Not for every taste
The premise of the new comedic documentary “The Aristocrats,” which opens Friday, July 29, is simple. There’s a famous, very filthy joke that has been told by professional comedians since the days of vaudeville. “Aristocrats” director Paul Provenza filmed 100 comedians telling this same joke. The setup of the joke is the same (a family act auditioning for a talent agent) no matter who tells it. However, each comedian in this documentary fills in the very raunchy details as he or she sees fit.
About 50 of the comedians in “The Aristocrats” are Jewish. Here are just 10: Hank Azaria, Jason Alexander, Lewis Black, Susie Essman, Richard Lewis, Cathy Ladman, Paul Reiser, Don Rickles, Jon Stewart and Sarah Silverman.
Obviously, this film isn’t for children or for those who do not like raunchy humor. Moreover, you may to have to wait until the film hits DVD to see “The Aristocrats” because not many theaters are booking it.
‘The Surreal Life’
A couple of years ago, cable station VH1 had the idea of having five has-been celebrities live in the same house for about six weeks. (The show’s producers shamelessly manipulate their living conditions to make for some drama.) Called “The Surreal Life,” this new low in reality TV has turned out to be VH1’s highest rated show.
The fifth installment of the “The Surreal Life” began July 17 and features Caprice, a pretty, blonde Jewish model who goes by a one-word name.
Calling Caprice a has-been is confusing to American audiences who are largely unfamiliar with her career. Born Caprice Bourret in Los Angeles, the 34-year-old beauty is a former Miss California. Her American modeling career went nowhere so she relocated to London in the mid-1990s. She became a very familiar face in Britain — appearing on major magazine covers and on several Brit TV shows. While not quite a has-been in Britain — her looks-based career is fading in the United Kingdom.
Caprice, it’s nice to note, has always been quite open about being Jewish and she’s donated her time to several British Jewish charities. So, we wish her luck as she shares a house with such icons of our time as former Oakland A’s baseball star Jose “I Took Steroids” Canseco.
Something older, something younger
Although KISS has faded as a major rock act, KISS frontman Gene Simmons always finds a way to keep his face before the public view. His newest venture is a shameless TV rip-off of the hit movie “School of Rock.” Simmons’ “Rock School,” now airing on VH1, has Simmons tutoring some English prep school kids in the fine points of rock ‘n’ roll. Problem is that Simmons has none of the charm of comedian Jack Black, the star of “School of Rock,” and his TV series is a dud.
Meanwhile, Ivan Reitman’s hilarious film “Stripes” (1981) has just been re-issued on DVD with a true extra: 18 minutes of never-before-seen footage. This footage includes a very funny scene in which “Stripes” stars Bill Murray and Harold Ramis fly off to a secret mission in Central America.
Just out on DVD is “Ice Princess,” starring actress Michelle Trachtenberg, 19, in her first adult role. The former child star of “Harriet the Spy” and “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer” has matured into a very attractive young woman.
Released last spring to mixed reviews, “Princess” is a feel-good movie about Trachtenberg’s quest for a figure skating championship. It’s fun summer family fare — with a light romantic subplot.
The Brooklyn-born Trachtenberg is Jewish on her father’s side and says that she celebrates Chanukah and Christmas.
Columnist Nate Bloom, an Oaklander, can be reached at [email protected].