The Sopranos
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2008-07-16T22:43:55Z
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/* References in popular culture */
{{Infobox Television
| show_name = The Sopranos
| image = [[Image:Sopranosposters2.jpg|275px|]] <!-- Keep this image. Do NOT replace it with the title screen. See talk page. -->
| caption = Promotional art from season 2 depicting the main cast
| genre = [[Drama]]
| creator = [[David Chase]]
| developer =
| presenter =
| starring = [[James Gandolfini]]<br>[[Lorraine Bracco]]<br>[[Edie Falco]]<br>[[Michael Imperioli]]<br>[[Dominic Chianese]]<br>[[Steven Van Zandt]]<br>[[Tony Sirico]]<br>[[Robert Iler]]<br>[[Jamie-Lynn Sigler]]<br>[[Drea de Matteo]]<br>[[Aida Turturro]]<br>[[Steven R. Schirripa]]<br>[[Nancy Marchand]]<br>[[Vincent Pastore]]<br>[[Joe Pantoliano]]<br>[[Vincent Curatola]]<br>[[Frank Vincent]]<br>[[John Ventimiglia]]<br>[[Federico Castelluccio]]<br>[[Sharon Angela]]<br>[[Kathrine Narducci]]<br>[[Steve Buscemi]]<br>[[David Proval]]<br>[[Joseph R. Gannascoli]]<br>[[Dan Grimaldi]]<br>| guest starring = [[Jerry Alder]]
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme = "[[Woke Up This Morning]]" (Chosen One Mix) <br>by [[Alabama 3]]
| endtheme =
| composer =
| country = {{USA}}
| language = [[English language|English]]
| num_seasons = 6
| num_episodes = 86
| list_episodes = List of The Sopranos episodes
| producer =
| executive_producer = [[David Chase]]<br>[[Brad Grey]]<br>[[Ilene S. Landress]]<br>[[Terence Winter]]<br>[[Matthew Weiner]] <!-- As of Season 6 -->
| location = [[New Jersey]]<br>[[Silvercup Studios]]
| camera =
| runtime = approx. 50 min.<br>(commercial-free)
| network = [[HBO]]
| picture_format = [[Film stock|Film]] shown as [[NTSC]] or [[PAL]] (depending of the country)<br>[[480i]]/[[576i]] ([[SDTV]])<br>[[720p]]/[[1080i]] ([[HDTV]])
| audio_format = [[Stereophonic sound|Stereo]]<br />[[Dolby Digital|Dolby Digital 5.1]]
| first_run =
| first_aired = [[January 10]], [[1999]]
| last_aired = [[June 10]], [[2007]]
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| related =
| website = http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/
| imdb_id = 0141842
| tv_com_id = 314
}}
'''''The Sopranos''''' is<!-- "is," not "was"! --> an [[United States|American]] [[television drama series]] created by [[David Chase]]. It was originally broadcast in the [[United States]] on the [[premium television|premium]] [[cable television|cable network]] [[HBO]] from [[January 10]], [[1999]] to [[June 10]], [[2007]], spanning [[List of The Sopranos episodes|six seasons and 86 episodes]]. Since premiering on HBO, the show has been broadcast by many networks in dozens of other countries.
Set and produced in [[New Jersey]],<ref name="bury">{{cite web
|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20033896,00.html
|title=Burying the Sopranos
|accessdate=2007-10-07
|last=Wolk
|first=Josh
|date=[[2007-04-06]]
|publisher=''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''}}</ref>
the series revolves around [[American Mafia|mobster]] [[Tony Soprano]] and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the [[organized crime|criminal organization]] he heads. The show is noted for Chase's multifaceted, [[symbolism]]-heavy style of writing. Over the course of the series' six-season run, [[List of The Sopranos writers and directors#Writing staff|Chase and his co-writers]] have addressed a large number of [[psychology|psychological]], [[philosophy|philosophical]], [[society|social]] and [[politics|political]] themes and [[Motif (narrative)|motif]]s.<ref name="badabyequote">
{{cite web
|url=http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/tv/features/article.aspx?cp-documentid=6495000
|title=Bada Bye To The Sopranos
|last=Cooper
|first=Lorna
|publisher=[[MSN]]
|year=2007
|accessdate=2007-11-14
|quote=All these elements combined for a fresh perspective on familiar subject matters: infidelity, religion, race, homosexuality, familial strife, psychological abuse, depression..}}</ref><ref name="nytimes">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.crankyeditor.com/Portfolio/Awards%20&%20Press/Deconstructing%20'The%20Sopranos'.htm
|title=Deconstructing ''The Sopranos''
|last=Kelly
|first=David
|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''
|date=[[2002-09-15]]
|accessdate=2007-11-14
|quote=Literary critics and historians, neo-Marxists and theoretical feminists, postmodernists and pre-post-post-structuralists are scrambling to stake their claims to David Chase's series.}}</ref><ref name="chaseHBO">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/cast/crew/david_chase.shtml
