Beautiful punim
People magazine is out with its annual “100 Most Beautiful People” issue. Jewish cuties in the May 11 issue include: actor Anton Yelchin, 20; talk show host–comedian Chelsea Handler, 34; and actresses Amanda Bynes, 23; Ashley Tisdale, 23; Brooke Burke, 37; Debra Winger, 54; and Rashida Jones, 33.
An improbable “beautiful person” is White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, 49. He’s included in a special section called “Barack’s Beauties.” As one might expect, Michelle Obama heads up that section.
‘Idol’ overdrive
Also found in the same issue of People is a favorable review of the new CD by singer Elliot Yamin, 30. Yamin finished third in the 2006 “American Idol” competition and has had a fairly successful career since.
Speaking of “Idol,” Adam Lambert, 27, came into this week’s final three as the odds-on favorite to win the current “Idol” competition. There are several videos on the Internet in which Lambert sings in Hebrew. Still, there’s no confirmation that Lambert is, in fact, Jewish. Many Jewish media sources are just assuming Lambert is Jewish even though there may be an alternate explanation as to why he’s singing in Hebrew. No doubt the whole story will emerge in the near future. (My “educated” gut feeling: His mother is Jewish.)
Influence in Time
Time magazine is out with its annual “World’s 100 Most Influential People” issue. Articles about each one of the 100 can be found on the Time.com Web site.
I’ve confirmed that the following members of the “100” are Jewish:
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, 50; personal finance expert and TV journalist Suze Orman, 57; fashion designer Stella McCartney, 37 (her late mother is Linda Eastman McCartney, the wife of Beatle Paul McCartney); reality TV producer Lauren Zalaznick, 46; Ponzi-scheme king Bernie Madoff, 71; architect Elizabeth Diller, 54 (the daughter of Holocaust survivors); “The View” co-host Barbara Walters, 79; banker Leonard Abess Jr., 60 (whose ethical practices and generosity to his employees were saluted by President Obama during his State of the Union speech); journalist and author David Sheff, 53 (best known for “Beautiful Boy),” his memoir about his struggle with his son’s drug addiction; New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, 56 (winner of the Nobel Prize in economics last year); and Shai Agassi, 40 (an Israeli entrepreneur who divides his time between Israel and the United States).
Agassi, who made one fortune developing software, now heads up a company called Better Place. Its aim is to set up a network of stations that will quickly replace depleted batteries for electric cars, thus making electric cars practical. Backed by Renault and others, Better Place has begun to build its network in Israel and Denmark.
Night at the Jewish Museum?
Opening May 22 is “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian,” a sequel to 2006 box-office smash “Night at the Museum.” Ben Stiller reprises his role as a security guard who has to deal with the problems that arise when the museum exhibits come alive.
The sequel’s large cast includes Jonah Hill, Hank Azaria, Paul Rudd and Brad Garrett. It’s also nice to note that entertainment legends Dick Van Dyke, 83, and Mickey Rooney, 88, appear in small parts. The director is Shawn Levy, 41, who specializes in family films.
Columnist Nate Bloom, an Oaklander, can be reached at [email protected].