SHRINK IS A SHONDA,
HOME ALONE AGAIN,
ORTHODOX BASEBALL
The Shrink Next Door is an
eight-episode limited series
that will begin stream-
ing on Apple+ Friday,
Nov. 12. It is based on a
hit 2019 podcast of the
same name. In the early
’80s, Marty Markowitz,
now 79, was referred to
Dr. Isaac Hershchkopf, a
psychiatrist, for treatment.
Markowitz (played by Paul
Rudd, 52) was a wealthy
man who suffered from
depression.
For about 30 years,
Herschkoff (played by
Will Ferrell) controlled
Markowitz’s life and financ-
es. He went so far as to
take over Markowitz’s
palatial home, and he
moved Markowitz into a
guest house. Markowitz
finally regained control of
his life. Other patients who
had been taken advan-
tage of came forward after
the podcast aired, and
Herschkoff lost his medical
license last April.
Home Sweet Alone is
an original Disney+ film
that also begins streaming
Nov. 12. Disney bought the
rights to the Home Alone
film “franchise” two years
ago, and this new film is a
reboot of the series. Here’s
the capsule plot: The film
centers around Max, a
British boy about 10 years
old. He’s left home alone
when his family travels to
Japan for the holidays.
Just as he’s getting used
to life alone, a married
couple tries to steal an
heirloom from Max’s home.
Max — like Kevin (Macaulay
Culkin) — before him, finds
ingenious ways to protect
his home.
The mixed cast of
American and British
actors were directed
by Dan Mazur, 50. He
shared a screenplay Oscar
nomination, with co-writer
Sacha Baron Cohen,
for writing the first Borat
movie (2007). In 2020,
they shared another Oscar
nomination for co-writing
the most recent Borat
movie. He met Cohen at a
famous U.K. private boys’
school, and they have
been “mates” ever since.
Tubi, a free (with ads)
streaming service is set
to premiere (Nov. 14) The
Freak Brothers, its first
original series. Here’s the
premise of this animated
series: In 1969, three young
San Francisco stoners
with cool nicknames (that
include the word “freak”)
spend their days dodging
the draft, narcs and steady
jobs. One day, they and
their cat, “Kitty,” inhale
some mutated marijuana.
They fall asleep and wake
up in 2020. Of course,
they are blown away by
the changes in society,
including marijuana
legalization.
The three “Freak
Brothers” are voiced by
Woody Harrelson, John
Goodman and Pete
Davidson. Tiffany Haddish,
41, provides the voice of
Kitty. Kitty is quite a cat
— she is quick-witted and
sarcastic.
Andrea Savage, 48,
voices Harper Switzer,
a major character who
is described as a “no
nonsense, ass-kicking tech
industry boss.” Savage has
a decades-long career as
a comedian/comic actress
(President Laura Montez on
Veep).
BASEBALL POST-SCRIPT
If you want some post-
season baseball, do check
out The Yankles, a unique
baseball movie I recently
discovered. The premise
is that an Orthodox Jewish
rabbinical seminary
decides to form their own
student baseball team
and compete with other
private schools. Yankles
is now streaming on Tubi.
This comedy/drama was
made in 2009, but wasn’t
released, at all, for years
and was hard to find
anywhere.
The acting is mostly
fairly good, as are the
production values. Don
Most, now 68 (Ralph on
Happy Days), has a fairly
large role. Overall, the
movie is worth your time.
Several people who write
about Jews in baseball
and compile “good” lists
of Jewish major leaguers,
told me that when Atlanta
pitcher Max Fried pitched
to Houston Astro Alex
Bregman (Oct. 27), it was
the first time in World
Series history that a Jewish
pitcher faced a Jewish
batter. I replied that I
“dug out” that (excellent)
Dodger catcher Steve
Yeager faced Oakland
pitcher Ken Holtzman in
the 1974 Series. I expected
their reply: “I don’t count
Yeager as a ‘Jewish player’
because he converted to
Judaism after he retired.”
My position is that there
are at least three major
league players, including
Yeager, who converted
after they retired and
the time has come to at
least mention them as
a postscript of sorts to
these Jewish player lists.
Time to honor those who
chose to be Chosen. By
the way, there are many
lists of Jews who won a
Nobel Prize. All these lists
include Christian Anfinsen,
the 1972 Chemistry Nobel
winner. He converted to
Orthodox Judaism in 1979
and changed his first name
to Chaim. I think these list
makers made the right
choice.
CELEBRITY NEWS
NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST
ARTS&LIFE
RED CARPET REPORT ON MINGLE MEDIA TV
Paul
Rudd
SHANKBONE VIE WIKIPEDIA
Andrea
Savage
60 | NOVEMBER 11 • 2021