Mob Wives: Anthony "TG" Graziano Turns 75!

TG with his three beautiful daughters!

Anthony "TG" Graziano celebrated his 75th birthday with family and friends on Friday, November 13th.  The beloved father of the Graziano girls, Lana, Renee, and Jennifer, has never been on Mob Wives and didn't approve of his daughters doing the show in the beginning. However, from the looks of the pictures, any disagreements they may have had at the show's inception have long ago been resolved. Mr. Graziano's name has come up on several episodes of the show when certain events made the news.  Mr. Graziano is back home, looking great and enjoying his life with his wife and daughters. Here are a few pictures from the celebration:

There you have it, a birthday party fit for a king. You can bet that Big Ang finally gets to have a piece of cake (and more) unlike the parties on the show! If more pictures are posted we will update the blog.  Stay tuned.

UPDATE: More pictures from last night's celebration!

to be continued . . . 

Mob Wives: Mob Reality Doesn't Stop

The reality is the wheels of justice keep moving

The reality of Mob Wives doesn't stop when the cameras stop rolling. I wonder how many of us expected that there would be real ongoing mob business, Federal busts, wire tapping and court cases aired on the show? We've seen, heard and read a lot and now there is more.

New York newspapers are reporting two stories concerning Hector "Junior" Pagan and Anthony "T.G." Graziano. The Daily News reported yesterday that Junior's cooperation lead to the arrest and prosecution of two accomplices in a robbery gone wrong. The fatal gunshot wound was allegedly delivered by Junior, but the other two men are facing life in prison for their participation in the crime.

This morning, The New York Post is reporting that a prosecutor in the case of Anthony Graziano, 71, feels he should be sent to jail regarding his charges of conspiracy and extortion in collecting an old loan. His lawyer feels, that based on his age and medical conditions, Mr. Graziano should not serve any time. Prosecutors disagree, saying based on his criminal history he should receive two to three years. The judge is scheduled to sentenced Mr. Graziano next week. Mr. Graziano returned to prison because of evidence provided to the Feds, by ex-son in law, Junior, who wore a wire and tapped their conversations several months ago.

Of course, the outcome of the sentencing will greatly affect the Graziano family. They were all devastated to learn of Junior's unthinkable betrayal which led to Mr. Graziano's imprisonment, right before Thanksgiving 2011, after just being released from serving 11 years. Sadly, they are paying the price for the mob lifestyle that has always been their reality.

Mob Wives: Anthony Graziano’s Plea Deal

Renee learns of dad's arrest on show

Anthony “T.G.” Graziano, father of Renee and Jennifer, was arrested just before Thanksgiving last year, based on evidence obtained when he was secretly taped by ex son in-law, Hector “Junior” Pagan. News media have been reporting on the outcome of that arrest this week. In January, Anthony Graziano was charged with extortion for trying to collect on an old loan shark debt. He was facing up to 20 more years in prison after having served 11 years and being out only three months before his arrest. 

However, Brooklyn prosecutors offered Mr. Graziano, 71, a plea deal which would reduce his sentence to three years in exchange for pleading guilty to collecting an illegal debt. Mr. Graziano accepted.

The arrest of Mr. Graziano was dealt with on the series Mob Wives which aired recently.  Renee was told of her ex-husband turning himself in and then cooperating with the Feds, just hours before learning of the arrest of her father. The devastating news caused her to have an emotional breakdown back when all of this took place. For many, like Victoria Gotti, who say the show isn’t real, but scripted, these events have legitimatized the “reality” of Mob Wives, which is probably the most “real” reality show out there . The show’s creator, Jennifer Graziano, and her sister, Renee Graziano, have made a commitment to air the personal details of their lives without ever anticipating these devastating events would happen during the course of the show and would then have to be aired. Jennifer had the power to down play these painful and personal events, as executive producer, but instead confronted them head on in the show. Renee might have refuse to have her emotional crisis filmed, but instead went on to allow the cameras to tape her reaction to some of the most painful events of her life. It doesn’t get any more “real” than that.

