{"id":8461,"date":"2013-07-31T07:29:49","date_gmt":"2013-07-31T13:29:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=8461"},"modified":"2013-07-31T07:29:49","modified_gmt":"2013-07-31T13:29:49","slug":"princesses-gig-a-teachers-nightmare-drake-sorry-for-lyrics-tom-jones-doing-tel-aviv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/princesses-gig-a-teachers-nightmare-drake-sorry-for-lyrics-tom-jones-doing-tel-aviv\/","title":{"rendered":"Princesses’ gig a teacher’s nightmare, Drake sorry for lyrics, Tom Jones doing Tel Aviv"},"content":{"rendered":"

By SIX DEGREES (No Bacon) STAFF<\/p>\n

NEW YORK (6nobacon.com) — When Stefan Serie appeared as an extra on Bravo\u2019s \u201cPrincesses: Long Island,\u201d he did what the female stars on the show do practically every episode — prance around a party wearing minimal clothing. The difference between Serie and the ladies (one of the differences, anyway), is he actually had something to lose: a job.<\/p>\n

The 30-year-old health teacher in Merrick showed up shirtless on the series premiere at Erica\u2019s bash in the Hamptons, his abs glistening in the sun. While he wasn\u2019t doing anything he \u201cwould tell his students not to do,\u201d Serie told the New York Daily News, the whole thing didn\u2019t go over too well with the school officials in Merrick.<\/p>\n

About a week after the episode aired, Serie received a letter asking him to report to the school district office. Upon his arrival, he said, administrators told him his tenure offer would be rescinded and pressed him to resign.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a coerced resignation,\u201d said Serie, a teacher for eight years. \u201cI want my job and tenure back. I think I deserve it.\u201d<\/p>\n

So do his students\u2019 parents: Supporters at a July 24 rally called for his reinstatement.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll keep you posted on the drama, which is slightly more exciting than what\u2019s happening on the show.<\/p>\n

Drake cutting lyrics, apologizes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Like many rappers, Drake’s songs feature lyrics that can be deemed offensive. In \u201cJodeci Freestyle,\u201d a collaboration with J. Cole, Drake decided to take action: The Canadian Jewish rapper will remove a controversial lyric by J. Cole, USA Today reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m artistic\u201d while others are \u201cautistic, retarded,\u201d Cole rapped in \u201cJodeci Freestyle.\u201d Many found the lyric offensive, including the powerhouse organization Autism Speaks.<\/p>\n

Cole was the first to apologize in a blog that was picked up by the Autism Speaks website.<\/p>\n

“I realized right away that what I said was wrong,” he wrote. “I was instantly embarrassed that I would be ignorant enough [to] say something so hurtful. What makes the crime worse is that I should have known better.<\/p>\n

Cole did begin the post by saying he \u201cresents\u201d that when rappers say offensive things, they are \u201cattacked for it in the media and pressured to apologize,\u201d but added later, “This apology IS necessary.”<\/p>\n

In his blog on Monday, Drake wrote, \u201cI share responsibility and offer my sincerest apologies for the pain this has caused. \u201cIndividuals with autism have brilliant and creative minds, and their gifts should not be disparaged or discounted. This was a learning lesson for both of us, and I\u2019m grateful for the opportunity to try to right this wrong. J. Cole and I believe that it is the right, responsible, and respectful decision to remove the lyric from the song.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom Jones playing Tel Aviv<\/strong><\/p>\n

The latest big-name musician to commit to a concert in Israel is Tom Jones, according to The Times of Israel. The Welsh pop legend, 73, is slated to hit Tel Aviv\u2019s Nokia Arena on Oct. 26.<\/p>\n

Audiences can look forward to hearing classics like \u201cIt\u2019s Not Unusual,\u201d \u201cLove Me Tonight\u201d and \u201cKiss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jones is joining an impressive list of artists who have played the Holy Land recently, including Barbra Streisand, Cliff Richard, the Pet Shop Boys, Alicia Keys and Rihanna.<\/p>\n

More ‘Maron’<\/p>\n

IFC has just ordered another season of the Marc Maron comedy \u201cMaron,\u201d according to The Hollywood Reporter. The show will return in 2014 with 13 half-hour episodes.<\/p>\n

The series is based on the comedian\u2019s life, which involves running a popular podcast out of his garage, dealing with his kooky dad (Judd Hirsch) and dating a much younger woman (Nora Zehetner).<\/p>\n

Avid “WTF” listeners of who tuned in for the first season of “Maron” likely noticed that many of the stars he has interviewed on the podcast appeared on screen as well, including Mark Duplass, Dave Foley, Gina Gershon, Jeff Garlin and Ken Jeong. (Although he did refrain from getting \u201cJewey\u201d with any of them, as he tends to do in real life.)<\/p>\n

\u201cIn many ways, Marc is a perfect representation of IFC and our approach to comedy,\u201d said Jennifer Caserta, president and general manager of IFC, in a statement announcing the news Tuesday. \u201cHe also seems to be in need of a less dysfunctional family, so we\u2019re happy he\u2019s returning to ours for an expanded second season.\u201d<\/p>\n

New roles for Paltrow, Garfield?<\/p>\n

Another week, another small but worthy batch of talented semites (possibly) attaching themselves to new projects.<\/p>\n

Gwyneth Paltrow is in talks to join the cast of \u201cMortdecai,\u201d a thriller based on Kyril Bonfiglioli\u2019s book \u201cThe Great Mortdecai Moustache Mystery,\u201d Variety reports. The Jewish actress would join Johnny Depp, who is set to star as Charles Mortdecai, an art dealer hunting for a Nazi treasure. Also rumored to be signing on is Ewan McGregor.<\/p>\n

On the indie front we\u2019ve got Andrew Garfield. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he will play a man who loses his house to foreclosure in the film \u201c99 homes.\u201d The twist: Garfield\u2019s character ends up working for the broker who took his house, helping the guy evict other homeowners and embezzle government funds.<\/p>\n

Not exactly the kind of behavior Spidey would approve of, now is it.<\/p>\n

For the latest Jewish celebrity news, visit JTA’s 6 Degrees (No Bacon) blog.<\/p>\n

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