|title=David Chase profile at HBO.com
|accessdate=2007-11-14
|publisher=[[HBO]]}}</ref><ref name="nytimesover">
{{cite news
|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/08/arts/television/08stan.html
|title=This Thing of Ours, It’s Over
|last=Stanley
|first=Alessandra
|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''
|date=[[2007-04-08]]
|accessdate=2007-11-14
|quote=The series lowered the bar on permissible violence, sex and profanity at the same time that it elevated viewers’ taste, cultivating an appetite for complexity, wit and cinematic stylishness on a serial drama in which psychological themes flickered and built and faded and reappeared.}}</ref>
A major commercial and critical success,<ref name="hollywoodreporter">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/features/e3i5caaebc3b67867e5395b97e39aa8026d
|title=Sopranos signoff marks end of era
|last=Flaherty
|first=Michael
|publisher=''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''
|date=[[2007-06-08]]
|accessdate=2007-11-11}}</ref><ref name="familyman">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2002/sepoct/features/chase.html
|title=Family Man
|last=Oxfeld
|first=Jesse
|year=2002
|accessdate=2007-09-22
|publisher=''Stanford Magazine''}}</ref>
''The Sopranos'' is the most financially successful cable series in the history of [[television]]<ref name="nytimespush">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/11/arts/television/11cnd-sopranos.html
|title=HBO Pushes End of 'The Sopranos' to 2007
|last=Carter
|first=Bill
|date=[[2005-08-11]]
|accessdate=2007-11-14
|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''
|quote=The drama about a New Jersey mob family has won more Emmy awards than any other show on cable TV and has frequently drawn audiences larger than programs competing against it on broadcast networks even though HBO is available in only about a third as many homes.}}</ref><ref name="articlebase"/>
and has frequently been described by [[critic]]s as one of the greatest [[television series]] of all time.<ref name="greatest">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/feature/2007/09/15/best_show
|title=The best TV show of all time
|date=[[2007-09-15]]
|last=Traister
|first=Rebbeca
|accessdate=2007-09-22
|publisher=[[Salon.com]]}}</ref><ref name="metacritics6">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.metacritic.com/tv/shows/sopranosseason6?q=sopranos
|title=Sopranos, The (HBO) - Reviews from Metacritic
|accessdate=2007-10-02
|publisher=[[MetaCritic]]}}</ref><ref name ="Time"/><ref name="TVguide"/>
The show has been credited for bringing a greater level of artistry to the television medium and paving the way for many successful [[television drama series|drama series]] that followed.<ref name="popmatters">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/features/article/32795/the-sopranos-is-the-most-influential-television-drama-ever/
|title=The Sopranos Is the Most Influential Television Drama Ever
|accessdate=2007-09-22
|last=Ryan
|first=Maureen
|date=[[2007-04-23]]
|publisher=[[PopMatters]]}}</ref><ref name="popmatters2">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/news/article/42058/how-will-the-sopranos-end/
|title=How will 'The Sopranos' end?
|accessdate=2007-10-07
|last=Boedeker
|first=Hal
|date=[[2007-06-04]]
|publisher=[[PopMatters]]
|quote=But the drama was widely influential for revealing that cable would accommodate complex series about dark characters. "The Sopranos" ushered in "Six Feet Under," "The Shield," "Rescue Me" and "Big Love."}}</ref><ref name="fortwave">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.fortwaynereader.com/story.php?uid=674
|title=The Sopranos – "Oh Poor You!"
|last=Ehrmann
|first=Bert
|date=[[2006-03-20]]
|accessdate=2007-09-22
|publisher=''Fort Wayne Reader''
|quote=One of the more important aspects of The Sopranos phenomenon is that it paved the way for a slew of excellent series all willing to take risks.}}</ref>
It has also won numerous awards, including twenty-one [[Emmy Award|Emmys]] and five [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globes]].<ref name="goodmag">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.goodmagazine.com/section/Features/not_tv
|title=Not TV
|last=Lechner
|first=Jack
|accessdate=2007-10-07
|publisher=''[[GOOD Magazine]]''
|quote=The Sopranos (1999–present)
Creator David Chase on his mob hit: "Let's just say some people get hurt."