Mob Wives: Anthony Graziano, Hector Junior Pagan Arrested

Both Anthony Graziano and Hector Pagan, father and ex-husband of Renee Graziano, were arrested last week on separate charges.  We felt it was insensitive to blog about the stories at the time, out of respect for the families and the Thanksgiving holiday.  However several blogs and newspapers have been writing about the details of both stories and we want our readers to also have the facts, as they have been reported.

Anthony Graziano had been released from prison to a halfway house in the summer, and then to home confinement weeks ago.  While out of prison, he allegedly tried to collect on an old loansharking debt.  Federal prosecutors obtained evidence about the alleged extortion crime through wiretapping and a government informant.  The taped transcript of the conversations were in the arrest warrant.  The debt itself reportedly goes back to 2005.  According to tape conversations, Mr. Graziano allegedly said he was willing to settle for $25,000 of the $150,000 owed to him.  Mr. Graziano’s attorney is prepared to fight the new alleged charges in 2012, after his client has finished serving out the rest of his sentence.

The allegations against Hector Pagan are based on information received from two members of a five man crew who have since become co-operating witnesses.  Hector Pagan was allegedly part of a five man crew that reportedly robbed a weekly card game which was allegedly sponsored by the Bonnano crime family, in the summer of 2009.  The card game was allegedly held at an illegal gambling club. The crew reportedly walked away with a disappointingly small amount of money, five thousand dollars.

Whether the Mob Wives will deal with either of these arrests on the show remains to be seen.  I’m sure this has been a disappointing turn of events for the Graziano family.  It only reinforces what they have always said on the show about the lifestyle, that it isn’t easy being a mob wife or mob daughter.

Mob Wives: Adding Victoria Gotti, Jr. To Cast

Could Victoria Gotti Ever be in Mob Wives?

Very early on in our blog, one of our readers questioned why Victoria Gotti, Jr. was not included in the cast. And recently, there has even been some discussion that a new mob wife might possibly be added to the cast. So, it seemed like a good question to me and I thought I would address it. Victoria Jr. was, up until the Mob Wives show premiered, the most well known mafia princess of our time. She is the daughter of John Gotti himself, the notorious boss of the Gambino crime family, dubbed the “Teflon Don” for escaping convictions and the “Dapper Don” for the expensive clothes he wore. Victoria Jr. even had her own reality show for a period of time, “Growing Up Gotti.” So why wasn’t she selected for the show?

Well, after watching the show and reading a lot of background information on all the families, it would appear to be impossible for Victoria Gotti Jr. to have even remotely been considered for the show. If you have been reading our blog and other articles, you may have come to this conclusion yourself.

If you recall, in the early episodes, Renee was not happy with Karen’s return to Staten Island because her father was a “rat” and Renee’s father taught her that breaking the code of Omerta and snitching, was the biggest violation of the rules of the mob. Renee was told to cut off all contact with Karen because Sammy “The Bull” became an informant for the FBI against John Gotti. This is true even though Gravano was a member of the Gambino crime family and Anthony Graziano was allegedly a member of the Bonanno crime family according to federal authorities. Being a “rat” transcends family affiliations.

Karen has revealed in interviews that John Gotti was often a guest in her home and, in fact, he was present at her Sweet 16 Party, making the event all the more memorable. So the Gravano family and the Gotti family were not only connected by the same mob family, they also seemed to associate on a personal level as well.

Sammy, who was the “Underboss” of John Gotti, was eventually was convinced by the FBI, to testify against Gotti, when they allowed him to listen to tapes of Gotti allegedly talking to authorities and implicating Sammy in various crimes. Sammy’s testimony at Gotti’s trial, lead to Gotti’s conviction and life sentence, and Gotti eventually died in prison.  Although Gravano is the one always referred to as a "rat," in his interview with Diane Sawyer, Gravano did make it clear that John Gotti was in fact "snitching" to authorities about him in order to protect himself.  This is what ultimately provoked Sammy to testify against him.

Given the history between Karen’s father, Sammy Gravano, and Victoria Jr.s’ father, John Gotti, it is highly improbable that the two women could ever work together on any project. Even if their families celebrated or socialized at one time, the day Sammy turned on Gotti had to be something the Gotti family could never forgive or forget.

BUT…

What if Victoria joined Mob Wives? What would that episode look like?

