‘Taxi’ on TVLand
The annual “TVLand Awards” on cable station TVLand are a lot of fun. It’s a light-hearted show with humorous remarks and entertaining TV clips. Plus, you get to see how well yesteryear’s TV stars have aged. (Sunday, April 22, at 9 p.m. with a rebroadcast at 11 p.m.)
This year TVLand is honoring, among others, “The Brady Bunch” and “Taxi” TV series.
“The Brady Bunch” had no Jewish stars, but was created by the (Jewish) Sherwood Schwartz, now 90. “Taxi,” on the other hand, not only had a Jewish co-creator (James L. Brooks), but three starring Jewish actors — Judd Hirsch as Alex Rieger, Carol Kane as Simka Gravas and the late Andy Kaufman as Latka Gravas. (Big fans of the show know that Alex was identified as a Jewish character in a couple of episodes).
Hirsch, who won two best actor Emmys for “Taxi,” will be at the TVLand awards. Joining him will be “Taxi” cast members Danny DeVito, Jeff Conway and Tony Danza.
Einstein on God
Albert Einstein’s life and genius continue to fascinate the general public. A just-released biography, “Einstein’s Life and Universe,” by Walter Isaacson, draws on a previously unreleased trove of Einstein letters and has an incredible advance printing of 500,000 copies. On Thursday, April 26, Isaacson will appear at the JCC of San Francisco to discuss his book with Josh Kornbluth. (It’s being filmed for later broadcast on KQED.) On the same day, Isaacson will be a guest on Ron Owens’ KGO radio program (10 a.m.).
In the April 5 issue of Time magazine, Isaacson provides a really lucid exposition of Einstein’s evolving religious beliefs in his essay, “Einstein and Faith.” Einstein’s belief in God, Issacson explains, didn’t conform to any mainstream religious doctrine — but was strongly influenced by his life as a scientist. (Go to the Time.com site and put in the words “Einstein” and “faith” in the search engine and the article will come up.)
One possible source of Einstein’s genius is explored in this month’s “Commentary” magazine. Charles Murray, in his article “Jewish Genius,” provides an interesting new hypothesis why Jews “are extravagantly over-represented in every field of intellectual accomplishment.” You’ll be surprised at his ultimate answer. (Go to CommentaryMagazine.com — the article is currently found on the front page of the site).
Two young Jewish guys
“In The Land of Women,” a movie that opens Friday, April 20, marks the first film starring role for Adam Brody, 27, and the directorial debut of Jon Kasdan, 26. (Kasdan also wrote the movie.)
Brody, the star of the just-ended TV series “The O.C.,” stars in “Women” as a Los Angeles TV writer who is jilted by his girlfriend and heads off to Michigan to take care of his sick grandmother (Olympia Dukakis). Across the street from grandma lives Sarah Hardwicke (Meg Ryan), a single mother with a two daughters — one a beautiful teenager with problems and the other a clever 11-year-old. All three “women” fall in love — albeit in different ways — with Brody’s character and ultimately change his life.
Kasdan is the son of famous director Lawrence Kasdan. He made his film debut in his father’s movie, “The Big Chill” (1983), where he played Kevin Kline and Glenn Close’s toddler son—-you may remember him singing “Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog.” Jon survived a bout with Hodgkin’s disease when he was 17. His brother, Jake Kasdan, 31, already has directed several films and his new film, “The TV Set,” starring David Duchovny, opened in limited release earlier this month.