children with paper cutouts of faces with different emotions placed over their faces
Chantel Brink
Chantel Brink
March 10, 2024 ·  3 min read

New Jersey grandmother goes viral for ranking her 10 grandkids: ‘Just be careful!’

A New Jersey grandma has gone viral for something rather hilarious, maybe even relatable. Mary La Morte, known as Nanny is playing favorites with her grandkids and her NY City-based comedian grandson, Dan La Morte, 27, has taken to his TikTok fans.

The comedian has addressed his fans on the site, exposing his grandma’s savage “ranking board”.She has a board of the 10 grandchildren’s faces on magnets and she ranks us from one to 10.” Dan explains in the video which has accumulated over 2 million views and 1.7k comments.

Image Credit: DanLaMorte Instagram

The grandkids are constantly grappilng for first place

“I’m currently at No. 4, this is the highest I’ve been,” he continues. “But I did just get two new tattoos… So I’m a bit nervous about what that’s going to do for my ranking.”

It seems Dan was right to feel a bit uneasy as when the comedian shows his grandma, 85, his new ink. He lifts up the sleeve of his T-shirt, leaving her in horror.

This is what I think of your new tattoos,” she is heard saying before she then moves his magnet from fourth to last place. Nanny’s system is pretty simple – her grandkids could be promoted or demoted based on factor like having a baby, coming to visit or not visiting enough. “My grandson just had a new baby, so he goes to the top because it’s a very good, happy moment,” she said. “And I’m not going to even get into demotions. Tattoos? That’ll do it every time.

Read: 95-Year-Old Grandma And Her Grandson Prove Fun Doesn’t Have An Age Limit With Hilarious Costumes (22 New Pics)

Dan however mentioned that they would not be contributing great-grandkids to the race. “We don’t put them on the board because we’re scared they [might] get ranked above us,” Dan admitted.

“They’re younger and cuter, and they haven’t messed up as much. We’ve always been a very jokey, roasty family. It’s definitely a way to keep everyone together, and it gets us all talking. I was very lucky with four funny grandparents who are all still alive. I always grew up with someone telling jokes—and Nanny would always tell you never to take yourself too seriously.”

Read: 95-Year-Old Grandma And Her Grandson Prove Fun Doesn’t Have An Age Limit With Hilarious Costumes

Image Credit: DanLaMorte Instagram

The top two spots will never be obtainable

Dan goes on to explain that the top two spots are pretty unobtainable as they’re occupied by a cousin who’s a veterinarian and another who’s a dentist. “It’s a good system to keep the family encouraged to kind of stay close together, to always make sure you’re checking in,” he said.

It turns out the ranking board has some history behind it too. In 2015, Nanny’s grandson Christopher and his girlfriend actually made the board and added all the cousins’ names and pictures. The grandkids gifted it to her and it’s been hung up there ever since.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dan LaMorte (@danlamorte)

“I’m now at No. 3 because Nanny is excited about being an internet star. She’s giving me credit for that,” Dan said. “The day after the TikTok went viral, she went and got her hair and nails done.” Dan’s cousin Jacqueline is at No. 1 as she bought a house across the street from Nanny and often helps out.

Read: Man Builds Special Room for His Grandmother to Live With Him in Her Last Years

It turns out that Nanny has a rather great sense of humor

“I was very lucky with four funny grandparents who are all still alive,” he said. “I always grew up with someone telling jokes — and Nanny would always tell you never to take yourself too seriously.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dan LaMorte (@danlamorte)

Keep Reading: Grandmother shares a piece of wisdom using a carrot, eggs and coffee

Sources

  1. Tiktok. Dan LaMorte.
  2. New Jersey grandma’s brutal system for ranking her 10 grandchildren goes viral.Today. Rachel Paula Abrahamson. October 21, 2022.
  3. Comedian reveals his grandmother’s savage grandkid ranking system and the reason why he got demoted. Upworthy. Jisha Joseph. October 21, 2022.