Jews cu a) U MACCABEES Nate Bloom Noah Silver, 18, Special to the Jewish News who plays Sammy, the son of Barry and Molly (Barry's American wife). Silver has made Israeli films as well appearing in American shows New On The Tube Leftovers debuted on HBO at 10 p.m. Sunday, June 29. The cable chan- nel ordered just 10 episodes (catch up via encore showings and on- demand/online viewing). Pundits speculate HBO wants to see whether there's sustained inter- est in a series about what happens to people left in a suburban commu- nity when most of the population is taken up to heaven by "the Rapture" (a Christian belief that Christian believers will be taken up to heaven in advance of other events, mostly bad, happening on Earth). I've never read about any Christian denomination that believes unconverted Jews will be included in the Rapture, and one of the "left- overs" is a character with a Jewish surname (Levin). Leftovers was co-created by Damon Lindelof, 41, who also cre- ated ABC's Lost. The ending of Lost, which was quasi- religious (char- ._ acters, alive and Lindelof dead, reunited in a church) disappointed and confused a huge portion of the show's audience. Speculation is that HBO is hedg- ing its bets about another Lindelof series with a metaphysical plot line until after the first 10 shows air. The cast includes Amy Brenneman, the former star of Judging Amy, who many think is Jewish. Her father was born and raised a Congregationalist Protestant, and her Jewish mother converted to her father's faith decades ago. The FX series Tyrant, created by 40-ish Israeli film and TV director Gideon Raf (Homeland), premiered at 10 p.m. Tuesday, June 22; you can catch up via encore showings and on-demand/online viewing. The basic plot: Bassam "Barry" Al Fayeed (played by Brit actor Adam Rayner) is from the fictional war- torn (Arab) country of Abbudin. He has been living in self-selected exile in Los Angeles for nearly 20 years. Barry, the younger son of Abbudin's dictator, ends his exile to return with his American family to his homeland for his nephew's wedding. His arrival leads to a dra- matic culture clash as he reluctantly returns to the familial and national politics he once left. The pilot (which earned mostly good reviews) and most of the rest of the 10-episode first season was filmed in Israel. The supporting cast includes Silver like The Borgias. Also in big supporting roles: Justin Kirk, 45; Moran Atias, 33; and Ashraf Barhom, 34. Kirk, whose mother is Jewish, plays an American diplomat sta- tioned in Abbudin. Atias, an Israeli Jewish actress, plays Leila, the wife of Jamal (Jamal is the older brother of Barry and next-in-line to his coun- try's presidency). Playing Jamal is Barhom, an Israeli Christian Arab and University of Haifa graduate. Extant is a sci-fi series produced by Steven Spielberg, 67. It debuts at 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, on CBS. Halle Berry plays an American astronaut who inexplicably returns home pregnant after a year in space. The supporting cast includes Camryn Manheim (The Practice), 53. She plays Sam, Berry's charac- ter's best friend and confidante. Birthright/Baseball The Times of Israel reported on June 23 that filmmaker Jeremy Newberger, 40, and sports writer Jonathan Mayo, 43, are working on organizing a special trip to Israel for Jewish Major League and minor league baseball players. Newberger thinks he could make an interest- ing film about how the trip touched each one of the players who went to Israel. It also would allow these play- ers, most of whom have little Jewish religious background, to get in touch with Israeli/Jewish life and culture. They already have the enthusi- astic backing of Houston pitcher Josh Zeid, 27, whose sister went on a Birthright Israel trip ("It was life-changing for her," Zeid told the Times). Players who have given them positive responses include Pittsburgh first baseman Ike Davis, 27, Detroit second baseman Kinsler Ian Kinsler, 32, and now-retired outfielder Gabe Kapler, 38. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus, 45, the former coach of Team Israel, gave Mayo and Newberger some baseball contacts in Israel to help with organizing clinics led by the players. The producers caution that the project is still at an early stage, and much work needs to be done before it becomes a reality. ❑ at Offei'llotaff A atftedadag CI-IAMIDAGNIE SUNDAY 131AJNICI-1 B in the Heart of Midtown Sunday 11 a - 5:30p Breakfast & Lunch Selections Also included - assorted pastries, desserts and fresh fruit Endless Mimosas & Champagne • Al • • • 5057 Woodward Detroit : FREE ,AI E1-17 with purchase of • two dinner entrées 313.831.9311 • TU SA expires 8.31 .1 4 — www.MaccabeesDetroit.com 1928450 HAPPY HOUR SPECIAL 25% off Total Bill! 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