I've never seen the Sopranos. I posted this for a Holsten's Bump! Love going there!
Posted on 03/07/2007 7:31:21 PM PST by Calpernia
BLOOMFIELD, N.J. -- When it comes to filming the final scene of the acclaimed mob drama "The Sopranos,'' this North Jersey town has told HBO to fuhgeddaboudit.
The town this week denied the show's producers a permit to shoot here because the mayor and council members say the show depicts Italian-Americans in a poor light.
The owners of an old-fashioned ice cream parlor selected for the scene said the personal opinions of Bloomfield Mayor Raymond McCarthy and the council shouldn't stand in the way.
"He should do what's good for the town and not let his personal feelings dictate his decision,'' Chris Carley, co-owner of Holsten's Brookdale Confectionary, which sells homemade ice cream, said of McCarthy.
The town first approved the permits last week. But after complaints, the council brought back the issue for a second vote on Monday and rejected it. Officials have agreed to consider the permits for a third time at a meeting next Monday.
The mayor, whose wife is Italian, has said he opposes how the mob drama portrays Italian-Americans.
"I don't think 'The Sopranos' depicts the life of a typical Italian-American in a positive way and I still don't like the way people see New Jersey based upon 'The Sopranos' series,'' he said, adding that he plans to oppose the permit again on Monday.
"What the rest of the council does, that's their choice. I stand by my convictions,'' he said.
As a member of Unico, an Italian-American civic group, "I am pledged to honoring my commitment to its mission to speak out in defense of Italian-American dignity,'' McCarthy wrote in a statement. ``This is what I chose to do in this case.''
At least one council member, Peggy O'Boyle Dunigan, said she has changed her mind and now wants to allow the show to shoot here.
She said she was given incorrect information that the Essex County executive didn't like the show, and she has been since flooded with calls of support for Holsten's, where she is a regular customer. She is not a regular viewer of the show.
"If you don't like the show, you can turn it off,'' she said. "It's hard enough to have a small business in town I don't want to discourage them.''
"The Sopranos,'' which debuted in 1999, tells the story of fictional New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, played by James Gandolfini, and his family. Scenes for the Emmy-winning show have been shot in New Jersey and New York. The show is scheduled to begin its final season on April 8.
Carley said the ice cream shop has been used in commercials and he was thrilled with the news it had been selected for the HBO drama.
He and his business partner, Ron Stark, said they were told by HBO officials that the 1939 building would be used for the final scene of the series finale. While they hadn't finished negotiating a price, the shop would have been used for three days in late March, with one day for shooting and two days to set up and break down.
Creator David Chase had been in twice to scout, said the partners, whose wives are both Italian.
Carley said he was disappointed with the news of the permit rejection.
"It was a shock that they changed their vote and took away the permit. More than the money aspect, it's about the pride of store,'' he said.
By Wednesday, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo visited the store to show his support.
"Nobody is more proud to be an Italian-American than I am,'' said DiVincenzo, who said he asked the Bloomfield mayor to reconsider. "I'm not offended by the show at all.''
A spokeswoman for HBO declined to comment on what scenes had been scheduled to be shot at Holsten's, but said the network appreciated DiVincenzo's support.
"We want to film in Bloomfield, we think the town has a terrific look and we want to work it out,'' she said Wednesday.
Some of the ire about filming in Bloomfield has come from Italian-American groups, including the Italian-American One Voice Coalition, led by Emanuele Alfano. He said he asked the town to reconsider after the permit was approved and plans to be back at the council meeting on Monday.
"'The Sopranos' has been a series that depicts Italian-Americans in the worst light,'' said Alfano, who lives in Bloomfield. "When they reversed the decision, I was so proud of this mayor and this council. They showed integrity.''
I've never seen the Sopranos. I posted this for a Holsten's Bump! Love going there!
Ever been to Holsten's? Best place in the world to take the kids for dessert! (ok, you don't need kids to go there....I've been going their since H.S.)
Someone is going to get wacked....
Tony Soprano (the main character) loves ice cream. Many episodes have a scene of him sprawled in front of the TV, watching the History Channel, eating ice cream from a bowl that's balanced on his belly.
(Just about everyone, Italian or not, can identify with the family scenes!)
>>>I've been there a few times.. great home-made ice cream. There just way too much good food in NJ!
Absolutely!
http://www.nj1015.com/absolutenm/templates/?a=5994&z=3
Town Will Reconsider Sopranos Filming Permit
Thursday, March 08, 2007
When it comes to filming the final scene of the acclaimed mob drama "The Sopranos," one Essex County town has told H-B-O to fuhgeddaboudit.
Bloomfield this week denied the show's producers a permit to shoot there because the mayor and council members say the show depicts Italian-Americans in a poor light.
But the owners of an old-fashioned ice cream parlor selected for the scene disagree, They say the personal opinions of Bloomfield Mayor Raymond McCarthy and the council shouldn't stand in the way of the shoot.
The town first approved the permits last week.
But after complaints, the council brought back the issue for a second vote Monday and rejected it.
However, they've agreed to consider the permits for a third time at a meeting next Monday.
Holstein's is great. Hinches' on 86th Street and 5th Avenue in Brooklyn is another old school ice cream parlor you should check out.
I'll keep that in mind next time I'm there. Thanks.
Hey! Thank you Slump!
NJ reping! Looks like the show must go on:
>>>Township attorney Brian Aloia has decided, however, that the town clerk is required to issue a filming permit and the council doesn't have a say unless the permit requires a waiver. A waiver wasn't needed for "The Sopranos" shoot because producers would be filming in a commercial area instead of a residential one after 8 p.m., he said.<<<
Huh, I might have to rent the Soprano episodes at Block buster now. I am in the mood to go to Bloomfield :)
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