Mob Wives Chicago

Like it's sister show, Mob Wives Chicago offers viewers a voyeuristic look into the lives of women who are reaping the consequences of having a relative or spouse who is allegedly affiliated with gangster-related organizations. While some of them appear to be enjoying some financial benefits from these relationships, they don't seem to be enjoying the money- and power-driven lifestyle as much as their Staten Island counterparts. Nonetheless, much like the New York wives, they quietly -- and with subtle pride -- accept the attitudes and moral codes of the community they grew up in.

Some plot lines -- like the desire of one wife's daughter to build a relationship with her incarcerated father and the attempt of another wife to locate her deceased father's grave -- have the potential to add some substance to the show. Unfortunately, the women's constant cursing and brawling, combined with discussions of their relatives' criminal behavior, makes it impossible to take them seriously. If anything, it only continues to reinforce some very negative stereotypes about Italian-Americans.