Awards: 5 Golden Globes, 18 Emmys}}</ref><ref name="59themmys">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296977,00.html
|title=List of 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Award Winners
|date=[[2007-09-16]]
|accessdate=2007-10-07
|publisher=[[FOX News]]}}</ref>
A staple of [[2000s]] [[American popular culture]],<ref name="hollywoodreporter"/><ref name="familyman"/> ''The Sopranos'' has been the subject of much [[parody]] and analysis,<ref name="nytimes"/> and has spawned [[book]]s,<ref name="books">
{{cite web
|url=http://store.hbo.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=1901329&cp=1885646
|title=The Sopranos books at HBO Store
|accessdate=2007-09-22
|publisher=[[HBO]]}}</ref>
a [[video game]],<ref name="roadtorespect">
{{cite web
|url=http://ps2.ign.com/objects/826/826381.html
|title=The Sopranos: Road to Respect at IGN
|accessdate=2007-09-22 |publisher=[[IGN]]}}</ref>
high-charting [[soundtrack album]]s,<ref name="albuma">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gxfqxqekldje~T3 |
title=''The Sopranos: Music from the HBO Original Series'': Billboard Albums at Allmusic
|accessdate=2007-09-22
|publisher=[[Allmusic]]}}</ref><ref name="albumb">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gpfyxq80ldte~T3
|title=''The Sopranos: Peppers & Eggs (Music From the HBO Original Series)'': Billboard Albums at Allmusic |accessdate=2007-09-22
|publisher=[[Allmusic]]}}</ref>
and a large amount of assorted [[merchandise]].<ref name="merch">
{{cite web
|url=http://store.hbo.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=1885646&clickid=mainnav_shows_txt
|title=HBO Store - The Sopranos
|accessdate=2007-09-22
|publisher=[[HBO]]}}</ref>
==Production==
===Conception===
Prior to creating ''The Sopranos'', [[David Chase]] had been a [[screenwriter|television writer]] for over 20 years and was well-known in television circles for his dark, edgy writing.<ref name="chaseHBO"/><ref name="vanity"/> He had been employed as a staff writer/[[Television producer|producer]] for several [[television series]] (including ''[[Kolchak: The Night Stalker]]'', ''[[The Rockford Files]]'', ''[[I'll Fly Away (TV series)|I'll Fly Away]]'', and ''[[Northern Exposure]]'')<ref name="fortwave"/><ref name="referencechase">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/53/David-Chase.html
|title=David Chase Biography (1945-)
|publisher=[http://www.filmreference.com www.filmreference.com]
|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref>
and had created one original series, ''[[Almost Grown]]'', in 1988.<ref name="wgafontana">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.wga.org/writtenby/writtenbysub.aspx?id=2354
|title=Wiseguys: A conversation between David Chase and Tom Fontana.
|last=Lee
|first=Mark
|year=2007
|month=May
|accessdate=2007-11-14
|publisher=[[Writers Guild of America, west]]}}</ref><ref name="eagle">
{{cite news
|last=Baker
|first=Kathryn
|title=Almost Grown: tells story of growing up
|pages=9A
|publisher=''[[Wichita Eagle]]''
|date=[[1988-11-23]]}}</ref>
Before his success with ''The Sopranos'', Chase had won two [[Emmy Award]]s: one in 1980 for writing the [[TV movie]] ''[[Off the Minnesota Strip]]'', and one in 1978 for his work on the ''The Rockford Files'' (shared with fellow producers).<ref name="familyman"/><ref name="chasehollywood">
{{cite web
|title=
|url=http://www.hollywood.com/celebrity/David_Chase/1115964
|title=David Chase at Hollywood.com
|publisher=[http://www.hollywood.com www.hollywood.com]
|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref>
The story of ''The Sopranos'' was initially conceived as a [[feature film]] about "a mobster in therapy having problems with his mother."<ref name="wgafontana"/> After some input from his manager, [[Lloyd Braun (media executive)|Lloyd Braun]], Chase decided to adapt it into a television series.<ref name="wgafontana"/> In 1995, Chase signed a development deal with [[production company]] [[Brillstein-Grey]] and wrote the original [[Television pilot|pilot script]].<ref name="familyman"/><ref name="vanity"/><ref name="pilotinterview">
{{cite video
|people=[[David Chase]] and [[Peter Bogdanovich]]
|year=1999
|title="The Sopranos" - David Chase interview
|medium=DVD
|publisher=[[HBO]]
}}</ref>
Drawing heavily from his [[personal life]] and his experiences growing up in [[New Jersey]], Chase has stated that he tried to "apply [his own] family dynamic to [[mobster]]s."<ref name="Salon">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.salon.com/ent/int/1999/01/20int.html
