Rhode Island in the Spotlight
Need more true crime-inspired TV in your life? Here’s where you can catch Rhode Island on the small and big screen.
“The Penguin.” Photo courtesy of Macall Polay/HBO.
“The Penguin” (2024)
The eight-episode HBO original limited series from DC Studios follows the popular Batman character, “The Penguin,” a Gotham City mobster played by Colin Farrell, who recently won a Golden Globe award for his performance. Although the series is based on the fictional comic book characters, the character of “The Penguin” for the show was loosely inspired by former Mayor Buddy Cianci. Showrunner Lauren LeFranc is an alumna of Brown University and has said in interviews she based the character off Buddy because of his infamously corrupt nature and alleged mob ties.
STARRING: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Theo Rossi, Mark Strong
“Brotherhood” (2006–2008)
Set in an Irish-American neighborhood in Providence named “The Hill,” the three-season series, which originally aired on Showtime, tells the story of Tommy and Michael Caffee, two fictional brothers who exist on opposite sides of the law — Tommy, the family man working in politics, and Michael, the gangster. The series navigates the conflicts and challenges of family, politics and crime and was primarily filmed on location in Providence.
STARRING: Jason Clarke, Jason Isaacs, Fionnula Flanagan, Annabeth Gish
“The Sopranos.” Photo courtesy of HBO.
“The Sopranos” (1999–2007)
The widely popular early 2000s phenomenon follows Tony Soprano, a mob boss in New Jersey, as he navigates family life and criminal pursuits. The show is based in the Garden State, but the award-winning HBO drama has plenty of Rhode Island references sprinkled throughout. In an episode titled “The Weight,” Junior Soprano, Tony Soprano’s uncle, mentions the “Atwells Avenue Boys” to Tony in a nod to Federal Hill. Catch this scene during your next rewatch of the HBO classic.
STARRING: James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli
The Departed (2006)
The iconic blockbuster featuring a star-studded cast and directed by renowned filmmaker Martin Scorsese won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, back in 2007. The movie follows a group of Irish mobsters in South Boston and centers around undercover Massachusetts state trooper Billy Costigan and a corrupt cop, Colin Sullivan, who works as a spy for the mob. The film is based in Boston but includes several mentions of the Providence Mafia, and in one scene, protagonist Costigan beats up two Providence mobsters who use derogatory Irish terms while
trying to extort a store owner.
STARRING: Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen
You can also watch: Federal Hill (1994); Vault (2019); Tony Martone (2022)
