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TV's tough-talking mobsters become shills for a free ride
The season finale of "The Sopranos" in June left a big question in viewers' minds: Did the hit HBO series go too far in promoting elite vehicles?
Scriptwriters placed comments praising a Maserati, a Cadillac Escalade and a Nissan Xterra in the mouths of key characters.
In one episode, Johnny Sack shows off his Maserati coupe to an admiring Tony Soprano.
"It's always been a dream of mine to own a fine Italian sports car," Sack says. "Tops out at 176 miles per hour. Standing quarter, 13 and change."
The scene ends with Sack and Soprano savoring...