Stephen Silver
Marc Shaiman is the author of a new memoir,, “Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner." (Robert Trachtenberg)
February 9, 2026, 4:57 pm
From ‘Hairspray’ to ‘South Park,’ composer Marc Shaiman tells a showbiz story shaped by Jewish humor
A Tony winner and seven-time Oscar nominee recounts collaborations with Bette Midler and Rob Reiner, and the musical liberties he took at his bar mitzvah.
By Stephen Silver
Mel Brooks, left, sat for roughly 10 hours of interviews over five sessions with filmmaker Judd Apatow for the HBO documentary “Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man!” (Mathieu Bitton/HBO)
January 21, 2026, 3:48 pm
Judd Apatow grew up idolizing Mel Brooks. Now he’s telling Brooks’ story.
The comedy director reflects on Brooks’ Jewish identity, his influence on modern comedy and “Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man!”
By Stephen Silver
Jason Schwartzman plays a cantor and Carol Kane plays an adult bat mitzvah student in Nathan Silver's film, "Between the Temples." (Sony Pictures Classics)
August 22, 2024, 7:18 am
Jason Schwartzman plays a small-town cantor with a spiritual crisis in ‘Between the Temples’
This many be the most Jewish mainstream movie of the year
By Stephen Silver
A group of schoolchildren read a news magazine in "June Zero," a new film dramatizing the Eichmann trial's reception in Israel. (Courtesy Cohen Media Group)
July 4, 2024, 2:09 pm
‘June Zero’ depicts Adolf Eichmann’s trial through the eyes of Israelis adjacent to it
The film "takes an ambitious and unconventional approach by focusing on a series of events outside of the trial itself."
By Stephen Silver
Gene Wilder and Cleavon Little appear in a scene from 1974's "Blazing Saddles." (Courtesy Fathom)
February 8, 2024, 9:51 am
‘Blazing Saddles’ marks a half-century of hilarity — and controversy
Most of the things that are controversial about “Blazing Saddles” now were just as controversial back when it was first released, 50 years ago this week.
By Stephen Silver
Jeremy Jordan as Neil Bogart in “Spinning Gold” (Photo courtesy of Hero Entertainment Group)
April 14, 2023, 8:06 am
‘Spinning Gold’ departs from Hollywood stereotypes about Jewish music producers
Movie tells the real-life story of Neil Bogart, the founder of Casablanca Records and a top music executive of the 1970s.
By Stephen Silver
Adam Goldberg as Harry Keshegian in an episode of "The Equalizer." (Michael Greenberg/CBS)
March 9, 2023, 8:20 pm
In episode of CBS’ ‘The Equalizer,’ Adam Goldberg tackles antisemitic hate crimes
On Sunday night, “The Equalizer” will air an episode called “Never Again,” in which a wave of hate crimes strikes Midwood, a heavily Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn.
By Stephen Silver
Julian Schlossberg, center, is shown with Elaine May and Alan Arkin. Schlossberg's memoir looks back at all the celebrities he met — many of them Jewish — during his career as a prolific producer. (Courtesy of Julian Schlossberg)
February 7, 2023, 12:18 pm
From Mel Brooks to Ethan Coen: Producer Julian Schlossberg’s memoir about working with Jewish stars over 6 decades
Schlossberg writes about how he went from a child in the Bronx to an influential show business figure who mingled and worked with countless movie stars.
By Stephen Silver
Adriano Ossicini, one of the doctors behind the Syndrome K ruse, with "Syndrome K" director Stephen Edwards, 2018. ("Syndrome K" Freestyle Digital Media)
August 13, 2022, 9:27 pm
To save Jews, these doctors invented a fake infectious disease
The prospect of catching the disease kept the Nazis away from the hospital. The Jews there hung on until the Allies liberated the city.
By Stephen Silver
Caroline Aaron attends "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" fourth season premiere in New York City, Feb. 5, 2022. (Noam Galai/Getty Images for Prime Video)
February 15, 2022, 4:01 pm
‘Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ star Caroline Aaron made a career out of playing East Coast Jews.
But she’s proud of her Southern roots.
By Stephen Silver
A still from "Cha Cha Real Smooth." (PICTURESTART)
January 28, 2022, 2:52 pm
‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’ explores love and awkwardness on the bar mitzvah circuit
Movie filmed in Pittsburgh has been acquired by Apple TV+ for a $15 million distribution deal
By Stephen Silver
Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman in "Licorice Pizza." (Paul Thomas Anderson/Metro-Goldwin-Mayer Pictures Inc.)
December 30, 2021, 9:51 am
‘Licorice Pizza’ captures the moment when pop culture started to see Jewish women as beautiful
The film, set in the 1970s, features a female Jewish protagonist who is not only played by a Jewish actress, but is also portrayed as a sex symbol.
By Stephen Silver
Jon Stewart speaks backstage during the 13th annual Stand Up for Heroes to benefit the Bob Woodruff Foundation at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 4, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for The Bob Woodruff Foundation via JTA )
October 3, 2021, 2:17 pm
As Jon Stewart returns to TV, here’s a look back at his most Jewish moments
Some of the funniest Jewish highlights from the former host of "The Daily Show."
By Stephen Silver
A church in Middlesboro, Kentucky, prays to a Star of David in a still from Maya Zinshtein's documentary "'Til Kingdom Come." (Abraham Troen/'Til Kingdom Come (2019) Film Ltd. via JTA)
March 31, 2021, 11:55 am
PBS postpones documentary on evangelicals and Israel for ‘editorial review’
Delay prompted by accusations that the film misleadingly spliced together two separate parts of a speech by former President Donald Trump
By Stephen Silver
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