The Bagel Report

The Bagels are glad to have found Jonathan Branfman, a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford and author of the book, Millennial Jewish Stars: Navigating Racial Antisemitism, Masculinity and White Supremacy , to discuss how on-screen portrayals of Jewish people or situations have changed over the decades. Jon tells us about "Goyface" and how it relates to "Jewface" and racial minstrelsy. Plus, shouto...

This week, the bagels chat with Rebecca Margolis, author of The Yiddish Supernatural on Screen: Dybbuks, Demons and a Haunted Jewish Past and Yiddish comedy in American film and television. She and the Bagels do a deep dive into the Yiddish language and how it finds its way into TV and film. Later, she answers Erin and Esther's questions about Dybbuks and why they continue to show up in supernatur...

Only the Bagels know how to connect the Muppets, Broadway and SpermWorld. This episode's journey explores the history of the Muppets, the guest stars at Ben Platt's new Broadway show and the return of one of Esther's faves, Hacks. Esther and Erin also anticipate upcoming camp movies, are moved by Jerry Seinfeld's emotions, and talk documentaries, from SpermWorld to The Jinx. We also create our ult...

Erin and Esther are back together, sharing their TV-must-watches as well as what they're looking forward to, Jewy pop culture-wise. Erin talks Netflix is a Joke Fest and especially John Mulaney's limited talk show format, "Everybody's in L.A." Esther downloads her time in Israel and tunes out for Erin's Bridgerton review. Digressions include puns, GenZ phrases, Kveller articles, pop tarts, graduat...

This week, the Bagels are joined in the virtual studio by Emmy-winning comedian Rob Kutner. He shares his experiences writing on Conan and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as well as how he ghostwrote Marvel's meta-novel, Look Out for the Little Guy. Kutner also updates Erin and Esther on his latest project, God's Gang, a multicultural kid's series about superheroes, unity and peace.   Check out t...

What a week: Curb Your Enthusiasm ended, Alex Edelman's Just For Us dropped on Max, and We Were The Lucky Ones, Dinner with the Parents, and tons of other shows are keeping TV Jewy. This week Esther and Erin tackle the big questions: who's worse, Larry David or the Seinfeld Four? Why do LD's friends tolerate him? And why wasn't there more of a tribute to Richard Lewis? And to top it all off, Passo...

This week, the Bagels were joined by Rabbi Sharon Brous, the founder of IKAR in Los Angeles. Esther and Erin asked questions about Brous' new book, "The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World." The bagels and Brous touched on the value of community in the darkest of times while also finding moments of joy. The Bagels also recapped the Oscars and Rabbi Brous joined in on a...

This week Erin shares her journey to the 96th Academy Awards and tries to explain all 2 hours and 46 minutes of Dune: Part 2 to Esther. Later, Esther and Erin remember comedian Richard Lewis who passed away last week at the age of 76. Esther recalls his recent Curb Your Enthusiasm cameos and other famous roles as well as his impact on comedy.  Check out these links: Follow Erin's Oscar coverage he...

Perhaps in honor of January's Holocaust Remembrance Day, or perhaps in anticipation of March's Oscars and May's Yom Hashoah — it's never the wrong time to #NeverForget. This week the Bagels talk about the influx of Holocaust-themed movies and TV shows like The New Look, A Small Light, Transatlantic and the upcoming One Life, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and We Were the Lucky Ones.  Erin saw The Zone...

Get it? Cause we're bagels...Grab a cup of spite and a dry scone because this week the bagels are talking about the final season of Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm. This episode has everything: guest stars, fan contributions, the Holocaust and Elmo.  Let us know what you think of the 12th season of the series, which is now available on HBO and MAX.   Check out these links! A Real Pain The Float...

It's a new year and that means the return of Erin's favorite joke annually told by Esther. This week, the Bagels talk about the upcoming awards season, and learn more about Maestro "Lenny" as well as how musical conducting is a lens through which to view leadership. Erin and Esther issue a Shabbat dinner invitation to Alanis Morissette, who discovered her Jewish roots, and talk about Ava DuVernay'...

Hallmark finally got Hanukkah right and gifted us with "Round and Round," a charming, delightful movie that imagines the Festival of Lights as a time loop. In addition to this great watch at year's end, the Bagels have a list of other time loop episodes for you to check out and some movies — old and new — to end 2023 with. May 2024 bring us peace, health, and lots of new content to talk about. Hap...

