VH1 will be airing a marathon of Big Ang episodes on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 beginning at 9pm ET/PT in celebration of Angela ‘Big Ang’ Raiola’s life. The Mob Wives breakout star passed away in the early morning hours of February 18th from stage IV lung and brain cancer. The reality TV star was 55 years old. In addition to the Big Ang marathon, VH1 plans to air a special tribute to Raiola in March.
Big Ang began her reality TV career on season two of VH1’s Mob Wives and quickly became a fan favorite. Her popularity on the series led to VH1 greenlighting a spinoff centered around the larger-than-life celebrity. Tweets from her fans will be included on-air during the Big Ang marathon.
Raiola, the niece of the late Genovese crime family captain Salvatore ‘Sally Dogs’ Lombardi, was a smoker for 40+ years who quit the habit as soon as she was diagnosed in March 2015. After her diagnosis, Raiola spoke out against smoking and urged people not to pick up the habit. At the time of her death she was surrounded by friends and family in a New York City hospital. The family broke the news to her fans via Twitter:
This is @vinniemedugno on behalf of the family of Angela Raiola, please see below: pic.twitter.com/wiuPApr9Lw
— Angela Raiola (@biggangVH1) February 18, 2016
About the show: “Big Ang gives viewers a glimpse into the life of one of reality TV’s most over-the-top and loveable characters. VH1 tags along as she hangs out with her family and friends, spends time at her increasingly popular Staten Island bar, The Drunken Monkey, and even hangs out with — ‘da wise guys.’ And yes, her longtime friends from the original Mob Wives series will visit from time to time as will her cuddly canine sidekick, Lil’ Louis.”
