Jewish Word | Verklempt: The Yiddish Word that Wasn’t
Borrowed from Yiddish and launched into the cultural stratosphere by a Canadian comedian and his Jewish mother-in-law, “verklempt” keeps evolving.
Growing Up Funny with Jewish Comedian Rachel Creeger and Author Michael Krasny
London-based comedian Rachel Creeger, cohost of the podcast, “Jew Talkin’ To Me?”, talks about growing up in a traditional home and listening to the men in the family tell jokes on Shabbat and how it feels to now be the only Orthodox Jewish woman on the British comedy circuit. Rachel is in conversation with Michael Krasny, retired public radio host of KQED Forum and the author of Let There Be Laughter: A Treasury of Great Jewish Humor and What It All Means.
Both Rachel and Michael are part of the Moment Symposium “What is Your Favorite Jewish Joke – And Why?”
From the Archives | Jewish Comics
In 1976, Moment wrote about Jewish comics’ rise from obscurity into mainstream American media and the role comedy has played in Jewish life.
From the Archives | Borscht Belt Humor Hits Broadway
Borscht Belt humor walks a narrow line between good jokes and bad taste. Alexander Wohl analyzes this sometimes off-color Jewish humor.
From the Archives | Are Jews Still Funny?
In 1979 Time magazine, the quintessential barometer of American life, told the nation that even though Jews made up only 3 percent of the population, 80 percent of America’s working comedians were Jewish.
Why Comedians Love Jewish Mothers & More with Comedian Judy Gold
For veteran stand-up comedian Judy Gold, turning overbearing Jewish mothers into a shtick is an act of love and reverence.
Marc Maron: Recovering Messiah
In 2009, Marc Maron was a down-on-his-luck comedian, a man who'd survived alcohol and drug addiction, two divorces and resentment over his friends' successes in...
Andy Samberg's Semitic Appeal
by Amanda Walgrove
Andy Samberg is one of three geeky brains behind the comedy troupe, The Lonely Island, whose sophomore album, Turtleneck and Chain, was released last...
Andy Samberg’s Semitic Appeal
by Amanda Walgrove
Andy Samberg is one of three geeky brains behind the comedy troupe, The Lonely Island, whose sophomore album, Turtleneck and Chain, was released last...
Yoo-hoo, Ms. Rivers!
by Amanda Walgrove
As she’d be the first to joke about, Joan Rivers has tough skin. While her 2010 documentary, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work,...