, “chronicles the misadventures of a trio of modern-day Marx Brothers who face absurdist obstacles.” … And in Natalie Portman news, the “Star Wars” shayna maidel is teaming up with the makers of the Matrix for the film version of the graphic novel “V is for Vendetta.” As well, some of Portman’s friends are shopping around a pilot for a TV series about a posh New England boarding school that would star Portman in the lead role.

Still in showbiz

Woody Allen’s “Melinda and Melinda” won’t hit theaters until March 18, but for those hankering for a sneak peek, take a drive down the coast to the Santa Barbara Film Festival because Allen’s new romantic dramedy will open the annual event on Friday, Jan. 28.

KISS and tell

KISS frontman and wild Jewish rocker Gene Simmons is being sued by a former lover who claims she was misrepresented as a loose and unchaste woman in a recent KISS documentary. She claims, in court papers, that she believed she was in “an exclusive, monogamous, romantic relationship” with the womanizing Simmons for three years. In other Simmons news, he’s getting some flack from Islamic groups for attacking their culture. In an interview with Australian radio station, Simmons said, “Your dog is allowed to have its own dog house. You can send your dog to school to learn tricks, sit, beg, do all that stuff. … None of the women have that advantage. Your dog, however, can walk by your side.” Oy.

War effort

With a $1.5 million donation to tsunami relief efforts, Steven Spielberg is leading the way among Hollywood contributors. We guess filming the upcoming “War of the Worlds” has had an effect on the director.

Who’s your granddaddy?

Mazal tov to Emmy-award winning actor Jeffrey Tambor who became both a father and a grandfather last month. The 60-year-old “Arrested Development” patriarch welcomed son Gabriel Kasper and just four days later became a grandparent when his daughter, Molly, gave birth to son Mason Jay Moore. That’s not all Tambor’s busy with. Starting in April, he’ll appear in the Broadway production of “Glengarry Glen Ross” alongside fellow Jew Liev Schreiber.

Columnist Benyamin Cohen is the editor of Jewsweek magazine.