When the third season of HBO's mob family drama "The Sopranos" debuts at 8 p.m. today, no one in Lawrence will be happier than Joe Mike Bonadonna and Frank Cherrito.
The two Italian-Americans love the show so much, they'll be throwing a big party tonight to celebrate its return from an extended hiatus the same thing they did last year when HBO kicked off the program's second season.
The season premierE of HBO's "The Sopranos" is highly anticipated by Lawrence's Joe Mike Bonadonna, left, and Frank Cherrito. The self-proclaimed "Sopranos"fans plan to hold a season-debut party tonight.
"We invite all the friends over about 30 people to watch the first episode," Bonadonna says. "We'll have a party at the house with a life-size Tony Soprano cardboard cutout. When you take a picture standing next to it, it looks like he's really there. We take pictures with Tony, we hand out cigars. And there'll be a lot of food ziti is No. 1 on the list."
Bonadonna and Cherrito run the Hawk Sheet, a weekly advertising magazine with offices at 1400 W. Sixth St.
Last year's "Sopranos" party at Bonadonna's home featured a costume contest in which guests came dressed as characters from the show.
"I came as Tony (Soprano). I have a track sweatsuit, a little bit of jewelry, comb my hair back and I'm there," Bonadonna says.
At that party, Cherrito came as one of Tony's mob associates.
"I dressed up as Paulie Walnuts, with the sweatsuit, the gold chain, this silver spray in my hair to make me look older," Cherrito says. "I haven't really decided who I'm going to be this year."
The winners of that costume contest were a group of women who came as the Bada Bing girls dancers at the club where Tony's crew hangs out in between clipping other mobsters.
The women's prize: a CD of music from the show and a box of bullets.
So, will there be any good Italian food at Bonadonna's bash?
Fuhgedaboutit.
Bonadonna and Cherrito will repeat the menu from last year's "Sopranos" party. They're ordering in two big trays of ziti pasta from Cascone's, an Italian restaurant in the River Market area of Kansas City, Mo. Olives and cheese will come from Scimeca's Market Imports & Domestic Foods; marinated artichoke from Anthony's Restaurant & Lounge; and sausage from Scimeca's Italian Sausage Co., all in Kansas City, Mo.
Mangia!
Though Bonadonna hosts these parties, Cherrito is no slouch when it comes to enthusiasm for the mob show.
"Last year, they had the tryouts for 'The Sopranos.' I flew to Jersey for it, but they were turning people away right at the airport," he says of his attempt to get a bit part. "It was like mayhem. I didn't even get to see the set."
What can those not invited to Bonadonna's party do tonight?
Relax there's no need to whack somebody.
Get the members of your crew together for "Sopranos Sunday" at Jack Flanigans Bar & Grill, 806 W. 24th St. Owner Dannie Thompson is planning a series of special gatherings for "Sopranos" fans each Sunday an episode airs. He did the same thing last year.
"We had a pasta special, and we had 'The Sopranos' on our big-screen TV, and we have TVs in each booth. People love to come here and watch it and eat," Thompson says.
But you won't find a "Sopranos" viewing party tonight at the one place in town where you might expect it: Bada Bing, 913 N. Second St.
The business takes its name from the fictitious topless club on the HBO program. But that's where the "Sopranos" connection ends. No mob theme, no wait staff dressed as tough guys.
"Right now, we're a 'juice' bar that just has the name from the show," says Bada Bing manager Jacquie Long.
"The Sopranos" third-season debut will go unnoticed in the club, which features nude dancing. There aren't any TVs to watch it on.
"We want customers to focus on the girls, not TV," Long says.
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