I can not express how Distressed and Wounded that a PUBLIC Network should take upon itself to give so much FREE Promotion to "The Sopranos".

The Sopranos is as offensive to the Italian Community as "The Shylocks" would be to the Jewish Community, and "Bro Pimp" would be to the Black Community.

Further, The Sopranos is incredibly Misogynistic, and portrays every negative Moral Value that a Civilized Society would condemn. Murder, Mayhem, Burglary, Extortion,
Battery, Lying, Cheating, Stealing, etc., ad naseum.

Since Film and TV are credited for having a greater influence in "educating" our kids than School does, how can any responsible person in the Media, promote such a show?

Youth, learn from, and often imitate what they see. Soprano Producers, Actors, Supporters claim that this is just a show about a Normal Family, whose "breadwinner" happens to be involved in criminal enterprise, as if Tony could be a Restaurant owner, and the show would be no different. Just a Family dealing with the problems of Life. Really??? 

That Justification makes it even worse, and "accepts" and "endorses" their behavior as "normal". 

Please consider the ramifications of your actions.

If you are looking for ratings, it would seem that you could be doing a great public service by campaigning Against The Sopranos, creating great controversy, increasing listeners and ratings, and doing a GREAT Public Service at the same time.
   
Respectfully,

Richard A. Annotico
Marina Del Rey, CA    90292
Email :       trimtantre@aol.com
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A Request from Steve Antonuccio:

Dear concerned Italian Americans, I've been trying for months to get NPR to a balanced piece on the controversy around "The Sopranos."  As you can see by my email they continue to do promotional pieces on the show.  I am asking my friends to help our cause by emailing the NPR ombudsman in support of more balance on NPR.  The email address is "ombudsman@npr.org."  Thank you for your help. 
  
  As an Italian American who has repeatedly complained about the one-sided coverage of "The Sopranos" on NPR, I was appalled by the story "Weekend Edition" did on Saturday on the restaurant in Chicago that sponsors "Sopranos Night."  

In over 2 dozens stories related to "The Sopranos" that NPR has done in the past 3 years, none of them has even brought up the question or even asked for the opinion of the major Italian American organizations that have universally condemned the show for its racism, violence, and misogyny.  

To understand my point of view all you have to do is go on the NPR website and type "Sopranos" in your own archives.  You can listen to all the stories like I have done, and you will discover the same one-sided insulting coverage that has gone on for three years.  

Instead of listening to my complaints as a long time member of an NPR affiliate public radio station, you do another lame promotional piece on "The Sopranos" by talking in this insulting fictional Italian American slang "How Ya doing."  

Do you do stories on African Americans by imitating black slang? 

What amazes me is that during the whole Bloomberg/Columbus Day controversy, NPR didn't find the need to even say one word about the controversy.  It would have been a perfect time to talk to the legitimate Italian American organizations and allow them to give their opinion on this racist show.  

What is going on at NPR?  When did you start having an official television show?  No other television show in the history of NPR has gotten the positive one-sided coverage that you have given "The Sopranos."... When did journalist on NPR become HBO publicists?  Please respond to my complaints with an email or even better yet with a little balance. 

Steve Antonuccio (An-Toe-New-cho)