Esther shares insights from her screening of Maestro, pulling on the Jewish identity threads in the film (and yes, addressing the nose). The bagels also discuss Sarah Silverman's role in the film and her evolving, honest opinions about Jewish representation. Erin recommends Adam Sandler's Leo and looks forward to a new Jake Johnson comedy as well as a new Hanukkah movie featuring a time loop. Plus...

This week, Erin and Esther celebrate another year of the Bagel Report which has been talking about all things Jewish and pop culture since October 2019! They also recap the mitzvah of Alex Edelman's unabashed Jewish representation and give a shoutout  to the new Meg Ryan and David Duchovny movie (but never actually name the movie, which is: What Happens Later.) Esther gets a little serious, talkin...

With things still crazy and tragic in Israel and Gaza,  we continue to hold the hostages in our minds and our hearts. At the same time, the Bagels allow some space for joy and chat with screenwriter Alison Peck, writer of the Netflix movie "You Are SO Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah" (produced by Adam Sandler and starring at least three additional Sandler family members, and based on the 2005 book b...

This is not a normal episode. Erin and Esther process an impossible week while reacting to celebrity prayers for peace.  

With the help of IKAR, their spiritual community, Erin and Esther have atoned! Now the Bagels are breaking down their Yom Kippur experience and celebrating the end of the WGA strike. And apparently,  Hallmark Christmas Movie season begins in September, so Erin shares some news about the Hanukkah movie coming to town. Esther also talks about Hed Lamarr's hidden gifts through the PBS documentary Bom...

If we had but one Rosh Hashanah wish...the Bagels would create and "bam-copyright" Hanukkah and Elul advent calendars. The Bagels prepare for the High Holy Days by manifesting wishes for 5784 and recommending movies and shows with themes that match Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Erin makes the case for Netflix's #1 show Suits as a great High Holy Days rewatch, and Esther invents a college course ab...

Finally, a movie with "bat mitzvah" in the title! What a time to be alive. :) The Adam Sandler-produced film, written by Alison Pick and directed by Sammi Cohen   hit Netflix on August 25th and we've been talking about it ever since! Join Erin and Esther for a deep dive:  Did you always get called by your Hebrew name in Hebrew school? What were your bat mitzvah themes? And who is Bagel Face? Get t...

'Golda' is now in theaters, with a tour de force performance by Helen Mirren as the Israeli Prime Minister, and wonderful supporting performances. We'll talk more about the film's content in future episodes, but in this special short-and-sweet episode, Erin and Esther interviewed the film's director, Guy Nattiv, who provided his insights on the woman the film presents to audiences, some of them, f...

Erin and Esther went to see Theater Camp together and spoiler alert, everything is adorable, especially Molly Gordon and Ben Platt. This week was all about unpacking the film's cinematic influences while reminiscing about our own camp/theater camp experiences at Camp Tamarack and Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. Even though the bagels attended camp at different times and places, their life lessons we...

Hi Broadway!! (Hi Broadway!) Welcome to Season 3 of The Bagel Report!   Our episode recorded after the Tonys — recorded in June, but new to you! — gets a new Barbenheimer intro to an episode about Jewy Broadway, with an exploration of Alex Edelman's "Just for Us," which Esther saw in New York. Erin breaks down the importance of "Parade," plus mentions for "Leopoldstadt" and "Rent," and Erin asks E...

Erin and Esther take to the studio: Esther discovers what it means to do a comedy roast for a concept, and Erin recommends a film about an ember and a wave who fall in love, and may represent different immigrant stories. And the Bagels talk about their dads, sharing essential characteris and musing over casting ideas Connect with us on socials! Twitter: @estherk, @ebenmoche and @TheBagelReport Ins...

Breaking down the Renaissance Faire, cosplay and the Gilded Age with fashion historian Vi (pronounced "vee"), from the SnappyDragonStudios channel on YouTube. We talk about Jewish 1880s fashion and Vi's recreation of her great-great-grandmother's dress, as well as "The Clothes on our Backs," the YouTube series she produced with guidance from the Jewish Writers Initiative Digital Storytelling Lab....

As Mrs. Maisel takes her final bow, the Bagels review the finale episode and the series as a whole: its highlights and misses, unanswered questions, and a robust number of listener comments and questions. Go watch the season 5 finale, and then join us for the conversation. Connect with us on socials! Twitter: @estherk, @ebenmoche and @TheBagelReport Instagram: @estherkustanowitz, @ebenmoche and @t...