Maybe something like this….


Renee’s House (doorbell)

Renee: Hi, Victoria what brings you to Staten Island from Howard Beach?

Victoria: I’m looking for a nice place to live. My neighbors are sick of my kids growing up Gotti there.

Renee: Well I’m surprised you picked this area because you know Karen lives here now.

Victoria: Karen Gravano? Are you f--king kidding me?

Renee: No, why would I kid you about that?

Victoria: Her f--king father ratted on my father!


Carla’s House: Carla on phone with Drita

Carla: Hi Drita, guess what? Renee texted me a minute ago, Victoria Gotti is at her house.

Drita: Yeah? What’s up with that?

Carla: I don’t know, but I’m thinkin’ I should call Karen and tell her to meet me there, and then I won’t show up.

Drita: But Karen ain’t gonna be happy to see Vic there.

Carla: Exactly, there will be a f--king war. That’s payback for Renee invitin’ Karen to her house for dinner and not tellin’ you about it. And pay back for Karen for disrespectin’ you and Lee with her book.  I'll bet she puts Lee D'Avanzo's picture in it!

Drita: Yeah, they did do that. She better NOT put Lee's f--king picture in her book!  Tell me what Karen says because I NEED TO KNOW, and I ain’t talkin’ to that b*tch after all her talk about a f--king timeline, that ain’t my timeline!

Carla: Ok talk to you soon.


Karen’s Apartment (phone rings)

Karen: Hi, Carla, what’s up?

Carla: Renee invited us over for coffee, I told her I was about to call you, so I would let you know. Can you make it?

Karen: What were you calling about?

Carla: Oh, ummm, Drita was telling me she is sorry she overreacted at the restaurant, she was upset about other things, and I wanted to see how you were feelin’ about it. (Damn I a good liar!)

Karen: I don’t know Carla, is Drita going to Renee’s too?

Carla: No, I just got off the phone with her, she has a thing with Aleeya.

Karen: Ok I’ll meet you there in 30 minutes.

Carla: See you there. (Dials Drita’s number)


Drita’s House (phone rings)

Carla: Just got off the phone with Karen, it’s on and poppin’ in 30 minutes.

Drita: I wish I had a f--kin’ front row seat.


Renee’s House (doorbell rings)

Renee: I have no idea who that could be, one minute Victoria.

Renee opens door…Karen walks in.

Renee (surprised): Hi Karen, I kindda have company right now.

Karen: Yeah I know, Carla right?

Renee: No, not Carla, Victoria Gotti. (Victoria enters room, sees Karen)

Victoria: You B*TCH! Your father snitched on my father!

Karen: You don’t know what the hell you are talkin’ about! YOUR father snitched on my father b*tch!

Victoria: He did not, my father would never RAT on anyone. You’re a crazy b*tch!

Karen: Oh really? Well he ratted on my dad to the Feds, and he threw him under the f--kin’ bus to save his ass.

(Renee confessional: “I’m so glad I got a front seat for this, I hope they don’t break anything.”)

Victoria: My father was the one thrown under the bus by YOUR father the RAT! Just look up your father’s name on Google and all you see is “RAT” “SNITCH” “INFORMANT” B*tch! The whole world knows what your father did!

Karen: You don’t know what the f--k you are talking about. Your timeline is off b*tch. Your father talked to the Feds FIRST and they had him on tape. Then the Feds played the tapes of your father snitching on my father for my dad. That’s when my dad decided he had to save himself from your backstabbing, double crossing, snitching, rat of a father. GET YOUR TIMELINE STRAIGHT!

Victoria lunges for Karen and grabs her hair. Karen screams and grabs Victoria’s hair. Renee removes her precious vase from the coffee table so it doesn’t get broken, then runs for cover in her spandex. Renee tweets “Huge fight in my Living Room, minime-mobettes, Karen and Victoria Gotti, hair everywhere!”

Carla reads the tweet says “No, she di-ent!” and calls Drita.


Drita’s House (phone rings)

Carla: Just saw Renee’s tweet, it’s goin’ down at Renee’s!

Drita: (laughs) Payback for Karen and I didn’t even have to take my shoes off!

