Written by Heather Foley
Fess up! You watched “Southie Rules” last night? Of course you did! Well, what did you think? If you’re anything like the majority of my Twitter and Facebook feeds you didn’t give it 4 stars. I have to admit, I feel very conflicted about it. First of all let me state that believe it or not, I really wanted to like it. I always root, root, root for the home team, and coupled that with the fact that everyone seemed to decide to hate it before it even aired (because I love an underdog) I was really hoping A&E was going to step up to the plate. Well, I’m more than a little disappointed today, I’m full on bummed.
A compliment to start, I’m pleasantly surprised with how likable the family came across. I’m not even saying this to be fresh. I thought for sure the footage would be edited to portray them in the most unflattering way. I was anticipating cringing because the network decided to make the family the butt of the joke (a la Honey Boo Boo), but I was wrong. The family came across as funny, loyal, loving, and overall the kind of people you’d like to grab a drink with. Osbournes light maybe?
Now my beefs – well it’s really just one beef, which I’m sure is the same beef all ya’ll have, fakedy fake fake fake. I’m not new to the reality TV scene folks, I know the vast majority of the stuff is completely set up and I accept it, heck I encourage it because most people left to their own devices are incredibly boring. However “Southie Rules” seemed to take it to another level. It’s like A&E told VH1 we see your “Couples Therapy” and raise you a meatball fight. I just don’t get it. How do I know it’s fake? Well geography is your first clue. Who goes from M St. Park to Bell’s Market for shallots? No offense to Bell’s, but you pass Stop and Shop, K &8 th, and American Provisions on your way. But good for Bell’s for getting some screen time (seriously support local businesses guys, if Bell’s is in your hood you should shop there). Speaking of geographical boo-boos, Victory Park? Really? I have driven by Victory Park countless times, I have never, ever seen anyone there with their kids. Maybe because it’s a dog park?
I think we can all agree the biggest clue about just how fake this show is came in the form of a yuppie mom’s club party. Holy moly was this staged. Seriously, could not have been any faker if it had been shot on green screen, heck maybe it was shot on a green screen, who knows anymore. Completely unrelated (kinda), but was “Newlyweds” the last true reality show? Anyway, how uncomfortable was this whole scene? I felt bad for everyone involved. It’s like they all knew they were taking part in something ridiculous but it was too late. That ice breaker game may have been the dumbest three minutes I’ve ever seen on TV, and I watched “Daisy of Love”. “Have you ever spilled Pinot…” okay whoever wrote this line you needed to clarify “Pinot Noir” because Pinot Grigio would not stain and for whatever reason this bother me way more than it should have. And “Have you ever passed off non-organic as organic…”, no one ever has, because people who ask if everything is organic never get invited to parties because they are terrible and exhausting, duh. And what dumb luck that porno was in the DVD case, ammirite?
Okay, so in my humble opinion “Southie Rules” felt more sitcom than reality show, and “Three’s Company” hijinks at that. So what’s your game A&E? If you want to do a sitcom, by God hire some actors, a few good writers and get on with it. If you want to give us a reality show than don’t make it so contrived. The Niedzwiecki family clearly has enough personality to carry a true reality show, so just set the cameras, sit back and chill out. Come on A&E, give this family a shot without your set ups, they don’t need it. Oh and if I ever got to a bachelorette party and there were no meatballs or stripper, I’d be pissed.
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After watching this show now I know why Italians and Polish people can not have kids.
Heather well said, this show took on no life of its own and that is what you need from a reality show. You need originality and character and I didnt see either with anyone on the show. The only one who seems to be even entertaining is Devin. Everyone else seems to be more concerned with how they look on camera and making themselves look good. The coaching on the constant “those” people is priceless and awfully annoying. You never hope for a show to get cancelled but in this case I think if this is this familys day job they need to find a new one!
NO MEATBALLS OR STRIPPERS !!!!!!!!!!!! OH THE HUMANITY !!!!
