Oh sure, it's easy to belittle this long-forgotten monstrosity. Yes, it wasn't funny. Yes, the acting was shockingly poor. Yes, the episodes seem to have been directed by a dog with a camera strapped to its back. Yes Yes Yes. What most people failed to appreciate was that although the show lacked any entertainment value, it presented for the American public sociological insights into South Boston and, especially, the people who live there. It was particularly effective at representing the poor reasoning and verbal skills, the violent drunkenness, and the ubiquitous self-pity that are defining characteristics of the typical "Southie." The only things missing were the constant spitting and spontaneous vomiting.