1.  Sacha Baron Cohen’s Dictator Character Banned From Oscars®

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences banned Sacha Baron Cohen from attending the Oscars on Sunday as Admiral Gen. Shabazz Aladeen, his character in the upcoming film The Dictator. Baron Cohen, a Jewish actor, writer and comedian, responded to the ban by releasing a new video in which he poses as Admiral Gen. Shabazz Aladeen and promises “unimaginable consequences” if he is not permitted to attend.

In this new video, Baron Cohen (dressed as Admiral Gen. Shabazz Aladeen) says, “While I applaud the Academy for taking away my right to free speech, I warn you that if you do not lift your sanctions and give me my tickets back by 12 p.m. on Sunday, you will face unimaginable consequences.”  He follows with, “On top of all of this, I paid Hillary Swank $2 million to be my date and she will not refund a penny.”

 

2.  Jake Gyllenhaal & Dustin Hoffman Have Your Vote

JDate recently ran an Oscar-related poll among its users to get the scoop on your favorite Jewish celebrities and here’s how you responded.

Which Jewish bachelor would you like to walk you down the red carpet?

Jake Gyllenhaal                  41%
James Franco                     22%
Joseph Gordon-Levitt       18%
Shia LaBeouf                       11%
Jonah Hill                             8%

Who is your all-time favorite Jewish Oscar winner?

Dustin Hoffman                 43%
Natalie Portman                 37%
Sean Penn                             8%
Gwyneth Paltrow                 7%
Adrien Brody                        5%

 

3.  A Singing Competition Between Singing Competitions?

The Voice’s Adam Levine is not interested in Simon Cowell’s recent suggestion that there should be a sing-off between the winners of the big three reality singing competitions, The Voice, American Idol and The X Factor.

Cowell, who is part Jewish, Tweeted last week, “Maybe the winner of @TheXFactorUSA this yr should compete with winner of The Voice & Idol in a super final. Just a thought. I’d be up for it.”

Levine, who is also Jewish, responded by singing a different tune, saying, “He’s so hell bent on competing with other shows. We’re not really interested in a way… That’s kind of a cool idea, but I’m not so sure we’re totally interested in what everyone else is doing.”