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Reality TV

TV’s “Roma” empire expands with NGC’s “American Gypsies”

American subcultures have become a hot trend in the past year, with TV shows delving into the lives of the Amish, a group called the Hutterites and, perhaps most infamously — and entertainingly, in some instances — Gypsies (some of whom prefer to be called “Roma”). TLC has had hits with My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding (which were not short on gaudy fashions, emotional fireworks and dramatic fisticuffs — and that was just among the women). National Geographic Channel is now starting its own Roma series, American Gypsies, this month. RELATED STORY: GYPSIES […]

Interview

CGM interviews “My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding” designer Sondra Celli!

Boston clothing designer Sondra Celli is catching her breath between prepping 30-plus blinged-out bikinis and an army of matching accessories for an upcoming gypsy luau and waiting for the UPS guy to arrive. “Thursdays are a little suicidal,” she chuckles. But it’s now 4pm and most of her loyal contingent of Traveller customers is in church, so I’m the only person calling. At least for the moment. As the longtime couturier of choice for America’s widespread gypsy and Traveller communities — and the unflappable star of TLC’s new Sunday night hit, My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding — Celli finds […]

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Lifestyle

“My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding” preview — Rockin’ Pat Baby!

As a proud devotee of all things Gypsy Wedding, I’ve been hoping against hope that My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding — now airing Sunday nights on TLC — would offer me up a U.S. version of my most beloved Irish Traveller, Paddy Doherty. • RELATED: Channel Guide’s exclusive interview with Sondra Celli On Sunday’s upcoming episode, “14 and Looking for Mr. Right,” I found him: Douglasville, Ga., resident and Romanichal gypsy Pat Baby. Proud paver, party-thrower and papa to his utterly stunning 14-year-old daughter Priscilla. Because 32-year-old Pat Baby and his 33-year-old wife LouAnn have raised their daughter in strict adherence […]

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Documentary

Gypsy TV: Gypsies are new trending topic for TV shows at TCA

For the first time cameras are taking viewers into the complex world of the American gypsy culture via two new series —National Geographic Channel’s American Gypsies (debuting later this summer) and TLC’s My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding (this spring). Ralph Macchio (Karate Kid) is the executive producer behind American Gypsies, a compelling look at one of Manhattan’s most prominent Gypsy families — the Johns family. Despite the title of their show, the family prefers to be referred to as Roma vs. Gypsies. “It was difficult to get people to open up on camera because the Roma have been taken […]