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Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The year was 1999, and 13-year-old Jimmie McCusker had an unusual Christmas wish. While most of the kids in his Brigantine neighborhood were asking for video games like “Resident Evil” and the latest “Legend of Zelda,” young Jimmie had only one request. “I begged my mom for HBO for Christmas, and she finally gave in,” McCusker said.
The reason: “The Sopranos,” a unique mob show that premiered that year which not only portrayed the blood and guts of organized crime but examined the personal lives of the characters after the murder and mayhem. “You can call me the super-est of super fans,” he says proudly. “I live and die by the show.
Nothing touches it. It’s so classic, so original. It was ahead of its time.
” Flash forward to 2024, and McCusker, of Little Egg Harbor Township, is writing his own crime stories set in the early days of casino gambling in Atlantic City. He includes places he knows, like the White House Sub Shop, and bars where he worked as a male revue dancer in his 20s. It was that unlikely past work experience that formed the basis of his second book, “The Edge.
” Developer says he'll spend over $1B on plans for Claridge and Sands properties in Atlantic City 'Mental health hold' keeps Hamilton school threat suspect from first court appearance Atlantic City casino profits fell by over 9% in 2024; only 2 of 9 properties saw increases Barnegat woman dies in Atlantic City Expressway crash Ocean Casino Resort plans $50M in renovations this year, including 559 rooms and suites Ocean City police search bridge after report of person jumping off it Jim Allen rose from dog-walking kid to global gambling titan atop the Hard Rock empire Man's bid to cash in $59,000 in chips from long-gone Playboy casino is rejected Atlantic City police officer accused of sexually assaulting handcuffed woman ordered held until trial Residents push back on $112M Ocean City budget Girl is killed and her sister is missing after fire destroys Millville homes US says it needs FAA tech center but won't rule out future layoffs. It also plans drone monitoring. Atlantic City mozzarella company to be featured on ABC's 'Shark Tank' Vote for this week's Press High School Athlete of the Week 11 accused of shoplifting from Brigantine Acme, other stores “For any guy in his 20s, it’s the ultimate job.
You’re making money and meeting women. The book is ‘Magic Mike’ meets ‘The Sopranos’ meets ‘Casablanca.’” Male dancing was one of several unusual jobs the aspiring writer undertook.
Besides his current job in sales, McCusker has worked as a substitute teacher, parked cars at the Carriage House in Galloway Township and even officiated weddings, something he still does. Glenn Rodriguez, 36, who grew up in Lower Township, is showing the world what he can create as an adult as the first full-length feature he has co-written and is one of the producers of, "The Bastard Sons," debuted in select U.S.
theaters and on video on demand and Prime Video last week. But the opportunity of a lifetime was about to hit him like a pair of cement shoes. To market “The Edge,” he targeted every bookstore in South Jersey, asking them to carry it.
He came across a store on the Ocean City Boardwalk that sold “Sopranos”-themed merchandise. He pitched his book, hoping to be included on their shelves, and was rewarded with an even bigger opportunity by the store owner. “He said I’ll try to get your book in the store, Jim, but I’m also working with one of the ‘Sopranos’ actors on a cookbook but we’re looking for an author.
Would you be interested to help us because we need help, we need a real author.” At first it sounded too good to be true, but it was the real deal. The owner put McCusker in touch with Robert Funaro, who played Eugene Pontecorvo, the conflicted hitman who was “made” with Christopher (Michael Imperioli) and later killed off after becoming an FBI informant.
Next thing, they’re meeting on Zoom calls, which led to an in-person meeting at Chico & Sons, a “Sopranos”-themed sandwich shop in Northfield. “It started to become more real this summer when we started writing this thing,” he said. This thing was “Homemade,” a cookbook with eight Funaro family recipes interspersed with behind-the-scenes stories about eight episodes of the show.
Funaro talks about his experiences and relationships with the other actors, especially the late James Gandolfini, who had been a good friend since the two started acting. When the series began, Gandolfini lobbied for Funaro to play the part of the sinister Ralphie, a role that ultimately went to Joe Pantoliano. “Hearing Robert talk about James, his friendship with him, made me feel like I knew the guy the way he did,” McCusker said.
“He spoke so fondly about him.” The following is a list of Christmas events happening in the region. If you know of other holiday events and would like us to add them to this list, let us know at newstips@pressofac.
com . Use the subject line "holiday events." And not only is it an interesting read for fans, he says the recipes, many of which he tried himself, are very tasty.
The process of co-writing a book was new to McCusker. He would write and present it to Funaro, who would add to it, make changes, and back and forth it went until they had the finished book. “We worked hand in hand on it,” he said.
“I picked out the episodes. I knew more about the show than him. He played in it, but I watched it more than him.
I said just talk to me about what happened. What were you feeling at the time? How did you prepare for it? I’d keep it in his voice as he’s telling me. It was a true partnership.
It’s Robert’s story, it’s Robert’s background, but I was able to give my two cents.” And while McCusker’s culinary skills are limited, he said he learned a lot and has improved in the kitchen. “Growing up microwaving SpaghettiOs was the extent of it,” he said.
Many of the recipes are Italian favorites, like Funaro’s take on chicken parmigiana and crabs in linguine. Surprisingly, not all of the recipes are Italian. Funaro wanted to include one recipe, Nick Fury Chicken, named after his Uncle Nick who fought in the Korean war.
He describes it as similar to a Chinese General Tso’s chicken with scallions and rice. Funaro, who lives on Staten Island in New York, loves to cook and is very good at it, McCusker said. They chose “Homemade” as the title as a nod to the “made” gangster and the fact that these are Funaro’s family recipes.
The whole process took just under a year, McCusker said. And the connection with Chico & Sons, which he calls the “Soprano home on the Jersey Shore,” also flourished. Funaro and McCusker will be there from noon to 2 p.
m. April 26 signing copies of “Homemade.” Buy a book, and Chico & Sons owner Karl Kulakowski will throw in a sandwich and drink on the house.
As for McCusker, he looks forward to pursuing more of the children’s books he started writing when he got married as gifts for his groomsmen, especially now that he has children of his own. Satisfy your cravings With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food. Author email {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
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