The Bagel Report

This week we talk about....everything, including a madcap review of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Phase 4. Mostly Ms. Marvel and her fascinating background, delightfully constructed world, and her particular resonance for people with immigration stories in their family history. Mel Brooks makes headway toward becoming the 2000-year-old man. Transparent comes to LA —as a musical, of course—to dis...

The Bagels are talking about Bradley Cooper's nose this week-- and how his Leonard Bernstein impression has set the internet ablaze in prosthetic controversy. We also talk about why Obi-Wan Kenobi may or may not be like Moses. Speaking of Moses, Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Moses Ingram has become the target of racist fan rage, which we do not approve of. Strange Jewish things are emerging from Stranger T...

Just because "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" is between seasons doesn't mean we're not going to talk about the recent casting notice looking for "Jewish types," or what it means that there are scenes in the upcoming season set in Israel. This week, Esther gives a light review of "The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem" and Erin makes a case for Randall as the Jewish sibling in "This Is Us." Plus, Esther engage...

With so much content hitting theaters, networks, and streamers, we had to make some hard choices about what to cover in our first pod after our unintentional hiatus. Esther confronts her "WeCrashed" issues; Erin gets frustrated by missed Jewish opportunities in Marvel's "MoonKnight" series. Both take a moment to appreciate "Grace & Frankie" and how they show new paths into friendship while growing...

This week, Erin and Esther noted a new trend in storytelling: Girls and women coming of age. "Encanto" and "Turning Red" (Disney+) narrow the lens further with ethnic specificity, which doesn't stop either from being relevant regardless of cultural identity. Plus, some initial talk about Amy Schumer's new series "Life and Beth" (Hulu); "Heritage Day" featuring two of our fave "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"...

A magician is suddenly a hypnotist and changes everything! Imogene is Dody! Moishe falls off a barstool! This week the bagels recap the highs and lows of the last few episodes of Amazon's "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." Esther and Erin try to find all their words and mostly succeed in their recap and make a few guesses about the final season. Also, in case we still have listeners who don't watch Mais...

This week, the Bagels reflect on Ukraine, recap "CODA" moments at the SAG Awards, understand the many layers of Larry David after he canceled/ postponed his own HBO special, and dissect John Mulaney's sober SNL patchwork musical, including those Fiddler Jews. Later, during Maisel Moments, they psychoanalyze Midge's urge to drag everyone into progress whether they like it or not. They also praise S...

This week Esther and Erin sing out Broadway-style with special guest Anita Silvert, co-host of the Broadway-meets-Jewish-texts podcast VERSES. From Bibliodrama to Limmud to camp and school plays, the trio gets dramatic and musical, talking about the enduring power of musical theater. After saying goodbye to Anita, it's a Bagel Breakdown of the first two new episodes of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,"...

As this episode drops into the world, so do the first new episodes of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" in two years. This week, we've got recaps and predictions for Season 4 (with reviews of new episodes coming next week and in our first IG Live on Feb 18). Esther delights in one of the new episodes' titles, and Erin tells us why some people call her "Maisel." Before we remember Midge, Susie and the ga...

The Oscar nominations are here, Charlotte York Goldenblatt's child became a Jewish adult (or did they?), and there's a whole lot that's Newy & Jewy (bam copyright). And Erin and Esther have feelings about all of it, (over)analyzing "And Just Like That"'s Jewish coming-of-age ritual and sharing their bat mitzvah experiences, thinking about how to anchor this moment in a child's life in meaning and...

After taking a spin through celebrity genealogy with Pamela Adlon and Kathryn Hahn who co-starred in the latest episode of "Finding Your Roots," the Bagels tackle Jewish erasure in "How I Met Your Mother/Father" and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (in advance of the forthcoming "Moon Knight" TV show on Disney+). Plus, the Bagels get fashiony (is that how we say it?) and talk about Zendaya's Hebre...

Years ago, "The Wonder Years" featured a bar mitzvah episode; it was one of the most prominent examples of on-screen Jewish ritual done well. Now "The Wonder Years" has been rebooted, and aired a bar mitzvah episode of its own. So we're thrilled to welcome special guest Yael Galena—who wrote the episode!—for the inside scoop about creating this instantly-famous episode. While celebrating the love...

The Bagels spend some time remembering Bob Saget's legacy as a standup comedian, "Full House"'s Danny Tanner and host of "America's Funniest Home Videos." Lots of recommendations this week, from Esther's guest-podding on the "Law & Order: S-Re-View" podcast to talk about their Jewy episode (starring Jason Biggs, of course) and Erin recommends some MLK and Tu Bishvat-themed movies that can be helpf...