Renee tweets again: “AJ walked in, saw the fight, filled a bucket with ice cold water and threw it at Karen and Victoria; FIGHT OVER!”

Stay tuned next week for more drama!

That’s how I would script it, if I had my way, in a perfect Mob Wives world! Let me know what you think? Did I get it right? I need to know!

Picture credit: VH1 and New York Daily News


All written content is exclusive property of The Mob Wives Blogspot and is protected by copyrights or other intellectual property rights. You are prohibited from using, copying, altering, modifying, or changing our work. Unauthorized use of this is strictly prohibited. Violators are punishable under federal law. In simple English, stop f*cking jacking our work.

Mob Wives: Renee Graziano and Jack Thriller Interview!

ThisIs50.com’s Jack Thriller and Renee get together for an exclusive interview. This is a must see interview for Renee fans!

They start off talking about the fact that Renee actually used to work for 50 Cent. She worked in wardrobe at the time with Tiffany Osborne, a stylist. Renee tells a quick story: 50 Cent was at MTV and Tiffany needed an assistant, so Renee showed up. 50 was changing his pants and she asked him to go in his pants pockets. He told her she could do it. She told him no, in her house you never go in a man’s pockets. And he immediately turns to her and says, “You’re hired.”

Jack asks her to explain, in her own words, who is Renee Graziano? She replies in a heartbeat, “first and foremost, I’m a mom who loves her son.” She is a person who prides herself on loyalty, respect, honor and trust. She is a great friend. She is a very loyal woman. Jack wants to know what it was like growing up in the “hay day of the mob,” as a child? Renee says, it’s everything you have seen in “Goodfellas” that depicts that lifestyle.

Jack asks why was it important for the show “Mob Wives” to be created? Renee says it was important for them, Jennifer as well as herself, to show a lifestyle that people don’t see. They are real people with real issues and she wanted everyone to know the truth. People think they live off of “blood money.” She says maybe there is no money. When they come and take you to jail they take the houses, the cars, there’s no money. While the men are at home, she never asked her father what he does. Her father would leave to go to work, as did her ex-husband, and every other man in this world, and she never questioned it. Jack makes a little joke about how every man needs a woman like Renee who knows how to keep her mouth shut. Renee laughs and then adds, she is also louder than anyone he has ever met.

Jack wants to know what kind of man she is looking for because he happens to be single. And, he likes white girls and Italian girls. Oh, without answering the question, Renee reveals that Anthony Graziano is being released August 4^th of this year! (we have been reading January 2012). He has been in jail 11 years. Jack jokingly wants to know if we will see him next season. Renee answers no, and Jack adds Mr. Graziano doesn’t approve of the show. In fact, Renee adds her and her father do not speak, because of the show. Jack wants to know if her father will “whack” her for being on the show when he gets out. Renee says she doesn’t “whack” people or hang out with people who “whack” people. Then, Jack asks if you could have one of the Mob Wives “whacked” just for the hell of it, who would Renee pick. Renee says she prefers torture, like stretching someone out on a board, but it would definitely be “Carla.” So Jack brings up the comment made in the show that Renee is jealous of Carla! Renee answers with a grin, “There’s nothing to be jealous about. Nothing.” Then they both point to the screen and say, “Did you hear that Carla?”

Jack asks what is one of the biggest misconceptions about Renee. She responds that she has been labeled a “trouble maker.” And that is not true. She adds, she is a ‘truth teller’ and that might cause trouble for some people. Renee explains that a “trouble maker” actually stirs up SH*T. She doesn’t stir up anything, she just tells it like it is. She doesn’t talk behind people’s backs.

He asks about season 2 of Mob Wives. She says it’s official. She doesn’t know what other craziness or drama they can create. Jack suggests that she starts dating a black guy in season 2. Renee laughs and says she thinks that would definitely stir up a little drama, a little trouble. He uses the term “moolie” which is an Italian slang expression for a black person; it’s short for “moulinyan” which mean “eggplant.” Renee starts laughing outloud, that really hit her funny, she can‘t stop laughing. The end.

