Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Adam Sandler says he wrote “The Chanukah Song” — an ode to well-known Jews in all walks of life — because Jewish kids needed something to call their own during the holiday season. The Festival of Lights began Tuesday night, so it’s a good time to reveal five things to know about the ditty, which has become almost as iconic as “I Have a Little Dreidel.”
v Origin: Sandler wrote the song, along with “Saturday Night Live” staff writers Lewis Morton and Ian Maxtone-Graham.
v Debut: He performed it for the first time on the “Weekend Update” segment of Dec. 3, 1994.
v Early names: Among the Jewish celebrities mentioned in that version were the Three Stooges, Kirk Douglas and David Lee Roth.
v Updates: He re- recorded the song twice, adding more famous names each time. The 1999 version included Bruce Springsteen, “who isn’t Jewish, but my mother thinks he is.” The 2002 edition, recorded for Sandler’s movie “Eight Crazy Nights,” referenced Jews such as Paula Abdul and Joey Ramone and non-Jews such as Marlon Brando (”not a Jew at all, but it looks to me like he ate one!”).
v Cover: In 2009, Neil Diamond covered the song on his holiday album, “A Cherry Cherry Christmas.”
“a home for the holidays” (8 p.m., cbs): In the annual special, “A Home for the Holidays,” Martina McBride and guests celebrate the joys and rewards of adoption. Among those scheduled to appear: Justin Bieber, Mary J. Blige, Denise Richards, Gavin DeGraw and Katherine Heigl.
“american horror story” (10 p.m., fx): Just as we were getting totally sucked up into the over-the-top madness that is “American Horror Story,” Season 1 comes to what we expect will be a shocking — or kooky — end. The finale finds Constance (Jessica Lange) scheming to raise Tate’s baby as her own.
tv listings: B6
entertAinment news
Bon Jovi has laugh with death hoax
RED BANK, N.J.
Jon Bon Jovi wants duped fans to know he’s not dead, and he has posted a photo proving it.
False reports of the New Jersey-born musician’s death spread online after a fake news release surfaced on social media sites.
Bon Jovi is shown in a picture on his Facebook page holding a sign that reads, “Heaven looks a lot like New Jersey.” Below that is scrawled Monday’s date.
Bon Jovi was performing at a charity concert that night at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank. His publicist confirmed Bon Jovi was alive and well and playing the show.
Archuleta to serve Mormon mission
SALT LAKE CITY
American Idol David runner-up Archuleta says he will take a break from his singing career to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The contestant from the 2007 season made the announcement during a Christmas concert Monday in downtown Salt Lake City.
The Deseret News reports that the 20-year-old Utah resident says he’s not quitting music, but feels a strong call to serve the church.