|title=Chasing TV
|date=[[1999-01-20]]
|accessdate=2007-09-22
|last=Dougherty
|first=Robin
|publisher=[[Salon.com]]}}</ref>
For instance, the tumultuous relationship between series [[protagonist]] [[Tony Soprano]] and his mother, [[Livia Soprano|Livia]], is partially based on Chase's relationship with his own mother.<ref name="Salon"/> Chase was also in [[therapy]] at the time and modeled
the character of [[Dr. Jennifer Melfi]] after his own [[psychiatrist]].<ref name="chaseRS">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9448169/sopranos_creator_shoots_straight
|title="Sopranos" Creator Shoots Straight
|last=Dana
|first=Will
|date=[[2006-03-10]]
|accessdate=2007-11-11
|publisher=''[[Rolling Stone]]''}}</ref> Chase had been fascinated by the [[Mafia]] from an early age, having been raised on classic [[Crime film|gangster films]] like ''[[The Public Enemy]]'' and the [[crime drama|crime series]] ''[[The Untouchables (1959 TV series)|The Untouchables]]'' as well as witnessing such people growing up,<ref name="chaseHBO"/><ref name="chaseRS"/> and decided to use a Mafia backdrop for his show because he felt a series about a television writer in therapy would not be particularly interesting to watch.<ref name="wgafontana"/><ref name="Salon"/> He also thought the setting would allow him to explore themes such as [[Italian-American]] identity and the nature of [[violence]], among many others.<ref name="wgafontana"/><ref name="pilotinterview"/> Chase himself is Italian-American, his original family name being DeCesare.<ref name="chaseNJ">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.nj.com/sopranos/ledger/index.ssf?/sopranos/stories/030401chase.html
|title=Boss of bosses
|last=Zoller Seitz
|first=Matt
|date=[[2001-03-04]]
|accessdate=2007-11-27
|publisher=''[[The Star-Ledger]]''}}</ref>
Chase and producer [[Brad Grey]], of Brillstein-Grey, pitched ''The Sopranos'' to several networks; [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] showed interest but passed on it after Chase presented them the pilot script.<ref name="pilotinterview"/> Chase and Grey eventually pitched the show to then-president of [[HBO Original Programming]], [[Chris Albrecht]], who recognized the originality and potential of the show, and decided to finance the shooting of a [[pilot episode]].<ref name="familyman"/><ref name="vanity"/> Albrecht is quoted as saying:
{{quote|I said to myself, this show is about a guy who's turning 40. He's inherited a business from his dad. He's trying to bring it into the modern age. He's got all the responsibilities that go along with that. He's got an overbearing mom that he's still trying to get out from under. Although he loves his wife, he's had an affair. He's got two teenage kids, and he's dealing with the realities of what that is. He's anxious; he's depressed; he starts to see a therapist because he's searching for the meaning of his own life. I thought: the only difference between him and everybody I know is he's the Don of New Jersey.<ref name="vanity"/>}}
The pilot episode (called "[[Pilot (The Sopranos)|The Sopranos]]" on the DVD release but commonly just referred to as "[[Pilot (The Sopranos)|Pilot]]") was shot in 1997.<ref name="hollywoodreporter"/> Chase, having previously directed episodes of ''The Rockford Files'' and ''Almost Grown'',<ref name="referencechase"/> directed it himself. After the pilot was finished and shown to the HBO executives, the show was put on hold for a year before HBO eventually decided to produce it and ordered a full 13-episode season.<ref name="familyman"/><ref name="vanity"/> The show premiered on HBO on [[10 January]] [[1999]] with the pilot episode. ''The Sopranos'' is the second hour-long [[television drama series]] produced by HBO, the first being the prison drama ''[[Oz (TV series)|Oz]]''.
===Casting===
[[Image:Sopranos6.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Season 6 cast]]
Like the characters they portray on the show, many of the actors on ''The Sopranos'' are [[Italian-American]]. Because Italian-American actors are often cast as [[Mafia]]-types in [[Hollywood]] productions, many cast members had appeared together in [[films]] and [[television series]] before joining the cast of ''The Sopranos''. The series shares a total of 27 actors with the 1990 [[Martin Scorsese]] [[Crime film|gangster film]] ''[[Goodfellas]]'', including main cast members [[Lorraine Bracco]], [[Michael Imperioli]], and [[Tony Sirico]]. A total of eight ''The Sopranos'' actors also appeared in the 1999 [[comedy]] ''[[Mickey Blue Eyes]]''.
