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 

