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Welcome back to our VIP video series "Off the Beaten Path," featuring my friend Christian Toto of Hollywood in Toto! Christian and I start off our week by discussing stories and ideas that may fly under our radar, in culture, politics, sports, and more. Plus, Christian previews his latest podcast at HiT.
Few if any actors in Hollywood are more recognizable and more prolific than Danny Trejo. The Machete star has nearly 500 acting credits in his 40-plus years in film and television, and he has dedicated his post-prison life to service. His life is told in the documentary Inmate #1, a favorite of Ed's. So why is Hollywood "bullying" Trejo, as Christian puts it? Because he dared to take a job in a film that might be pro-law enforcement. Ed comes to Trejo's defense, while also acknowledging that Trejo hardly requires it.
Today's episode crosses the beaten path a few times. We move from the Trejo controversy to the cooked report from 60 Minutes on a deportation case. Both Ed and Christian wonder when Bari Weiss will gain control of CBS News and its shows. We also note the strange endorsement offered by Mandy Patinkin of Abdul El-Sayed and what that says about Hollywood's depth on politics in general.
We do get around to discussing a couple of new films. Christian talks about Paging Hezbollah, a documentary that delves into Operation Grim Beeper and how the Israeli intelligence services tried to limit collateral damage. Christian is especially enthusiastic about I Play Rocky, the story of Sylvester Stallone's breakthrough in Hollywood. That opens up a more general discussion about Hollywood storytelling, and why this film may be sorely needed at this very moment.
Watch it all and join us in the comments!
