I'm Christian Toto, an award-winning film critic, author and podcaster. My newsletter covers entertainment from a right-of-center perspective, with tips for making the most of your leisure time.
Taylor Swift vs. Joe Rogan: Could the Presidency Hang in the Balance?
Hello Reader,
Taylor Swift is the biggest star on planet Earth.
Podcast king Joe Rogan defies our short-attention span age with his three-hour interviews.
Two very different stars. Two distinct approaches to modern politics. Could their influence impact the coming Trump v. Biden rematch?
Maybe.
I explain why in an essay that speaks volumes about the state of our union (and it's not necessarily good!).
President Joe Biden is clearly not well.
Our 81-year-old Commander in Chief struggles to spit out sentences, even when they're laid out for him on a teleprompter.
It's a problem no matter your party affiliation.
So "Saturday Night Live" decided to attack Donald Trump, not Biden, for his alleged cognitive decline. Except the once-mighty show stepped on a Paul Bunyan-sized rake in the process.
Billy Bragg is a renowned singer/songwriter who happens to be a socialist. Nothing wrong with that. Believe what you wish! Except Bragg recently came out AGAINST free speech.
That's where I draw the line.
So does culture writer Mark Judge, which is why I'm sharing Mark's deeply personal piece on Bragg's cowardly stance.
I haven't done a head count on this, but I feel like my math is solid - everybody loves Martin Short.
He's absurdly talented, versatile and remains a lightning-fast wit. It's why I couldn't get enough of his recent chat with Bill Maher on the "Club Random" podcast.
Note: They briefly touch on politics but the thrust of the chat will put a big, fat smile on your face.
This week's new movies:
- "Argylle"
No guest? No problem? This week's HiT 'cast breaks down that "SNL" debacle and praises a "Star Wars" actress for doing the right thing. Plus, I give you a sneak peek at the comedy that could make us laugh again like we did before the Age of Woke.
Next week, the Hit 'cast chats with Grammy nominee Five for Fighting AKA John Ondrasik about his blistering protest song slamming all those Hamas cheerleaders.
What a voice! What moral clarity!
Well, we won't have football to kick around this weekend (sorry, the Pro Bowl doesn't count!) but I hope you all get the rest and relaxation you richly deserve!
See you next week!
Christian
Hollywood in Toto
I'm Christian Toto, an award-winning film critic, author and podcaster. My newsletter covers entertainment from a right-of-center perspective, with tips for making the most of your leisure time.
Hello Reader, Everybody remembers the Hollywood Blacklist, but few know about the new, not-so-improved version. I've spoken to my fair share of conservative artists who hide their political views for fear of losing work. It's real. It's scary. And it's deeply un-American. Just like the 1950s version. Now, some pro-Palestinian actors are getting pinched for sharing their political views. How is it different this time around? And what if the stars in question say absolutely ghastly things?...
Hello Reader, It's Friday already? Holiday weeks always throw me for a loop! I've had a hate/hate relationship with "The View" for some time now. It's hopelessly dumb, which could be fun to watch in some cases, but it rarely is. Plus, I think the show's unhinged rhetoric genuinely damages the country. So why does Whoopi and co. get a pass when Aaron Rodgers got (rightly) vilified for his dopey attack on Jimmy Kimmel? This story explains it all, and it's a good primer for the 2024 election...
Hello Reader, The new year has just begun, but I'm betting 2024's most talked-about movie will drop in April. Director Alex Garland ("Ex Machina," "Men") offers the perfect story for our divided times, and that's not a compliment. "Civil War," out April 26, imagines a future America on the brink of collapse. Kirsten Dunst stars as a war-time journalist trying to stay alive in the melee. HiT contributor Matt Morava asks if it's morally right to release a movie like this during a contentious...