The SopranosThe Sopranos premiered on HBO in the United States on January 10, 1999 and revolved around New Jersey-based mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) plagued by panic attacks, his family life and the organized crime family he heads. Based in Essex County, North New Jersey the show highlighted many New Jersey towns such as Elizabeth, Kearny, Lodi, Newark, and Jersey City, even in the beginning credits. After 6 seasons of violence, sex, and acclaim, on June 10, 2007 it ended with much controversy and dissatisfaction to its viewers when it cuts to black, and leaves Tony Soprano's and his family's fate in mystery spurring rumors that (due to the alleged greed of its producers), a future full-featured film would be released in order to continue to milk this cash cow. This mafia saga is reminiscent of another notable work, The God Father, and though the show has been frequently criticized for allegedly perpetuating negative stereotypes of Italian-Americans, it is credited with allowing other drama series with similarly mature content to achieve mainstream recognition, and won 21 Emmys and 5 Golden Globes.
HouseHouse is a television medical drama (or black comedy to some) whose central character is Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), an unconventional diagnostic genius who heads a team of good-looking doctors at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey with actual aerial views of Princeton University's Frist Campus Center. However, unlike The Sopranos, House does not film on location nor highlights New Jersey landmarks. Like The Sopranos, the protagonist is villainous but lovable. It is most likely the main character's cantankerous, brutally honest, antisocial demeanor which appeals to his mostly over 30 female demographic as a very sexy brilliant bad boy. (Not to mention he rides a motorcycle, is a talented musician, and is addicted to pain killers.) Criticized for being too formulaic, most episodes revolve around the diagnosis of a primary patient, 1) events start with the onset of the patient's symptoms, 2) the team attempts to diagnose the patient, 3) the team treats the patient and the treatments fail, 4) the patient's condition gets critical, 5) Dr. House gets a medical epiphany from some obscure occurrence or passing statement, 6) Dr. House finally, saves the patient and the day (but not always). The series was among the top-ten rated shows in the United States in the 2008–09 season, and received several awards, including a People's Choice Award, a Peabody Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and four Primetime Emmy Awards. The new season begins Monday, September 20, 2010.
The Real Housewives of New JerseyThe Real Housewives of Orange County premiered in March 2006 capitalizing on the success of another guilty pleasure but fictional series Desperate Housewives, which provided the base concept for the series. To date there are five different versions of the series including Orange County, New York City, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and last but definitely not least, New Jersey. The Real Housewives of New Jersey is the highest-rated series of the "The Real Housewives of" franchise which originally followed the lives of five Italian-American women in and around the upscale Franklin Lakes, New Jersey community. Unlike its counterparts, the series follows women who are related, sisters Caroline and Dina and sister-in-law Jacqueline. However it is the contention between family friends Theresa and Danielle, which have people glued to the TV set and blogospheres, as flipping tables and attempted cat-fights erupt during family gatherings and reunions. The discovery of a book about Danielle's sordid past, bankruptcy, litigation, whispers of mafia connections, and, yes, more criticism about perpetuating negative Italian-American stereotypes have viewers coming back for more.
Jersey ShoreJersey Shore is a reality television series, on MTV with the same concept as "The Real World," of strangers living together, and follows eight young Italian-American and self-proclaimed "guido/ guidette" housemates spending their summers together, in the first season at the Seaside Heights, New Jersey and filmed in other towns such as Toms River, Neptune and Atlantic City. The show debuted amid large amounts of controversy regarding the use of the slurs "guido/guidette", reinforcing Italian-American stereotypes and scrutiny from New Jersey residents because the cast members were predominantly New Yorkers and seemed to be portraying New Jersey residents in a negative and embarrassing light. With their hot tub soakings, drunken stupors, tans, and fist pumping, Jersey Shore continues to offer low-brow entertainment to the masses and inspire other New Jersey-based reality shows.
JerseyliciousJerseylicious is a comedy docu-soap that takes place in the Gatsby Salon in Green Brook Township, New Jersey, focusing on the mother and daughter owners of the salon, Gayle Giacomo and Christy Pereira, and their team of make-up artists with big hair, bigger egos, long nails, orange tans, and petty rivalries. Criticized for its lack of originality and trying to horn into Jersey Shore's fame, it airs on the Style Network, Sunday nights at 10pm.
Jersey CoutureJersey Couture is a docu-series that follows the interactions of the Scali family as they work together running Diane & Co., a dress boutique in Freehold, New Jersey. The show focuses on the operations of the store as well as the personal lives of The Scalis, including Gambale, younger and single sister Christina, brother Anthony and parents, Diane (who owns the boutique and designs custom gowns), and Sal (who manages the demands of customers). Criticized for lacking drama but applauded for not scripting tension, the show airs on the Oxygen network.
Cake BossCake Boss is a reality television show, set at Carlo's Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey which can be spotted when entering Hoboken by the long line of visitors waiting to get into New Jersey's newest tourist attraction. The show stars Buddy Valastro, the shop's master baker, his Italian-American family, and depicts their lives running the bakery and typically baking a challenging cake for themed events like a life-sized racing car cake for NASCAR or a mechanical bull for a barber shop. The new season premieres on October 26, 2010.
Aqua Teen Hunger ForceAqua Teen Hunger Force is an animated television series, yes a cartoon, shown on Cartoon Network as part of its Adult Swim programming about the adventures of three anthropomorphic fast food items including Master Shake (a Milk Shake), Frylock (a container of French Fries), Meatwad (a Meat Ball) - and Carl, their sarcastic and pot-bellied next-door neighbor in suburban southern New Jersey. The title refers to the squad's original mission to "conquer hunger in teens" but instead has convoluted plots regarding aliens, monsters, and generally doing mean things to each other. Some shows begin with non-sequiturs of Dr. Weird and his assistant Steve creating monsters, disasters, etc. in their secret lab in the Jersey shore or space aliens. It is the longest running original series on the network and has a large cult following.
MercyMercy is a medical drama which aired on NBC from September 23, 2009 to May 12, 2010 shot on location in Paterson, South Amboy, Sayreville, and predominantly highlighted many businesses of Jersey City, New Jersey. On May 14, 2010, NBC announced that Mercy has been canceled and would not return for a second season due to low ratings. Criticized for being "a bunch of played-out hospital clichés" and "just another hospital soap opera," seems they excluded the winning formula of glamorized gangster-related Italian-Americans or hate-to-love-you protagonists.
Boardwalk EmpireBoardwalk Empire is an upcoming Prohibition-era gangster television series on HBO, created by screenwriter and producer Terence Winter of The Sopranos and director Martin Scorsese. The show is set in Atlantic City, New Jersey due to its strategic location as a hub of activity for rum-runners, and proximity to Philadelphia, New York City and Chicago. The show stars Steve Buscemi as Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, Atlantic City's Treasurer, and the man to see for any illegal alcohol, and includes a crew of Ward Bosses, local thugs, and historical cameos including Lucky Luciano, (Vincent Piazza) and Al Capone (Stephen Graham). The series is scheduled to debut on Sunday, September 19, 2010.
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