That's the question viewers -- read ratings -- will determine following last night's debut of VH1's newest reality show. Think "Real Housewives" meets "The Sopranos" meets "Jersey Shore."
"Mob Wives" follows the lives of four Staten Island women with thick New York accents who tan, party and drop F-bombs like, well, fuh-ged-about-it!
"Mob Wives" may capture the imagination of the "Jersey Shore" crowd, but will not score any points with Islanders who are fed up with their hometown depicted as the home office for La Cosa Nostra.
In fact, "Mob Wives" insinuates the Island is a breeding ground for the mafia. The women dish about their alleged connections and how they deal with their husbands or fathers in prison, raising children, and rocky relationships.
Last night's premier opened with an introduction of the women: Karen Gravano, daughter of Mafia turncoat Salvatore (Sammy the Bull) Gravano; Drita D'avanzo, whose husband is in prison for bank robbery; Renee Graziano, daughter of an alleged high-ranking member of La Cosa Nostra, and Carla Facciolo, whose husband was convicted of stock fraud.
If you didn't catch last night's show, here's what you need to know: Karen moved to Arizona 10 years ago after Sammy the Bull" turned on the mafia. She returned to Staten Island to the dismay of mob loyalist Renee, who dislikes her and whose credo is, "A rat is a rat is a rat. A snitch is a snitch."
Karen and Drita meet for drinks upon Karen's arrival. The women, after all, had a falling out after Drita married Lee, Karen's ex-boyfriend.
Got that?
"I never would have done that if the roles were reversed. She downplayed that me and Lee dated for seven years," says Karen.
Karen expressed some bitterness toward Drita when speaking candidly to the audience, but all is well between the women for now.
The episode centered on Carla's birthday party. Renee did not want Karen to attend, and she made it known to anyone who would listen.
"I don't know why Carla is making it like it's no big deal. She needs to play on team Renee or team go away," says Renee.
Cle-vuh, right?
After speaking with Drita, Carla calls Karen to invite her to the party.
Following a visit from a spray tan specialist, Drita, a professional makeup artist, goes to Carla's house to do her makeup for the party. They discuss Renee's possible reaction to Karen's arrival at the party.
"I think Renee will be mad because she gets mad over every little thing," said Drita.
The night of the party, Carla, Drita and Renee are drinking and laughing.
"When I'm in party mode I just want to have fun. I don't want anyone to get in my way -- not that anyone's brave enough to do that. Party Renee is the center of attraction," says Mrs. Graziano, who is clearly trying to become the Snooki of this reality show.
Karen, who takes a limo to the party, says, "Whether Renee is ready or not to see me, I'm ready to be here."
When Renee sees Karen at the party, she storms out. Karen follows Renee outside to confront her because "that's how gangsters roll."
"I have a problem with what your father did. He destroyed a lot of families," says Renee.
Counters Karen, daughter of Sammy the Bull: "You don't have a problem with the gangster lifestyle? That my father could have put a gun to someone's head -- that didn't destroy families?"
That's the cliffhanga, folks.
Not exactly "The Sopranos" fading to black.
You wanna know what happens next? Well, you gotta tune in next Sunday at 8 p.m.
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