South Boston has been featured so often in film and TV, it was inevitable that a network would base a reality TV show from the neighborhood. That time has come in the form of A&E’s upcoming Southie Rules.
The Town, Good Will Hunting, The Departed, Boondock Saints and Mystic River are just a few of the films that have been centered around the area or a character from the historically Irish Catholic streets. Heck, we even did a post on a reality parody called The Real Housewives of South Boston.
Times have changed over recent years and the show focuses on a family, all living in a 3-story-house, who are battling gentrification of the place they call home. Via the official press release:
But nowadays, these self-professed “last townies standing” are no longer the majority in their neighborhood. Outsiders (better known to the family as “the yuppies”) continue to move into the area and radically change everything in the neighborhood – driving up real estate prices and driving out the long-standing locals. Despite it all, the family continues to embrace their “Southie” way of life and their traditions. To “yuppies,” jumping in the frigid harbor on New Year’s Day, housing three generations of a family under one roof, or never moving from the home you were born in may seem ridiculous, but to this family, it’s not just routine – it’s their way of life. These “Southies” are faithful to their legacy, and they’re not budging, unless they kill each other first.
Enough of the formalities, let’s meet the wicked awesome folks from Southie Rules:
Camille Niedzwiecki
Camille Niedzwiecki is a strong woman, born and raised in Southie, but a total softy when it comes to her kids. She pays every bill in an effort to not lose the family house to “those damn yuppies.” As if trying to keep this family together wasn’t hard enough, Camille also tries to save all the “Wounded Birds” of Southie.
Following a local scandal, Boston.Com put together a list of Probation Office employees who had donated to political campaigns and Camille’s info came up. At the time of the post she worked as a probation officer manager for Suffolk Probate and Family Court. She earned $53,430 annually.
Leah Lentini Winters
Growing up in Southie during the time when Whitey Bulger ruled the streets, this Southie sweetheart learned to take crap from no one. At 39 Leah Lentini Winters survived cancer, met her (much younger) husband, had a daughter (Abby) and now lives on the bottom floor of her mom’s house. This former probation officer is a stay-at-home mom and the glue that holds everything together.
Walter Niedzwiecki
From the time his sons Jonathan and Matt were very young, Walter Niedzwiecki was battling his own demons. Now sober for several years, he adores his sons, and while he constantly gives them a hard time, he also cuts them plenty of slack. He is hopelessly in love with Camille, his ex-wife who he still shares a bed with, but she considers them to be friends, and nothing more.
Jonathan Niedzwiecki
Camille and Walter’s oldest son, and always a golden boy, Jonathan Niedzwiecki’s focus is on keeping the family tattoo shop running. Jonathan witnessed his father’s battles with his demons, and as a result, rarely drinks, never smokes and has never touched a single drug. He and Jessy seem to be attached at the hip, which can cause friction in the family as they haven’t yet totally accepted Jessy as one of their own.
According to the Better Business Bureau he is listed as the owner of Route 9 Tattoo and Body Piercing. You can check out the shop’s Facebook page here.
Matt Niedzwiecki
Matt Niedzwiecki is the baby in the family and because of it gets a free pass from mom. He works for his older brother in the family tattoo shop. He lets Jon, and his baby mama, Jenn, dictate a lot. He buries himself in video games to avoid drama from his girlfriend and loves messing with yuppies.
Jennifer Mazzeo
Jennifer Mazzeo is the youngest of the legendary Mazzeo sisters, four strong-willed and striking Southie girls who banded together after their mom took off. Although she was a straight-A student, Jenn dropped out of school at 16 continuing her education on the Southie streets. Jenn and Matt have broken up a million times since they got together at 15, but are working hard on their relationship now that that they have a daughter (Lianna) together.
Jarod Winters
Jarod Winters went from being a single wine salesman to a married man who lives in his in-laws’ house with a big crazy family. They come to him to complain, and Jarod plays shrink to them all. When trouble arises, as it often does in this house, Jarod tries to keep the peace with his goofy demeanor. Jarod is married to Leah.
Devin
Devin has no job and doesn’t want one. He sleeps on the family’s couch, eats their food, drinks their beer and is kept around because he’s a big goof that makes everyone laugh.
Jessica
Jessy started dating Jonathan immediately after he divorced his wife of nine months. Ever since, they have been attached at the hip and Jessy keeps him on a short leash. A hair-dresser from the suburbs, Jessy has a hard time fitting in with the family and often tries too hard, which just makes it worse.
Southie Rules is set to hit the little screen Jan 29th at 10PM EST.