All in all a great little interview which shows the funny and delightful side of Renee!
Picture and video credit: ThisIs50.com

Mob Wives: Renee a Real G

All right, I'll be the first to admit, I can be a little rough on Renee Graziano of Mob Wives.  As each week passes she grows on me.  I am liking her more and more.  Yes, I know she is so mobmatic.  But when it counts she seems to be real.  She's real with her son A.J. Pagan.  She's real with Carla Facciolo revealing that her dude maybe smirkish.  Something about Renee rings genuine.  Before Chiara, Jeanette and Love boo me, maybe some of the scenes are 'set up'.  Hell maybe all of them are @ the end of the day, I don't care.  Script or no script, I do not believe these women are faking their personalities.  Meatballs and sauce included these four women have major personalities.  For better or worse, I am watching each week until the season ends.

So, Chiara is on this Twitter kick.  I cannot do Twitter.  It's f*cking confusing to me.  I am getting old.  I know how to work the coffee maker and text on my cell phone.  I don't need Twitter in my life.  Anyhow, Chiara caught wind of a Renee Graziano interview with Power 105.1 Breakfast Club thanks to Twitter.  So, I took a listen.  You know Chiara passes on all the work to me that she doesn't want to write. (rolling eyes)  Between you and I, most of it doesn't get written up.  I am lazy like that.  However, I figured I better write something before I'm swimming with the fishes. 

The interview turned out to be better than driving behind a truck with mechandise falling off.  A big ups to 105.1  The Breakfast Club for a wonderful interview with Renee Graziano.  Usually we give you a break down of the clip.  However, I think this is one that you should really devote 15 minutes of your free time to. They touch on a lot of the topics that we've touched on in blogs or the comment box. Hey, we've said it a lot around here, "People will be curious of how the Mob Wives afford their lifestyles with locked up husbands and daddies."  We discover we are so not alone.  The interviewers even touch on Anthony Graziano and his not talking to his daughter.  Renee confirms they are not on speaking terms.  Renee does share a message she received from her father:

"I love you.  I always will.  I'll always protect you.  Do what you need to.  But I stand my position. And you can take yours."

I am not going to share all the goodies and tidbits because you all really need to listen for yourselves.  Renee touches on interracial dating, Karen Gravano, Carla Facciolo and Drita D'avanzo (and her marrying Lee).  Click here to listen!

Oh and time is running out on the poll.  You have less than 23 hours before the polls close.  So if you haven't voted for your least favorite, now is the time.  If you have already, THANK YOU!  Chiara has voiced her opinion.  We'd love to hear yours!  As always your participation is appreciated, we want to know what you're thinking too.  Polls are always to your right and a quick scroll up.  TGIF!  (takes two swigs of Thera-Flu)

Credit: 105.1 & Vibe.com

Mob Wives: Carmela Soprano vs. Mob Wives

How do you live the life of a mob wife or mob princess for that matter, knowing what your husband and father do in order to earn a living? How do you enjoy that money knowing how it was obtained? It’s been said that mob wives are not told what their fathers and husbands are doing, it’s all very private, but is it really?

Carmela surely knew what Tony did for a living. He told her more than once, that she knew who he was when she married him. Sure she loved him, but she loved the lavish materialistic lifestyle that she enjoyed by being married to him too. The mansion, the furs, the jewelry, the money…sound familiar? Did she know all the details of his “business,” no she didn’t, and she liked it that way. Just like our four mob wives, she used denial and rationalization in order to live with herself.

Of the four mob wives, I think Carla may be the most guilty of using denial and rationalization. A few things have been bothering me about her. When she spoke of her husband’s “stock fraud,” she said she didn’t consider it a crime. She neglects to mention he also was guilty of money laundering and other charges. Carla admits to having an uncle with mob ties, but never mentions her father’s alleged connections except to say that he went to prison when she was very young. She also fails to tell her children that their father was in jail. I get the impression that Carla wants to keep her head in the sand, but her body in designer clothes, expensive jewelry and fur coats (sans sleeves).

What’s up with Drita? How many years can she rationalize waiting for a man to get out of prison? She isn’t getting any younger either. I know of very few marriages that could survived such a long term separation. This couple does not strike me as being particularly devoted to each other. Maybe being with the other three “unattached” mob wives, will finally help her to see the light that she doesn’t have to live in limbo waiting for Lee.

