Organized crime has always been a secret wonder to the outside world. Its mystery and intrigue has plagued many people long before classics like "The Godfather," and "Goodfellas," came into the world of cinema. These films have been the one true look into the chaotic and confusing world of the mafia.

    Today, organized crime is no secret to and people are no longer oblivious to its rich tradition. The hit HBO original movie series, "The Sopranos," has brought the timeless actions of organized crime right into millions of living rooms nationwide.

    Compelling in nature, "The Sopranos," has a certain allure to it, in essence, attracting otherwise non-mob movie fans. The luring scriptwriting manipulates fans to watch and eventually you catch on, get hooked, and become addicted like a heavy smoker to a pack of cigarettes.

    Tony Soprano, the main character, is the only son of the family. He leads the main family operation and deals with all the details. His uncle Junior is the head of the business and ringleader of all affairs. Tony is married to Carmella, who has been at Tony's side since the beginning, but is recently having marital problems and forces him to see a therapist. Dr.Melfi, played by Lorraine Bracco, has the searing task of analyzing Tony and his traumatizing yet controlled mental state.

    The show itself has its funny moments and it has its sad moments. It is an emotional cyclone for the viewer as you go through a spectrum of emotions. One thing for sure is that the writers left nothing out in showing the audience a true organized crime operation. Nothing is watered-down and nothing is phony. When someone gets killed (whacked), you see the entire killing and all of the blood and gore in between. When someone dies, you see the entire funeral. When something goes wrong, you always know why, and you probably know what will happen next, depending on how loyal you are to the show.

    "The Sopranos" is now in its third full season on the HBO network, and ratings continue to thrive. This year's Oscars felt the impact of "The Sopranos" success as the award show's third hour of airtime ratings dropped of considerably because a new episode of "The Sopranos" was on. This dramatic show seems to be unstoppable as more and more viewers tune in each week to indulge. I for one have been a loyal fan for three years, and it amazes me how each episode gets better and better each week.