As is well known, one of the most famous scenes from the latter, and perhaps one of the most famous in all of cinema, takes place in a venerable New York delicatessen, when Sally (Meg Ryan) demonstrates to Harry (Billy Crystal) how she fakes a vocal orgasm – freely in front of all the restaurant's patrons (by the way, the elderly woman who requests "what she's having" is Estelle Reiner, Rob's mother).

Following news of Reiner's death, Jake Dell, the owner of Katz's Deli, paid tribute to the late director. "Rob Reiner was a friend of Katz's Deli in so many ways," Dell, whose family has operated the delicatessen for five generations, told The Hollywood Reporter. "The staff and everyone at Katz's remembers him with great fondness, and we have so many amazing memories of him. He was a regular customer who came in every time he arrived in the city – a Brooklyn guy who would come in and grab a sandwich."

Dell recalled that Reiner, along with Billy Crystal and screenwriter Nora Ephron (who later became a successful director in her own right), worked to determine exactly how the defining scene would look and how it would successfully incorporate the delicatessen, which opened (albeit under a different name and ownership) in 1888 and is famous for its pastrami sandwiches and other "Jewish" dishes like matzo ball soup, chopped liver, noodle kugel, rugelach, babka, and these days even special Hanukkah treats.

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 Just this past October, in an interview he gave to CBS's "60 Minutes" program, Reiner revealed that during filming of the delicatessen scene, he felt Meg Ryan wasn't giving her all to illustrate the sexual satisfaction she was experiencing. So he sat in her place across from Billy Crystal to show her how to do it properly. "And I'm pounding on the table, 'Yes! Yes! Yes!,' and suddenly I realize I'm having an orgasm in front of my mother, you know?," he said in the interview with his characteristic humor.

By the way, the famous table is still in the delicatessen, and is even marked with a sign that reads "Where Harry met Sally... hope you have what she had!" Bon appétit.

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So far, the musical sequel, which arrived in theaters last weekend, has earned approximately $238 million worldwide, with the numbers rising daily as it breaks records. Currently, it holds the highest global opening ever for a film adaptation based on a Broadway musical; the fifth-largest global opening ever for a musical film (after the "Lion King" remake, "Moana 2", "Frozen 2" and the "Beauty and the Beast" remake); and the largest opening of all time in the US for a stage play adaptation.

Not bad, not bad at all, especially considering "Wicked: Part 2's" Metacritic score of 58, compared to the decent score of the original film (73). The situation on the parallel review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes is also not particularly impressive, with an average score of 68% for the sequel compared to an impressive 88% for the first film.

There is no doubt that audiences love watching the bewitched musical adventures of Glinda and Elphaba, and although their story has reached its conclusion in "Wicked: Part 2", the question arises whether someday we will get to see another film in the series, if not a direct sequel then perhaps a spinoff or another creation taking place in the same cinematic universe. The surprising answer is there's definitely a possibility.

In a new interview with Vulture, Michael Moses, Universal Studios' marketing director, he addressed exactly this possibility and clarified that given the adoration and tremendous box office success, "we almost have a responsibility to understand how we can continue this universe... Have we already figured out how we'll do it? No, but it's in process," according to Moses, who is keeping his cards close to his chest.

Conclusion? The time has probably come to extend the yellow brick road.

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The initiative is organized by the pro-Israel groups Creative Community for Peace and The Brigade. It stresses that most of those working in Israel's film and television industries lean left politically and oppose government policies. As an example, it highlights the Ophir Award-winning film The Vanishing Soldier, which is set to represent Israel at the upcoming Academy Awards and tells the story of a Palestinian boy risking his life to reach the beach in Tel Aviv.

Among the signatories are Liev Schreiber, Debra Messing, Mayim Bialik, Michael Rapaport, Jerry O'Connell (Sliders), Mare Winningham (Georgia), Anthony Edwards (ER), Edelstein (House), Rebecca De Mornay (The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Jessica Jones), Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight, Fargo), Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond), Fred Savage (The Wonder Years), Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville), Mark Feuerstein (Royal Pains), and Howie Mandel.

