The original “Situation”

My husband HATES The Jersey Shore. We never watch it, but from the clips we see on television he finds the whole thing so offensive. I find it amusing, which does make me a terrible human being, let’s be clear. Let’s just say, I’m not a native New Yorker and leave it at that. I suppose that the barrage of television depicting people from middle America as simple, slow and chubby only to be healed by the hand of Oprah or some swapping of spouses gives me a small bit of vindication. I understand stereotypes are harmful and offensive. I’m a woman, I get it. But it is easier to laugh at when it’s not you. The fact that juiced up guys are the butt of the joke doesn’t really bother me that much. Call it revenge.

People from the Mid West are smart, funny and hard working. Just because they may have a few extra pounds on them and that their jobs are not primarily in the entertainment or financial industry does not mean that there is no place for them in modern society. Can you imagine what would happen if there was no middle America? We would have no Al Capone. We would have no ER, no GM, no Second City, no Dorothy Gail. Jesus, NO OPRAH!

So if The Jersey Shore offends you, which it should, don’t get me wrong…here’s a great, great Pre-Code Gangster Movie. Let me know, but I’m pretty sure this was the original gangster movie. Let’s take a look at one of the most famous stereotypes in film. The little tough guy. The original“Situation”.

Little Caesar (1931)
Caesar Enrico Bandello: Did you ever stop to think what you’d look like with a lily in your hand?


So skip Jersey Shore and watch Little Caesar see…