Entertainment t0 Tom • ) RR (:ft, e/i-A:s+tai liotv,eciautiat 979 IF Regular or One-Time Service Equipment and Supplies Provided If Locally Owned and Operated I ► Consistent, Superior Service r `The Ethicist' Uncovered for several publications, including the New Yorker and the Washington Post, when he began writing for the New Former comedy writer dispenses advice on moral issues to New York Times readers. York Times Magazine. In addition to his weekly column, Cohen can be heard on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. Recently, Cohen talked to the Jewish News about his book, column, experi- ences in television and answering ques- tions related to Judaism. ALICE BURDICK SCHWEIGER Special to the Jewish News '30.00 Off 1st Gleaning "20.00 Off 3rd Cleaning 1st Time Customers Only T Not Valid With Other Offers Expires 2/28/03 I. 248.626.2233 OR www.maidbrigade.com for online scheduling , jortifi of Novi Sunday-Thursday Only Two Dinner Entrees I or Vff Two Lunch Entrees Expires 2/28/03 No sharing • One coupon per table Not good with any other offer S g: A i/.5 Nat jt Aidcup atuptutte! - Newt Juuzeit! - Bunch d. Dimwit Speciab Daily! • Beer S Wine Available • Open for Lunch fi Dinner • 7 Days a Week Mon. - Sat. 11 - 10 • Sunday 11 - 9 47890 Grand River Ave. • Novi NW Garner of Beck & Grand River Look for the Home Depot 248.347.7020 www.detroitjewishnews.com 2/ 7 2003 70 Find out before your mother! he idea of giving ethical advice every week in the New York Times Magazine sounded intriguing to writer Randy Cohen. Although he'd worked as a standup comic and written for David Letterman and Rosie O'Donnell, Cohen was no philosopher. But, when the Times asked four or five of its writ- ers to audition for a new column of advice on ethical issues, he decided it was worth a try. It seems the editors thought so, too. For more than three years now, Cohen has been presenting his views to inquiring readers in the weekly "The Ethicist" column, earning a reputation as the aesthete's Ann Landers and receiving more than his share of appre- ciative, amused and angry letters to the editor. The column has been picked up in syndication (under the title "Everyday Ethics") in 40 newspapers across the U.S. and Canada. In his recent book, The Good The Bad c The Difference: How to Tell Right from Wrong in Everyday Situations (Doubleday; $23.95), Cohen presents some of his column's "greatest hits," along with explanations of how he came to his decisions, reactions from readers and contributions from guest ethicists. "When I got the job, it was really scary, but now I feel lucky to think of these kinds of problems all day long," Cohen says. In his book, Cohen highlights such issues as what to do if you spot a shoplifter, whether to tell on a philan- dering spouse, what to do when you find money that doesn't belong to you, whether you should bring food into a movie theater that insists on "No Outside Food" and w:iether buying a used German-made car is the same as buying a new one if you are Jewish and boycotting German-made products. "What was great about writing the book was that I was able to go back and contact some of the people I gave advice to, see if they took it and dis- cover the consequences," he says. Although addressing ethical dilem- mas may be relatively new for Cohen, writing is not. Born in Charleston, S.C., Cohen was raised in a Reform Jewish home in Reading, Pa. His father, Harry, was in the paper business- JN: What do you think is the appeal and his mother, Irma, was a nurse. of your book and column? Originally, Cohen thought about a RC: People want a logical argument career in music. He earned an under- that justifies a particular way of think- graduate degree from State University ing and acting. A lot of people who of New York in Albany and a graduate write me don't need me to tell them degree at the California Institute of Art what to do. in L.A., majoring in music. You can see in their letter that they After graduation, he moved to New have a sense of what's right. I think York City and landed a what they hope is to job building video and get a rational explana- music synthesizers. He tion of why this is the gradually came to the TH E GOOD right behavior. realization that he "didn't have a good JN: With no experi- musical mind," and ence in ethics or giv- THE BAD started doing standup ing advice, how did comedy. you prepare for your "But I needed a day &THE DIFFERENCE job? job and was looking RC: I didn't, but since for ways to write funny I began, I have read a How to Tell Right stuff and make a liv- lot and accumulated a From "Wrong in ing, so I started writing list of experts who I Everyday Situations for newspapers and can call on. magazines," he says. If it's a medical-relat- RANDY COHEN "The stand-up was my ed question, I call --El. Ethicist" float transition from music someone at the AMA to words." who will make sure I His first writing job "When I respond to readers' understand what stan- was at the Village Voice, queries, I work from this dard medical practice is where he remained for premise: Ethics is the rational and the AMA's ethical 10 years. determination of right guidelines. For First Then, in 1984, his conduct, an attempt to answer Amendment related career path turned to the question 'How should I act questions, I call the television and he land- now?'" Cohen writes in his head of the Civil ed a job as writer for introduction to "The Good, Liberties Union. m New York riata Magsgifte Late Night with David The Bad 6' The Difference." Letterman, where he JN: Do you have rab- went on to win three bis you consult? Emmy Awards., During his seven years RC: I have quite a list of rabbis. The there, he was responsible for such seg- first time I consulted a rabbi was a ments as "Monkey Cam" and "Late question involving Orthodox practice. Night in Tokyo." A guy was writing on behalf of his Following Letterman, he wrote for dad who had gone to the same syna- and served as co-executive producer on gogue for years. But his father was now TV Nation, and then became the origi- 85 years old and was no longer able to nal head writer for Rosie O'Donnell, walk to services, so he drove. But the when her talk show was just getting off synagogue got a new rabbi who barri- the ground. caded the entrance to the parking lot, "Because it was a start-up show, it and his son wanted to know what his was Fun being a part of shaping it," he father could do. says. So I consulted someone about Cohen, who is divorced and has a Orthodox law and a Conservative 15-year-old daughter, was writing for rabbi, too. The answers ranged from Slate online magazine and freelancing saying the father should move closer to