Yes, I watched Southie Rules.. Boring and dumb. I’d rather watch Buck Wild anytime. You might call those Southern guys and gals rednecks and hicks, but they enjoy life and put on a hell of a show..
I agree . family was funloving they didnt disgrace anyone but the FAKENESS is stupid if u didnt know wha to do with this family and they werent interesting enough then cast another.y make stuff up. unrealistic but cute.
What a sham they spent that much money on a show like that, I lived in Southie Most of my life and it was nothing like that, Southie people REAL Southie People Have respect for each other and are hard workers not the trash that they showed the world. it should be taking off the air and they should make a show about how all the Southie Families were forced out of Southie to move the trash in.
Oh, a dog park! I guess that explains why the little girl was bopping around yelling “poop!” every few seconds.
Who the hell goes down N st. to second when thier heading to the Polish Club at Andrew Square from M st. This show was painful to watch.
I must admit I was secretly excited to watch this show… and I love a good reality show but this was incredibly disappointing.. I thought the family was charming and some of the characters were actually quite funny but that was the problem, they were characters, not people.. For the most part they felt like actors who were given a script and told to play exaggerated versions of themselves.. Not only was it obviously staged by unrealistic navigation through locations and poorly scripted one liners but I did a little digging and the location of there so-called “family home” at 783 E Broadway is listed for sale on google maps.. So was it bought by production and used only for filming? hmmm..
I tuned in to catch some shots of my neighborhood, and that was cool, but I never watch reality TV. Even so, it’s just obvious that the lines that are coming out of these people’s mouths are not original and spontaneous. Normal people don’t talk like sitcom actors, and neither do Southie residents :)
Fortunately, Jenn is smoking hot so maybe I’ll stick with it.
Ok, I admit, I knew right from the beginning, before it aired, that this was a totally fabricated show. There were countless articles about how the girl Jenn is not even from Massachusetts. A old friend of hers ratted her out. So, clearly she is an actor. And she has no Boston accent. The ones that do have the accent, force it to much. Saying “wicked” all the time, or making sure the don’t pronounce their “r’s” (when the one lady referred to her daughter going to HAH-VAD University), it honestly was painful to watch. And I agree with another poster here, the only funny, dare I say “genuine” guy on the show, is Devon. His one liners and comebacks are the only thing that made me laugh during the show. Perhaps A&E should give Devon his own show? And the mom walking in on her son stripping just as he whips of his underwear?! Really? UGH….I will def not watch another episode. Sad too, cuz i’m born and raised in Beantown and I was REALLY hoping it would be a hit :( You missed the mark A&E, sorry :(
Not one person could d othe 2 index fingers for the tattoo. Fake Southie residents.
and what superior race are you mr hitler?
Jenn is from South Boston. I’ve known her mother since we were kids. LOL! The family are from Southie. It’s just a badly scripted show.
I wanted to like it too, and I do admire their attempts – however it was so obviously fake, especially the mommy meeting, but I am enjoying hearing the accents I love so well, and am hoping that the scripts will get better. I do like the family, and I hope they make a ton of money.
I wouldn’t blame the family. It seems like the producers of this show really believe the myth that reality TV only needs some likeable characters and a camera. Horrible editing, jump cuts every 3 seconds, only adds to the utter lack of focus. The spots where they did try and script something were clear, because they were so lame. Honestly, it seems like they didn’t have the kind of patience the 1st season jersey shore producers had, to just role tape and legitimately let the people get comfortable and let their real personality come through. These guys never seem to forget a camera is in the room.
Fake or not, it actually made me laugh out loud and that does not happen very often.
just pulled up address on the registry of deeds site, and that home traces back to camille and walter as far back as 1982. thought jenn was smokin hot, and then jess showed up, wow!!!! hot hot hot… i believe the tatoo shop is on rt9 in framgham, right before the 126 overpass. does anyone know how long they have owned it for? i wonder if jess is from framingham, or if she works at the hairdressing joint , knockouts, which is across the street from the tatoo shop? hope the show stays on , just because it is always nice to see streets and sites that i am familiar with on tv.