Brian Lear on

on WNYC and we'll wrap up today for our last 12 minutes or so with a call in for a different ethnic group.

And I'll tell you why in a minute, Italian Americans.

Why?

Because this is the occasion of the 25th, not today exactly, but it's right around now, is the 25th anniversary of the premiere of the soprano's.

And what we want to do is invite Italian Americans, especially

from New Jersey, to reflect on and call in about the portrayal of Italian Americans in the soprano's, again 25 years ago, almost right now.

How has this held up for you?

Are you proud of the sopranos?

Do you feel defamed?

Some people have used that word by the portrayal

of some of the Italian Americans in that show.

Has it worn well over 25 years if you are a New Jersey Italian American

especially but any other Italian American 212 433 W433. WNYc.

2. 433 9692.

And you know, it wasn't just a crime drama.

I don't have to tell you about the soprano.

There was humor.

Small number of people were not impressed.

Shortly after the series premiered in 1999,

Dominic Amorosa of the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations told the Daily News,

The Sopranos is ethnic defamation.

...