The two most famous mob shows on television are ABC's The Untouchables and HBO's The Sopranos. Both shows were and are controversial and also ratings blockbusters. They have been accused of defaming the reputation of Italian Americans, yet are enormously popular with Americans of all ethnici-ties. But much the way that the mobster has been a staple of the movies, gangsters have been bad guys in television for as long as the little box has been beaming signals into households across the country.