NEW YORK (AP) - Did the mayor ruin the celebration by skipping New York's Columbus Day parade? Fuhgeddaboudit.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg bowed out Monday after parade organizers said two actors from "The Sopranos" were not welcome because the HBO hit negatively portrays Italian-American life.

Not that the controversy stopped the annual parade up Fifth Avenue.

"These are fictional characters. People have to remember that it's telling a story," said "Sopranos" fan Sal Ciniglio, 29, as he snapped a photo of his girlfriend. "It's a show. Get a life."

The Columbus Citizens Foundation had sought a federal court order to bar Dominic Chianese and Lorraine Bracco from marching in the parade. Chianese plays mob boss Junior Soprano; Bracco plays psychiatrist Dr. Melfi.

Bloomberg said he invited the pair because Bracco acts as a city spokeswoman on environmental issues and Chianese makes a public service announcement for tourism.

After both sides agreed organizers could invite - or un-invite - anyone they wanted, the judge said he had nothing to rule on. Foundation vice president Frank Fusaro said they still wanted Bloomberg to march by himself.

But the mayor skipped the celebration to have lunch with the actors - fresh prosciutto, olives and cheese, stuffed artichokes, baked clams, linguine marinara and homemade salami at an Italian restaurant in the Bronx.

"I'm not here to make a point," Bloomberg said. "I hope the parade went well."

Bracco wondered what all the fuss was about.

"I'm a little confused at the aggression directed toward us," she said. "I think it's undeserved. I didn't expect the hysteria."

And so the festivities went on without the mayor and his friends, beginning at noon with a mounted police procession. Thousands waved Italian flags while tourists jostled for a peek at the dignitaries.

Luigi Cocciolillo, 72, was happy that "The Sopranos" cast members were not allowed.

"Nothing against the actors, but the parade should do something to highlight the great Italians," he said. "Why point out something bad?"

As for Bloomberg, Cocciolillo's friend, Costantino Lucciola, 70, said: "He should be here. He's the mayor."