The Bagels kick-off 2022 by facing a different kind of entertainment awards season, with barely-there Golden Globes and other awards shows scrambling to recalibrate because of Omicron. Erin and Esther discuss the 'Jewface' conversation which hit the UK theater scene, and how Harry Potter unexpectedly took a central role in this week's conversation, thanks to Emma Watson and Jon Stewart.   Esther a...

After a week away, Esther and Erin get into the pop culture/Jewy content zone, talking about Spiderman: No Way Home and the Jewy lessons of the multiverse; overanalyzing West Side Story and celebrating Rita Moreno; and musing about Larry David's sacred cow tipping at Curb Your Enthusiasm's visit to Holocaust Museum L.A.. And in lieu of end-of-year listicles, the Bagels decide what to take and toss...

This week, the Bagels meet "Baking It" Judge, Bubbe Norma. 36 years ago, she did standup; now she's a judge on a holiday baking competition show that's produced by Amy Poehler. Norma Zager is our guest and shares some of her varied experiences.  From stories about growing up in Detroit to having successfully sold jokes to Joan Rivers, "Bubbe Norma" talks about the importance of food, Jewish commun...

This episode has lots of New York and a little North Pole...After starting with some words about Sondheim's impact on Broadway and culture in general, the Bagels enjoy the morsels of Maisel that have been dropped to satisfy fans before the show's February premiere on Amazon Prime. Erin leads Esther to consider the possibility of a Maisel multiverse while Esther recaps panels from November's Vultur...

Just in time to say farewell to Thanksgivukkah, the Bagels are back to talk about Paul Rudd, Larry David, "Tick, Tick… Boom!" and "deep-cut Judaism." Plus, the debut of our "TVGoneJewy Mailbag." Later, Erin identifies the need to learn more about non-Ashkenazi approaches to holiday food, and Esther is grateful for a world full of Jewy TV mentions. Happy Hanukkah to all our listeners!

Annie Korzen, actress, storyteller and octogenarian TikTok sensation, joins us to talk about her favorite subject: herself. We talk about her time on "Seinfeld," her latest role in "The Shrink Next Door," tawking like an awthentic New Yawker, and playing Jewish stereotypes; and how admiring Leslie Jordan's Instagram got her thinking about how to create a presence in the social media space. Plus, w...

The Bagels host speaker, author and rabbi Ma Nishtana in a wide-ranging conversation about creating a more inclusive and welcoming Jewish community - from challenging the assumptions we make around what Jews look like to the difference between trying to be and actually being welcoming to Jews of color. Plus, responding to the larger conversation about diverse Jewish representation in pop culture....

This week, the Bagels recap "Curb Your Enthusiasm's" Jewy season start; "The Nanny" as an anchor in the conversation about Jewish representation on TV; and the collective apology we all owe to Monica Lewinsky after watching "The Impeachment." In honor of the 50th anniversary of movie-musical "Fiddler on the Roof," Erin and Esther discuss the roots of Jewish geography Anatevka while they recast the...

This week's melange of media includes Nora Ephron Autumn, Rachel Bloom's upcoming projects and what it would take for media programming to help curb antisemitism. Plus, Esther sort of spoils a movie that's been out since 1999 and Erin brainstorms about Jewy Halloween costumes. Finally, Esther gets to talk about "Supernatural," and Erin introduces her new Halloween-themed segment. Relevant Links: W...

Is the Academy Museum erasing or omitting Jews from the Hollywood narrative? Erin and Esther make some recommendations for a Jewish exhibition at the new L.A. museum and consider what Mel Brooks might include in his upcoming "History of the World Part II." Plus, the bagels talk about William Shatner going to actual space; the Star Trek exhibit at L.A.'s Skirball Cultural Center; Jewish space laser...

Erin and Esther had a star-studded Hollywood adventure weekend! They served as extras in a synagogue scene for a Netflix movie; visited the new Academy Museum; and brunched with celebrities to benefit Second Nurture's efforts to support people who are fostering/adopting children. This episode also contains more representation conversations, and discussion of Sarah Silverman's recent comments about...

Is a sukkah made of bagels acceptable in Jewish law? It is in Jewish podcast law! Welcome to the virtual sukkah lovefest as the Bagels welcome special guests (ushPODzin!)—and Jewy writers' room-in-formation—Jodi and Yechiel from the 2MovieJews podcast. Looking at the whole world through a Jewy lens, the foursome pitches concepts for Sukkot-themed movies and TV shows. Later, they share their celebr...