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The latest trend in Hollywood? ‘Jew Cool’
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By: MARGI HERWALD City Editor
VH1 special “So Jewtastic” is fun and empowering
Pop quiz, Hotshot.
“The Constant Gardener’s” Rachel Weisz. “King Kong’s” Jack Black. “Scrubs” star Zach Braff. “The Daily Show” anchor Jon Stewart. Controversial comedian Ali G. What do they all have in common?
Answer: They’re Jewish and proud of it. Not only do these celebs loudly declare their Jewishness in a way no music, TV or movie star outside the Catskills ever dared generations ago, but they are considered cooler because of it.
This advent of “Jew Cool” in Hollywood is the subject of the VH1 special “All Access: So Jewtastic,” premièring on the cable pop culture network Mon., Dec. 19, at 9 p.m.
In recent years, VH1 has given us such frothy, yet addictive pop culture commentary shows as “I Love the ’80s,” “I Love the ’90s,” and “Best Week Ever.” The network’s patented format for these shows is to take witty celebrity interviews and intercut them with quick flashes of footage. The comedians, journalists and stars reminisce, pontificate and crack wise about the topic at hand, be it the hottest trends of 1981 or Britney Spears’s newborn.
Given the always jokey, often irreverent, and occasionally vapid tones these VH1 shows can take, I admit I was wary about the network taking on Judaism as its topic du jour. While their format suits examining such trends as reality TV and sexy stars over 40, I just wasn’t sure it was right for a broadcast giving the whole wide world a glance into my religion and culture.
I was wrong.
“So Jewtastic” is not only genuinely funny, it is surprisingly empowering. Panelists from TV host Brooke Burke to L.A. Times sarcasti-wit Joel Stein to porn star Ron Jeremy are both protective and proud of their heritage. Without getting too serious, celebrities systematically bust anti-Semitic stereotypes.
As Stein quips in defense of his tribe’s lack of stellar athletes, “We’re 3% of the population. We’re doing OK.”
Among the stereotypes dealt with on the show are characterizations of Jews as neurotic nebbishes (frequent pictures of Woody Allen are flashed to illustrate this tired negative), miserly, saddled with big noses, and running Hollywood. Some panelists, like Heeb magazine’s Josh Neuman, address these notions with historical facts instead of just jokes.
Among my favorite stereotype-busting segments are those in which celebrities take on the myth that Jewish women are not interested in sex and Jewish men are somewhat lacking … anatomically. With Ron Jeremy foremost among those refuting these lame claims, we move on to the stereotype of the JAP, which Brooke Burke notes probably developed from non-Jews’ jealousy over how nurturing and loving Jewish men are toward their wives and daughters. Take that!
Not only do the Jewish celebs proudly stand up for their tribe, they casually drop Hebrew words from chumash to Kotel to Tisha b’Av without bothering to translate them … as if every viewer does or should know exactly what they mean. Fabulous.
“So Jewtastic” also examines the often overlooked Jewish influence on two art forms: rap music and heavy metal. From Anthrax frontman Scott Ian to rap-producing icon Lyor Cohen, Jews who rock are given their due respect.
Given their due ribbing are non-Jewish celebrities like Madonna, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore who like to pretend they are members of the tribe by embracing kabbalah. VH1’s panelists don’t have one kind word for these poseurs.
“So Jewtastic” does fall into quite a few of VH1’s typical traps. Its images and stock footage get repetitive, and the show’s bumps at each commercial break give away far too much of what’s coming up in the next few segments.
The show also misses the mark on several staged comedic segments meant to break up the celebrity interviews. Bits featuring Jackie Mason teaching Yiddish words to non-Jewish viewers (“You’ve been shul-ed.”) and comic Elon Gold asking deli customers to sample Jewish foods fall flat.
Another segment featuring rapper Baby (credited with coining the term “bling”) and a Jewish bubbe from Boca comparing their gaudy gold chains and diamonds is an utter train wreck and only serves to reinforce many stereotypes (about both blacks and Jews) that panelists earlier had tried to tear down. Also, the show’s announcer quite often uses the word “Heeb” to describe cool Jews in Hollywood. I know the magazine of that name is a big deal, but I must have missed the memo on when we all agreed to embrace this loaded word.
Despite a few of VH1’s typical pop culture gloss-overs and straining attempts to be hip, “So Jewtastic” does a unique service in touting pride in one’s Jewish identity as not only cool, but pretty darn normal.
