Jewish entertainment news: with Abrams, Portman, Barrymore raising daughter Jewish & more

Former Chasidic reggae musician Matisyahu, stood outside the TAO nightclub for some 10 minutes unable to get in because the door managers had no idea who he was.

By Uri Fintzy

 

NEW YORK (6NoBacon) — Drew Barrymore stopped by to discuss marriage and motherhood with the women of “The View” on Friday.

Barrymore, who married art dealer Will Kopelman (son of Chanel CEO Arie Kopelman) seven months ago in a traditional Jewish wedding, talked about being married to a “nice Jewish man” from a “nice Jewish family.” While saying she hasn’t converted “yet,” Barrymore did reveal that she and her husband are planning to raise their baby daughter, Olive, “traditionally Jewish.”

She also talked about her wedding. “We had a very traditional wedding ceremony with Rabbi Rubinstein, and I did the ketubah, and we wore the yarmulke and were under the chuppah!” Barrymore said.

As for her view of Judaism, she said, “I’m there, I love it. It’s a beautiful faith and I am so honored to be around it. It’s so family-oriented and beautiful, and I learn so much and the stories are beautiful, it’s incredibly enlightening. I’m really happy.”

Abrams’ twofer: ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Star Trek’ sequels

The dispute between “Star Trek” and “Star Wars” fans about which is superior may be over, since J.J. Abrams is set to direct both.

J.J. Abrams, shown here at the 2010 Comic Con, is set to direct the seventh film of the "Star Wars" saga.  (Gage Skidmore/creative commons)

J.J. Abrams, shown here at the 2010 Comic Con, is set to direct the seventh film of the “Star Wars” saga.- Photo: Gage Skidmore/creative commons

According to Deadline, the man behind the hit ABC series “Lost” is going to direct the new “Star Wars Episode VII.” The website cites sources with “knowledge of the situation” who claim it’s a “done deal.”

The idea behind creating the seventh movie in the series began after Disney bought George Lucas’ Lucasfilm last October for $4 billion. Abrams’ other space saga, “Star Trek,” will hit the big screen in May with the sequel “Star Trek Into Darkness.”

According to Disney, “Episode VII” is aiming for a 2015 release and already has Michael Arndt (“Toy Story 3″) in charge of the script. Based on Abrams’ previous work, “Star Wars Episode VII” also should include Khan, the smoke monster and that weird lizard thing from the movie “Cloverfield.”

Is Schumer upset with Beyonce?

Lots of folks have had lots to say about Beyonce’s “lip-sync-gate” at President Obama’s inauguration last week. But apparently people really want to know how Sen. Charles Schumer feels about it, as the New York Democrat was responsible for bringing Queen B to sing the national anthem.

As the entertainment world cried “say it ain’t so” when the it emerged that Beyonce had not  performed “The Star Spangled Banner” live, there were conflicting reports about Schumer’s personal response. The New York Post reported that Schumer was “still waiting for an apology” from Beyonce. But BuzzFeed was quick to say the Post was wrong and that Beyonce is not in danger of being declared persona non-grata on Pennsylvania Avenue.

A source close to Schumer said he thought the whole thing was a “nothingburger.”

“He wishes people would leave Beyonce alone,” the source told Buzzfeed. “She performed for free, and it was a thrill to have her at the ceremony. Just look at his face during her performance! He’d have her back in a New York minute.

“As far as Schumer’s concerned, they are BFFs,” the source added, using the popular lingo for best friends forever. “His daughters have loaded Beyonce songs on his iPod. He listens to them when he goes biking.”

For Matisyahu, no beard, no entry

Since Matisyahu shaved his beard last year, the former Chasidic reggae musician has been suffering all sorts of blowback. Along with losing his facial hair, sidelocks and the love of some Jewish fans, apparently he’s lost his VIP status in the eyes of club bouncers, too.

At the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, over the weekend, Matisyahu stood outside the TAO nightclub for some 10 minutes unable to get in because the door managers had no idea who he was, according to the New York Post. He finally gained access to the club from a friend who recognized him. Had he shown up in the black hat and coat, and straggly white beard he once wore, the bouncers surely would have dug his outfit and ushered him in.

Frankel, single again, writing a book

Well, that was quick. Bethenny Frankel has been flying solo for about a month now, and already the former New York Housewife has decided she’s going to write a book about single life, Radar Online reports.

