Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleWelcome 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, we chew on the new documentary now in theaters, “You Had To Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (In a Canadian Kind of Way).”
WATCH the full episode here:
As depicted in the delightful film, if you ever wondered how a whole parcel of comedy greats got their starts, it was in a Canadian production of “Godspell” in 1972 that was a resounding success at Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre.
More from The Reel Schmooze
September 12, 2026'The Runner': Starring lovely London -- and a sprinting Gal Gadot
September 5, 2026Star Trek: 60 years to the most gloriously nerdy enterprise
August 22, 2026'Don't Say Good Luck': The Sunny (Sandler) side of life, with cancer
August 15, 2026'Wizards': Does animated 1977 art film belong in the canon, or in the geniza?
August 8, 2026'The Frisco Kid': A (gefilte) fish out of water in the Wild West
All stars aligned to bring together the constellation of Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Gilda Radner, Victor Garber, Andrea Martin and Jayne Eastwood, with musical director Paul Shaffer. Ironically, the musical depicting Jesus and his disciples was heavily Jewish — sometimes with comical results.
Let’s hear who gave this film an “oy,” “meh” or the prized “not bad” this week on The Reel Schmooze.
The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.
Check out the previous The Reel Schmooze here:
The Times of Israel Community.