NEW YORK (6NoBacon) — Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, Stevie Wonder just called to say he doesn’t love you.
After much pressure from pro-Palestinian groups and a recommendation from the United Nations, Wonder decided it would be rather superstitious to perform at the annual FIDF gala scheduled for Dec. 6 in Los Angeles.
FIDF National Director and CEO Yitzhak (Jerry) Gershon didn’t think the decision was lovely.
“We regret the fact that Stevie Wonder has decided to cancel his performance at an important community event of the FIDF, an American organization supporting the educational, cultural, and wellbeing needs of Israel’s soldiers, their families, and the families of fallen soldiers,” he said in a statement. “FIDF is a non-political organization that provides much-needed humanitarian support regardless of religion, political affiliation, or military activity.”
The letter ‘B’ for bullying
Remember when “Sesame Street” was all about muppets and letters and numbers? Apparently, thanks in part to Twitter, those days are over.
Actress Sonia Manzano, better known for portraying Maria on the children’s television program, took her thoughts about the Middle East to Twitter with two tweets about the recent developments: “Israelis retaliate the simple recognition of Palestinians by UN by deciding to build 3,000 more settlements. Bullies!”
And: “Why do Israelis need to be ‘recognized’ by Palestinians. Did Native Americans need to ‘recognize’ their tormentors?”
Manzano has appeared in “Shalom Sesame,” a Jewish-Israeli series in which the characters and muppets visit Israel and learn about Jewish culture.
‘Hebrew Hammer’ is back (in time)
Nine years ago, Mordechai Jefferson Carver, better known as “The Hebrew Hammer,” became a modern Jewish hero after saving Chanukah from the evil son of Santa Claus. The low-budget Jewish blaxploitation film featuring Adam Goldberg as the Hammer, Judy Greer as his love interest Esther Bloomenbergensteinenthal and Andy Dick as evil Damian Claus was made famous mostly by being showed occasionally on Comedy Central.
Now filmmaker Jonathan Kesselman finally wants to make a sequel titled “The Hebrew Hammer VS Hitler,” and he is using the Jewish crowd-funding website Jewcer.com to fundraise for it. According to “The Hebrew Hammer VS Hitler” description, it happens “When Hitler gets his hand on Time Sukkah technology™ and begins rewriting Jewish History, Mordechai Jefferson Carver (The Hebrew Hammer) and Mohammed Ali Paula Abdul Rahim set out through time to stop him. Can the Hammer and Mo prevent Hitler from un-inscribing the Jewish people from the book of life?”
Kesselman is asking for $200,000 as a pre-production starter and also to make an initial offer to the potential Hitler — anyone from Jack Black to Tom Cruise and Bernie Madoff.
Drake realizes a wish
Justin Bieber’s homecoming in Toronto turned out to be a dream come true for one Jewish Canadian rapper.
During Bieber’s concert at the Rogers Centre (formerly SkyDome), Bieber pulled fellow Canadian singer and Jewish rapper Drake onstage to perform Bieber’s “Right Here,” in which Drake is featured. The two also performed Drake’s “The Motto.” Drake publicly thanked Bieber after the song, telling the crowd it was his childhood dream to perform at the Rogers Centre.
“I’ll tell you, there’s very few people I’ve met in the world that are as talented and as incredible as this young man right here,” Drake said. “I wanna thank you for giving me a childhood dream, which is my first opportunity to perform in the SkyDome. So thank you, my man.”
Saget’s dirty book
Danny Tanner has come a long way since “Full House.” Bob Saget, the Jewish actor and comedian best known for playing the dad character on “Full House”, is writing a book and, apparently, it’s going to be dirty.
The first book by the former host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” will be released in early 2014 through It Books and will offer a “full monty” of dirty humor on stories about comedians such as Richard Pryor and Don Rickles.
“It is now well-known that Bob Saget is very different from the neurotically conservative Danny Tanner character he played on ‘Full House,’ ” said It Books Executive Director Mark Chait. “With this book he truly lets it all hang out — the full monty of his crazy self, his dirty humor and unique personality.”
What will D.J., Stephanie and Michelle think?
Judge Stern is back
Howard Stern, the Jewish shock jock America loves to hate, is sticking around for a second season as a judge on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”
Stern made the announcement Monday on his Sirius XM show and is the first confirmed judge for the show’s next season. Sharon Osbourne has said she won’t return and Howie Mandel is undecided.
“If I don’t like the new judge, I’ll hit the ‘X’ [buzzer] on the judge while they’re talking,” Stern said. “I’ll be like, ‘Shut up, no one wants to hear from you.’ Believe me, if I was the only judge, I think the show would be terrific. You don’t need the other judges, but all right. I gotta to learn to play with others.”
NBC is a fan of Stern’s chutzpah, oddly enough. Paul Telegdy, the network’s president of alternative and late-night programming, said Stern’s “towering presence and opinions” gave the show dramatic impact.
Cory and Topanga’s new ‘World’
Cory and Topanga Matthews are back — with a daughter!
Rumors about the popular Disney Channel show “Boy Meets World” returning brought excitement for plenty who reveled in the 1990s show, and now it’s official: ”Boy Meets World” will have a spinoff titled “Girl Meets World” featuring the daughter of the classic couple.
Cory and Topanga, a Disney rep told EW, will play “a happily married couple and parents to 13-year-old Riley.”
The Jewish stars of the show confirmed that they will be returning as Riley’s parents. Ben Savage, who played Cory, tweeted, “I’m going to be a father! Well, on TV at least.”
“The ‘Boy Meets World’ sequel is officially happening!” Danielle Fishel, who played Topanga, wrote on her blog. “First of all, let me say that you, the fans of Boy Meets World, have been awesome. That word is often used incorrectly by people, including myself, on a daily basis but you have truly been awe inspiring. You, yes, even YOU, are the reason that Girl Meets World WILL BE MADE.”
Michael Jacobs, the original creator of BMW, will be the executive producer of GMW. Rider Strong, who played best friend Shawn Hunter, revealed that he will not be returning. “‘Boy Meets World’ was a defining aspect of my life, and I cherish those seven years,” he said in a statement. “So I am extremely happy for Ben and Danielle to be able to continue the story. At this point, I have no official involvement in ‘Girl Meets World.’ ”
Israeli kids’ Swift cover sweeps the ‘net
Students at the Artik Music School (Artik is Hebrew for popsicle) in Yehud, Israel, released a cover version of the Taylor Swift song “I Knew You Were Trouble.” On YouTube, the 50-member band is referred to as “the biggest rock group in the world.” The cover version became an online hit almost instantly.
The version actually made it all the way to Swift herself, who tweeted: “Seeing this makes me so happy.”
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