Katie Couric hosted the American Friends of Magen David Adom annual benefit dinner in New York on Dec. 9. 2013. (Howard Wechsler)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The event raised $1 million, all of which will go toward ambulances and lifesaving equipment used to respond to emergencies in Israel.<\/p>\n
\u201cMDA\u2019s willingness to help save all lives is something we should rally behind,\u201d said Couric, whose mother is Jewish. \u201cI\u2019ve built a career on the pursuit of a good story. And in a part of the world that\u2019s constantly producing ominous headlines, I\u2019ve clearly found a positive one.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to the array of tributes, honors and other typical fundraiser fare, Bloomberg declared Dec. 9 as Magen David Adom Day in New York. Mazel tov!<\/p>\n
Animating Anne Frank<\/strong><\/p>\nIsraeli director Ari Folman has committed to writing and directing an animated feature based on the life of Anne Frank, according to The Hollywood Reporter.<\/p>\n
Folman\u2019s animated film \u201cWaltz With Bashir,\u201d about the 1982 invasion of Lebanon, was nominated for an Oscar, and his Israeli TV series \u201cEn terapia\u201d was the basis for HBO\u2019s \u201cIn Therapy.\u201d This will be his first foray into the family-friendly realm.<\/p>\n
\u201cBringing the Anne Frank diary to all screens is a fantastic opportunity and challenge,\u201d Folman said. \u201cThere is a real need for new artistic material to keep the memory alive for younger generations.\u201d<\/p>\n
To paint the picture of who Anne was, Folman will have more material than just the well-known contents of her diary. The Anne Frank Fonds Basel, set up by her father Otto Frank, has granted the filmmakers total access to its archives. This will apply as well to other branches worldwide.<\/p>\n
Production is scheduled to begin in the winter of 2014.<\/p>\n
Jason Segel as David Foster Wallace<\/strong><\/p>\nIn juicy Jewish casting news, Jason Segel and Jesse Eisenberg have been attached to \u201cThe End of the Tour,\u201d a film about David Foster Wallace, The Wrap reports.<\/p>\n
The twist here is that Segel, star of such heavy fare as \u201cThe Muppets,\u201d \u201cHow I Met Your Mother\u201d and \u201cForgetting Sarah Marshall,\u201d will portray \u201cInfinite Jest\u201d author Wallace, who committed suicide in 2008. A less surprising choice is Eisenberg (\u201cThe Social Network,\u201d \u201cNow You See Me\u201d) as Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky.<\/p>\n
The movie, adapted from Lipsky\u2019s book, follows the two writers as they travel across the country promoting \u201cInfinite Jest.\u201d Per the Wrap: \u201cAlong the way, jealousy and competition bubbles up between the two writers as they discuss women, depression and the pros and cons of fame.\u201dAlice Hoffman\u2019s best-selling historical novel \u201cThe Dovekeepers\u201d will be turned into a four-hour miniseries for CBS airing in 2015, according to The Hollywood Reporter.<\/p>\n
The story, set in ancient Israel, follows four women who fight to save 900 Jews under siege by Romans at Masada.<\/p>\n
The producers behind the project are Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, the married couple responsible for another religion-based epic, History\u2019s \u201cThe Bible.\u201d<\/p>\n
King David’s mobster makeover<\/strong><\/p>\nWith the rise in popularity of religion-based entertainment (think the upcoming TV miniseries \u201cThe Dovekeepers\u201d and the film \u201cNoah\u201c) it was only a matter of time before we were treated to a biblical-mafia mashup.<\/p>\n
OK, so maybe not, but it looks like it\u2019s happening anyway.<\/p>\n
\u201cKing David,\u201d a drama series its creator, eOne, is calling an \u201cepic mafia show in biblical clothing,\u201d is in development, The Wrap reports.<\/p>\n
Having trouble envisioning the Holy Land monarch as some kind of Tony Soprano figure? Absorb this: The show aims to bring to life the \u201cfull, contradictory character of the greatest warrior-king and patriarch of the Bible — a man who must make monstrous choices that betray his personal ideals and turn his family against him.\u201d<\/p>\n
That helps a little.<\/p>\n
Overpaying Adam Sandler<\/strong><\/p>\nIf you haven\u2019t rushed out to see the most recent films of Adam Sandler, you\u2019re not alone. The thing is, while Sandler vehicles like \u201cJack & Jill\u201d and \u201cThat\u2019s My Boy\u201d have fallen flat at the box office, the comic actor still commands mega-high paychecks — we\u2019re talking more than $15 million a pop.<\/p>\n
The disparity has landed Sandler the No.1 spot on Forbes\u2019 2013 list of Hollywood\u2019s most overpaid actors.<\/p>\n
Sandler leads a pack of other talented, disproportionately compensated stars that includes Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carell and Matt Damon.For the latest Jewish celebrity news, visit JTA’s 6 Degrees (No Bacon) blog.<\/em><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Katie-Couric.jpg\" "\\"Katie")