I've read several books set in RI and have enjoyed most of them. I remember when that show Providence was on. I used to get a kick out of the fact that the main character and her sister appeared to come from an affluent family and lived in a nice neighborhood, yet were said to have attended South Providence High School.
South Providence is NOT a nice neighboorhood,lol. Not exactly a PC term, but it's for all intents and purposes a ghetto.
Family Guy is pretty accurate as far as the accents.