As someone who lives an entire ocean and then half a continent away, I also thought people were shitting on NJ again because even I'm aware of NJ being a literal meme. I remember even HIMYM gave it a lovingly joking "ew Jersey" vibe when one of Ted's girlfriends lived there.

I literally know nothing else about your joke other than the fact that the rest of the US memes about it. And that Weehawken is supposedly an OK place to live if you work in Manhattan?

I mean yes, I also know that The Sopranos took place there, but the setting felt pretty generic to me. I know NYC is known for the mafia families and it seems likely that that would've transferred over to Jersey as well, but nothing about the show ever screamed "this could only happen here" lol