Renee rationalizes her whole participation in the series. She talks about loyalty in every episode. She demands respect from everyone. And yet, when it comes to giving her father loyalty and respect what does she do? She ignores his wishes about being on the show. Just yesterday, she tweets that she is in Star magazine. The topic of the Star magazine interview is about why her father isn’t speaking to her any more. Anthony Graziano is getting more publicity than ever before. I am sure he will be thrilled with his new claim to fame when he is released from prison in January 2012.

That leaves Karen. You have to admit Karen isn’t in denial about her father’s crimes because he spelled them all out in his book. That makes it almost impossible for her to rationalize his crimes, but she does rationalize his snitching. She also has compassion for her father’s victims. I wonder if she would have given them a second thought if history taken a different path for her father?

But, let’s get back to Carmela. Since it’s going to be Mother’s Day tomorrow, I wanted to close with one of my favorite Carmela quotes:

MUTHA'S DAY -- CARMELA (to LIVIA): "I want you to cut the drama. It's killing Tony. ... This "poor mother, nobody loves me" victim crap. It is textbook manipulation. ... I am a mother, too, don't forget. ... You're bigger than life. You are his mother." (blog.washingtonpost.com/sopranos)

Happy Mother’s Day and don’t forget to catch episode 4 tomorrow night!
　
　

Mob Wives: Anything for Lana Graziano

Chiara is on my ass to blog something. Frankly, I am too into the Osama Bin Laden kill news coverage. I am having a love affair with CNN right now. I want one newspaper to steal my headline: Obama Trumps Osama.

Now back to blog business one of the Graziano sisters has made a request on Facebook:

COULD WE PLEASE PUT A BETTER PICTURE UP FOR DADDY

Well Ms. Zancocchio we couldn't help you out with your request on Facebook. However, we can here on the Mob Wives Blogspot. I have to share that both Lana and her daddy Anthony Graziano were looking rough in their mug shots. In fairness, they looked better than I did on my driver's license photo. I must share that father and daughter clean up very well. And no I am not just blogging that because they are well connected. Here's a better picture of Lana Graziano Zancocchio and Anthony Graziano during happier times.

I don't know what you're thinking. However, Lana sure seems loyal to her father. At the end of this blog, I respect that for better or worse. We are thinking VH1 runs the Mob Wives' facebook page. We could be wrong. Yet still, surely Lana's sisters Renee and Jennifer Graziano could pull some weight and get some better pictures up of their beloved father.

Mob Wives: All In The Families

It’s very hard to keep up with the two sets of families represented on VH1’s Mob Wives show. The first set of families are the housewives themselves: the Gravanos, the Grazianos, the Facciolos, and the D’avanzos, The second set of families are the Mafia families that their husbands and fathers allegedly belong(ed) to. There are five Mafia families that have been “working” in New York City since the 1930’s. They are the Lucchese, Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo and Genevese crime families. I can never remember which mobster is allegedly associated with which crime family. So, to help keep it all straight in my mind, and maybe yours, I am creating a “cheat sheet” I can refer to from time to time to refresh my memory.

Lee D’avanzo is a bank burglar or robber, depending on the source of your information. He is alleged to be the head of the “New Springville Boys,” a burglary crew that is allegedly a “farm team” for both the Bonanno and Colombo crime families. He is currently in prison and his release date is up in the air. Just ask Drita, she’ll drop a few F-Bombs about it.

Anthony Graziano is alleged to be the current consigliere of the Bonanno crime family. He allegedly operated a pension fund scam that netted over 11.7 million dollars from its elderly victims. He also allegedly ran the largest drug trafficking operation in Florida. In 2002 he was imprisoned on federal racketeering charges and murder charges. He is in prison with a release date said to be in January, 2012. I wonder what he is going to say about the show then, if it’s still on the air.

Hector Pagan is the ex-husband of Renee. In the past he was an alleged associate of the Bonanno crime family. Currently, he is allegedly an associate of the Colombo crime family. This is according to the documents of the arrests and indictments made on January 20, 2011, when approximately 120 members of the Mafia from crime families in NY and NJ (including Hector), were taken down by the FBI. I think we might see Renee getting very dramatic over this on episode three, if the previews are correct.

