Jozef Rothstein arrived from small-town Pennsylvania in Hollywood with stars in his eyes. Ten years later, he left with those same stars circling around his head. Reeling from the humbling routine of an actor looking for work—any work, even for a chewing gum commercial, clad as a beaver in Speedo trunks and a Scooby-Doo cape while surrounded by beautiful women dressed to the nines—Rothstein found humor the best solution to saving his sanity. Meanwhile, his money-generating job paralleled his dream employment. Rothstein’s ten-year sentence as a waiter in a Jewish deli frequented by Tinsel Town’s celebrities gave him more of the same ego pummeling, doled out in equal measure by customers and managers, but with a twist. The occasional hit men and drivebys added just enough excitement to make near-death experiences an unwelcome reality. Here, too, laughter saves the day, and Rothstein gleefully shares the inspirations for a never-ending comedy of terrors. Just as frequently, his own missteps find him flat-face on the pavement, sharing space with customers familiar to the world. And yes, Rothstein does name names. Find your favorites in As the Matzo Ball Turns and see Hollywood stars—and waiters everywhere—in a whole new light.
Editorial Reviews
Review
As an occasional customer of Rothstein’s and the deli featured in As the Matzo Ball Turns, I found this book to be disturbingly fascinating along with punch-you-in-the-stomach funny. –Vincent Spano, Actor/Director (Alive, Oscar, Rumblefish)
As the Matzo Ball Turns is Day of the Locust with a side order of noodle kugel. It is a gonzo ten-year journey–in turns side-splittingly funny and heart wrenchingly sad–into the dark heart of the entertainment and restaurant business, seen through the jaundiced eyes of an aspiring actor turned waiter. This memoir will be chicken soup for the soul for anyone, anywhere, who has ever asked the eternal question, “Lord, how long must I wait?” –Robert Wallace, Former Editor, Rolling Stone Magazine
Rothstein’s inside perspective of the harsh reality of pursuit intrinsic to the acting profession sheds a light on the dark side of Hollywood… frightening, harrowing, and with humor. –Deborah Miller, Hollywood Talent Agent/Manager
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