They are joined by television personality Sharon Osbourne, widow of the late rock star Ozzy Osbourne; KISS bassist Gene Simmons, who was born in Israel; musicians Matisyahu and Regina Spektor; producer Jack Bender; and prominent Israelis including media mogul Haim Saban, actor Mike Burstyn, activist Noa Tishby, and actor Yehuda Levi.

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In the 22–minute episode, for those familiar with the long-running hit series, the "bromance" between Donald Trump and Satan continues, and Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr is also mocked (he tumbles down a staircase, eats a poisoned bowl of soup, and ultimately ends up in the hospital). However, the episode's climax takes place in Israel, after Cartman introduces the boys to a controversial betting app that asks, "Will Kyle Broflovski's mother (who is Jewish) bomb Gaza and hit a Palestinian hospital?". After Kyle furiously asks Cartman, "Why would my mom ever destroy a Palestinian hospital?!" and the latter replies, "Because... she's Jewish?", events take a turn.

Kyle demands that Cartman remove the bet on his mother. Cartman explains that he is not responsible for the bet and has no intention of participating since the chance of the mother actually bombing Gaza is remote. An angry Kyle sets out to investigate the matter. In the meantime, Cartman tells Kenny, "Wow, you just mention the Gaza issue to a Jew and they immediately lose it. Maybe the probability (that Kyle's mother will bomb a hospital) is actually pretty good." The plot then shifts to bets on the gender of the child of Trump and Satan.

Meanwhile, Kyle continues to investigate the bet on his mother. He confronts another child who put money on the app, and scolds the students that "Israel and Gaza are a very serious matter... Do you even know what Gaza is? There has been a conflict in Israel for thousands of years. Jews and Palestinians are not football teams that you bet on." From there, Kyle goes to confront the "strategic advisor" behind the app, urging him to cancel the bet. The advisor refers Kyle to a government official who oversees gambling, and the boy complains – to the same advisor, who is now answering from a different office – about "a bet that harms Jews."

This time, Kyle is referred to the US Federal Communications Commission, headed by Brendan Carr. Carr is alarmed by Kyle's complaint and goes to talk to Trump but falls into a trap the president set for Satan. Cartman, in the meantime, tries to stir things up and improve his odds of winning the bet, which suddenly seems worthwhile. "I don't get what Kyle's mom has against Palestine... I don't know what to tell you guys, but I'd hate to be a Palestinian hospital right now," Cartman says to the other students.

At the same time, Sheila Broflovski, Kyle's mother, dines with friends at an elegant brasserie and is asked her opinion on the situation in Gaza. "I think it's terrible, a lot of people are dying," she replies after a brief pause. "And... do you feel you should do something about it?", her friends press. "What can I do about it?!", the mother wonders. It soon becomes clear that the friends are also considering whether to bet on Mrs. Broflovski bombing a Palestinian hospital.

"Are you implying that Jews in the US have a duty to do something about this? You want to slander my faith, don't you? It's not the Jews against Palestine; it's Israel against Palestine! And maybe if you read books instead of listening to what Hollywood actors say, you'll see the difference." The friends decide to bet that the furious Sheila will take action.

At the Broflovski family home during dinner, Sheila wonders why everyone thinks American Jews are connected to what is happening in Israel. She declares she has had enough and that she will indeed take action, even as Ike, Kyle's baby brother, is using the gambling app. Kyle begs his mother to calm down, but Sheila refuses and... flies to Israel. Cartman bets $1,400 ("all my mom's money") that Sheila will not bomb the hospital because everyone else believes she will, and he is sure he will win big.

