Franco is Hot; Elvis Tunes by Jews, Scrubs 10, Civil War
Dreams, a drama, opens in theaters on Feb. 27. It follows the secret affair of wealthy socialite Jennifer (Jessica Chastain) with a Mexican ballet dancer and undocumented immigrant (Isaac Hernandez).
Dreams reviews (to date) have been very good. It was written and directed by Michel Franco, 46. Dreams is the 10th film that Franco has written and directed. His work has been getting more notice in recent years.
Franco’s Jewish father was born and raised in Mexico, and his Jewish mother grew up in Haifa, Israel, and moved to Mexico.
Long Live Elvis
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is a documentary and concert film about Elvis Presley (opens Feb. 27 in theaters). It is directed by Baz Luhrmann. It is a follow-up to Luhrmann’s 2022 hit biographical film Elvis, which starred Austin Butler as Elvis.
EPiC features long-lost footage from Presley’s long residency in Las Vegas (1969-1977), as well as previously unseen footage from two documentaries/concert films that were made in 1970 and 1971.
Longtime readers know I have written much about Presley’s ties to Jewish friends and colleagues. Instead, I am providing something else. In 2024, Forbes magazine had an article that listed the “20 most popular Elvis songs.” Most popular was based on record sales, songs sung at concerts and radio plays. The 20 songs are ranked based on their popularity (#20 to #1).
It’s likely most of these songs are in the EPiC film. I checked the 20 top songs, and Jewish songwriters wrote or co-wrote six of them. Here they are: (No. 17, on the Forbes list) “Let me Be Your Teddy Bear,” Bernie Lowe (1917-1993) and Kal Mann (1917-2001); (No. 13) “You’re the Devil in Disguise,” Bernie Baum (1929-93) and Florence Kaye (1919-2005); (No. 7) “Are You Lonesome Tonight,” written in 1927 by Roy Turk (1892-1934) and Lou Handman (1894-1956); (No. 3) “Hound Dog,” written by Mike Stoller, 92, and Jerry Leiber (1933-2011); (No. 2) “Jailhouse Rock,” also by Stoller and Leiber; and (No. 1) “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” This song was written by three men. Two weren’t Jewish and one was: George David Weiss (1921-2010). Footnote: 18 of the songs were rock music. Two were old, Christian church songs. Final score: Jews hit .333 in “The Elvis Rock Songwriter Contest.”
More Scrubs
Zach Braff moderating a Shrinking panel for PaleyLive in Beverly Hills, California.
Some sources call it Scrubs: Reboot and others call it Scrubs, Season 10. Either way, the premiere was on Feb. 25 (It snuck up on me). But you can watch it on the ABC online channels or watch it on Hulu (starting Feb. 26).
The original series, which ran from 2001 to 2010, mixed hospital serious medical stuff with a lot of funny talk and amusing situations. The three biggest stars in the original series are in the reboot: Zach Braff, 50, as Dr. J.D. Dorian; Donald Faison as Dr. Chris Turk, and Sarah Chalke, as Dr. Elliot Reid.
American actress and comedian Vanessa Bayer at “LOL for LLS” benefit for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, interviewed by Behind the Velvet Rope TV.
The advance publicity lists several recurring actors. Vanessa Bayer, 44, is on the list as “Sibby.” However, there is no source that says who Sibby is or when she will appear on Scrubs. Bayer is most known as an SNL star from 2010-2017. She has had many guest roles or recurring roles since she left SNL, but she’s talented (impressions, especially) and she should be a regular in a really good series.
I must note that Braff, Faison and Chalke have not had many good roles in films or TV since Scrubs ended. Braff’s career, I think, is an almost sad story. In 2004, he was in Garden State, a surprise critical and box hit. He starred in this dramatic film, wrote it and directed it. It seemed like he was headed “way up.” But two later films he wrote and directed flopped.
New Amazon Series
The Gray House is an eight-episode Amazon Prime series that premieres on Feb. 26. The official description says that it reveals the true story of unsung Southern women who spied to help the Union win the Civil War and end slavery. Four women, in Richmond, the Confederate capitol, created an effective espionage network.
The cast includes Mary Louise Parker. She plays an upper-class woman who spies for the Union; Ben Vereen plays a former enslaved man, and Rob Morrow plays Judah P. Benjamin.
Morrow, 63, starred in Northern Exposure, a “dramedy” (1990-95). He played a Jewish doctor working in Alaska. He also starred in Numb3rs (2005-10),asort of crime fighting show. His Numb3rs character was also Jewish. Morrow’s real wife is Jewish, too.
Judah P. Benjamin was the highest Jew in the Confederate government. From 1861-62, he was Secretary of War and he was Secretary of State from 1862-65. He was a “biggie,” and you can look him up in many sources.
