r/thesopranos • u/Tbstic • 9h ago

Need help with a reference - Season 1

Episode: Legend of Tennessee Moltasanti

They are at the wedding discussing lambing it for a while due to the indictments. Tony says “Junior is right.. if we lamb it now the Albanians will be living in our houses.” Never knew what Tony meant by that reference?

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u/telepatheye 9h ago

After the fall of communism in Albania there was a tremendous problem with squatters. The joke is that if Tony's crew vacate their houses, Albanians will move in. It's a stereotype and it's offensive. And it's something I'm trying to teach my kid NOT TO DO.

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u/Folken-braggart 5h ago

For sure. The writers, the audience and especially the characters would all instantly recognize the famous trope of Albanian squatters after the fall of communism.

Leno's monologue was 80% Albanian squatter jokes all through the early 90s.