Dan MacMedan / Getty Images

“Little Steven” may not be originally from New Jersey, but he’s closely associated through his work with “The Boss” and The Sopranos - 2 things distinctive to The Garden State.  With love for all things Jersey, support for Steven Van Zandt is deserved (and you will reap the rewards through Netflix).

You may have last seen Van Zandt as a mentor on American Idol. He seems so comfortable in front of the camera, making me wonder why he would not do more work in TV or movies.

Little Steven at one point was not interested in an acting career beyond The Sopranos – he once told People magazine that he “had no desire to act in any other roles” while playing Silvio Dante in The Sopranos.  So a betting man would say that Steven would stop after receiving critical acclaim in The Sopranos and move on ……….. well you would lose here!

Turns out a Norwegian production company came to Van Zandt about a new opportunity that feels similar to his Soprano role, but has some twists that look promising.  Steven plays a mobster named Frank Tagliano.  The twist here is that he ratted out his boss, so he winds up in witness protection and asks to be sent to Lillehammer – the site of the 1994 Winter Olympics (apparently he was intrigued by the city after seeing it on TV).

This “fish out of water” situation seems to have wit and intensity.  In Norway, the show is already a monster hit averaging a Million viewers – according to the New York Times that is proportional to having about 58 Million viewers in the states.  So why haven’t you found this show yet?  Well, do you have Netflix?

Lilyhammer starring Steven Van Zandt has been released exclusively for Netflix, marking the first original series released through their service.  The show has been out there for months, and the reviews have been strong, but I only heard about this recently from my girlfriend who said her co-worker was raving about the series.

I got the chance to see the preview trailer on my girl’s new Droid Razr Maxx (this phone is sick, and I want one now!)  After being distracted for a second by the phone’s incredible HD viewing quality, the Lilyhammer preview has me hooked and wanting to watch.  Judge for yourself and remember that of you have any love for Springsteen or The Sopranos, you should at least give Little Steven’s new show a chance.

Flickr/Ian Britton

An accident early this morning at the intersection of Philadelphia Avenue and Moss Mill Road in Egg Harbor Township has taken the lives of 2 young men from South Jersey.

The Press of Atlantic City reports that Kevin Jepson, 21, of Washington Township, Burlington County, crossed into the opposite lane, crashing into trees on the southbound side of the road.  His passenger, Christopher Keating Jr., 21, of Egg Harbor City, was seriously injured and flown to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center’s City Division, where he also died.

6 ABC (WPVI-TV) reported that the Egg Harbor City Police Department responded to the crash scene and contacted the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Collisions Unit.

Ethan Miller / Getty Images

Today’s passing of Donna Summer at the age of 63 silences the voice that made her Queen of an era of music, and exposes a great injustice of her stellar singing career.

Donna Summer became known to many as the Queen of Disco.  During that era, nobody was more successful that the woman born LaDonna Andrea Gaines.  She was the only artist to have three consecutive “Double LP’s” hit No. 1 – “Live and More,” ”Bad Girls” and “On The Radio.”  Summer was also the first female artist with four No. 1 singles in a 13-month period.  The icing on the cake in her time as the Queen, Donna sang the 1979 Oscar winning Best Song - Last Dance.

Here are some more numbers to wrap your head around:

33 Top-10 Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for her career

19 #1 singles on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart for her career (according to the R&R Hall of Fame website) – 2nd only to Madonna (4 of those coming between 2008-2010)

17 Grammy Award nominations for her career (5 Grammy wins)

14 Top-10 hits in the Billboard charts including 9 Top-3 smashes (4 reached #1)

9 consecutive years with a Top-40 hit on the charts (1976-1984)

Considered the 8th Most Successful Female Recording Artist in history (according to Billboard)

6 American Music Award wins

Impressive numbers, yet despite all this Donna Summer was not voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in her first years of eligibility.  Shouldn’t being a queen of an era of music make you worthy of this honor?  Sadly it may take today’s passing for those who vote to really look at the impact that Summer had in her genre of music.