From there, the episode cuts to Israel. A special broadcast by Al-Jazeera reports that Sheila Broflovski ("Umm Kyle" which means mother of Kyle in Arabic) has arrived in the Holy Land. Cartman demands that Kyle calm his mother down "so the kids here aren't even more antisemitic," but Sheila has no cell service in Israel. The bet is ultimately removed from the app, and the money is returned to the users, but not before the final shot of the episode shifts to the office of the Prime Minister of Israel in Jerusalem. Benjamin Netanyahu is in a discussion with his cabinet members, with an angry Sheila heard in the background demanding to speak with the prime minister. She bursts into the office and yells: "There you are, Mr. N-E-T-A-N-Y-A-H-U. Who do you think you are? Killing thousands and flattening neighborhoods, and then wrapping yourself in Judaism as if it protects you from criticism.

"You're making life for Jews miserable and life for American Jews impossible,... Don't roll your eyes at me, mister. You know what you're doing, and you're doing it on purpose. Now you can just sit in that chair because I'm not going anywhere. Buster, I've been to every PTA meeting, every school board meeting, I can go on and on." The episode ends with Hassidic music playing in the background.

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In a post on her Substack page, Bialik, 49, detailed the chain of events, from the promising beginning to Disney's abrupt withdrawal.

She explained that as early as 2019, she and Don Reo, creator of the original series, began discussing a sequel after the end of The Big Bang Theory, in which she starred as Amy for most of its seasons. Reo wrote a script that brought the characters back as adults in today's world.

"He found our characters exactly where many of us find ourselves – funny, lost, wandering, meandering, and torn. The script is beautiful," she wrote. In the meantime, Bialik was cast in the sitcom Call Me Kat, which delayed progress on Blossom (that show was canceled in 2023 after three seasons), and also hosted Jeopardy! for two seasons.

Still, she and Reo presented the Blossom reboot script to Disney executives, who now hold the rights to the series. "It seemed like they loved it, understood what we wanted to do, and Don and I felt comfortable to speak about it in the press. We felt certain this was moving forward," she recalled.

But with industry mergers reshuffling Hollywood, new executives were put in charge of such projects at Disney, and Bialik was told the show could no longer be produced.

She and Reo met with the new executives and presented the same vision they had shown their predecessors, but this time the response was entirely different. "Unfortunately, and for no particularly reason, we were told 'no.'," she said. "We asked for the rights [to the brand] so we could let the market decide whether viewers wanted to see these characters again after so many years, but we were told Disney would keep the rights in case they wanted to produce a Blossom reboot."

"The reboot we all wanted to do was now, with Don's script. We will likely never know … why they would not let us bring these beautiful stories to people who love 90s nostalgia and who have a special place in their hearts for Blossom."

Although Bialik stressed that she still hopes Blossom has not had its last word, Disney's cancellation left her deflated to the point of considering retirement from acting. "this project is the role I want to play more than any other. Since this all fell apart, my desire to continue to pursue on-camera roles has waned. The constant changing of guards in our industry, the mergers, the insincerity and the increasingly extended periods of time it takes to get answers or contracts completed… It's not the industry Don and I grew up in, and Blossom felt like my last attempt to try and assert myself as an actress."

Bialik concluded: "While it is possible no one wants a Blossom reboot, I'm pretty certain Disney got this one wrong. The sun is gonna surely shine."

Blossom, which ran for five seasons from 1991 to 1995, was considered groundbreaking in its genre. It was not a teen series but a full-fledged primetime show that, alongside its laughs, tackled serious issues such as teenage drug and alcohol addiction, sex, a relationship between a young woman and an older married man, and multiple family crises.

Over the years, the series hosted a long list of celebrity guest stars, some as themselves and some in fictional roles. Among them were Neil Patrick Harris, David Schwimmer, Brittany Murphy, Mr. T, James Marsden and Talia Shire, blues legend B.B. King, rap group Salt-N-Pepa, chef Wolfgang Puck and even Playboy founder Hugh Hefner. Will Smith also made an uncredited appearance as the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in a special crossover episode.

