The Sopranos ("And Good Riddance, Tony")

Letter to the Editor, New York Times, June 24, 2007

"The Sopranos" are nothing more than cardboard caricatures. Here is a story of ethnic self-loathing masquerading as a timeless tale of existential woe.

Unlike the majority of critics and pundits--not to mention the hoi polloi--I am giddy with joy now that HBO's mafia minstrel show will be sleeping with the fishes. And don't expect me to shed any tears.

While it remains taboo to debase other ethnic groups, savaging Italians is simply de rigeur. By capitalizing on this vile stereotype, David Chase has made, ahem, a killing. But now comes the happy dirge of the Sopranos' certain ending.

Rosario A. Iaconis
Mineola, N.Y.