(Photo: Oxygen)

Bay Ridge Councilman Vinnie Gentile is calling for the Oxygen network to take off the air a new program called, "Brooklyn 11223," a show that has been called “as trashy as "Jersey Shore."

Oxygen's announcement of "Brooklyn 11223" said the series will offer "a voyeuristic look into the lives of a group of twentysomething friends whose once rock-solid friendships have been torn apart by betrayal."

The exact nature of the betrayal isn't completely clear, but Oxygen teases that it will involve "one friend [who] may have betrayed another by seducing a boyfriend."

But this voyeuristic journey through friendship and betrayal is too much for Mr. Gentile, who views it as demeaning to women and his community. Thus he's holding an anti-"Brooklyn 11223" rally with "female leaders of Bay Ridge" this Friday.

"We all need to take responsibility – parents, TV studios, advertisers, journalists, policymakers and even teenagers – for what is being watched by the younger generations," Mr. Gentile's spokesman told The Politicker this evening. "There is no redeeming social value or positive takeaway from the perpetuation of these trashy and classless stereotypes that serve only to degrade, denigrate and objectify women and Italian-Americans."

"This is not what Bay Ridge is about and this not what Bay Ridge wants or needs. We refuse to stand by and let 'Hollywood' portray the smart, hardworking, proud, cultured, creative and compassionate residents of Bay Ridge in this light."

The show's trailer can be viewed here.

Updated: 5:15pm

Mr. Gentile  told The Politicker that he had a long conversation with officials from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee last week.

"They set the parameters for me," he said. "It was a challenging conversation."

The councilman said that DCCC was most concerned that he--or any candidate--would have the necessary funds to pick off an incumbent.

"That is the question--how much can I raise, and what kind of effort it would take to raise it. That is what we are trying to figure out," Mr. Gentile added. There are a couple of people interested in the race. [The DCCC] is not going to carry the load themselves, so its a partnership kind of thing."

So far, only Alex Borgognone, a Bronx restaurateur, has officially declared his interest in the race, but a number of elected and unelected Staten Islanders--including Council Member Debi Rose and Bill de Blasio aide Mark Murphy--have said they may take a look at it.

Mr. Gentile said if there were a competitive primary, he would "have an advantage."

"My perspective is a little different from the others," he said. "I'm doing public service now, and I feel like there may be an opportunity to do it on a wider basis for basically the same people I'm working for now."

Mr. Gentile represents the Brooklyn portion of a district that is mostly centered around Staten Island; however, he noted that he represented portions of Staten Island when he served in the State Senate.

Typically, candidates from the Brooklyn side have struggled in that district.

"I would not be introducing myself to the people of Staten Island," Mr. Gentile said. "Other Democrats from Brooklyn would have that problem, but I am the guy that would have that problem the least."

All of the machinations will be rendered moot however if Mike McMahon, whom Mr. Grimm defeated in 2010, decides to run again for the seat.

"We haven't had that conversation, but as a former Congressman he would certainly have a big say if he wanted to run," he said.

Mr. Gentile also said that he would step aside "as a matter of courtesy" if Mr. McMahon decided to get in.

People close to Mr. McMahon say that he is genuinely undecided about whether or not he runs, and that it may depend on how the lines are drawn after the most recent round of redistricting.

The real question however would be whether or not Mr. Grimm is beatable. Mr. Gentile says that he is.

"There are several scenarios by which he is beatable. A lot depends on how the economy goes over the next several months. So yes, I would say he is beatable but it is not going to be easy."