Just In Case You Were Wondering . . .

 

'The Mob' On Hulu? No Way! Take It Down NOW!

The Italian American One Voice Coalition (IAOVC), America’s largest independent Italian American anti-bias organization, today condemned Hulu’s new reality series The Mob for its demeaning and hurtful portrayal of Italians and Italian Americans through the tired mobster and mafioso stereotype. The series is packed with mob references, threats of violence, and casual talk of “wacking” people. By filming in Italy, The Mob ties that stereotype to the Italian people and the Italian homeland, as if being Italian and being a mobster were the same thing. IAOVC demands that Hulu answer for it.

“This is not entertainment. It is ethnic stereotyping, packaged and sold for ratings,” stated Andre DiMino, President, IAOVC. “The title alone says it all. The Mob. And they filmed it in Italy, so the message to the viewer is that Italy and Italians equal organized crime. Imagine a network green-lighting a reality series that reduced any other people and their homeland to criminals, thugs and buffoons. The outcry would be immediate, and the show would be pulled. Yet when it is Italians and Italian Americans, the entertainment industry shrugs, laughs and cashes the check. Why does political correctness vanish the moment the target is Italian?”

Filmed in Italy, and Turning a Nation of Culture Into a Criminal Backdrop

Italy gave the world Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Dante, Galileo, Verdi, Puccini, Marconi and Montessori. It gave the world the Renaissance, opera, and some of the finest cuisine, fashion, engineering and design on earth. Hulu and the producers of The Mob chose to take cameras to this land and use it as the setting for a show built on mobsters and violence. 

That choice goes beyond one program. It tells American viewers, and a global streaming audience, that Italy is a place of mobsters, and that Italians at home and abroad are criminals or wannabe criminals. It hits Italian Americans especially hard, because the ties of family, heritage and ancestry that bind them to Italy become raw material for a cheap stereotype. 

A Double Standard the Industry Refuses to Admit

Hollywood and the streaming giants say they are committed to inclusion and respect, and they apply those standards loudly and rightly to other communities. Italians and Italian Americans are left out of that protection. For decades they have been acceptable targets, and The Mob is the latest example.

The series trades on the same worn-out formula:Mobsters and mafiosi as the defining image of Italian and Italian American identity
Casual talk of violence, including threats to “wack” people, played for laughs
Bimbos and buffoons as the supporting cast of a so-called Italian world
Italy itself as the stage for the stereotype.

“This is not harmless fun,” DiMino continued. “These images shape how Americans and the world see Italians and Italian Americans. They affect how our children are teased in school, how our young people are viewed by employers, and how our community is judged. Stereotypes cause real harm.”

The Real Italian and Italian American Story

Nearly 17 million Americans proudly claim Italian ancestry - hardworking, law-abiding citizens, and their contributions are among the foundations of this nation:
Scientists and inventors, from Enrico Fermi, whose work helped usher in the atomic age, to Antonio Meucci, recognized by the U.S. Congress for his pioneering work on the telephone
Public servants and jurists, including Fiorello La Guardia and Supreme Court Justices
Physicians and medical researchers who have saved countless lives
Business leaders, artists, filmmakers and athletes who enriched American culture
Police officers, firefighters and military heroes, including the Italian Americans who ran toward danger on September 11, 2001, and the generations who served in World War II and every conflict since

“Our fathers and grandfathers fought on the beaches of Sicily and Salerno, built America’s bridges, tunnels and skyscrapers, and ran into burning buildings to save strangers,” DiMino said. “To reduce that legacy, and the land it came from, to a cartoon of ‘wise guys’ and ‘wackings’ is an insult to every one of them.”

Shame on Those Who Lend Their Names, Especially Those of Italian Heritage

IAOVC reserved particular criticism for cast members of Italian heritage, including Bruno Tonioli and Aida Turturro, who have lent their talent and credibility to the production.
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“It is especially disappointing, and frankly shameful, when people of Italian heritage take part in perpetuating the very stereotype that has wounded our community for generations,” said DiMino. “They know better. They know the cost of these caricatures. To participate in The Mob gives cover to producers and executives who would never dare to do this to anyone else. We call on them to reconsider their participation and to stand with their heritage, not against it.”

IAOVC’s Demands

The Italian American One Voice Coalition calls on:
Hulu and its parent company to acknowledge that The Mob should never have been commissioned, and withdraw it from its platform.
The producers, writers and executives of The Mob to take responsibility for the stereotypes they have promoted and to meet with Italian and Italian American community leaders.
Advertisers and sponsors to reconsider their association with content that demeans an entire people.
The entertainment industry to extend to Italians and Italian Americans the same respect and sensitivity it demands for every other community.
Viewers everywhere to speak out. Do not watch. Do not share. Do not subscribe. Contact Hulu and demand better.

