PJ Grisar is a Forward culture reporter. He can be reached at [email protected] and @pjgrisar on Twitter.
PJ Grisar
By PJ Grisar
-
Culture When Fred Willard spoke to (and for) the Jews
Fred Willard, the actor and improviser whose characters embodied blithe obliviousness, was not Jewish. The performer, rather, was at his best when he played the sort of un-self-aware putz that Jewish humor desperately needs — a sunny and thick-headed foil to the neurotic or arch sensibilities that Jews so often made their own. From his…
-
Culture Rush Limbaugh says Philip Roth is the favorite author of the ‘uber left wing’
On May 14, listeners to Rush Limbaugh’s radio program were treated to a primer on “left-wing” literature and a lesson on a more clinical term for farts. We have Philip Roth to thank. The teachable moment was prompted by a “Fresh Air” review of Benjamin Taylor’s memoir, “Here We Are: My Friendship with Philip Roth,”…
-
Culture Will ‘Scarface’ return to its Jewish roots?
Brothers Joel and Ethan Coen are polishing the script to a reboot of “Scarface” for director Luca Guadignino. The sentence reads like a screen trade Mad Libs, but it is true nonetheless. The partnership seems like an odd one. But it’s actually a pretty good match. The Coens, after all, directed “Miller’s Crossing” and, having…
-
Culture Goldie Hawn’s viral exercise video proves she’s cooler than I’ll ever be
I am not yet 30, and I am less in touch (and in shape) than 74-year-old Goldie Hawn. This chilling realization was brought to me courtesy of the actress’ Instagram, where she posted a vibrant cardio workout, dancing to Dua Lipa’s “Let’s Get Physical” on a miniature trampoline. View this post on Instagram My crazy…
-
Culture David and Moshe Kasher on ‘Unorthodox’ and podcasting through a pandemic
Brothers Moshe and David Kasher have been fighting since they were kids. On one occasion, when David was dangling a loogie over Moshe’s face, he received a bloody nose for his efforts. Now the two are grown up and have matured (a bit). Moshe is a standup comedian with a handful of specials on Netflix…
-
Culture Howard Stern has some (more) advice for Donald Trump – resign
Howard Stern wants to bury the hatchet with his old pal Donald Trump — break bread with him, embrace him, let bygones be bygones. All Trump needs to do is resign. On May 12, the self-proclaimed King of all Media argued on his SiriusXM show that, by stepping down, the president would cement his legacy…
-
Culture The 6 worst things people have done to hummus
The beauty of hummus lies in its simplicity. This cool, smooth dish of chickpeas and tahini has been a staple food of the Levant since at least the 13th century. But, as with all things time-tested and unbroken, many have attempted to “fix” it. Most egregiously in recent years, some chefs have been pushing a…
-
Culture What to watch before ‘Hamilton’ drops on Disney+
Alexander Hamilton, for all his contributions to the American experiment, was not exactly a man of the people. Seeing as he was a grasping social climber and quintessential capitalist, it makes sense that being able to see his namesake musical was, for so long, a mark of status. But no more! Thanks to Disney’s beneficence,…
Most Popular
- 1
Opinion I’m a Jew of color. Ta-Nehisi Coates can’t apply US lessons to Israel.
- 2
Culture Columbus may have had Jewish heritage — that doesn’t mean he was Jewish
- 3
Sports 5 Jewish things about the Mets — and why Jewish fans adore them
- 4
Culture Will Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally resemble a fascist one from 1939?
In Case You Missed It
-
Fast Forward Miriam Adelson donates $100M to Trump campaign, making good on reported promise
-
Fast Forward Shai Davidai, outspoken Israeli Columbia professor, barred from campus
-
Opinion A Jewish and former Democratic congressman’s case for electing Donald Trump in 2024
-
Opinion Building a sukkah doesn’t make sense this year in Asheville. But we can see the stars already.
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism