The Bagel Report

The Bagels are back to talk end-of-school reflections, social media tribulations, pop culture and podcast recommendations, and - of course - Jewish representation. Esther talked about her Facebook account being "permanently disabled," affecting her connections with nearly 5,000 friends ( read the whole story here ), and Erin shared her experience working on a live remote broadcast for the FIFA Wor...

  Since we missed Star Wars Day, Esther and Erin are celebrating this week! Esther gives a short review of "The Mandalorian and Grogu," followed by some Jewish-adjacent notes in "Euphoria" and "The Testaments," and the funny thing that happened when the Bagels met up for "The Devil Wears Prada 2." Passover gets a moment to shine on "Friends and Neighbors," as Esther and Erin run through some of th...

  Esther and Erin have been quite busy flying here, there, and everywhere the last few months.   If they could convert their flight miles into money, they could buy a lifetime supply of bagels...probably!  Purim and Passover have come and gone, so it's time to get into what they missed during their separate travels: a LOT of movies and some TV, too. A new Jewish actor on The Pitt; casting news for...

Esther and Erin are back----how is it February already!? This week, they reflect on the Super Bowl and note the cultural significance of Bad Bunny's halftime show and the impact of SoCal commercials. Erin also spills the details of how she finally met her TV dad, Jason Alexander, and interviewed him about his production of Sweeney Todd playing at the La Mirada Theatre. They also react to catching...

It's 2026 and the bagels are using Festivus as a metaphorical sage so they're ready for 2026.   Esther and Erin start with what's out, and what's in for Jewish trends in entertainment... Hot rabbis...OUT.....authentic Jewish encounters between celebrities...IN.   As awards season begins, the pair shares musings on the portrayal of Jewish identity in films like "Marty Supreme" and "Is This the Thin...

"What is this a crossover episode???" Yes, listeners, it is! This week, Esther and Erin are featuring an episode of the Heritage Words podcast , featuring friend of the pod Sarah Benor  and Raphael Bob-Waksberg, creator of Bojack Horseman and Long Story Short. The bagels spoke to RBW earlier this year about creating the most Jewy show on TV.  In this episode, RBW discusses his Ashkenazi roots, exp...

Writer/director/actor Jonah Feingold joins the bagels this week to talk about his new indie film "31 Candles," which blends a Hallmark Christmas movie with Jewish culture. The movie follows a 30-something New Yorker who becomes a bar mitzvah...only to win over his former camp crush, who is now a b'nai mitzvah tutor. The three also remember the legendary Rob Reiner and talk about his influence on F...

What is Jewish identity in the world of Nobody Wants This, Netflix's breakaway romcom hit about a rabbi and his non-Jewish girlfriend? Joyful? Overly casual and simplistic? Emotionally and spiritually unattainable? Erin and Esther  continue talking about Season 2 , praising the characters' chemistry and the show's potential for future exploration   of interfaith relationships, personal growth, and...

  Nobody Wants This, Netflix's Jewy rom-com series, is back for Season 2, and the bagels are here for it. Not only did they binge-watch the show, but they also praised the show's portrayal of Jewish life, the depth of its Jewish female characters, and the show's realistic depiction of Jewish LA. Whether you watched the whole thing or checked out after 15 minutes, Esther and Erin think viewers shou...

This week, Esther and Erin are gearing up for the High Holy Days!  But before they do, they talk holiday baked goods, particularly challah and bagels. For most of this episode, the bagels are on location, at NYBD Bakery, for a conversation with owners Lenny Rosenberg and Adaeze Nwanonyiri about the bakery's multicultural offerings. From red velvet kola nut cupcakes to Italian rainbow cookies, this...

This week, Esther and Erin break down some of their favorite moments from Netlflix' super jewy animated series "Long Story Short." The show is created by Bojack Horseman writer and showrunner Raphael Bob-Waksberg, so you know it will be funny, heartfelt, and real. They don't want to spoil it for you...so you have to watch so you can tell us what you think! This is definitely a show the bagels will...

This week, Esther and Erin spoke to TV writing genius Raphael Bob-Waksberg, known for shows like BoJack Horseman, Undone and Tuca & Bertie. The bagels chatted him up about his latest project: Long Story Short, an animated comedy about the Schwooper family. Jumping through the years, the series follows the Schwooper siblings from childhood to adulthood, chronicling their triumphs, disappointments,...

This week, Esther and Erin discuss the Hollywood Bowl's recent star-studded Jesus Christ Superstar and how, for a show about Jesus... it's pretty Jewish. They explore Billy Joel's Jewish roots in a new HBO Max documentary and Erin shares her true feelings about Mel Gibson's upcoming Passion of the Christ sequel. The bagels also break down the Jewish moments in Marvel's Fantastic Four,   Happy Gilm...

After a total of three screenings of "Bad Shabbos," Erin and Esther break down the movie and praise its Jewish authenticity. They also discuss how the film portrays Jewish mothers in contrast to how Netflix's Emmy-nominated series, "Nobody Wants This, " does . On doc watch: Esther recommends  "Pee Wee as Himself , " "Dear Ms." and "Tell Me Everything" about Barbara Walters, which emphasize s the i...

This week, Esther and Erin took a field trip to Village Well in Culver City because they had a LATTE to talk about! From Andor's series finale to the themes of Reformed and Amy Poehler's new podcast, the bagels break down what they're watching and what they're listening to. Erin, in honor of Esther's birthday, also asked Esther about her rose, thorn, and seed for the year.   Check out these links:...

This week, Erin and Esther sit down with Tzivia Schwartz Getzug, a consultant for DreamWorks' iconic animated film The Prince of Egypt . With its star-studded cast, stunning visuals, and unforgettable soundtrack, The Prince of Egypt was a landmark in animated storytelling, and now Tzivia takes us behind the scenes of the epic retelling of the Exodus story, sharing her role in shaping the film's ex...

Esther and Erin reunite to discuss new jobs, the devastating wildfires, and the upcoming awards season. They also review films like indie comedy Bad Shabbos , Marvel sequel Captain America: Brave New World , and Oscar-nominated Holocaust epic The Brutalist. Later, the Bagels celebrate 50 years of Saturday Night Live and discuss the sentimental value it brings to many generations. Check out these l...

This week, Esther and Erin are celebrating Hanukkah...and all the award show nominations trickling in. They congratulate "A Real Pain" and the Netflix rom-com favorite "Nobody Wants This" and later break down "September 5," the historical drama about the Munich Olympics massacre and the ABC Sports team that covered the events.     Check out these links: Six13's Wicked Hanukkah The Maccabeats Hanuk...

This week, Esther and Erin speak with Jessica Jablon from Sharsheret, an organization supporting Jewish women and families affected by breast and ovarian cancer. They discuss Sharsheret's services, including mental health support, genetic counseling, and the successful "Pies for Prevention" program, which has raised over $115,000 this year. The conversation also highlights breast cancer storylines...

This week, Esther and Erin defy gravity and geek out over the movie musical, "Wicked." They analyze the complex relationships between Elphaba and Glinda and themes of outsiderhood and privilege. They do a deep dive into the clever Easter eggs, including potential connections to "Frozen," the Wizard's portrayal by Jeff Goldblum, and the connections to Jewish identity and social justice. Plus, they...

This week, Esther and Erin break down Jesse Eisenberg's new Jewy film, A Real Pain , and what makes his and Kieran Culkin's performances so captivating. They also dive into the high-stakes thriller  September 5th , a gripping retelling of the Munich Olympics Israeli hostage crisis and what it brings up in a post-Oct. 7th world. The bagels even talk about the new Paramount+ documentary about an Isr...

Erin and Esther are celebrating the fifth anniversary of this little ol' podcast! After some reflections on all we've lived through since October 2019 (!!),  the Bagels move down the Jewish interpretive road, examining "Agatha All Along" — its bar mitzvah episode and other moments and images that remind us of Jewy things. Looking ahead to November, the Bagels discuss A Real Pain, the movie written...

As the Bagels reflect on the Jewish New Year and the anniversary of the Oct. 7th terror attacks in Israel, they are also uplifted thanks to a conversation about Reboot Studios' latest project, "We Should Eat." Written and directed by Shaina Feinberg and developed by Alysia Reiner, the short tells the story of a Jewish family with a Filipino father and Jewish mother. The duo tells Esther and Erin a...

Nobody Wants This? More like somebody wants this! Rabbinic representation gets the Hollywood treatment in the new Netflix romantic comedy series "Nobody Wants This," about atheist podcaster Kristen Bell falling for rabbi Adam Brody. The show's trailer and title set up negative expectations, but how did the series portray Jewish life and ritual? Is the show engaging enough for a second season? And...

This week the Bagels discuss the importance of balancing joy and tragedy.  They remember the six Israeli hostages killed by Hamas while kvelling over the very Jewish wedding of Ben Platt and Noah Galvin. They also review the trailer for the upcoming Netflix series "Nobody Wants This," featuring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody; shout out Ilana Glazer's friend-flick, "Babes," and rave over Adam Sandler'...