“Bethenny has been writing and documenting her feelings in the beginning stages of the divorce,” a source close to Frankel said. “The book will explore the struggles and compromises all single moms face. It will deal with the delicate balancing act that is being a single mom, and the guilt she feels because her daughter Bryn will now come from a broken home, something she never wanted for her little girl.”

Frankel is already a New York Times best-selling author who has written books about her life, dieting and cooking. Will the new book be as melodramatic as her show? If the details of her divorce continue to grow in the messy direction they are headed, we’re guessing it will be.

Playboy, Israeli style

Bring in the bunnies: Playboy is coming to Israel.

The magazine will be available in Hebrew in print and online versions, the Chicago-born Israeli Daniel Pomerantz, who negotiated for the publishing rights, told Israel’s Channel 2. The Israeli issues will have articles from international versions of Playboy translated into Hebrew and include some local Israeli journalism. The nude models? Also Israeli.

“We went to Hefner’s estate with the Israeli team to learn from the Playboy experts,” Pomerantz told The Marker. “Hefner was very excited that there was a word [for bunny] in Hebrew — it proved that there is a cultural link between the Playboy brand and Israeli culture.”

There’s no official launch date yet, but Pomerantz, who’s striving to become the Israeli Hugh Hefner, promises the magazine will be “sexy” (phew! we were skeptical) and not just about sex. “It will be inspiring and broadcast quality and beauty,” he said. “For me this is an opportunity to show the world the nice side of Israel, the culture here.”

Zuckerberg likes Christie

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is friending Chris Christie by holding a fundraiser for the New Jersey governor in his Palo Alto, Calif., home next month, according to Buzzfeed.

Christie’s celebrity has been rising lately, from his capable handling of superstorm Sandy’s aftermath to his appearances on “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons.” The two originally met in 2010, when Zuckerberg donated $100 million to the Newark public schools.

“Mark and Priscilla have worked closely with Governor Christie on education reform in the Newark school system,” said Sarah Feinberg of Facebook. “They admire his leadership on education reform and other issues, and look forward to continuing their important work together on behalf of Newark’s schoolchildren. Mark and Priscilla are happy to host him at their home to support his reelection.”

Portman moving to Paris

Benjamin Millipied, husband of Natalie Portman and papa to baby Aleph, has been appointed director of the Paris Opera Ballet, The New York Times reports, and he’s taking his family with him. Millipied was the mastermind choreographer behind Portman’s hit film “Black Swan,” and won the heart of the Jewish actress during the Academy Award-winning film’s production.

Millipied is a former principal dancer of the New York City Ballet, which he left in 2011 to create his L.A. Dance Project. Portman and company are set to leave for Paris late next year. Millipied is due to start at the Paris company in September 2014.

Lollapalooza nixes Israel

Some sad news for music lovers in Israel: Lollapalooza, the acclaimed traveling music festival slated to arrive in Tel Aviv in August, has been called off — for now, at least.

Festival representatives said the show will likely be postponed, according to the Los Angeles Times, even though the festival’s website now lists the 2013 destination as Chicago.

Lollapalooza was created in 1990 as a farewell to the rock band Jane’s Addiction but became an annual event over the years in places such as Chicago, Chile and Brazil. Artists at last year’s show included headliners like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack White, the Black Keys, Florence and the Machine, the Shins and Black Sabbath.

Festival organizers announced last year that Tel Aviv would be the home of Lollapalooza for the summer of 2013, in Yarkon Park. However, rumors have been circulating in recent months that the festival was running into financial issues and also was having trouble recruiting musicians to play in Israel, according to the Israeli newspaper Yediot Achronot.

While artists like the Chili Peppers and Madonna have happily performed in Israel in the past, others like Elvis Costello and the Pixies have called off shows because of pressure from activists. Festival founder Perry Farrell, formally of Jane’s Addiction, spoke with CNN in August of his grand ambitions for the festival to eventually head to Jerusalem, so we still have our fingers crossed.

Franco loves his bubbe

Actor-turned-everything-else James Franco, who is starring in the upcoming film “Oz: The Great and Powerful,” landed a role for his grandmother, Mitzie Verne, in the  movie set to come out in March.

Franco was granted permission from his producers for his bubbe to make a special appearance at the end of the film, which is about the events leading up to the still popular 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz.”

“James is very family orientated,” a source told the Daily Mail. “He is very close to his grandma and managed to get her a role in the ‘Oz’ film. She played a townsperson in the end.”

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View original JTA publication at: http://www.jta.org/news/article/2013/01/29/3118191/barrymore-will-raise-daughter-jewish-the-force-is-with-abrams-schumer-and-beyonces-lip-sync