comedy

Liat Harlev as a BBC anchor, and Yuval Semo, playing Middle East correspondent Harry Whiteguilt, lampoon a BBC report about the bombing of a Gaza hospital, in a skit screened on October 28, 2023. (Screenshot from Eretz Nehederet. Keshet Channel 12, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

November 24, 2023, 12:49 pm

Comedians defend Israel the best way they know how: Make ’em laugh

In the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas onslaught, many are using humor to push back against what they see as a propaganda war against Israel and Jews

By Amy Klein

Michael Rapaport performing at the Roast of Antisemitism in Los Angeles, June 14, 2023. (Courtesy of Dani Zoldan via JTA)

June 16, 2023, 12:14 pm

Jewish celebrities roast antisemitism in packed LA comedy event

Howie Mandel, Rachel Bloom and others make fun of Kanye West, Donald Trump and Hitler as part of effort to fight antisemitism

By jacob gurvis

Nikki Glaser arrives on the red carpet for the 24th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, March 19, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

May 22, 2023, 4:58 pm

Why Nikki Glaser says her stand-up show in Tel Aviv will be ‘the best of the tour’

The comedian, podcaster and reality TV show star says she has ignored calls to cancel Saturday’s Israel show since ‘I just want to tell jokes for people who want to hear them’

By Amy Spiro

Jason Schwartzman poses at the the FX portion of the Television Critics Association Winter press tour on January 9, 2020, in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

May 12, 2023, 3:44 am

New comedy stars Jason Schwartzman as cantor, Carol Kane as his student

US Jewish actors take center stage in ‘Between the Temples,’ which has been self described as an ‘anxious comedy’

By Gabe Friedman

File: Adam Sandler accepts the award for best male lead for "Uncut Gems" at the 35th Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, February 8, 2020. (AP/Chris Pizzello)

March 19, 2023, 5:04 pm

Adam Sandler to be awarded Mark Twain Prize for lifetime in comedy

Actor rose to fame on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ starred in slapstick comedies ‘You Don’t Mess with the Zohan’ and ‘Happy Gilmore,’ shined in drama ‘Uncut Gems’

By ASHRAF KHALIL

Judd Hirsch plays a Holocaust survivor in 'iMordecai.' (FeMor Productions via JTA)

March 11, 2023, 8:54 am

The real story behind Jewish family comedy ‘iMordecai’

Homegrown director Marvin Samel jumps behind the camera to film Judd Hirsch in the leading role based on Samel’s colorful – and barely believable – real-life father

By Stephen Silver

Jeremy Dauber is the author of 'Mel Brooks: Disobedient Jew.' (Yale University Press via JTA)

March 8, 2023, 1:57 am

A history of Mel Brooks as a ‘disobedient Jew’

In new biography, Jeremy Dauber breaks down how the comedian and director just couldn’t help being a loving iconoclast skewering the establishment

By Andrew Silow-Carroll

Author Jennifer Caplan alongside her new book, 'Funny You Don't Look Funny.' (Courtesy)

March 7, 2023, 5:45 am

Is that (still) funny? Scholar explores generational shifts in Jewish humor

In her new book, ‘Funny, You Don’t Look Funny,’ Jennifer Caplan traces attitudes toward American Jewish comedy from Philip Roth to ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘SNL’ and ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’

By Amy Spiro

Jesus (Jay Ellis) and Judas (Nick Kroll) in a scene from the 'Curb Your Judaism' sketch in 'History of the World Part II.' (Courtesy of Hulu via JTA)

March 6, 2023, 2:00 am

In Mel Brooks’ ‘History of the World Part II,’ Jewish jokes reign

Out March 6, the eve of Purim, the long-awaited sequel to the classic 1981 film co-produced by comedian Nick Kroll revolves around Jewish history — and skewers it

By Jackie Hajdenberg

Comedian Modi Rosenfeld performing at Caroline's on Broadway. (Courtesy of Rosenfeld via JTA)

February 12, 2023, 4:43 am

Jewish comedian Modi Rosenfeld, a mainstay for Orthodox audiences, is gay. So what?

After a recent Variety article that drew attention to his orientation, the US religious funnyman doubles down on his cultural identity – and fans are overwhelmingly supportive

By Jackie Hajdenberg

Writer-comedians Benji Lovitt (left) and Joel Chasnoff, authors of 'Israel 201,' a primer about Israeli life, launched in February 2023. (Courtesy: 'Israel 201')

February 10, 2023, 8:23 am

US-born Israeli comics explain local life (and cats) in fun, wise book ‘Israel 201’

Joel Chasnoff and Benji Lovitt launch their ‘Next-Level Guide to the Magic, Mystery, and Chaos of Life in the Holy Land’

By Jessica Steinberg

John Cleese as Basil Fawlty in a scene from 'The Germans' episode of the TV comedy series 'Fawlty Towers' (screen capture, YouTube: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

February 8, 2023, 11:44 am

John Cleese to return for reboot of iconic sitcom ‘Fawlty Towers’

‘Monty Python’ star will reprise role as Basil Fawlty, working alongside long-lost daughter, to be played by his real-life child Camilla; Rob Reiner on board as executive producer

By AFP

Rabbi David Schuck of New Rochelle was a guest on Conan O'Brien's podcast on December 29. (YouTube via JTA)

January 10, 2023, 4:54 pm

Conan O’Brien’s latest podcast guest? A New York pulpit rabbi

David Schuck of New Rochelle’s Conservative Beth El Synagogue Center has a schmooze with the late-night host, who says he went to more bar mitzvahs than first communions as a kid

By Jacob Henry

Lisa Geduldig onstage at the first annual Kung Pao Kosher Comedy show in San Francisco in 1993. (Courtesy of Lisa Geduldig via JTA)

December 26, 2022, 3:57 am

How a standup show at a Chinese restaurant became a 30-year Jewish comedy tradition

Inspired by a gig that seemed like a joke, Lisa Geduldig started Kung Pao Kosher Comedy in 1993. It was an instant hit and now lures serious talent like Marc Maron and Margaret Cho

By Jackie Hajdenberg

Talk show host David Letterman (L) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speak on a subway platform in Kyiv, for an episode of the Netflix series "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction" that aired on December 12, 2022. (Youtube screenshot: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

December 13, 2022, 11:50 pm

Zelensky cracks joke about ‘Jewish guys from Odesa’ on Letterman

In brief return to his past comedy career, Ukrainian president jokes about Russia’s military performance during appearance on the talk show host’s new series

By ToI Staff