Jersey Bans Sopranos; Miller Scores Renewal?
December 19 -- A Mafia scene filmed in New Jersey? Fuhgeddaboutit!
When the creative forces behind HBO's acclaimed mob series The Sopranos asked New Jersey officials for permission to film in the Garden State, they were turned down flat. Essex County, N.J., executive James W. Treffinger has taken the popular show to task for depicting "an ethnic group in stereotypical fashion."
According to The Associated Press, Treffinger and Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura have rejected HBO's request to film three days and nights of a shootout scene. Though the two earlier cited safety and noise concerns as their reason for denying the request, Treffinger revealed to the AP that he would not approve the production because he dislikes the show.
"I'm constantly having to defend my county and my state," Fontoura said. "I don't think the show is good for Essex County. It's not accurate. That's not what we're all about."
The Sopranos has faced this sort of backlash before: The cast was banned from marching in New York City's Columbus Day Parade this year. Officials claimed the show's less-than-P.C. portrayal of Italian-Americans as its reason for the exclusion.
Beer, Football, and … Thesauruses?Former Saturday Night Live brainteaser Dennis Miller may be back for a second year of co-hosting Monday Night Football on ABC. Though network officials are mum on contract negotiations, insiders tell the New York Post Miller will return.
"Everyone at ABC thinks Dennis is terrific," ABC Sports spokesman Mark Mandel said in today's Post. Another insider noted, "It's inconceivable that he's not coming back."
Though many were skeptical that Miller's esoteric comments would fly with no-nonsense football fans, he's spawned a legion of fan Web sites that translate his highbrow cracks from the MNF broadcasts.
Then again, Miller seems to have found a way to go for the easy laughs. He floated a doozy during Monday's Tampa Bay Buccaneers-St. Louis Rams contest; as an NFL ref screened a replay on a covered monitor, Miller turned to co-host Al Michaels and asked, "You know what my biggest fear is, Albeeno? He's watching [CBS's Monday prime-time comedy] Everybody Loves Raymond."
Popular Reads
ABC News Live