'Sopranos' iced in Jersey

From today's NY Daily News:

'Sopranos' iced in Jersey

BY JANE RIDLEY
Daily News Staff Writer

Shoot the final episode of "The Sopranos" in Bloomfield? Fuhgeddaboudit!

The mayor of the New Jersey town has whacked a plan to allow producers onto his turf, claiming HBO's hit show about violent mobsters reinforces negative stereotypes of Italian-Americans.

Now the owners of Holsten's Brookdale Confectionery, the ice-cream parlor selected for the series' last scene, want the mayor and other council members to rethink their decision not to issue a film permit.

They've already brought in the big guys, including Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, a fan of "The Sopranos," which resumes its sixth and final season on April 8.

"Nobody is more proud to be an Italian-American than I am," said DiVincenzo, who made a personal visit to the store on Wednesday to show his support. "I'm not offended by the show at all."

But Bloomfield Mayor Raymond McCarthy says he will vote against the permit again when it is considered for a third time next week.

"I don't think 'The Sopranos' depicts the life of a typical Italian-American in a positive way and I still don't like the way people see New Jersey based upon 'The Sopranos' series," he said.

The ban has divided the town.

"'The Sopranos' has been a series that depicts Italian-Americans in the worst light," said resident Emanuale Alfano, who leads the Italian-American One Voice coalition.

But council member Peggy O'Boyle Dunigan said, "If you don't like the show, you can turn it off."

The mayor's decision was overturned today.

The City's Attorney will allow "The Sopranos" to film its final scene in the city (in an ice cream parlor).

Personally, I think that these Italian people who get offended by the show and claim that it portrays a negative stereotype of Italians are being ridiculous. They must be insecure people.

Of course not all Italian people act that way. Any logical person knows that. But growing up in the neighborhood that I grew up in, I can tell you that there were some mob guys who acted the same way that some of these Soprano characters do.

It's comedy for God's sake. These people need to find more important things to squawk about.


Don Cardi

I'm with DC on this.

I detest the stereotype, but I can hardly argue the fact that a small percentage of Italian-Americans behave as they're depicted on tv and in the movies. As long as it's portrayed in an artful manner and not over the top or cartoonish, I have no problem with it.

I've been a member of OSIA (The Order Of Sons Of Italy In America) since I was in my early 20's and I've banged heads with some of the older members on this issue on numerous occasions.

Honestly, I'm alot more offended by Olive Garden commerials, where everyone still speaks in broken English, even though our people, for the most part, have been in this country since the turn of the 20th century.

Do you remember the Ragu commercials of a few years ago ? All of the Italian women were garbed in black, they all had big noses and they were shown dancing in a poppy field, like peasants. That was despicable and instances such as that are where we should focus our attention as proud Italian-Americans.

It's not making a generalization of Italians as a whole though, it's only portraying a certian group. They've shown plenty of Italians on the show outside of the Mafia and portrayed them quite normally. I think the Sopranos is actually a very realistic portral of Mob life.

That's exaactly how I feel. Dr. Melfi is educated and prim, as was her snooty ex husband. Dr. Cusimano was a yuppyish character as well, as were many others over the years.

Chase has shown us the entire spectrum of Italian-American life. The show happens to be about mob life, so we're gonna see some mobsters. End of story.

I agree. I get so pissed at people who think that way about Italians. I think they they should be beaten to death, their lifeless bodies cut up and stuffed in a 55 gallon drum and dumped in the ocean.

What a load of bullshit.

Entire episodes have been dedicated to the entire notion of the Mafia being held responsible for the representation of Italian-Americans. It's another self-conscious, on-running envelope in the show.

Some people aren't happy unless they are causing hate and discontent.

What a wank this guy is. I didn't realize Tony Soprano was a "typical Italian-American." I must be missing out on all the strip clubs, coke, million dollar houses, and of course, the sex.

I hate this politically correct tihsllub. It's retarded. I'm Italian, and I have no problem with The Godfather, or Goodfellas, or Mean Streets, or any other mob movies.