That’s right, everybody’s favorite Jew boy will be hosting the 78th annual Academy Awards, making it a show I’d actually care to watch again. Problem is of course that in Israel it comes on at 3am. And I don’t own a TV. And two years ago when I had arranged to spend the night with a friend that had TV and cable, it just didn’t come on at all even though it was scheduled to. Life in Israel. Mah la’asot.
Stewart commented on being picked:
“As a performer, I’m truly honored to be hosting the show,” Stewart said, then joked: “Although, as an avid watcher of the Oscars, I can’t help but be a little disappointed with the choice. It appears to be another sad attempt to smoke out Billy Crystal.”
For all of you movie lovers in Choz La’aretz, enjoy it. The show will air March 5 on ABC.
- Shabbat in the Uttermost West - 2/25/2007
- The chosen books of the chosen people - 2/18/2007
- Why Not Al? - 2/15/2007
Stewart better not sell out. It’d be sweet if he ad-libs the entire show, uses lotsa expletives, and changes his clothes every commercial.
Holler to all. ck, laya, michael, thanks for showin me a great time in Jerusalem and making me pasta. I’m impressed.
Gotta go watch a pirated version of Narnia, bought straight from the shuk for 10 sheks.
the new background is kinda dizzying
Laya,
Maybe you’re already getting over the ‘need’ for pop culture. Soon, you’ll realize that American pop culture just ain’t important. I haven’t been to a movie theatre in two years now. I think that I slowly realized that my life doesn’t need Denzel Washington, Paltrow, Gere, who whatever is being pushed by hollywood.
nah josh, i love my warm fuzzy entertainment. I love watching pretty people act out a well crafted narrative in a beautifully shot film. I need new music in my life on a regular basis, and I write for a blog that covers a lot of pop culture. So while I don’t “need” pop culture any more than I “need” more interesting food than bread and water everyday, I sure don’t sense myself giving it up any time soon.
Josh is officially not my bashert.
And obviously, I’ll be watching the Oscars, again. Will try to liveblog, as I’ve done the last two years, over at My Urban Kvetch, but I make no promises. Go Jon, go!
I don’t really suggest giving up all ‘popular’ culture, just the goyish stuff. While I used to claim that the Jewish stuff was lame, I realized, aong other people, that the market needs to be built for the creative people to join in. I was pouring too much dough over to the west coast of california, and not enough to fellow brothers in Israel or elsewhere. Eventually, not really out of any distinct ideolgy at all, my ‘need’ for Hollywood and obnoxious U2 was gone. Sure I appreciate a good movie now and then when I fly, but there’s is absolutely no urge anymore to go out of my way for goyish actors and artists.
On the other hand, a budding new group of Jewish entertainers is growing expertise and numbers, so the current Jewish industry in Israel is going through a big homey, indie developing phase which is quite interesting.
You know, there is plenty of cinema that isn’t Hollywood and frankly, there are few things as inspiring or moving or compelling as a well made film.
one could argue that seeing as how Jews are disproportionately represented in the media – directors, producers, actors, music moguls, studio heads, etc., you are still supporting our fellow Jews by supporting Hollywood.
If however you mean to say that you should only support religious Jews or Jews who subscribe to an agenda similar to yours, now that’s another story.
Furthermore, Hollywood is run by the almighty dollar, right? So by giving your $9 to see quality films, or films with an underlying message you support, you are casting your vote for Hollywood to make more films of that kind because it is clear they have a dependable audience. By retreating from pop culture completely, all you do is make sure that the powers that be have no interest in catering to your needs or sensibilities.
This is a rather dubious line of reasoning…In any case, Muffti thought that Josh’s point was that too much money was going to Jews who didn’t need it (coz they are rich studio moguls, actors, etc.)
Agreed, we should set up a Paypal account and have them send us the money they’d be spending on going to the movies.
I think that Josh makes an excellent point. I suppose that if this stuff does absolutely nothing for you, then why force yourself to waste your time?
It’s entertainment but it doesn’t really give you anything lasting, 99% of it.
Whereas you can get into other activites that will give you much more value, but you won’t know that, because you are brainwashed to think that the pop, glam, and glitter is mucho importante, when it is not at all.