RE: Klezmer/Bluegrass on TV

[Reyzl Kalifowicz-Waletzky <reyzl...>]

My husband is working on part of this production and I can tell 
you that everything about this show is very liquid and insane.   
The stories behind this production can fill a whole book on Jewish 
ambivalence and the unfortunate recent turn against Israel because
of Bibi et al.   CBS threatened to pull the whole show off the air 
last week because of the fighting over concept and difficulty of 
stars not wanting to participate.  Most Jewish Hollywood stars have  
not wanted to participate and those who accepted put conditions 
such as they will appear only if they are allowed to present 
pro-Rabin, anti-Bibi material (e.g., Richard Dreyfuss).   Striesand 
will not be there as previously reported to attract more people into 
the production.  Dustin Hoffman will not be there who had said yes, 
KCB will.   Jessye Norman will sing on or about Massada.  Oy, 
Hollywood's concept of Israel.  You don't even want to hear the 
pathetic stories of the confused instructions of keep it light and 
zippy and don't bring up anything sad or depressing or political or 
with any meaning.   Don't bring up death or the Holocaust or border 
signs.   Show a lot of sunning beauties on the beach.  OY.  

I thought it was going to be Mark O'Connor's American fiddling vs 
Deborah Strauss's fiddling who is now part of Klezmer Conservatory
Band.   That was the plan as of two weeks ago.


Happy and wonderful peysakh.


Reyzl Kalifowicz-Waletzky


----------
From:  KORETZKY, HENRY[SMTP:HRK (at) psulias(dot)psu(dot)edu]
Sent:  Wednesday, April 08, 1998 11:33 AM
To:  World music from a Jewish slant.
Subject:  Klezmer/Bluegrass on TV

        After a few months of lurking, I thought I'd contribute some info 

        -Henry Koretzky         Old World Folk Band     Harrisburg, PA
                        HRK (at) PSULIAS(dot)PSU(dot)EDU
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 06 Apr 1998 20:46:47 -0400
From: Gerry Katz <gkatz (at) world(dot)std(dot)com>
Subject: NEBG: Del McCoury Band on CBS TV
Sender: owner-nebgrass-l (at) standard(dot)pictel(dot)com

This just in from Mike Bub of the Del McCoury Band - 

>>Hey Everyone - 

Wanted to let you know the Del McCoury Band will be appearing on a CBS TV
special on April 15th.  The Show is a celebration of the anniversary of the
state of Israel. (?????)  I know it sounds odd, but they called for us.  Here
is what we know at this time:   the show is to be hosted by Michael Douglas
and Kevin Costner.  Some of the guests  will be Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole,
Harry Connick Jr., and Barbara Streisand.  Our role will be to play against a
Klezmer group from Boston. What this means is we will be representing American
Music.  We think that it will be sort of a back and forth thing --- they play
30 sec   --- we play 30 sec.   back and forth and then we play together.
Supposedly this will take up 4 minutes of time on National Prime Time.  Don't
ask how, who  or why because we're not sure ourselves but we going to LA on
the 12th to tape this thing.  Help spread the word and post something on the
bluegrass L.  This could be big.  Hell, it is BIG!!!

BUB<<<