‘The best people are’
Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, the stars of the stage revival of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple,” were recently interviewed at New York’s 92nd St. Y. Here’s an excerpt from Backstage.com:
Moderator Patrick Pacheco asked about the tradition of Jewish humor in Simon’s comedy: “How Jewish are these characters?”
“The language and rhythms are Jewish,” said Broderick, adding that the relationship between the two characters probably has deep, ancient Jewish roots.
Turning to Lane, Pacheco asked, “Nathan, are you an honorary Jew?”
“Yes, the best people are.”
“For an Irish Catholic, it’s sweet,” the actor continued. “I’m glad I can pass. It’s brought me a lot of work. I have a great affinity for Jewish humor. Mel [Brooks], Neil, Larry Gelbart — they are the foundation of my sense of humor.”
By the way, Broderick’s late mother was Jewish and his wife, Sarah Jessica Parker, describes him as very well-read in Jewish history.
Black forecast
The Weather Channel recently began to spice up their coverage with celebrity guest commentators. The first such guest was comedian Lewis Black, best known for his acerbic but witty rants on Jon Stewart’s “Daily Show.” He appeared several times in November and may appear again this month.
The segments with Black that I saw weren’t that funny. The regular weather reporters had rigid smiles when they talked to the comic. They just seemed to cramp Black’s style.
The Weather Channel should just sit Black before a camera and allow him to call down hail, tornadoes, floods, boils and locusts on all the people who annoy him.
‘Shalom in the Home’
Orthodox Rabbi Shmuley Boteach is best known for his book “Kosher Sex,” his friendship with Michael Jackson and what some consider too much interest in media attention.
Now comes word that the rabbi will have a reality television show on the TLC cable channel called “Shalom in the Home.” Boteach will live with troubled families for a week and help them repair their family bonds. It’s expected to premiere in early 2006.
So, come the new year, wedged somewhere between a TLC show about redecorating and another about real-life crimes, you’ll find Boteach doing his “Jewish Eye for the Dysfunctional Family Guy” thing.
John Lennon’s rabbi
The 25th anniversary of the slaying of John Lennon is Thursday, Dec. 8. A previously unknown envelope that John Lennon used to write down some of the lyrics of his 1969 anthem “Give Peace a Chance” was sold last month to a “private buyer,” rumored to be Yoko Ono, for around $400,000.
The lyrics on the envelope didn’t include the title of the song, but written on this envelope was the name and telephone number of Toronto Reform rabbi Abraham Feinberg, who died in 1986. Feinberg, who was famous in Canada, was a strong advocate of liberal social causes, including racial equality.
The Sunday Times of London cited the envelope and other evidence to repeat what some sources have said before — that Feinberg must be given credit for giving the song its title.
In 1969, Lennon called Feinberg, he came over to Lennon’s Toronto hotel and the two hit it off. By chance, the rabbi said, “John, we really have to give peace a chance.” Voila! Lennon had his famous title and song chorus.
Columnist Nate Bloom, an Oaklander, can be reached at [email protected].