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In preparation for his upcoming performances throughout Britain, Smith posted a video to his Instagram profile showcasing highlights from his tour activities thus far. The footage displays enthusiastic supporters, numerous individuals visibly emotional, crowding performance venues while brandishing encouraging placards and reaching toward the celebrity, hoping for physical contact during his walkthrough. Yet these hands reveal the troubling truth.

Observant internet users concluded that Smith employed AI technology to manipulate the video content and potentially inserted digitally created "supporters" to populate venues and enhance the emotional impact of his performances. Audience members displaying warped and unclear facial features, along with bodily abnormalities, are a recognized flaw in artificial intelligence-generated content.

To illustrate, the opening segment presents an emotional individual displaying a placard stating, "'You Can Make It' (his debut single from the recent album) helped me survive cancer. Thanks, Will." The issue becomes apparent when examining this person's finger positioning, which appears unnatural and seemingly "blends" into the signage.

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Furthermore, the jewelry worn by the weeping woman positioned before this individual, while grasping his hand, appears to "extend" into another woman's forehead standing behind her.  Regardless of specifics, whether Smith's production team actually "fabricated" these individuals, the distinct impression emerges that these images underwent substantial digital modification and engineering.

Internet users, predictably, offered harsh criticism of this questionable strategy, particularly following Will's accompanying post caption: "My favorite part of tour is seeing you all up close. Thank you for seeing me too." One frustrated commenter on Reddit observed, "I suppose these represent actual people witnessing their potential melted wax figure," while another simply responded with "pathetic."

Smith's representatives have not provided responses to these allegations. Nonetheless, "Based on a True Story" struggles to create a meaningful impact, representing the rapper's initial album failing to achieve prominent chart positions across major markets. Within Britain specifically, it managed only the disappointing 79th position on digital album rankings.

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The rumors' origin remained undisclosed, along with any substantiating evidence – yet such is the nature of our viral information age. A single questionable post can spark a blaze nearly impossible to extinguish, prompting numerous fans to prematurely grieve the legendary artist's passing during a week already marked by the deaths of Ozzy Osbourne and Hulk Hogan.

Fortunately, concerned admirers can breathe easier, at least presently. The 74-year-old Collins is neither residing in hospice nor approaching death imminently, according to statements his representatives provided to TMZ. Nevertheless, the rumors weren't entirely baseless, as Collins is indeed currently hospitalized, though for entirely different circumstances.

Collins requires knee surgery, his team confirmed. Moreover, recent years have witnessed the musician confronting significant health and neurological challenges that compromise his mobility, stemming from a 2007 spinal injury that necessitated multiple subsequent surgical procedures.

His declining health condition compelled Collins to cease live performances and, understandably, abandon drumming – the instrument most closely associated with his artistic identity. In 2022, the star made his final public appearance, marking what would retrospectively become Genesis' definitive farewell performance, the band where Collins served as both lead vocalist and drummer.

Throughout Genesis' concluding tour, spanning 47 shows from September 2021 through March 2022, Phil Collins' son Nick assumed drumming responsibilities while his father concentrated solely on vocals, delivered from a seated position.

Earlier this year, Collins revealed he had discontinued songwriting, explaining he no longer felt "hungry" for musical creation due to his ongoing health struggles. We extend wishes for improved health, Phil Collins, and continue hoping for your recovery, despite challenging circumstances.

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The production, backed by MGM-Amazon Studios and already drawing widespread comparisons to "The Social Network," will chronicle OpenAI's explosive ascent as ChatGPT's developer, focusing not merely on the groundbreaking technology but predominantly on the interpersonal rivalries, executive power struggles, and ethical quandaries that defined the company's trajectory.

Musk, currently the world's wealthiest individual, co-established OpenAI in 2015 alongside American entrepreneur of Jewish heritage Sam Altman, though he subsequently departed following conflicts with his business partner. Altman now leads the organization as chief executive. OpenAI commands a current market valuation of $157 billion and stands among the globe's preeminent artificial intelligence enterprises, arguably holding the sector's top position.

