Mafia drama cast make an offer that is refused

It's tough being a mobster. It seems that even the showbiz Mafia can't please all of the people all of the time.

So it is for The Sopranos. The television series might have won every award going but the cast were told they are not welcome at a parade celebrating America's ethnic mix.

The Columbus Citizens Foundation, the organisers of a annual parade through New York to mark Columbus Day, on Monday, have said: "There is no place in a celebration of ethnic pride and heritage for the public display and promotion of programme that glorifies violence, debases women and portrays Italian-Americans in the worst possible light."