“All Access: So Jewtastic” airs on VH1 (Adelphia digital cable channel 44) on Mon., Dec. 19, at 9 p.m. Check local listings.
Pop quiz, Hotshot.
“The Constant Gardener’s” Rachel Weisz. “King Kong’s” Jack Black. “Scrubs” star Zach Braff. “The Daily Show” anchor Jon Stewart. Controversial comedian Ali G. What do they all have in common?
Answer: They’re Jewish and proud of it. Not only do these celebs loudly declare their Jewishness in a way no music, TV or movie star outside the Catskills ever dared generations ago, but they are considered cooler because of it.
This advent of “Jew Cool” in Hollywood is the subject of the VH1 special “All Access: So Jewtastic,” premièring on the cable pop culture network Mon., Dec. 19, at 9 p.m.
In recent years, VH1 has given us such frothy, yet addictive pop culture commentary shows as “I Love the ’80s,” “I Love the ’90s,” and “Best Week Ever.” The network’s patented format for these shows is to take witty celebrity interviews and intercut them with quick flashes of footage. The comedians, journalists and stars reminisce, pontificate and crack wise about the topic at hand, be it the hottest trends of 1981 or Britney Spears’s newborn.
Given the always jokey, often irreverent, and occasionally vapid tones these VH1 shows can take, I admit I was wary about the network taking on Judaism as its topic du jour. While their format suits examining such trends as reality TV and sexy stars over 40, I just wasn’t sure it was right for a broadcast giving the whole wide world a glance into my religion and culture.
I was wrong.
“So Jewtastic” is not only genuinely funny, it is surprisingly empowering. Panelists from TV host Brooke Burke to L.A. Times sarcasti-wit Joel Stein to porn star Ron Jeremy are both protective and proud of their heritage. Without getting too serious, celebrities systematically bust anti-Semitic stereotypes.
As Stein quips in defense of his tribe’s lack of stellar athletes, “We’re 3% of the population. We’re doing OK.”
Among the stereotypes dealt with on the show are characterizations of Jews as neurotic nebbishes (frequent pictures of Woody Allen are flashed to illustrate this tired negative), miserly, saddled with big noses, and running Hollywood. Some panelists, like Heeb magazine’s Josh Neuman, address these notions with historical facts instead of just jokes.
Among my favorite stereotype-busting segments are those in which celebrities take on the myth that Jewish women are not interested in sex and Jewish men are somewhat lacking … anatomically. With Ron Jeremy foremost among those refuting these lame claims, we move on to the stereotype of the JAP, which Brooke Burke notes probably developed from non-Jews’ jealousy over how nurturing and loving Jewish men are toward their wives and daughters. Take that!
Not only do the Jewish celebs proudly stand up for their tribe, they casually drop Hebrew words from chumash to Kotel to Tisha b’Av without bothering to translate them … as if every viewer does or should know exactly what they mean. Fabulous.
“So Jewtastic” also examines the often overlooked Jewish influence on two art forms: rap music and heavy metal. From Anthrax frontman Scott Ian to rap-producing icon Lyor Cohen, Jews who rock are given their due respect.
Given their due ribbing are non-Jewish celebrities like Madonna, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore who like to pretend they are members of the tribe by embracing kabbalah. VH1’s panelists don’t have one kind word for these poseurs.
“So Jewtastic” does fall into quite a few of VH1’s typical traps. Its images and stock footage get repetitive, and the show’s bumps at each commercial break give away far too much of what’s coming up in the next few segments.
The show also misses the mark on several staged comedic segments meant to break up the celebrity interviews. Bits featuring Jackie Mason teaching Yiddish words to non-Jewish viewers (“You’ve been shul-ed.”) and comic Elon Gold asking deli customers to sample Jewish foods fall flat.
Another segment featuring rapper Baby (credited with coining the term “bling”) and a Jewish bubbe from Boca comparing their gaudy gold chains and diamonds is an utter train wreck and only serves to reinforce many stereotypes (about both blacks and Jews) that panelists earlier had tried to tear down. Also, the show’s announcer quite often uses the word “Heeb” to describe cool Jews in Hollywood. I know the magazine of that name is a big deal, but I must have missed the memo on when we all agreed to embrace this loaded word.
Despite a few of VH1’s typical pop culture gloss-overs and straining attempts to be hip, “So Jewtastic” does a unique service in touting pride in one’s Jewish identity as not only cool, but pretty darn normal.
“All Access: So Jewtastic” airs on VH1 (Adelphia digital cable channel 44) on Mon., Dec. 19, at 9 p.m. Check local listings.
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