By popular demand: Modi standup special and Red Hot Chili Peppers docu |
Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan, where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use.
This week, the team takes our listeners — and our boss — up on their recommendations.
WATCH the full episode here:
More from The Reel Schmooze
March 21, 2026The Oscars edition: Tribe pride and Israel vilified
The Oscars edition: Tribe pride and Israel vilified
March 14, 2026'Fantasy Life': Escape the news to a very Jewy NY Upper West Side
'Fantasy Life': Escape the news to a very Jewy NY Upper West Side
March 1, 2026'Blue Moon': Brilliant or a waste of space?
'Blue Moon': Brilliant or a waste of space?
February 21, 2026'All the President's Men': 50-year-old time capsule of great American journalism
'All the President's Men': 50-year-old time capsule of great American journalism
February 14, 2026'BlacKkKlansman' and 'The Butcher's Stain': Evil racism at its most entertaining
'BlacKkKlansman' and 'The Butcher's Stain': Evil racism at its most entertaining
After Borschel-Dan asked listeners for their favorite stand-up comedians, we received a deluge of responses. We decided to launch our stand-up tour with “Modi: Know Your Audience,” which is available freely on YouTube. While both had heard of the very Jewish performer, this was their first-time watching a full-length show.
Next, we discuss “The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel,” which is now streaming on Netflix. The documentary sheds light on the origins of the still-hot band and focuses on its original guitarist Hillel Slovak. Born in Israel, gifted guitarist Slovak was the catalyst that brought both bassist Flea and lead singer Anthony Kiedis to the music world. For our duo of reviewers, it was a chance to revisit their high school soundtrack.
Stick around to see who got the “oy,” the “meh” and the “not bad” marks in this week’s The Reel Schmooze.
The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.
Check out last week’s The Reel Schmooze here:
Are you relying on The Times of Israel for accurate and timely coverage of the Iran war right now? If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6/month, you will:
Support our independent journalists who are working around the clock under difficult conditions to cover this conflict;
Read ToI with a clear, ads-free experience on our site, apps and emails; and
Gain access to exclusive content shared only with the ToI Community, including weekly letters from founding editor David Horovitz.
Times of Israel podcasts
Jewish popular culture
Red Hot Chili Peppers