ORGANIZED PRIME
Brooklyn-based mob drama ‘Gravesend’ premieres on Amazon Prime
BY MEAGHAN MCGOLDRICK
A Brooklyn-based series years in the
making is finally ready to queue.
The first four episodes of “Gravesend,”
the ’80s mob series formerly known as “The
Neighborhood,” premiered on Amazon
Prime at midnight on April 2.
The brainchild of Gravesend native
William DeMeo, the series centers around
mob “soldier” Benny Zerletta (DeMeo), as
he grapples with leaving behind a life of
crime. Constantly challenged by his mother’s
dying wish for him to seek guidance
from above, Zerletta must find himself —
while managing to not get himself killed.
The show, in production since at least
2017, filmed the bulk of its first season in
the ‘hoods where DeMeo grew up.
“You’ve got Lenny’s Pizza, L&B, John’s
Deli, Joe’s Bar on Avenue U, Our Lady of
Grace Church — which is my parish — and
the list goes on,” said DeMeo, who doubles
as the show’s lead actor and director. The
crew even made sure to shoot at the nowshuttered
Vegas Diner, before it closed for
good.
DeMeo’s castmates include Louis
Lombardi, James Russo, Nicholas Turturro,
Leo Rossi, Paul Ben-Victor, Joseph
D’Onoforio, Patrick Borriello, Christina
DeRosa and even Bo Dietl, the former New
York City Police Department detective and
mayoral candidate.
“It’s so Brooklyn,” DeMeo said — down
to the series’ theme song, created specifically
for the show by fellow southern
Brooklyn native Michael McLeer. McLeer,
also known as Kaves, is a founding member
Brooklyn’s churches to stream Easter services
COURIER L 16 IFE, APRIL 10-16, 2020
of the musical group Lordz of Brooklyn.
“His song is gonna go bananas,” DeMeo
said.
The actor, best known for roles in films
like “Gotti” and “Back in the Day,” said
the new series will mirror a different notch
in his belt. “What the Sopranos did for
New Jersey, that’s what this show is for
Brooklyn,” said DeMeo, who played Jason
Molinaro on the hit HBO series from 2004
to 2007.
This isn’t the first time DeMeo has
paid homage to his hometown. In 2016,
he directed his first documentary film,
“Cruisin 86th St.,” which focused on southern
Brooklyn in the ’70s, ’80s and early
’90s.
In 2019, he brought his “Gotti” costar
John Travolta back to Lenny’s — the
Bensonhurst pizza place that, like Travolta,
had a starring role in the 1977 classic
“Saturday Night Fever.”
But DeMeo considers “Gravesend” one
of his best works. “This is all independently
made,” he said, “and it’s as good as what’s
on television — it’s network-ready. That’s
Natalie Guercio, who was on the 2015-season of
“Mob Wives,” is featured in an episode of the
show. Photo by Georgine Benvenuto
why it’s on Amazon Prime.”
And he hopes to expand upon the first
four episodes.
“As is, it’s kind of like a mini-series,”
DeMeo said. “But the goal is to do more
episodes — and I need the support of
Brooklyn to do that. I need Brooklyn to
spread love the Brooklyn way so that we
can keep going.”
The first four episodes of “Gravesend”
are now available to stream — and DeMeo
says it couldn’t have come at a better time
for Brooklynites who are stuck inside, looking
for a distraction amid the coronavirus
outbreak.
“I think this series will make people feel
good, you know, whether you’ve moved
away from Brooklyn or you’re still here and
just longing for that simpler time,” he said,
“like when you sat on your stoop with your
friends or when you cruised in the car down
86th Street.”
BY JESSICA PARKS
As the Easter holiday looms,
Brooklynites are looking for ways to celebrate
the occasion while obeying the stayat
home orders that ban large gatherings to
combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Thankfully, some churches are bringing
services to parishioners’ living rooms on
April 12, so locals can rejoice from their
living rooms!
Here is how you can celebrate while
confined in the safety of your home:
The Brooklyn Tabernacle
Downtown Brooklyn’s non-denominational
megachurch is adding some star
power to their “Hope is Alive! An Easter
Weekend Online Celebration” from 9 am to
10:30 am on Easter Sunday.
In addition to a sermon from Pastor
Steve Cymbala, the holiday program features
the Collingsworth Family, an allconcert
family ministry
Join the Brooklyn Tabernacle at 9 am on
Easter at www.brooklyntabernacle.com.
Good Shepherd Church
Not only is Marine Park’s Good Shepherd
Roman Catholic Church live streaming it’s
Easter service on Facebook in the morning,
the parish assembled a list of video clips
and full-length films for viewing after the
online mass. The additional resources will
provide the family with some insight into
the history and meaning of Easter.
Join Good Shepherd Church at 10 am at
www.facebook.com/goodshepherdbrooklyn/.
The Holy Trinity Church
The episcopal church in Brooklyn
Heights will post a pre-recorded Easter
Sunday mass to its website at 10 am. The
service will be followed by the “Ringing
of the Telephone Bells,” when parishioners
will connect throughout the holiday by
ringing each other up on the phone and
spreading cheer.
Join St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church
at 10 am on https://www.stannholytrinity.
org/.
Greenwood Baptist Church
Greenwood Baptist Church in Park
Slope will stream live to Facebook at 10:30
am. The Easter service will include hymns
for praise and worship and Rev. Willa Rose
Johnson will provide a sermon and share
announcements. The parish also provides a
Lenten prayer service daily on Facebook.
Join Greenwood Baptist Church at 10:30
am at www.facebook.com/gbcbrooklyn.
Trinity Lutheran Church
This Sunset Park parish will transmit its
Easter Sunday service to Facebook in both
English and Spanish at 11 am, ensuring
that everyone can take part of the festive
day — even though they will be doing so
from a distance.
Join Trinity Lutheran Church at 11 am on
Sunday at www.facebook.com/trinitylutheransunsetpark/
Back to Brooklyn: Actor William DeMeo, who grew up in Gravesend, stars in the new ’80s mob-drama
“The Neighborhood,” which filmed at the recently shuttered Vegas Diner on June 29.
Photo by Georgine Benvenuto
The Brooklyn Tabernacle in Downtown Brooklyn will stream its services online for Easter. Google
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