Ralph Macchio may be better known for delivering crane kicks than reality TV, but the former Karate Kid has learned a few new moves in recent years (and not just thanks to his stint on "Dancing with the Stars"). Now, Macchio is making his first foray into reality-show producing with the National Geographic Channel's "American Gypsies."
Premiering on Sept. 3rd, the new docu-series follows the Johns, a Romani family (more familiarly, and derogatorily, known as "gypsies") living in New York City. The prominent and outspoken family let Macchio and his crew in to film them as they struggle to keep their traditions alive, pulling back the curtain on a subculture that prides itself on staying pure from outside influence, all in the hopes of dispelling negative stereotypes about gypsy culture.
HuffPost TV recently spoke to Macchio in advance of his new show's Canadian premiere. We chatted about the Johns family,...
Premiering on Sept. 3rd, the new docu-series follows the Johns, a Romani family (more familiarly, and derogatorily, known as "gypsies") living in New York City. The prominent and outspoken family let Macchio and his crew in to film them as they struggle to keep their traditions alive, pulling back the curtain on a subculture that prides itself on staying pure from outside influence, all in the hopes of dispelling negative stereotypes about gypsy culture.
HuffPost TV recently spoke to Macchio in advance of his new show's Canadian premiere. We chatted about the Johns family,...
- 9/2/2012
- by The Huffington Post TV Canada
- Huffington Post
American subcultures have become a hot trend in the past year, with TV shows delving into the lives of the Amish, a group called the Hutterites and, perhaps most infamously -- and entertainingly, in some instances -- Gypsies (some of whom prefer to be called Roma). TLC has had hits with "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" and "My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding," which were not short on gaudy fashions, emotional fireworks and dramatic fisticuffs -- and that was just among the women. National Geographic Channel now has its own Roma series, "American Gypsies" airing Tuesdays.
Co-executive produced by Ralph Macchio, "American Gypsies" follows one of New York's most prominent Roma clans, the Johnses, who struggle to preserve their age-old customs and keep power in their community. One of the Johns sons, Bobby, particularly struggles with balancing his family's old ways and letting his daughters experiment with branching out into...
Co-executive produced by Ralph Macchio, "American Gypsies" follows one of New York's most prominent Roma clans, the Johnses, who struggle to preserve their age-old customs and keep power in their community. One of the Johns sons, Bobby, particularly struggles with balancing his family's old ways and letting his daughters experiment with branching out into...
- 7/24/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Viewers have already gotten a glimpse into the world of gypsy culture with "My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding." Executive producer Ralph Macchio is taking them all the way in to meet the Johns family on "American Gypsies" (Tue., 9 p.m. Et on National Geographic).
Macchio told HuffPost TV that "this story needed to be told." He compared the very real family to characters from "The Godfather" or "The Sopranos." And he promises that this series is true reality.
"One could agree there is very little reality in reality television," Macchio said. "You are force-fed what you are supposed to believe is actual. That’s frustrating. In our show, the Johns family is the Johns family."
The premiere episode quickly introduced viewers to the idea of gypsy law. This subculture within New York City has their own code of behavior and expectations, like their law that no gypsy business can...
Macchio told HuffPost TV that "this story needed to be told." He compared the very real family to characters from "The Godfather" or "The Sopranos." And he promises that this series is true reality.
"One could agree there is very little reality in reality television," Macchio said. "You are force-fed what you are supposed to believe is actual. That’s frustrating. In our show, the Johns family is the Johns family."
The premiere episode quickly introduced viewers to the idea of gypsy law. This subculture within New York City has their own code of behavior and expectations, like their law that no gypsy business can...
- 7/18/2012
- by Jason Hughes
- Huffington Post
Viewers have already gotten a glimpse into the world of gypsy culture with "My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding." Executive producer Ralph Macchio is taking them all the way in to meet the Johns family on "American Gypsies" (Tue., 9 p.m. Et on National Geographic).
Macchio told HuffPost TV that "this story needed to be told." He compared the very real family to characters from "The Godfather" or "The Sopranos." And he promises that this series is true reality.
"One could agree there is very little reality in reality television," Macchio said. "You are force-fed what you are supposed to believe is actual. That's frustrating. In our show, the Johns family is the Johns family."
The premiere episode quickly introduced viewers to the idea of gypsy law. This subculture within New York City has their own code of behavior and expectations, like their law that no gypsy business can open...
Macchio told HuffPost TV that "this story needed to be told." He compared the very real family to characters from "The Godfather" or "The Sopranos." And he promises that this series is true reality.
"One could agree there is very little reality in reality television," Macchio said. "You are force-fed what you are supposed to believe is actual. That's frustrating. In our show, the Johns family is the Johns family."
The premiere episode quickly introduced viewers to the idea of gypsy law. This subculture within New York City has their own code of behavior and expectations, like their law that no gypsy business can open...
- 7/18/2012
- by Jason Hughes
- Aol TV.
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