Donna Summer may have been silenced, but her music lives on.

jessjamesjake, Flickr.com

Finding the perfect little black dress take serious man hours, eh, woman hours, according to a new survey.  Research published by Daily Mail shows the ‘LBD’ takes the average woman roughly 30 hours of shopping to nail down. That adds up to about six hours a day of searching for five days straight.  However, after locating just the right little black dress, the majority of woman said they wear it only once.  8 out of 10 ladies say they own just one perfect ‘LBD’ and that their wardrobe would be incomplete without it.  Meanwhile about half are still on the hunt for theirs.

Summer will be remembered for her string of 70′s and 80′s dance hits like ‘Hot Stuff’, ‘Bad Girls’, ‘Last Dance’, ‘On The Radio’, and ‘This Time I Know It’s For Real’.

Check out what this Newfield tattoo artist is doing to his ARM—

Brilliant!

World Lenux Traveler/flickr

When it comes to finding the best place to get a ‘cone’ or a sundae, you gotta find some where that gets creative.   Where is the best place to get ‘out of this world’ ice cream in South Jersey?

Summer is just around the corner!

Just to be clear, we’re not looking for places that are  just giving you a scoop and you go your merry way here.   You can get a bucket of ice cream any where.

Comment below!

7.  ‘Free’ by Haley Reinhart

6.  ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ by One Direction

5.  ‘Good Girl’ by Carrie Underwood

     4.  ‘Lullaby’ by Nickelback

3.  ‘Payphone’ by Maroon 5

2.  ‘Call Me Maybe’ by Carly Rae Jepsen

1.  ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ by Gotye

Revel Beach courtesy of The Press of A.C.

The Press of Atlantic City and NBC 40 are reporting that parts of the beaches in Atlantic City may have to close during the upcoming summer season.

Tom Foley, Director of the Atlantic City Office of Emergency Management, told NBC 40 the $18 Million beach replenishment project was supposed to be completed by the end of spring; however, due to delays, they may have to close off two beaches at a time after June 29th.

Emily Previti from The Press explains that Revel Beach (positioned by the new Revel Resort) will not be opening until after the summer season begins.

We’ll bring you more on this story as information becomes available.

pamhule / flickr

Word is breaking from E! that Jennifer Lopez will not return for a 3rd season as a judge on American Idol.

Lopez has hinted recently with Ellen DeGeneris on her show that she just did not know if she wanted to come back – siting other interests, the commitment that judging on Idol is, and her twins are now 4 and getting bigger (creating a “working mother’s dilemma).  About 24 hours later comes this bombshell.

J. Lo is scheduled to be in Atlantic City with Enrique Iglesias on July 29th at Boardwalk Hall.  Lopez is also going to be on the big screen in the upcoming movie What To Expect When You Are Expecting.

FOX has declined to comment on Lopez’s future with the show, but according to E!, a source close to the production says that “Fox does not want to let her go.  They love her.”

Idol is back on tonight with the Final 3 starting at 8pm.

Bob Jagendorf / flickr

Governor Chris Christie has never been afraid to be at times unconventional, and at all times himself.  Another side of The Garden State’s highest ranking official came out yesterday in a video that pays homage to Seinfeld.

A video came out last night at the New Jersey Press Association’s Legislative Correspondents Club show.  Christie was seen with the Mayor of Newark in a video that obviously channels the Seinfeld-Newman rivalry in a parody that spoofs the heroics of Cory Booker, and Christie’s vice presidential potential.

The governor finds himself thwarted by the mayor in a battle of do-rights.  You may remember that Mayor Booker rescued a neighbor from a fire last month.  This battle also has fun at the fact that Christie is a Republican and Booker is a Democrat.

If you were a true Seinfeld, then appreciate the “Booker” moments in the video that is currently the most watched on Xfinity’s website.  CLICK HERE to check out their honors.

battlecreek cvp, Flickr.com

An announcement is expected tomorrow that a new hotel and year-round indoor water park will be built in Atlantic City.

     TWS Enterprises, Ltd. has plans to develop a $123 million dollar hotel and all-seasons water park that will reside in the Marina District of the resort town.  The property, which is speculated to be named The Diving Horse Resort and Water Park, looks to help draw families to Atlantic City and boost revenue for the area, NBC 40 reports.

Councilman Marty Smalls explains:

“It’s definitely going to help, it will add to the casinos that’s already in the Marina District,” said Small. “I’m sure it will give residents in the marina district employment you know the construction
workers will be working, it’s a win, win, win.”