“We are done being the punchline,” DiMino concluded. “Italians and Italian Americans have earned respect, not ridicule. Hulu made a mistake by getting involved with The Mob. We will not be silent. We urge every American who believes in fairness to join us in saying: ENOUGH.”

About IAOVC

The Italian American One Voice Coalition (IAOVC) is an IRS-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to combating defamation and negative stereotyping of Italian Americans and to promoting the community’s true history, achievements and contributions to America. IAOVC is a nationwide coalition of Italian American organizations and individual members. IAOVC membership is open to individuals and all Italian American organizations to join together as a coalition defending and celebrating Italian American heritage and culture. To join visit iaovc.org/membership.

IAOVC issues a free email newsletter, “The Alfano Digest.”. The Digest issues alerts on instances of bias, stereotyping, discrimination, and defamation. It contains informative Italian American cultural, educational and heritage information. To request the Alfano Digest at no charge, fill out the form on iaovc.org.

Italian American Heritage Month: Adam Carolla

Adam Carolla (that's his actually name, his dad was Italian American) is best known as a comedian, actor, radio personality, television host, and New York Times best-selling author. 

He currently hosts The Adam Carolla Show, which holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the most downloaded podcast. Adam started The Adam Carolla Show podcast from his home office in February 2009. The podcast now receives more than 30 million downloads a month and has been featured in Fast Company Magazine, Entrepreneur, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times.

After years of “digging ditches and swinging hammers” on construction sites throughout Southern California that led to a job rebuilding a boxing gym, Adam traded that for an opportunity to coach boxing. Little did he know this would lead to a fateful meeting with Jimmy Kimmel, which would officially put him on the path to comedy stardom.

After joining Kimmel on KROQ’s hit morning show, Adam launched his national comedy career on the syndicated radio program Loveline with Dr. Drew Pinsky. MTV developed a television version of the show, which was co-hosted by Adam and Dr. Drew for five seasons (1996–2000). With Jimmy Kimmel and creative partner Daniel Kellison, Adam created and starred in two hit Comedy Central shows, The Man Show (1999–2003) and Crank Yankers (2002–2005).

He later took that construction acumen into the television world with TLC’s The Adam Carolla Project, which saw him and old construction buddies remodeling and flipping his childhood home; Spike TV’s To Catch a Contractor where he busted shady contractors and made them fix their shoddy work; and Adam Carolla and Friends Build Stuff Live where he coached celebrity guests on various DIY challenges.

Adam became a New York Times best-selling author when his book, In 50 Years We’ll All Be Chicks, topped the charts for ten weeks. The audio version went straight to the #1 position on iTunes. He has since written five more books including New York Times best-sellers Not Taco Bell Material and President Me.

Adam also co-wrote, produced, and starred in two independent feature-length films: The Hammer (2007) and Road Hard (2015), a crowdfunded comedy that raised over a million dollars in a single month. Through his venture Chassy Media, he produced the inspirational documentaries Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman, Uppity: The Willy T Ribbs Story, and The 24-Hour War, which documents the battle between Ford and Ferrari in the 1960s for racing dominance at Le Mans.

Along with hosting his daily podcast, Adam headlines clubs, theaters, and casinos nationwide as a stand-up comic touring his particular brand of commonsense comedy that aired as his first stand-up special on Fox Nation in the winter of 2025.

Italian American Heritage Month: Don Ameche

Don Ameche (born Dominic Felix Amici; May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was a star of stage, TV, radio and many movies. His father, a bartender, was from the Marche region of Italy.

Some of Ameche's best known movie roles were in "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "In Old Chicago," "The Story of Alexander Graham Bell," "Heaven Can Wait," "Trading Places," and "Cocoon," for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

On the radio, he famously starring alongside Frances Langford in "The Bickersons." He had a distinctive, cultured voice.

In the classic film "Trading Places," Ameche worked with fellow Golden Age actor Ralph Bellamy. He notably asked the entire crew and cast to bear with him as he tried to get one particular scene correct on the first take; it was a scene in which he had to use the "f word," which he did not want to do more than once. Well, he nailed it on the first try.

On Broadway, he starred in the musical "Henry, Sweet Henry" among other roles.

Late in his career he appeared on an episode of the TV series "The Golden Girls," in which he played the father of Rose (Betty White).

Ameche was Old School Hollywood and is fondly remembered to this day.

Every Now and Then SNL Hits The Target . . .

Upfront Heating & Air Conditioning https://t.co/pTWQuIhi1d

— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) October 11, 2026

Italian American Heritage Month: Giancarlo Esposito

Did you know that Giancarlo Esposito, one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors, has Italian roots?

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1958, Esposito grew up with a fascinating multicultural heritage. His father, Giovanni Esposito, was Italian, originally from Naples, while his mother, Elizabeth Foster, was an African-American opera singer from the United States. Esposito lived in Italy until he was five and then his family moved to New York where he spent his formative years.

