No but Chico Marx was.
Posted on 12/05/2004 12:07:00 PM PST by sully777
Celebrity panel examines popular perceptions of Italian-Americans
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Comedian Joe Piscopo wants to change the popular stereotypes of Italian-Americans promoted on television and in movies.
The former "Saturday Night Live" star attended a panel discussion at Seton Hall University Saturday that examined why, according to one attendee, prejudice against Italians is tacitly accepted in popular culture.
Piscopo, who said he is embarrassed by some of the stereotypical Italian characters he has played, is at work on a movie that portrays an Italian-American family from northern New Jersey. He is determined to get the film made, though he said he has run into difficulties because it is not gangster-related...
(Excerpt) Read more at phillyburbs.com ...
I was under the impression that Italian-American sterotypes have been powerful, positive, and most importantly garnering RESPECT.
Was Father Guido Sarducci on the panel?
Why don't they just whack 'em out?
Hang the stereotypes, they make great chefs!:)
I applaud what he is trying to do. Many Americans of Italian descent are quite dismayed over the Italian=Mafia stereotype. I was in Little Italy in NYC not long ago, and all of the gift shops had some Soprano or other gang related merchandise. Unfortunately, some in the Italian American community don't mind the association.
I also think many in the community feel denied by the lack of celebration of the 500th anniversary of Columbus's voyage in 1992.
fuggedaboutit!
No but Chico Marx was.
"What do ya want me to do? Whack a guy? Off a guy? Whack off a guy?"
-Peter Griffin
Myself included. I believed that Italian-Americans have been largely portrayed as honest and fearless cops, brave soldiers, crime-fighting mayors, and fiercely-loyal Americans who don't take anyone's crap.
You shouldn't make fun of Italians, Johnny, my mother made fun of Italians once....once.
You mean being white?
"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism.
The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin,
of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation
at all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of
squabbling nationalities." - Pres Theodore Roosevelt
The most discusting thing I've seen yet is the term "Italian-American". I am an American of Italian descent. Never in my family tree has anyone ever played the hyphinated allegiance game. It's just not done.
Hollyweird would love you to think so. The wiseguys in brooklyn play their games and would love you to think so. Rats who like class warfare and division would love you to think so. But I've lived, worked, played and grown up in the italian communities of NYC. Italians don't need labels. Nor do we need a hyphinated approval of who we are. If I need to be a person of Italian heritage, born in the good ol' USA, because some jerk decided it's italian American day today, well, wow.. look, I already am!
But my allegiance is 1000% USA.
Piscopo is a jerk. The hyphin game is his ticket into politics.
Up yours, Piscapo, Bada Bing!!!! Pasta face!
Every war movie must have a "wise guy" with a Brooklyn-Queens accent, looking to make a buck or two. They had one in HBO's Band of Brothers. He's always a corporal. And his kill ratio is supernatural when he's plenty pissed.
"You call this spaghetti? This is noodles and ketchup. I'm Italian and I know good spaghetti." Band of Brothers
"Among the other panelists were actor Tony Lo Bianco, playwright LindaAnn Loschiavo and Emanuele Alfano, chairman of UNICO National, an anti-bias group."
UNICO is very active in my town, Bayonne, NJ. They have always been extremely generous to the girl's basketball team at my daughter's Public HS, and are always prominent at other civic events. None of these things has an Italian angle, other than Italian Americans participating. So, they are good, you know. I have to like them.
BTTT
Probably because it's that way in real life: Our infantry platoon had a guy named Fassanella from Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.
Half my family on my aunt's side is Italian, and they love this show. I think the show displays real family friction, along with real family love. If this is what Joe Piscapo is decrying, he is way off base.
Also, Patricia Heaton is a Conservative heroine. She has fought for the Republicans and family values her whole career. She has 4 sons. She is raising them with Christian and conservative values.p> Newsmax has done articles about her battle against Hollywood Liberals. She has risked her career many times taking on these vile people.
She is also very cute, and I admire her.
Anyone else who thinks she is great--vote:
Yup!
When I watch DiNero in the Godfather, I admire his character. If you cross out the offing, the guy is a great family guy. He also understands quid pro quo and loyalty.
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