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  • TUESDAY AUGUST 14 2007 8:00 PM

Sopranos Star Makes First of Several Expected Career Missteps



There are some actors out there who’d frown at the idea of doing commercials and endorsing products. Specifically, things that would cheapen or demean a great performance from a beloved work. You know who doesn't feel that way?

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has issued a statement condemning an apparent “Sopranos” product tie-in: A pool cue endorsed by former cast member Joseph Gannascoli. During the sixth season, Gannascoli’s character Vito Spatafore was beaten to death, and then sodomized, with a pool cue after his mob crew discovered he was gay.


Class. Act.

As you can see, Joey is the consummate artist and we're certainly not in a position to judge him. After all, perhaps he’s merely preparing for a role as a fatso, skinflint, cheeseball.

The gay and lesbian community embraced the “Sopranos” storyline because “Gay Vito” was a sympathetic character and his death brutally demonstrated intolerance. The pool cue is marketed by a company called Rockwell Billiards, which, in an epic moment of poor-taste decision-making, branded the product with the phrase “A Cue to Die For.”

“GLAAD is calling on Rockwell Billiards and Gannascoli to remove the name, ‘A Cue to Die For,’ from this product immediately and apologize for using such a vulgar symbol of violence and anti-gay bigotry to make a profit,” read the GLADD statement.


I don’t know that I’d categorize the act of selling it as specifically anti-gay, as much as it is anti-Sopranos, anti-pool, anti-taste, and anti-good idea.

He’s got similar products marketed with the “to Die For…” label including a cigar and, uh, book. And I bet he’d be hawking a just as crass cash-in in other circumstances. Had his character gone the way of Big Pussy I’m sure we’d be talking about “to Die For…” fish-food and “not in the face” cream. I’m sure he’ll issue a statement claiming as much, that he’s just commemorating the show with his schlock memorabilia, etc.

The bigger concerns I have are that A) he’s tarnishing the show with his bush-league, money-grubbing product, B) it’s a shitty product, and, C) I’m sure he thinks it’s a funny idea, and it’s not.

This is the sort of bad idea you expect from a shady internet company that is quickly sued by HBO, the actor playing the character, and anyone else involved with the show. Not only is he not against the product, he's actually endorsing it. Saying to the world, I wholeheartedly stand behind this piece of exploitative garbage.

I'm sure after witnessing the care and seriousness he handles his characters with, future showrunners will be lining up to sign him for their next high-profile project.

How could this be any shittier a product? Well, the "R" in the logo is a gun. Yup, just like the gun in the Sopranos' logo. Annnnd the phrase "Bada Break" is written on it, in the style of the Bada Bing strip club's sign. Class all the way... All that's missing is the voiceover guy's cries of "Now, you too, can own this limited edition item immortalizing everyone's favorite rage-fueled, hate crime! Act now, supplies are limited!"

Without even checking IMDB, you know how I know Joe wasn't in "Schindler's List"? Because he's never sold commemorative "Holocaust ashtrays."


TheCoolerKing was saddened to hear of the recent death of HBO's "John From Cincinatti."

 

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cowboybert

cowboybert

West Palm Beach, FL
September 2006

AUG 14, 2007 08:45 PM

Well, Artie Lange is endorsing it on their web site, so it can't be bad. Seriously, you're right-most people don't give a shit these days as long as there's a dollar in it. I would like to see one of those singing fish things with Big Pussy singing Strangers in the Night.

bily

bily

Ann Arbor, MI
November 2003

AUG 14, 2007 09:02 PM

It's a pool cue. It was a T.V. show. No ones REALLY getting hurt. We do live in a capitalist democracy. What a bunch of whiners. Let the people make their money. No one is getting hurt!

Postblank

Postblank

New Brunswick, NJ
June 2004

AUG 14, 2007 09:06 PM

cowboybert said:
Well, Artie Lange is endorsing it on their web site


Yes because Artie Lange is the ultimate judge of what a good, tasteful idea is.

BDeyeD

BDeyeD

Toronto, ON
January 2007

AUG 14, 2007 09:15 PM

Of tact and taste, he has none. Seriously. puke skull

punk

punk

Phoenix, AZ
January 2004

AUG 14, 2007 09:21 PM

I suppose they could have called it "The Sodomiser" instead.

OctEgon

OctEgon

Tustin, CA
July 2005

AUG 14, 2007 09:51 PM

As great as The Sopranos was, they product placed the shit out of everything on that show.

"What's this about Jews?"

"No! Jamba Juice! It's smoothies!"

RyleeStrange

RyleeStrange

Los Angeles, CA
February 2007

AUG 14, 2007 09:55 PM

bily said:
It's a pool cue. It was a T.V. show. No ones REALLY getting hurt. We do live in a capitalist democracy. What a bunch of whiners. Let the people make their money. No one is getting hurt!



+1

balekoner

balekoner

Bakersfield, CA
May 2007

AUG 14, 2007 10:09 PM

who cares how someone makes a buck? there is many worst ways others earn their living. Leave the poor unemployed actor alone.

shapeshifter23

shapeshifter23

San Francisco, CA
September 2005

AUG 14, 2007 10:52 PM

Subrosa

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA
July 2004

AUG 14, 2007 11:10 PM

RyleeStrange said:

bily said:
It's a pool cue. It was a T.V. show. No ones REALLY getting hurt. We do live in a capitalist democracy. What a bunch of whiners. Let the people make their money. No one is getting hurt!



+1



You know, there's really absolutely nothing wrong with someone saying, in essence, "Ew. Bad taste."

Which is what is going on here.

Sheen

Sheen

United Kingdom
March 2006

AUG 14, 2007 11:26 PM

damn you, there was no spoiler warning! i'm only halfway through season 5 frown

Gerry_D

Gerry_D

Los Angeles, CA
May 2003

AUG 15, 2007 12:12 AM

Sheen said:
damn you, there was no spoiler warning! i'm only halfway through season 5 frown



I sympathize, but as a general rule spoiler warnings sort of expire after a season.

Subrosa

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA
July 2004

AUG 15, 2007 12:17 AM

Gerry_D said:

Sheen said:
damn you, there was no spoiler warning! i'm only halfway through season 5 frown



I sympathize, but as a general rule spoiler warnings sort of expire after a season.



SPOILERS! (Click to view)
Verbal Kint is Keyser Soze.

Kolic

Kolic

Broken Arrow, OK
July 2004

AUG 15, 2007 12:43 AM

In bad taste, sure...

But I lol'd, as the kids say these days...

Rafi

Rafi

Santa Monica, CA
January 2003

AUG 15, 2007 01:17 AM

Subrosa said:

RyleeStrange said:

bily said:
It's a pool cue. It was a T.V. show. No ones REALLY getting hurt. We do live in a capitalist democracy. What a bunch of whiners. Let the people make their money. No one is getting hurt!



+1



You know, there's really absolutely nothing wrong with someone saying, in essence, "Ew. Bad taste."

Which is what is going on here.



Don't you understand that anybody who criticizes anything is an anti-capitalist enemy of free speech who wants a full government ban on things they find distasteful?

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