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CNN Live Today

'Sopranos' Snubbed

Aired October 14, 2002 - 11:12   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Another year, and yet another New York City parade tangled in controversy. Mayor Michael Bloomberg invited two stars from the hit TV show "The Sopranos" to march alongside with him in today's Manhattan Columbus Day Parade. However, they are not marching, and neither is he. Let's find out what this is all about.
Michael Okwu steps in to hopefully explain all this.

Michael, what's the word.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, this is the 58th annual Columbus Day Parade, but it may very well be remembered more for the controversy than the actual festivities. At about 12:00 this afternoon, starting at about 44th street down here on Fifth Avenue, and all the way up to 79th Street, some 40 bands and about 30 floats will make their way up the avenue, and for the first time in the history of this parade, do it without the mayor of New York City. Michael Bloomberg said that he will not attend this year's festivities, because he was asked by organizers to disinvite two stars of the "Sopranos."

Now, the organizers here say basically that Lorraine Bracco and Dominic Chianese, who are the two stars that were set to march with Mayor Bloomberg, along with the rest of the cast of the "Sopranos," essentially perpetuate negative stereotypes of Italian Americans.

Now, Leon, of course the sopranos is the hit HBO series that basically follows the trials and tribulations of a mob boss and his family. Now yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg celebrated Columbus Day by marching in a parade up in the Bronx, far from the site here, of the organizers here in Manhattan. You will not see him here today. You will, of course, see the Governor George Pataki, who, of course, is up for re-election. This is what the mayor had to say yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MYR. MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (R), NEW YORK: Well, you know, the parade organizers have a right to decide who's in their parade. I'm going to be up in the Bronx having a lunch, and they're going to have a nice parade. And I hope all of the members of the city workforce that are Italian extraction or anything else, they want to march, they should march.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OKWU: Now, organizers are hoping it's not just going to be just about politics today. Franco Zeffirelli (ph), the noted film director is going to be the grand marshal this year. He will one of some 35,000 people making their way up to Fifth Avenue. And the organizers say even though they usually have about 150,000 people here, this year because of all the controversy, they may very well have twice that number.

But, of course, as you heard the mayor say, he will not be sulking in some corner somewhere. He will be having an extended lunch uptown at the Bronx at a very popular Italian restaurant with two of his friends from "The Sopranos" -- Leon.

HARRIS: As they say Michael, only in New York.

Surprise, surprise.

Exactly.

OKWU: Good grief. Thanks, Michael. Michael Owku, have a good time with that parade. We'll see you in just a bit.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired October 14, 2002 - 11:12   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Another year, and yet another New York City parade tangled in controversy. Mayor Michael Bloomberg invited two stars from the hit TV show "The Sopranos" to march alongside with him in today's Manhattan Columbus Day Parade. However, they are not marching, and neither is he. Let's find out what this is all about.
Michael Okwu steps in to hopefully explain all this.

Michael, what's the word.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, this is the 58th annual Columbus Day Parade, but it may very well be remembered more for the controversy than the actual festivities. At about 12:00 this afternoon, starting at about 44th street down here on Fifth Avenue, and all the way up to 79th Street, some 40 bands and about 30 floats will make their way up the avenue, and for the first time in the history of this parade, do it without the mayor of New York City. Michael Bloomberg said that he will not attend this year's festivities, because he was asked by organizers to disinvite two stars of the "Sopranos."

Now, the organizers here say basically that Lorraine Bracco and Dominic Chianese, who are the two stars that were set to march with Mayor Bloomberg, along with the rest of the cast of the "Sopranos," essentially perpetuate negative stereotypes of Italian Americans.

Now, Leon, of course the sopranos is the hit HBO series that basically follows the trials and tribulations of a mob boss and his family. Now yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg celebrated Columbus Day by marching in a parade up in the Bronx, far from the site here, of the organizers here in Manhattan. You will not see him here today. You will, of course, see the Governor George Pataki, who, of course, is up for re-election. This is what the mayor had to say yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MYR. MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (R), NEW YORK: Well, you know, the parade organizers have a right to decide who's in their parade. I'm going to be up in the Bronx having a lunch, and they're going to have a nice parade. And I hope all of the members of the city workforce that are Italian extraction or anything else, they want to march, they should march.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OKWU: Now, organizers are hoping it's not just going to be just about politics today. Franco Zeffirelli (ph), the noted film director is going to be the grand marshal this year. He will one of some 35,000 people making their way up to Fifth Avenue. And the organizers say even though they usually have about 150,000 people here, this year because of all the controversy, they may very well have twice that number.

But, of course, as you heard the mayor say, he will not be sulking in some corner somewhere. He will be having an extended lunch uptown at the Bronx at a very popular Italian restaurant with two of his friends from "The Sopranos" -- Leon.

HARRIS: As they say Michael, only in New York.

Surprise, surprise.

Exactly.

OKWU: Good grief. Thanks, Michael. Michael Owku, have a good time with that parade. We'll see you in just a bit.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com