We finally know who to blame for the rise of "
Jersey Shore" -- and ironically, it's one of the greatest television shows of all-time ... "
The Sopranos."

TMZ ran into "Sopranos" star
Joseph Gannascoli at Vincent's Restaurant in New York yesterday -- where he admitted that his show "paved the way" for Snooki & company ... who also play Italian stereotypes on TV.
And in a horrible twist of fate ...
Jwoww and her reality show crew also showed up to the restaurant.
They must have given
the milk jugs a day off.
Joseph Gannascoli -- best known for playing Vito Spatafore on "
The Sopranos" -- was arrested early Friday morning and charged with DUI.
Gannascoli was busted on Kennedy Boulevard in Tampa, FL after officers claim they observed him making a wide right turn and then drifting between lanes. According to police, cops stopped Gannascoli and noticed he had bloodshot eyes, smelled of alcohol and slurred his speech.
He submitted to a field sobriety test and blew a .111. Gannascoli posted $500 bond and was released.