I've seen Jenji Kohan's name in more that one place since I arrived in LA. She's been listed on panels about Jews in Hollywood, and was named in the thank-yous in the credits for "Blessed is the Match," the Hannah Senesh documentary that is due out shortly (and which I reviewed for Beliefnet). And of course, she's the creator of a little show on Showtime called "Weeds," which has in recent episodes featured Jewish content ranging from a drug dealer's father-in-law sitting shiva to an immigrant smuggler's referring to himself as Moses. (For more Jewish content from "Weeds," check out Mixed Multitudes.)
Now Kohan's got a brand-new dimebag sprouting in the Showtime hothouse, still featuring Jewish characters. The new show, "Ronna and Beverly," is based on a long-running sketch show at Upright Citizens' Brigade, and features Jamie Denbo and Jessica Chaffin as two middle-aged Jewish women who've written a dating book titled: "You'll Do A Little Better Next Time: A Guide to Marriage and Remarriage for Jewish Singles." (I'm pretty sure that my friend Heather Gold told me about this show three weeks ago, but I could be mistaken.)
To check out: R & B (interesting...) videos, including this one wherein the duo accost a book clerk and inquire as to his religious and marital status.
Little thing that I love: on their list of links in the sidebar, even their links are in character, like "contact us on the computer" and "see us on the YouTube." Brilliant.
Challenge: For show creators to create something more sustaining than the Linda Richman sketch on SNL.
New Hollywood goal: meet Jenji Kohan, impress her with my fresh, unexperienced approach to TV writing as well as my love of improv and my considerable Jewish knowledge, and write for this show. Or "Weeds." I'm not picky.
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