Flickr/woodleywonderworks

I love New Jersey, and I have an immense amount of respect for every single person who lives, works or plays here in the Garden State. With that said, it’s that respect that got me thinking last night… just after I got pulled over in a town I won’t identify, on a road that will also remain unsaid.

First, I admit I was speeding. No doubt about it. I saw the cruiser pull out as I whizzed past. It got right up behind me, and I knew what was about to happen.

I pulled over and saw the officer getting out of his car. But at the same time, I also noticed that I was a little to close to the roadway. I put my hand out the window, made a “hold on one second” gesture, and then pulled my car further from the busy road.

As the officer approached he thanked me for that. He then asked why I was speeding. I told him the truth, that I didn’t realize I was going that fast. I was passing a slower car in the left lane on my way home from work. Then I told him I was sorry.

I then gave him my license, registration and insurance information. He went back to his car, no doubt to check and make sure I didn’t have any outstanding warrants — which I don’t.

He came back and told me he wasn’t going to give me a ticket. Awesome! But why not? I was speeding. Heck, I admitted it.

What I think it comes down to is respect. He saw, before ever speaking to me, that by pulling my car further from the road, I respect both him and the job he does. He also realized that I have enough respect for both him and myself that I wasn’t going to make up some story about why I was speeding.

The whole thing got me thinking about respect. How just a little bit of it goes a long way. How just recognizing that a police officer, your waiter at dinner, your boss, your secretary, your teacher, your parents, your kids… they all just want a little respect.

We  all have to cross paths now and then, and we’re not always going to like one another. But let’s not ever forget that we wouldn’t be where we are today if someone didn’t show us a little respect along the way. So why not return the favor?

photo courtesy of Theresa Cardona, Facebook

Little Christian is receiving some affection from Laila, and he doesn’t look like he’s got much say in the matter.

Give us your best caption for this photo! Our favorite will win a 3-pack of CD’s from SoJO artists like Katy Perry, Norah Jones, and more!

ENTER YOUR CAPTION IN THE COMMENT BOX FOR A CHANCE TO WIN!

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

Carrie Underwood is bringing The Blown Away Tour to Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on Friday, November 9th, and SoJO 104.9 is giving you the first crack at scoring some tickets.

Tomorrow, between 10 am and 10 pm, use the password GIRL here at ticketmaster.com for an exclusive presale offer.

If you find yourself in Fort Lee, New Jersey, put your cell phone away while you amble down the city’s sidewalks. It is now illegal to text and walk there, and if the cops catch you doing that, they’ll issue an $85 jaywalking ticket.  This got us thinking….

Where is the strangest places you’ve seen someone TEXT in South Jersey?

Everybody is texting these days—all the time—everywhere.

Watch this hilarious video, it will give you a few good reasons to not text as much.

nils!/flickr

In a tight 4-3 vote by the Borough Council, Point Pleasant beach bars will have a cut off time when it comes to serving alcohol this summer.  It may be a lot earlier than you think!

The new ordinance states that all Point Pleasant beach bars will have to stop serving alcohol by midnight starting July 1.

Many of the beach bar owners feel that this will hurt them financially, while others feel that this is a safety issue and help will help curb some of the behavior that is causing the problems.

What do you think?  Should more of South Jersey bars follow in the line with the same rule?

SoJO 104.9

If you missed Nickelback‘s recent area performance, your second chance has arrived.

Today is ‘Win ‘em Before You Can Buy ‘em Wednesday’!  Keep reading to find out how you can score tickets to see Nickelback when they play Revel Resorts Atlantic City!

Nickelback has announced plans to bring their elaborate, flying stage show to Revel Resorts in Atlantic City.  The quartet led by frontman Chad Kroeger will descend on (and over) Ovation Hall on July 13, with tickets going on sale to the public this Friday, May 18 at 10 a.m.through Ticketmaster.

But YOU can win your tickets from SoJO BEFORE you can buy ‘em!  Just for the song ‘Lullaby’ by Nickelback to play between 9a-5p today!  Be Caller 104 to 800-586-1049 and you’ll instantly win a pair of tickets!

7.  Eyes Open by Taylor Swift

6.  (A**) Back Home by Gym Class Heroes

5.  Lullaby by Nickelback

     4.  Good Girl by Carrie Underwood

3.  Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye

2.  Payphone by Maroon 5

1.  Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen