Nate Bloom blogs on this week's Jews in the News.

Friendship, 2nd Try Romeo & Juliet; The Chosen Chose For the Rock Hall

“Friendship” is a comedy/drama that opens in theaters on May 9. It stars Tim Robinson as a “jerky” guy and PAUL RUDD, 55, as a “cool guy’ who moves into a home next to Robinson. They become friends—at least for a long time.

 

I have read full reviews of the film and, frankly, it takes so many ‘plot-turns’ that I just have to stop here and say that it’s too complicated to summarize. “Friendship” played the Toronto Film Festival and reviews were, overall, sort of good—but nobody was in love with this film.

 

Robinson was an SNL cast member (2012-16) and he starred in “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson”, a Netflix sketch comedy series (ran 2019-23). “Think” was co-created by Robinson and ZACH KANIN, 41. In 2024, the duo took a live version of “Think” to theater stages in many cities. Paul Rudd performed in a few shows.

 

You might remember that, in my February (2025) column, that I said that JASON ISSACS, 61, was “busy”. I said that because Issacs was a co-star in the new season of “The White Lotus” series (HBO) and he had a big role in a musical film entitled “Verona’s Romeo & Juliet” (set to open Feb. 14).

 

Well, last February, “they” pulled the movie, at the last moment, from theaters. The film will finally be released on May 9. It’s been re-named: Its now entitled “Juliet & Romeo”. The film’s gimmick is that it is set in the 16th century (Romeo and Juliet’s “time”) But the songs are modern rock songs.

 

Frankly, I think “Romeo” will not be a critical or popular hit. But read the reviews on May 9 or 10 and make up your own mind.

 

On April 27, the new inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced. The induction ceremony will take place in November.

 

Phish, a popular 4-man rock band, was nominated earlier this year in the “performer” category. Phish wasn’t inducted this year (But, maybe, next year). Phish has two Jewish members: JON FISHMAN, 60, and MIKE GORDON, 59.

 

No Jews were inducted, this year, in the performer category. But three were inducted in other categories. WARREN ZEVON (1947-2003) was inducted in the “musical influence” category.

 

Zevon had a very rocky life. His Jewish father long worked as a bookie for the notorious MICKEY COHEN, a Los Angeles gangster. His mother was a Mormon. My sense is that Zevon was not religious at all. He’s best known for hits he wrote, and sang, and Zevon songs which other singers made into hits. Here’s a few: “Werewolves of London”, “Poor Poor Pitiful Me”, and “Hasten Down the Wind.”

 

His career was up-and-down and his long-time substance abuse didn’t help. He cleaned-up around 2000, only to be struck down by cancer. His friends included Dave Letterman, Stephen King, and STEVE COHEN, 79, a (current) Tennessee Congressman.

 

LENNY WARONKER, 83, is this year’s “Ahmet Ertegun” award inductee (Ertegun was a Turkish-American record executive). This award honors a non-musical performer who is a major influence on the creative development and growth of rock & roll and music that has impacted culture.

 

Waronker was born into the record business. His father, a violinist, founded Liberty Records, an important label in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Lenny got his experience at Liberty and went on to be the head of Warner Records and Dreamworks Records.

 

CAROL KAYE, 90, is being inducted in the “musical excellence” category. It honors artists, musicians, songwriters, and producers who originality and influence have had a dramatic impact on music.

 

Kaye, a bassist, was virtually the only woman who played bass with top jazz and rock musicians (recording sessions mostly) in the ‘50s and ‘60s. She played with practically every biggie and she played on the iconic soundtracks of many films. She continued playing well into this century.

 

Wikipedia has a pretty good summary of her musical work and you can find summaries elsewhere. But I was appalled at the Wikipedia’s very wrong text about her religious background. It says that she “practiced Judaism for a few years in the early ‘60s”.

 

My friend SCOTT BENARDE, 72, profiled Kaye in his book “Stars of David: Rock ‘N’ Roll’s Jewish Stories” (2003). She told Benarde that she studied Judaism after meeting a Jewish man; she converted (1961); she attended a Reform temple; she continued practicing Judaism after her divorce from her Jewish husband; and she raised their daughter Jewish. (The whole text of the Benarde book is available, free, on Google Books. Just search the author’s name).