Oh the delicious irony. In a recent episode of the “The Sopranos”, some of the cast of “My Favorite Mobster” were outraged that an American Indian group had the audacity to disrupt the Columbus Day holiday with a protest of the parade. Silvio Dante (Steven Van Sandt, yeah that Boss guy) is most outraged saying, “Ultimately, it’s anti-Italian discrimination,” and “Columbus Day is a day of Italian pride, it’s our holiday, and they want to take it away.”
Well, in real life, it appears, it’s not the victims of genocide that cause a stir for the real parade in NYC, but the mayor, Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg had the audacity to disrupt (but not stop) the real parade by inviting cast members from the Sopranos. Mayor Mike (who I don’t believe is Italian) then didn’t show up to march, choosing instead to have a nice Bronx dinner with the persona non grata: Lorraine Bracco (Dr. Jennifer Malfi on the show) and Dominic Chianese (Corrado “Junior” Soprano).
Former governor hopeful Andrew Cuomo had a reasoned take on the bruhaha, saying basically actors are only playing roles. He has campaigned with Joe Pantoliano, who plays a murderous capo on the show. “I don’t support serial killers,” Cuomo said, “but I would march with Anthony Hopkins.”
Perhaps Robert Blake is looking for a gig.