One used to be able to rely on A&E to have a modicum of taste.Well, FORGET that.

A&E will be airing "Growing Up Gotti" on August 2.

Excuse me! Victoria Gotti, the daughter of John Gotti, the pompous "testa dura" Mobter, wants to show us "we are not a real-life Sopranos".

What does that mean? You are not Trailer Trash, but Beverly Hillbillies???

This "tart" is one of the more self centered, self absorbed, egocentric, superficial, shallow, vacuous, someone desperately needing attention, and an embarrassment to our community.

Victoria, says ''This is not about fame. God knows I've had it."..

Dahling, You are not famous. Your father was infamous. You are neither.
You are just a "curiosity", an "oddity", and obviously delusional when you compare yourself to Lucille Ball.

Victoria Gotti knows you're wondering why the daughter of a late Mob boss would invite television camera crews to trail her every move -- whether she's interviewing celebs on the red carpet (for her gossip column in Star) or sorting laundry in her chi-chi Lawn Guyland digs.

''This is not about fame,'' says Gotti. ''God knows I've had it. I didn't need it, I didn't want it, and I didn't ask for it. It's about showing the world that we are not a real-life Sopranos.''

Instead, Gotti fights her battles at home: She's the single mother of three teenage boys whose good looks have earned them a nickname at school. ''You mean the Hottie Gotti Boys?'' she asks. ''My kids are special. We talk about everything -- and, yes, sometimes it gets loud.''

While Gotti hopes the show will improve her family's image, she's not above laughing at herself. ''I'm very dramatic,'' she says. ''I never realized it, but now when I watch myself, I'm going, 'Ooh, God!' People are always telling me I'm like a real-life Lucille Ball. I don't see it.''

Why w'e'll Tune in.Okay, so Victoria denies any parallels between her life and ''The Sopranos.'' But if her show gives ANY indication of how Meadow might turn out in about 20 years, it'll be our second favorite Mob hit.

--by Nicholas Fonseca

[RAA NOTE: Nic. I'm sorry that you lead a life of such quiet desperation that you need something like this to fill the vacuum :(]

Entertainment Weekly's EW.com | TV Preview: Early word on ''Growing Up Gotti''
http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,641381_
3%7C%7C641462%7C1_0_,00.html