PART 3 in a weekly 6 PART mini-series exclusively here on Planet Zman, entitled: JERSEY’S FINEST

The much-maligned state of New Jersey is often the brunt of many a comedian’s off-color jokes. But The Sopranos has brought a new and interesting sense of pride to the Garden State. I personally happen to be half Italian on my mother’s side, and have lived all my life in northern New Jersey. I know all of the show’s landmarks and have even frequented the Bada Bing (actually known as Satin Dolls, on Rt. 17 in Lodi.) When you live in this area, you learn to recognize that when streets are closed, traffic is diverted, light towers are up, and large production trucks surround the grounds, The Sopranos are shooting a scene.

Sure, it’s very cool and most of us paisans are thrilled to be a part of it all, but there are those who have been vocally opposed to the series from its outset. There are groups who have been quite vocal about the show’s depiction of Italian Americans as degenerates, thugs, and murderers. They claim it’s a disgrace to true Italian heritage and culture. But to them I say “Hey faccia di culo…fanabla!” The Sopranos, like The Godfather, Goodfellas, and other Mafioso themed movies, while they are deemed as fictional entertainment, are also based on certain ethnic truths. Mario Puzo, Martin Scorsese, and David Chase didn’t fabricate the Italian mafia. Do you think it would work if the name of the show were the Dombrowskis – a fictional Polish crime family who gathers for kielbasa and pierogies instead of macaroni and gravy… is run by Stanley, Stosh, Boleslaw, and Krzysztof… and threatens to break their own legs while the guy who owes them money looks on in horror? (Oh yeah, the other half of me is Polish, so no hate mail.)

The HBO series, which first aired in January of 1999, has become the most prolific drama in the history of television. In TV Guide’s list of the 50 Greatest Shows All-time, The Sopranos ranks number five, behind four legendary comedies: 1. Seinfeld, 2. Lucy, 3. The Honeymooners, and 4. All in the Family. It’s the highest rated cable series ever, and the only cable-show to win the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. The real Soprano boss, David Chase, didn’t even intend the pilot to become a series. After years of producing hit shows like the Rockford Files and Northern Exposure, the NJ native wanted to get into movies. And, other networks were actually approached before HBO. FOX was originally going to air the show, which was going to be known as Made in Jersey. But, from what I’ve read and heard, the network didn’t have le palle – the balls to deal with the vulgarity and violent subject matter. HBO welcomed Chase with open arms, and most importantly granted him 100% creative control of the show. Not even a single word in the script gets changed without the boss man’s permission.

See us next week for PART 4 in our continuing 6 part Series, entitled: CHARACTER ASSASSINS