Long before becoming internationally famous as Gustavo Fring in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Giancarlo was already building a remarkable career across theater, film, and television.

But behind the actor known around the world is also an Italian family story. Through his father, Esposito carries a connection to Naples — a city shaped by centuries of history, art, music, strong traditions, and an unmistakable identity. 

His story is another example of how Italian heritage has traveled far beyond Italy’s borders. Across generations, millions of Italians and their descendants have contributed to culture, entertainment, business, sports, and everyday life around the world.

Giancarlo Esposito’s background beautifully represents that meeting of cultures: Italian roots, an African-American heritage, a European birthplace, and a career that made him a global star. 

Sometimes an Italian story can be found where you least expect it.

A Big Announcement From President Trump!

 

Italian American Heritage Month: Adriani Trigiani

Adriana Trigiani is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-one books of fiction and nonfiction, including The View from Lake Como, The Good Left Undone, The Shoemaker’s Wife and Lucia, Lucia. 

Her work has been published in thirty-eight languages around the world. An award-winning playwright, television writer/producer, and filmmaker, Trigiani wrote and directed the major motion picture of her debut novel, Big Stone Gap, adapted her novel, Very Valentine, for television, and directed the award-winning documentary, Queens of the Big Time. 

She has written for The Washington Post, the Richmond Times Dispatch and Bon Appétit magazine, among others. Adriana hosts the hit podcast, You Are What You Read, where she interviews authors and luminaries about the books that built their souls. In 2023, Adriana was named Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia by President Sergio Mattarella of Italy, and in 2024, the Library of Virginia awarded her the Patron of Letters degree, their highest honor. She also holds honorary degrees from Saint Mary’s College and the University of New Haven. 

Adriana is co-founder of the Origin Project, a year-round, in-school writing program that has served over 50,000 students since its inception in 2012. Trigiani is honored to serve on the New York State Council on the Arts and on the Board of the Authors Guild. 

Adriana’s next novel is a sequel to The Godfather in partnership with the Mario Puzo Estate, Connie, the story of Connie Corleone. 

She lives in Greenwich Village with her family.

Italian American Heritage Month: Guy Williams

Armando Joseph Catalano (1924-1989) was born in New York to immigrant Sicilian parents.  

He grew up in Little Italy in the Bronx, and began his career as a model, including for cigarette and toothpaste brands. His agent Henry Wilson changed his name to Guido Armando, then to Guy Williams.

In 1957, at the age of 33, Walt Disney chose him to play Zorro. Guy Williams played the role of the Masked Justice for 82 episodes, directing every stunt and duel. 

His dashing good looks, eloquence and charm had female hearts fluttering, while the male audiences admired his fencing dexterity and effortless ladies'-man appeal. The Disney series was so popular that certain episodes were culled together and released into two feature films. He also played Professor John Robinson in Lost in Space.

He became a huge star!

Once Upon A Time, THIS Was Entertainment!

By 1967, the hit Broadway show Hello Dolly had already been running for three years. 

That was considered a helluva run in those days and the show was  beginning to feel a bit tired. Carol Channing, the original Dolly, had already been gone from the show for more than a year and was replaced by a series of well known performers. 

But something was missing -- something that would give the show a unique boost. 

That's when producer David Merrick decided to start all over again, recasting the entire show, beginning with the legendary Pearl Bailey as Dolly and backing her up with an all Black cast. 

The result was a whole new show -- reimagined and absolutely spellbinding! And propelling it onward was one of the most imaginative, poignant and heartfelt Dollys ever as Pearl Bailey dominated the stage.

This is the magic of Broadway!

How Quickly Some Have Forgotten THIS!

 

2021: Libs Said 'Lock Fox Outta WH Press Pool'

Well look at this.

March, 2021. CNN's Brian Stelter does a segment on if President Biden should remove Fox News from the White House Press Pool.

Censorship for thee, just not for me. pic.twitter.com/cs56eS87EC

— MAZE (@mazemoore) September 19, 2026

Censorship for thee, but not for ME!

Yes, These Famous Stars Are ALL Still Alive!

 

Bob Mackie, The Master Of Sequins, Rhinestnes

Rest in Peace Bob Mackie. 

Mackie was born March 24, 1939, in Monterey Park, California, to Charles Robert Mackie and Mildred Agnes (née Smith) Mackie. His father worked at Bank of America. He has an older sister. He was best known for his dressing of numerous entertainment personalities for television, movies, concerts, and live stage shows. 

Mackie was the costume designer for all of the performers on The Carol Burnett Show during its entire eleven-year run, and the creator of memorable ensembles for Cher and Elton John. He is referred to alternatively as the "Sultan of Sequins", the "Rajah of Rhinestones" or the "Guru of Glitter" for his sparkling and imaginative designs. 

