TLC's MAMA'S BOYS OF THE BRONX to Premiere 4/9

Forget about fresh baked bread, pasta and cannoli - Arthur Avenue is the place where growing up means never having to leave your mama. On Monday, April 9 at 10 PM (ET/PT), TLC shares a slice of the real Little Italy with MAMA'S BOYS OF THE BRONX, an eight-part series that follows five proud Italian-American men who grew up together and have plenty in common - they're attractive, employed, in their 30's and unapologetically still live with their mothers.

Friends Anthony, Frankie, Giovanni, Peter and Chip have it made. From cleaning their rooms, to ironing their underwear, to keeping their medicine cabinets stocked with their favorite hair gels, these men rely on their moms for almost everything. The mothers would love to see their sons married off to "good Italian girls," but until that day comes, they're perfectly happy having their precious boys at home. MAMA'S BOYS OF THE BRONX chronicles the fun-loving escapades of these adorable paisans - at work, at home, hanging out on their beloved Arthur Avenue or enjoying the Five Boroughs before they come home to their doting moms. Meanwhile, the mothers try to keep tabs on the partying, dreaming and scheming of their sons.

Meet TLC's Mama's Boys:

Anthony, 36 & Mom, Patti

Anthony recently gave up his position of manager of a car dealership to pursue his dream of producing a cartoon about the crazy and funny guys with who he grew up. Like The Simpsons but for Italian Americans, he's titled it Da Neighborhood. Eagerly on the prowl, Anthony finds it hard to meet a nice girl, much to his mother's chagrin. He goes tanning regularly, obsesses over his hair - he gets it cut twice a week - and he's always on the lookout for new clothes. He has a sly sense of humor and, despite dropping out of 7th grade, is so street smart he can run circles around most businessmen. Anthony's mother Patti is a spitfire, perhaps because she raised Anthony as a single mother in the Bronx for most of his life. She nicknamed him "the torturer" growing up and that title still rings true, but Patti is quick to fire back when her son gives her trouble. A longtime employee of the MTA, Patti spends her free time hanging out with her three sisters, all of who are interested in astrology and numerology.

Frankie, 38 & Mom,Gina

Frankie grew up as a bit of a street kid and followed the men in his family to become a construction worker. A hopeless romantic, he wants to find a girl just like his mother, Gina, to marry and start a family with. Lighthearted but hot tempered, Frankie likes to cook and go fishing. He and his parents bottle their own tomato sauce and homemade wine. Sweet and warm, Frankie's mother Gina always makes one feel at home. Born and raised in the Bari region of Italy, Mama Gina is a true gem in the kitchen; there is nothing that she cannot cook. Gina works part time at a local deli where she created a sandwich named in her honor. Her biggest wish is for Frankie to find a nice Italian girl to settle down with and give her grandchildren to spoil. Her laugh is larger than life and there is never a shortage of it when she and Frankie are together.

Chip, 36 & Mom, Camille

There is much more to Chip than his bulging biceps. He can be charming one second, snappy the next, and constantly cracks hilarious jokes. Chip grew up poor but worked hard and opened his own business: a small gym where he is the personal trainer. Chip's number one training client is Larry, his own version of Subway's Jared Fogel. Chip's hope is to get Larry into amazing shape and use the before and after photos as advertisement. His long-term goal is to franchise his gym to multiple locations and conquer the fitness world. Camille, Chip's mother, is our cat lady. She cares for the neighborhood feral cats, serving them food and water around the clock. Her "babies," as she likes to call them, live in the backyard in Styrofoam cat condos. Despite her warmth for cats, Camille is tough and not afraid to speak her mind.

Giovanni (aka "Johnny Margarita"), 38 & Aunt Gina

Giovanni is an aspiring fashion designer and wannabe wise guy. The feds gave him his nickname because his father's bar, where all the mobsters hung out, was called Café Margarita. Everybody loves Giovanni for his big heart and good intentions, but his friends grow frustrated when he talks a big game and rarely delivers. Giovanni loves to talk - given the opportunity, he won't shut up. He always talks about getting girls, getting paid and being the next Christian Audigier, but for now he designs clothes by night and pushes cannoli by day. Feisty and fun, Aunt Gina is almost as much of a ball breaker as her nephew Giovanni. Aunt Gina works as a bookkeeper for a local hospital and spends her free time singing in the church choir. A star in the kitchen, Aunt Gina's ravioli compare to no other. There is never a dull moment between Giovanni and Gina, especially around their favorite place, the kitchen table.

Peter, 28 & Dad Gus

Peter is the pampered prince of the bunch and loves his princess, Grazia. He is a pretty boy who wants to be an actor, but for now he works as a math teacher. He has been dating his girlfriend Grazia for a longtime and the pressure is on to take it to the next level. Gus, Peter's Dad, certainly has a taste for "La Dolce Vita." A self-made man, Gus believes in hard work and dedication to family. A father of four, Gus is our Mr. Mom who can whip up a mean batch of meatballs. Gus loves to travel and visits his family in ItAly Many times a year.

MAMA'S BOYS OF THE BRONX is produced for TLC by Red Line Films. Executive producers for Red Line are Peter Franchella, Aaron Rothman, and Al Szymanski and showrunner EP Lucas Platt. Executive producer for TLC is Alon Orstein.

To post a comment, you must register and login.