Growing Up Gotti was an American television reality show that appeared on A&E on Mondays at 9:00 p.m. EST. The show followed the life of Victoria Gotti, daughter of late Mafia boss John Gotti and her three sons, Carmine Gotti Agnello, John Gotti Agnello and Frank Gotti Agnello or "Frankie", by her ex-husband, mobster Carmine Agnello.
Much of the show centered around single mother Victoria attempting to deal with her frequently out of control boys and incompetent personal assistants. The show also highlighted the family's glamorous Nouveau riche lifestyle in their Old Westbury, Long Island mansion.
A&E has faced criticism for this show. Some felt that A&E was showcasing a family living in luxury that was purchased by blood money made by John Gotti. They felt the network was glorifying organized crime. Many have also complained about the foul language used on the show, as well as the dysfunctional relationship between Victoria Gotti and her sons. The Smoking Gun launched a parody of sorts entitled Blowing Up Gotti, which consisted of family visits to John Gotti while he was in prison that prison officials routinely taped.
Due to declining ratings, A&E pulled the plug on Growing Up Gotti at end of 2005. A&E has stated that the show will not be renewed for a fourth season. At its peak, the show raked in about 3.2 million viewers but recent episodes have averaged just under 800,000.
External links
- Growing Up Gotti at EPisodeWorld.com
- Official website
- Growing Up Gotti parody by MADtv
Categories: Reality television series | 2000s TV shows in the United States | John Gotti | A&E Television Networks | Television program stubs