By Nate Bloom
Contributing Columnist
Mr. SNL, Directors with a Tie, Roots, Dane’s Last Show
“Lorne” opens in theaters on April 17. It ‘covers’ LORNE MICHAELS, 81, the creator of “Saturday Night Live” (“SNL”). The filmmakers provide some basic information about Michaels. Also, their cameras follow Michaels on a day-to-day basis. The film publicity says that the filmmakers got “unprecedented access to Michaels.”
SNL has been on TV since 1974. Michaels has been the SNL executive producer (“top guy”) for the last 52 years. (except for 5 years when he took a “hiatus” in the early ‘80s). He often writes funny material for the show, too. Michaels, however, doesn’t make jokes about his original name: Lorne David Lipowitz.
Right now, I know that two former (Jewish) SNL cast members appear in “Lorne”: ANDY SAMBERG, 47, and MAYA RUDOLPH, 53.
By an odd coincidence, the directors of two films that open on April 17, have somewhat similar directing careers beyond being ‘just’ Jewish.
AARON DAVIDMAN, 57, is the writer and director of “American Solitaire.” Here’s the ‘official’ premise: “An American soldier struggling to make sense of civilian life is confronted with the complexities of gun violence in his hometown.”
It is a modest budget film that may not be in many theaters. But it is a serious work that you should look for in a theater, or when it streams. “Solitaire” is the first film that Davidman directed. He wrote “Wrestling Jerusalem” (2016) and starred in this one-man film.
This film began as a one-person stage play (2014). The play and film explored the Israeli–Palestinian conflict as well as wider themes about identity and social division. Davidman played 17 characters of widely different backgrounds and ideological viewpoints. (This film streams for free on the Tubi app and it’s free to Prime Video members).
Davidman’s many Jewish connections include being Artistic Director of Traveling Jewish Theatre from 2002–2011. There he wrote, directed, performed in and produced dozens of original plays reflecting Jewish identity and experience.
JONAH FEINGOLD, 35, is the director of “Busboys,” a comedy (opens in theaters on April 17). Here’s the official premise: “A pair of idiot friends believe that if they become waiters, all of their problems will be solved. They aren’t entirely wrong, but they aren’t entirely right.”
Feingold’s career took off (2014) when he made a popular online parody film about the trailer for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Since then, he has made four films. Three are comedies that got so/so reviews and didn’t make much money. One, “EXmas,” is a Christmas romantic comedy.
In 2025, Feingold wrote and directed “31 Candles.” Feingold stars as Leo Kadner, a filmmaker who specializes in XMAS movies. At age 31, Kadner decides to have a bar mitzvah. This film has funny stuff, romance and serious moments. Feingold says the film “is inspired by [my] own life and it’s a heartfelt rom-com about love, identity, and finally growing up.” (It’s played film festivals).
The last episode of this season’s “Finding Your Roots” (PBS) premiered on April 14. My mistake: I got engaged in “running down” “Fantasy Life” a “very Jewish” film I had not heard of just before my last column’s ‘deadline’ and I got occupied writing about it, so I didn’t include “Finding Your Roots.”
The good news is that you can watch this last episode on the PBS app/website. For about a month, you can watch it, free, without being a PBS member.
The two “final episode” celebrity guests were actress Kate Burton and billionaire BARRY DILLER, 84, an almost legendary executive leader of entertainment companies.
Diller grew-up in an affluent Beverly Hills home. He went from a talent agency “mail room boy,” to — in order — Paramount head; chair of Fox films/ TV; and owner of the HSN shopping channel and the USA network. There are many other “side projects.”
Famous (Jewish) fashion designer DIANE VON FURSTENBERG (‘nee’ Halfin) has been Diller’s wife since 2001. The couple are major philanthropists. Diane’s mother was a Greek Jew who fought with an anti-Nazi resistance group and she was captured. She (barely) survived two concentration camps.
The third and final season (8 episodes) of “Euphoria,” a hit show, began on HBO on April 12. New episodes premiere on following Sundays. I just found out that actor ERIC DANE will appear in all 8 episodes. Dane died (age 56) from ALS last February. I thought he might be in just one fleeting scene due to ALS. As I waited, I gathered information about Dane’s career and his strong ties to Jewish family life and Judaism. I’ll cover all that next week.
