So the Sopranos portrayal is complete nonsense? I mean the power and influence they had. There rackets were mostly unrealistic?
The basic idea of a small family based in Jersey came from the DeCavalcantes. But beyond that, Chase and the other writers used material from the whole NY/NJ underworld for their scripts.
The Soprano's involvement in construction would be accurate. As well as other things like gambling, stock fraud, stolen goods, the strip club, etc. But not their involvement in the garbage business, the waterfront, etc.
And their relationship with NY, where they're dealing almost as equals, was overblown. Especially when they went to war. But you have to allow for some dramatic license, I guess.