Mackie once said, "A woman who wears my clothes is not afraid to be noticed." Mattel partnered with him to produce outfits for collectable Barbie dolls, and he introduced cultural diversity to their features and outfits to reflect the heritage of real-life women. 

Over his lifetime, Mackie received nine Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and three nominations for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for his work. He was nominated for the Oscar for costumes in Lady Sings the Blues (1972), Funny Lady (1975 and Pennies From Heaven (1981) and Emmys for The Carol Burnett Show, Mama's Family, The Sonny and Cher Show, Cher, Mrs. Santa Claus, Gypsy, Fresno and many others, Mackie received one honorary award and 9 competitive awards from 32 nominations

In April 2023, Mackie was accepted  the inaugural Giving Us Life-time Achievement Award by RuPaul at the RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15 finale Some of his other famous clients included Dolly Parton, Raquel Welch, Ann-Margeret, Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, Farrah Fawcett, Doris Day and Oprah Winfrey among others. On March 14, 1960, Mackie married LuLu Porter (née Marianne Wolford), a singer and actress, and later an acting teacher. The couple divorced in 1963. They had a son, Robert Gordon Mackie, Jr. (known as "Robin"). Robin, a makeup artist, died in 1993 at the age of 33 of an AIDS-related illness due to drug use, predeceasing his parents. 

As featured in the 2024 documentary Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion, Bob and Lulu had remained very close throughout the years and later discovered that they share a granddaughter (through their son) with whom they enjoy a close relationship. They also have  two great grandchildren. 

Beginning in 1963, Mackie's significant other was costume designer Ray Aghayan, whom Mackie worked with as an assistant. The two worked together through the 1970s, as well as having separate clients. They remained together until Aghayan's death in 2011. Mackie created all of the costumes, including evening gowns, character outfits and dance clothing for guests during the run of The Carol Burnett Show, including the famous curtain dress from the "Went with the Wind!" sketch (spoofing Gone With the Wind) which was donated to the Smithsonian Institution. 

he announcement of Mackie's death says he died of natural causes at 87 years old.

A LOT Of People Actually Feel This Way . . .

TO: Sean Hannity, Jesse Watters, and Mark Levin

@FoxNews

Gentlemen, This is a hard note to write. I have watched your shows for years. I will miss you. You have been straight with the country when a lot of people were not. I will not be watching anymore. After Fox pushed Maria Bartiromo out the door, I cannot keep supporting this network. Maria stood with the people who actually watch Fox. The way she was treated is a line I will not cross. This is not about you three. It is about the company. I will not give Fox my time or my loyalty after this. Thank you for the years. I wish you well. Respectfully,
True Patriot Voice

President Chastises Fox News; Lauds Maria!

 

Bartiromo OUT At Fox: They're Losing Their BEST!

Fox Corp has parted ways with Maria Bartiromo. In other words, far as we can tell, she's been fired!

And WE are not amused. Not one bit! Maria has always been tops in our book.

In fact, anyone who knows her or has worked with her can tell you that she is/was the hardest-working journalist at the company -- in fact, she's one of the hardest working journalists anywhere where and she's been an absolute trailblazer for women.

Maria worked at CNN as a producer for five years before joining CNBC in 1993, where she worked on-air for 20 years. She was the first television journalist to deliver live television reports from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. She has won numerous awards for her work on these programs, including two Emmy Awards. 

Maria has given everything to her 12 years of work at Fox Corp. And she certainly did not deserve the manner in which she was dismissed --abruptly and apparently without explanation. She worked six days a week and had a presence on their platforms seven days a week. She was always a class act and embodied what journalism should be.

Fox stripped Maria's name off every show she built. Mornings with Maria is now just Mornings with FOX Business. Her Friday night Wall Street show got the same treatment. Sunday Morning Futures is being handed to Jason Chaffetz this weekend while they figure out a replacement. We look forward to seeing what she does next.

BTW: there's even been some talk that Maria may become the new White House press secretary. We imagine she can pretty much have her pick at Newsmax or News Nation or any one of a number of other outlets that would be glad to have her.

Be sure of this: we will follow Maria wherever she goes. As for Fox -- shame on em!

When They Tried To Get Her To Go Political

Dolly didn't play. Sure she had her opinions, but she selflessly valued the opinions of her fans, all of them, more. She wasn't just a once-in-a-lifetime talent, she displayed a once-in-a-lifetime humility that too few share. https://t.co/2QpXIgGjsF

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) August 26, 2026

It failed! Miserably!

A Nixon 'Resurrection' - Is It Happening NOW?

From The Annals Of TV: 61 Years Ago!

Sixty-one years ago, Wednesday taught Lurch how to dance… who else remembers this iconic moment? ❤️🕺✨ pic.twitter.com/05OGTCmHnC

— Love Music (@khnh80044) August 15, 2026

The Addams Family!