The Fanelli Boys

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The Fanelli Boys was a situation comedy broadcast in the United States by the NBC television network as part of its 1990-91 prime time schedule.

Theresa Fanelli (Ann Morgan Guilbert) was, following the death of her husband, prepared to sell the family business (a funeral home) to her son Anthony (Ned Eisenberg) and move from Brooklyn to Florida. Thwarting her plans were the arrival at the door of younger sons Ronnie (Andy Hirsch), who had just dropped out of school, and Frankie (Chris Meloni), whose engagement had just been broken. Another brother, the slightly disreputable Dom (Joe Pantoliano), was between hustles. Anthony learns that the funeral home is about $25,000 in debt, which he had not counted on. Soon, all are moved back into their boyhood home with their mom, just like the old days. Advising the family, somewhat dubiously, were Theresa's brother, a Catholic priest, ("Father Angelo", played by Richard Libertini) and fortuneteller Philomena (Vera Lockwood).

The Fanelli Boys showed fairly strong Italian-American ethnic stereotyping; there was even an Italian flag in the program's logo. What it did not show was strong ratings; the program was cancelled in February of 1991.