Bruno Facciolo, Carla’s uncle, was allegedly a soldier in the Lucchese crime family, while Louis Facciolo, Bruno’s brother, was allegedly an associate of the Gambino crime family. Both brothers are dead now and Carla doesn’t seem anxious to talk about them.

Joesph Ferragamo, Carla’s soon to be ex-husband, was recently released from prison for his involvement in a mulitmillion dollar stock fraud scam, and is alleged to have ties with the Colombo and Lucchese crime families. Carla seems to deny her husband has mob connections by the sly, evasive way she answers her questions, but the truth always comes out.

Sammy “The Bull” Gravano was the former underboss of the Gambino crime family. This is the one mobster who owns his connection.

Now, I want to say that it’s all clearer to me, but it looks even more confusing on paper. Four of the five New York mafia families are represented in this small group of women; the Lucchese, Gambino, Bonanno and Colombo crime families. That’s pretty impressive if you ask me, and isn’t it nice that they all seem to get along?

Mob Wives: Jenn Graziano, JustJenn Productions

Jennifer Graziano, creator and executive producer of VH1’s new Mob Wives show, is no longer on speaking terms with her father Anthony Graziano, who is currently serving time in prison in North Carolina for racketeering crimes. The reason for the rift is her new business venture. Jennifer is also the sister of Renee, one of the four women featured on the show. Anthony Graziano is not happy with his daughters involvement in a show that talks about mob life.

Jenn Graziano is said to be a graduate of New York University with a Master’s degree in Business. It is nice to see that she is putting her education to good use these days. Unfortunately, this wasn’t always the case.

Prior to starting up her production company, Jenn has had her own brush with the law when she was 28. Documents, from the United State Court of Appeals indicate, her legal issues occurred around the year 2000, while Jenn was a graduate student. She was allegedly charged with being involved in a marijuana distribution ring, allegedly run by Renee’s husband and her brother in-law, Hector “Junior” Pagan. DEA Agent, Michael Cline, is reported to have documented various incriminating acts, in the arresting complaint, implicating Jenn. Some of these alleged criminal acts include details, gotten from overheard conversations, “discussing pickups, work schedules, and paydays of runners who delivered pot to customers around the city.” (http://www.ipsn.org/)

Jenn started her career at Sony Entertainment in 2001 and worked in their Artist & Repertoire department. She left Sony to manage an R&B/hiphop artist, Frankee. Jenn is said to have written her number one, hit single, F.U.R.B. (FU Right Back) for her (links below). Her last position was director in the consumer lifestyle marketing department of MWW Group while also heading up her own company, Bounce Marketing, which paired artists with brand names such as Sony and Dodge.

JustJenn Productions is a new company and Mob Wives is its first production. It appears that Jennifer pitched the idea to The Weinstein Co (TWC) and Ben Silverman’s Electus production companies, who are credited as producers of the show along with JustJenn. The producers may have then pitched the show to various cable stations and it was picked up by VH1 with a commitment for a 10 episode series. Taping began around Thanksgiving 2010. The first episode aired on April 17^th, 2011 and was watched by over 2 million viewers. JustJenn is currently operating out of TWC offices in LA and New York.



F.U.R.B. Official Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1K0pUSSFUo

F.U.R.B. Profanity version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_eVRqCH_Bk

Mob Wives: Wendy Williams Meets Mob Wives

Today Wendy Williams had VH1’s Mob Wives pay her a visit. Rumor has it that Mob Wives is her new favorite reality show. It’s my first time watching Wendy and, of course, they saved the best for last. At 9:45 they bring out the four wives and after intros, there is a rapid fire interview.

Wendy announces that she is “obsessed” with VH1’s new show. She says she loves it, as all the women exchange hugs and kisses for the first minute of their segment. All four women are introduced and Wendy says Carla looks like Stacy London…“she gets that a lot.”

The questions start with “what surprised you most about your new found celebrity?” The answers varied from how quickly the show took off to lots of positive responses, but not all positive. Renee chimes in that she is hearing things like she is an inspiration as a strong, single mom. My first reaction to that was saying outloud, “Seriously, an inspiration?”

