American Gypsies - Season 1

In the the first episode of "American Gypsies" we meet the Johns. A prominent Romani, or Gypsy, family from New York City, patriarch Bob's health is failing, prompting rival brothers Nicky and Bobby to start battling for leadership. Old-school Nicky wants to stick to tradition, but Bobby wants to integrate with American society and allow his daughters to take part in a local acting recital. When a rival family encroaches on Nicky's psychic shop turf, he calls his 4 brothers into a violent confrontation, landing the whole family in Romani Court.

Bobby clashes with his brother Nicky when he tries to open a new psychic shop without their father's blessing, and when Bobby's daughter-in-law goes into premature labor, the race is on for grandma Tina to complete an all-important Romani, or Gypsy, birth ritual. Bobby does his best to support Amanda and Vivian in their acting dreams, but all does not go according to plan and when Nicky finds out what Bobby's been up to, he boycotts the shop opening, choosing a night out drinking alone instead.

During a night out, the Johns family men encounter their rival Tommy Gigolo, after which a series of misfortunes befall the brothers - all of which they believe lead back to Tommy. Terrified of one day inheriting his father's poor health, Bobby goes to a gaje doctor for a check-up and receives disturbing news. He attempts to correct his health issues by engaging in extreme fitness training. In the meantime, Val feels torn between staying with his gaje girlfriend Katie and following his family's orders to marry a Romani, or Gypsy, girl. Chris brings Val on a 'boys trip' to Miami, in hopes of helping him forget about Katie.

A cash-strapped Nicky pushes his luck by trying to open a new psychic shop in South Beach, Florida, causing friction with rival Romani, as well as his wife Christine. Bobby struggles with single life on a night out with his brother Jack. Back in New York, the brothers get news that their father Bob has suffered from a stroke and needs emergency surgery. When the issue of consent divides the family, a fight breaks out between Nicky and Bobby, leaving their father's life hanging in the balance.

For decades the Johns men have run psychic shops, but after an unsuccessful trip to a car auction, Bobby decides to expand his business empire with an investment in his son-in-law John's scrap-yard. Worried about his father health, Nicky packs up his family and heads back to New York. The brothers' happy reunion is cut short when Nicky finds out Bobby has gone against tradition. After a little tough love from Eric, Val reluctantly agrees to look for a wife at a traditional pakiv (party).

Flushed with money - and not just a hint of ego - from the success of his newly opened psychic shop, Chris envisions a new and unconventional business opportunity when he finds a broken down food truck in his brother-in-law's scrap yard. Meanwhile, Tina convinces Nicky to take a live lamb into his house until it can be slaughtered in a ritual meant to restore Bob, Sr's health, but runs into trouble when his wife, Christine, finds their son Justin alone with "Lamb Chop".

Tina throws Bobby's son Christopher and Nicky's son Justin a joint birthday party. Justin is turning sixteen, and Nicky is having trouble affording the luxury car he hopes to buy him as a gift. Bobby's intention of buying Christopher an even more expensive car only pushes Nicky closer to the edge of his sanity. Throughout all of this Bobby is going through the delicate and stressful process of getting his divorce approved by the Romani cou... and more difficultly, from his mother.

Nicky has a drinking problem and his wife Christine has had enough. Nicky turns to Tina, the last person in the family who is willing to help him. Tina is also at odds with Bobby who disagrees with her closed-minded ideas about where Romanies came from. He purchases a home DNA kit in order to get the answers his traditions cannot give him. Val and his girlfriend Sophia take a secret weekend trip together which sends his father, Eric, and the brothers into an uproar.

Things start out on a bad note when Chris refuses to abide by his family's tradition of keeping the bride and groom separated before the wedding. On top of that, Tina and Bob Sr. must plan a wedding with a gaji, or non-Romani wedding planner. And of course it wouldn't be a Romani wedding without a few tears, fights, and even bomb threats.