Jana Banin
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
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Past articles by Jana:
SNL’s Top 10 Jewish moments
Just in time for the 40th season premiere, we compiled the comedy show’s greatest Jewish hits — from Gilda Radner’s “Saving ‘Soviet Jewelry’” to an unforgettable Adam Sandler melody. → Read More
Regina Spektor welcomes ‘super CUTE!!’ baby boy
Mazel tov to Regina Spektor on the birth of her son — on keeping the details and photo evidence away from the prying eyes of the media (although we have to admit we’re dying to see a shot of the munchkin). The only public proof that the Jewish songstress and her musician husband Jack Dishel... → Read More
Drake samples Lauryn Hill, name-drops Jennifer Lawrence, Johnny Manziel in ‘Draft Day’
Listen up people! Literally — our favorite Jewish Canadian rap star has a new song out, and you can hear it right here. It’s called “Draft Day,” and it features some familiar beats from Lauryn Hill’s “Doo-Wop (That Thing),” plus includes mentions of Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, and, surprisingly (in a very pleasant way)... → Read More
Commercial starring Bar Refaeli and a Muppet deemed too racy for Israeli TV
A risqué ad featuring Bar Refaeli in bed with a purple, mustachioed Muppet has been banned from running before 10 p.m. in the holy land, Walla!, Israel news website reports. Per a governmental council called The Second Authority for Television and Radio, the ad for local fashion brand Hoodies has “too many sexual insinuations” to be seen... → Read More
Amy Winehouse hologram tour not happening
The late singer’s dad calls a story in a British paper about a high-tech gig “utter rubbish.” → Read More
Watch: Joan Rivers, back on ‘Tonight Show’ after 26 years, cracks Holocaust, genitalia jokes
Joan Rivers had new “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon cringing on her return (forget the cameo) to the late-night program. → Read More
Julianna Margulies lays ‘Jew guilt’ on ‘The Good Wife’ co-star Josh Charles
What to do when a key player on your hit series has one foot out the door? Invoke your bubbe at her most manipulative. At least that’s the route “The Good Wife” star Julianna Margulies took when trying to convince co-star and friend Josh Charles to stay on the show, Entertainment Weekly reports. Last night... → Read More
Watch: ‘Pedestrians In Bars Eating Toffee,’ a parody of Seinfeld’s web series
From the music to the editing to the way the host paces himself and interrupts his guests, “Pedestrians In Bars Eating Toffee” (featured on CollegeHumor and Laughing Squid) is very much a spot-on spoof of Jerry Seinfeld’s “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” Oh, and this parody, featuring Gabe Oppenheim and Samuel Goldberg, also has that... → Read More
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher expecting baby no. 1
The production of beautiful Jewish babies has officially begun! Ukrainian-Jewish actress Mila Kunis of “That 70s Show” fame and her fiancé Ashton Kutcher are expecting their first child, according to E! Online. Kunis, 30, has been dating the 36-year-old “Two and a Half Men” star for around two years. They announced their engagement less than... → Read More
J-Tweet of the Week: NYC comedian on discovering Airbnb orgy in his home
Heard the one about the guy who walks into the apartment he’s rented out via Airbnb and finds an orgy? Well if not, tune into Ari Teman’s Twitter feed. How was everyone’s weekend / Purim / illegal “XXX Freak Fest”!? — Ari Teman (@AriTeman) March 16, 2014 According to the New York Post, the Brooklyn-born comedian... → Read More
Beyonce and Jay Z visit Anne Frank House
Beyonce, on tour in Amsterdam, visited the Anne Frank House Wednesday with her better half Jay Z. According to the museum’s Facebook page, the power couple spent more than an hour there and was allegedly “impressed.” The singer, who might play Israel this summer, posted two photos to Instagram. And like Justin Bieber before her,... → Read More
Lenny Kravitz’s uncle awarded posthumous Medal of Honor
On Tuesday President Obama awarded 24 Jewish, Hispanic, and African American veterans Medals of Honor they’d earned but never received. Many on the list are already deceased—including a Jewish guy from Brooklyn named Lenny Kravitz, uncle of a certain musician and “Hunger Games” star you may have heard of. Hint: This veteran’s nephew was named... → Read More
Madonna’s ‘Game of Thrones’ Purim costume was the real thing
Madonna rocked Purim this year with her homage to Daenerys Targaryen from “Game of Thrones.” If you thought her costume seemed very authentic, you would be absolutely correct. On Wednesday’s “Tonight Show,” Emilia Clarke, who plays the Mother of Dragons on the HBO show, revealed that Madge’s outfit came straight from the set. Except for the... → Read More
Beastie Boys settle lawsuit with GoldieBlox over song parody
Yet another reason to love the Beastie Boys: Those guys know how to settle a lawsuit. The band settled for an undisclosed amount with GoldieBlox over the toy company’s video ad that featured a parody of their hit song “Girls.” ”That settlement includes (a) the issuance of an apology by GoldieBlox, which will be posted on... → Read More
Sarah Silverman donates her voice to gay Jewish organization
Attention all Bostonians looking for a good, old-fashioned, R-rated outgoing voicemail message: Sarah Silverman and Keshet, an organization that advocates for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Jews, might be able to help. Attendees of the Keshet Cabaret on March 27 will have the opportunity to bid on a personal voicemail from the raunchy comedienne, The Boston... → Read More
‘Girls’ star Jemima Kirke sometimes does Shabbat with ‘super-Jew’ husband
Jemima Kirke is just like us — if only we were cooler and more bohemian, occupied an entire Brooklyn brownstone and tattooed our Shabbat guests. In the March 10 issue of New York Magazine, the “Girls” star gives us a peek into her life, which includes making art, being a mom, getting groped by her... → Read More
Madonna’s ‘Game of Thrones’ Purim costume
The award for best celebrity Purim costume goes to … Madonna! The Kabbalah-practicing singer went as “Game of Thrones’” Daenerys Targaryen, posting the impressive results to Instagram. (And yes, we’re sure she would have won even if she weren’t the only costumed celebrity we’ve tracked down so far. Did you see those shoulder dragons?) “Happy... → Read More
Beyoncé to play Israel?
Beyonce, Yarkon Park, Tel Aviv, Israel → Read More
Meet Esther, the new (Jewish?) “Queen of Persia”
Remember Esther, the “Queen of Persia” contestant who scored big points with the audience — and the king — when she touched his scepter (no innuendo intended) during the final date round? Well it turns out the winner of the Bravo reality series might just be a member of the tribe. And you know how... → Read More
Watch: Seth Rogen dishes on weed-smoking celebs
We just can’t stop talking about Seth Rogen lately! Sorry if you’ve had enough, but this clip from Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live” is just too Jew-packed to resist. Last night the show’s host Andy Cohen got Rogen to play a round of “Spill the Herbal Tea,” in which the writer, actor and Alzheimer’s advocate... → Read More