Then Wendy goes over their alleged ties to the mob. Wendy doesn’t know if she needs to use the word “allegedly” all the time and I have that problem too. All four women answer in unison, “yes!” So I guess Wendy and I will have to keep sprinkling it in. Anyway, we run down the list of alleged mob connections. Karen says Sammy Gravano (we don’t need to use alleged for her because he wrote a tell all book. Renee says her father, Anthony Graziano, who the Feds claim is a “high ranking member” of a crime family. Carla says her husband Joe, who recently got out of jail for stock fraud, but her real connection is her “uncle,” without elaborating further. Drita answers that it’s her husband Lee, who works for the mob and is a bank “burglar.” Some discussion occurs as to the difference between bank “robber” and bank “burglar.” I learned that a burglar never uses weapons, a robber does. Once again my skepticism rears it’s ugly head.

Interestingly enough, Karen discusses how her father cooperated with authorities and left the witness protection program to live in Arizona, where she and other family members joined him eleven years ago. She admits that her father was running a drug ring back in 2000 in which she and her brother participated, but that her father took the fall for her and her brother. She is back in New York, not just for the show, but for her new book.

Wendy immediately goes to Renee and asks if she has issues with Sammy for snitching. Renee, unlike her passionate response on the show, kind of downplays her answer, saying she has issues not just with Sammy, but with all snitches.

Finally, Wendy asks about their kids. Renee says AJ is good, he takes it like a man. Carla says her husband came home recently and will appear on the show. The separation is going well and they are parenting the twins together. And Drita relates a story about how her being on the show has actually helped her daughter make new friends. Drita reveals, “Aleeya went to school — this little girl went up to her and said, ‘I can’t believe your mom is on that show. My dad’s in jail [too],’ Aleeya goes, ‘You’re dad’s in jail too?’ And the little girl goes, ‘Yeah.’ The other little girl goes, ‘My dad’s not around. Now I feel comfortable.’ And they became friends.”

What a touching note to end on, the children of convicts bonding!

Mob Wives: Anthony “T.G.” Graziano

Graziano is the father of two of the Mafia princesses involved in the new VH1 series, Mob Wives. Jenn Graziano came up with the idea for the show, and Renee Graziano plays one of the four women in the series. Anthony is not speaking to either of his daughters over this, even though Jenn told him they weren’t going to reveal any “secrets.” I’m sure he found that very reassuring. The princesses also have an older sister, Lana, who is not participating in the production as far as I know.

Anthony Graziano is a big name in Mafia history. He started as a member of the Bonanno crime family as part of Anthony Spero’s crew of murderers and he did very well. By the late 1980s or early 1990s it is alleged that he had risen to a high-ranking captain making money from crimes such a loan sharking, drugs, and murder while he ran the Staten Island operation. Unfortunately, he was found guilty of tax evasion for which he had to pay a fine of $250,000 to the IRS and serve 5 years in prison. When he was released from prison he resumed his role in the family with additional leadership responsibilities in Queens and Brooklyn. In 2001, Spero received a life sentence and Graziano was made a consigliore (advisor) of the Bonanno family. 

In March 2002, Graziano had more legal problems. He faced racketeering charges in both New York and Florida. He received 11 years for the Florida charges and nine years for the New York charges. He currently sits in a North Carolina prison with an expected release date, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, of January 30, 2012.

According to sources, Graziano will allegedly resume his role of consigliere when he is out of jail. If that is the case, it is certainly understandable that he would not appreciate two of his daughters bringing attention to and exposing any aspect of the crime family lifestyle. You have to wonder how the Mob Wives series is going to make him look to everyone in the Bonanno family. It might diminish his authority or make him a laughing stock. If he can’t even control his two daughters, how effective a leader can he be in the mob?

I wonder if his daughters gave any thought to their father’s pride or to his high level position in the family? He needs to command respect from those under him, but even his own daughters do not respect his wishes. I have to wonder if this is it all about money and fame for the Graziano princesses? And, all this while, I was under the impression that the mob was all about “family,”“loyalty,” and “respect.”