Beyond Barinholtz, who recently earned Emmy recognition for his performance in the acclaimed comedy series "The Studio," "Artificial" will feature Andrew Garfield portraying Altman (Garfield previously appeared in "The Social Network"), while Yuri Borisov ("Anora") will embody Israeli-Canadian computer scientist Ilya Sutskever – an OpenAI co-founder who previously served as the company's chief scientist (and orchestrated Altman's attempted removal from the CEO role in 2023. Corporate intrigue remains abundant at the organization).

Reports indicate that while Barinholtz's portrayal of Musk will occupy a supporting capacity, he will function as the film's primary antagonist while delivering comedic elements. Production on "Artificial" is anticipated to commence imminently, presumably without artificial intelligence assistance.

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1. "The Fantastic Four" comprises Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic – Earth's smartest man capable of stretching his body like rubber; his wife, the telepathically gifted Invisible Woman Sue Storm; her younger brother, the charismatic yet impulsive "Human Torch" Johnny Storm; and their loyal friend Ben Grimm, dubbed "The Thing" for his rocky exterior and intimidating appearance that doesn't endear him to everyone, though beneath lies a compassionate and gentle heart.

Surprisingly, this represents Marvel's inaugural superhero team, predating the Avengers and X-Men in comics chronology. The debut issue of "The Fantastic Four," featuring four daring American astronauts who acquired extraordinary abilities through a cosmic accident during their mission, appeared in November 1961, while Captain America's superhero team and Professor X's young mutant collective entered the illustrated pages approximately two years later, in 1963.

2. Sources indicate Marvel's motivation for creating the Fantastic Four stemmed from providing worthy competition to the Justice League – DC Comics' rival super team – then known as "Justice League of America," which dominated the comics landscape in 1960. One account describes a friendly golf match between DC and Marvel executives, where the former boasted about their patriotic superhero team's remarkable success, inspiring Marvel's creators to develop their own group emphasizing family bonds.

3. A surprising plot revelation shows the Human Torch, albeit in different form, actually debuted in comics as early as 1939 – not as Johnny Storm but as Jim Hammond, an android capable of engulfing himself in flames. Additionally, Marvel operated under the name "Timely Comics" then, concentrating on three primary heroes including Captain America, Namor (featured in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"), and our fiery character.

Nevertheless, during the 1950s the Human Torch's popularity declined, prompting legendary comics creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby to revitalize him by incorporating the character into their newly created superhero family – this time as human Johnny Storm.

4. Throughout the years, "The Fantastic Four" spawned four reasonably successful animated series, with many viewers experiencing one during the 1980s through Middle Eastern television broadcasts. Regrettably, sporadic attempts at cinematic adaptation received less than favorable reception. This began in 1994 with Roger Corman's notably embarrassing production that never reached theaters, later revealed as filmed solely to maintain brand rights (unofficially, the movie remains accessible on YouTube).

Following this, Fox Studios released two films in 2005 and 2007, directed by Tim Story and featuring Jessica Alba as Sue Storm plus Chris Evans as the Human Torch. While achieving reasonable box office success and avoiding complete disaster, they suffered terrible critical reception. The absolute low point arrived in 2015 with Josh Trank's "Fantastic Four," despite the young director's previous success with the acclaimed low-budget hit "Chronicle." Unfortunately, Trank and the studio clashed during production, leading the director to disown the final product after Fox implemented extensive modifications. This film became a catastrophic failure, widely regarded as among the worst comic adaptations ever produced.

Now, precisely one decade later and following Disney's acquisition of Fox (Marvel's parent company), the Fantastic Four receive another opportunity in "The Fantastic Four: First Steps."

5. In this new film, refreshingly, the world already recognizes the Fantastic Four as Earth's premier protectors. Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), the Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), the Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and the Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) represent the planet's most celebrated and admired individuals, managing every threat with remarkable success and distinctive style.

