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Set among the rich housewives of Jersey, this season portrayed an Italian-American family who was selective in their inner-circle. Some table fighting and "bubbies" later, and we see how tight-knit a family can be to protect their own. The housewives were like a tigers in the jungle, protecting their young from enemies (complete with a tight leopard prints hiding their surgically-enhanced chests). While there was also some stripping, drug usage and plastic surgery, the main theme was apparent - family and food.

Italian women are not protecting their circle quietly, though. They are doing it loud and proud. Currently, Drea de Matteo is showing us this in all her network television glory. As the newest Italian housewife on Desperate Housewives, she is the character that seems most uninhibited. Sure, viewers are still left in the dark about her secret, but her dialogue is tough and about as slang-like as you can get on ABC. The loud and outspoken female role can even be seen on such light fare as The Golden Girls. Dorothy and Sophia Petrillo were tough Italian women who were rarely found in the shadows of their male counterparts.

So how do Caucasians view Italian-male counterparts? As better lovers. On an episode of 30 Rock, Alec Baldwin's character recalls his mother telling him as a boy that it is only Italians who use their tongues when kissing. Perhaps he wasn't saying that Italians are better, but it is a conclusion that I am making. At the very least, Baldwin was making reference to the romantic and uninhibited nature of the culture. It seems the greatest writer of all-time agreed with this notion, as William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet found the male lead wooing Juliet in the city of Verona.

Aside from the obvious Shakespeare tales, Some of the greatest love stories are fantasies of people being swept off their feet by an Italian. Gilles Marini rose to fame as the object of Kim Cattrall's affection in the Sex and the City movie ($152 million domestic), and more recently courting Rachel Griffith's character on Brothers and Sisters. Even Lizzie McGuire ($42 million domestic) swooned during her big screen outing when a trip to Italy led to a romance with a European pop star named Paulo. Perhaps my knowledge of the Lizzie McGuire franchise is helping dispel the notion that my people are sensual lovers, but once again, I digress.

As Nine rolls out the red carpet and begins its race to the Best Picture finish line at the Academy Awards, take the time to see how your favorite television shows and film portray the Italian culture. For every Jersey Shore showing young people drinking and sexting, we have a Lizzie McGuire portraying my kind as dreamlike and romantic. Many are calling for Jersey Shore to be removed from the air. The problem is if we keep watering down our art to avoid stereotypes, what kind of art will we have? Isn't the whole point of art to evoke emotion from the audience? It seems to me that people get so upset so often, that we will eventually see nothing and have nothing that challenges us as viewers.

It is also important for everyone to decide for himself or herself what it is they want to enjoy. For every person who is offended by the mob nature of The Sopranos, there is another ten who are inspired by its brilliance. In the end, good storytelling will prevail. Time will tell if Nine succeeds in promoting any of the positive or negative stereotypes of my culture. Either way, this holiday season I will be among family and friends, eating too much, talking loudly and loving hard. Living la Bella Vita. Oh, and I'll probably enjoy one of MTV's inevitable marathons of Jersey Shore.

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