However, where were these four when the Avengers desperately needed assistance against Thanos? Excellent inquiry, with a clear answer – "First Steps" unfolds in a parallel universe (Earth 828) separate from Marvel's primary cinematic universe (Earth 616), meaning our heroes remain unacquainted. Will future meetings occur? Certainly, beginning with "Avengers: Doomsday," arriving next year. Evidence exists in the film's spectacular bonus scene and "Thunderbolts" as well.

6. Voracious and malevolent. "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" features Galactus (Ralph Ineson) as the primary antagonist, a fearsome cosmic being with planetary appetites. Specifically, this entity requires planetary consumption for survival, currently targeting Earth as its next meal. The Silver Surfer – portrayed by Jewish actress Julia Garner as Galactus's herald – plays a significant role. The new film also acknowledges other classic Fantastic Four adversaries, with one receiving an unexpectedly prominent part.

Nonetheless, John Malkovich, originally cast as villain Red Ghost, doesn't appear in "First Steps" despite featuring in early promotional materials. Marvel and director Matt Shakman ultimately decided Malkovich's subplot would burden the already character-heavy narrative.

7. Viewers likely won't recognize the four stars from Roger Corman's obscure "Fantastic Four" in their brief cameo appearances, representing Marvel's tribute to that peculiar cult creation.

Another homage involves the helpful robot H.E.R.B.I.E., who originally appeared in the 1978 "Fantastic Four" animated series rather than comics. The show's popularity convinced Marvel to incorporate H.E.R.B.I.E. into comic publications, where he evolved into a cherished and dependable companion. Excellent work, H.E.R.B.I.E.!

8. Some Jewish connection inevitably emerges, and regarding "The Fantastic Four" – this connection proves particularly significant. Ben Grimm represents a Jewish character whose background draws inspiration from Jack Kirby's life, Marvel's legendary artist who created the character. Grimm's Jewish identity appeared repeatedly throughout comics, sometimes subtly, but over time he recited the Shema Yisrael prayer and celebrated a delayed bar mitzvah attended by Spider-Man and Captain America.

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Kanye West released a new "song" called "Heil Hitler" last Thursday, in which the antisemitic musician continues to spread his vile ideology. We won't get into all the small details here, but the disgusting creation praises the Nazi tyrant, includes the phrase "All my niggas Nazis, nigga, heil Hitler," and even contains a sample of part of Hitler's speech from 1936.

Beyond that, the single's cover features an illustration strongly resembling the Nazi swastika. Horrifying, but the truth is it's hard to raise an eyebrow at the antics of the 47-year-old West, who lost it long ago and seems increasingly disconnected from reality.

But it doesn't end there, as an accusing finger must also be pointed at other parties who may not openly support West, but certainly continue to grant him disturbing freedom of action.

About three days after "Heil Hitler" was released, most leading social networks, streaming and music platforms, including YouTube, Spotify, and SoundCloud, are doing their best to eradicate the song from their servers – and that's obviously exactly what should be done.

However, and it's hard to be surprised, the social network X (formerly Twitter), which Elon Musk owns, has not yet removed the abhorrent creation, as well as the various posts and reposts by West and his associates discussing it.

We urge all universities and students' unions to refrain from playing Kanye West at summer balls, SU bars, or any official events. There should be no space for hate on campus in word, in action, or in music. pic.twitter.com/Y6ixDTOiL0

— Union of Jewish Students (@UJS_UK) May 9, 2025

It's unlikely that it will happen. As of the time of writing these lines, the "Heil Hitler" clip has already gathered more than 7.7 million views on X, while another post among many that West has shared in recent days, showing social media star and alleged misogynistic criminal in his own right, Andrew Tate, playing "Heil Hitler" in his car, has garnered 3.8 million views (West's response to the video was "Praise God"). Horrifying.

"Heil Hitler" claims to be the third single from "Cuck," West's 12th studio album, whose release date has not yet been announced. The two previous singles from it, "WW3" and "Cousins," deal with Nazism (though less than the new song) and incest, and were also heavily criticized.

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