The main cast was put together through a process of auditions and readings. Actors often didn't know whether [[David Chase]] liked their performances or not. Michael Imperioli, who beat out several actors for the part of [[Christopher Moltisanti]], recalls "He's got a poker face, so I thought he wasn't into me, and he kept giving me notes and having me try it again, which often is a sign that you're not doing it right. I thought, I'm not getting this. So he said, 'Thank you,' and I left. I didn't expect to hear back. And then they called."<ref name="vanity"/> [[James Gandolfini]] was invited to audition for the part of [[Tony Soprano]] after casting director Susan Fitzgerald saw a short clip of his performance in the 1993 film ''[[True Romance]]''.<ref name="vanity"/> Lorraine Bracco, who had previously played the role of mob wife Karen Hill in ''Goodfellas'', was originally asked to play the role of [[Carmela Soprano]]. She took the role of [[Dr. Jennifer Melfi]] instead because she wanted to try something different and felt the part of the highly educated Dr. Melfi would be more of a challenge for her.<ref name="bracco">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.lbracco.com/stuffonline2004.htm
|title=Sopranos star Lorraine Bracco thought her five minutes of fame had ended with Goodfellas.
|last=Davis
|first=Ivor
|coauthors=Haward, Anthony
|date=[[2004-07-18]]
|accessdate=2007-11-11
|publisher=[http://www.lbracco.com/ www.lbracco.com]
|quote="We first spoke about Carmela," says Bracco, "but it would have been too much of the same for me if I'd taken it... I had done it in Goodfellas and I had done it very well, and to do it again was not the right thing. I told him I loved the script and wanted to play Dr. Melfi. And he bought it."}}</ref>
Tony Sirico, who has a criminal background related to the Mafia,<ref name="sirico1">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.amiannoying.com/(S(gdv2j32jp5tjuvzglksj2t45))/view.aspx?ID=12567
|title=AmIAnnoying - Tony Sirico
|publisher=[[AmIAnnoying.com]]
|accessdate=2007-11-11}}</ref>
signed on to play [[Paulie Walnuts]] as long as his character was not to be a "[[police informant|rat]]."<ref name="sirico2">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.the-sopranos.com/cast/tony.htm
|title=Cast: The-Sopranos.com - Tony Sirico
|publisher=[http://www.the-sopranos.com www.thesopranos.com]
|accessdate=2007-11-11}}</ref>
David Chase invited [[musician]] [[Steven Van Zandt|"Little Steven" Van Zandt]] (known as the [[guitarist]] of [[Bruce Springsteen]]'s [[E Street Band]]) to audition for a part in his series after seeing him live at the 1997 [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony|Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony]] and being impressed with his appearance and presence. Van Zandt, who had never acted before, eventually agreed to star on the show on the condition that he didn't take a part a professional actor was also trying out for. Chase then created the character of [[Silvio Dante]] especially for Van Zandt.<ref name="vanzandt1">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/18/sunday/main2581880.shtml
|title=A Hit Man In More Ways Than One
|publisher=[[CBS News]]
|date=[[2007-03-18]]
|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref><ref name="vanzandt2">
{{cite web
|url=http://tv.yahoo.com/steven-van-zandt/contributor/1043027/bio
|title=Steven Van Zandt biography at Yahoo
|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]
|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref><ref name="vanzandt3">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/arts/television/10cart.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
|title=One Final Whack at That HBO Mob
|last=Carter
|first=Bill
|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''
|date=[[2007-06-10]]
|accessdate=2007-11-27}}</ref>
Silvio Dante's wife on the show is played by Van Zandt's [[Maureen Van Zandt|real-life wife]].
With the exception of Oscar nominee Lorraine Bracco (''Goodfellas''), Dominic Chianese (''[[The Godfather Part II]]'', along with [[theatre|stage]] work) and Emmy-winner Nancy Marchand (''[[Lou Grant (TV series)|Lou Grant]]''), the cast of the debut season of the series was made up of largely unknown actors. After the breakthrough success of the show, many cast members were noted for their acting ability and received mainstream attention for their performances.<ref name="bury"/><ref name="vanity"/> Subsequent seasons saw some well-known actors ([[Joe Pantoliano]], [[Robert Loggia]], [[Steve Buscemi]], [[Frank Vincent]]) join the cast along with well-known actors in recurring roles such as [[Peter Bogdanovich]], [[John Heard (actor)|John Heard]], [[Robert Patrick]], [[Peter Riegert]], [[Annabella Sciorra]], and [[David Strathairn]]. Also there were several well known actors who appeared in just one episode, such as [[Charles S. Dutton]], [[Sydney Pollack]] and [[Ken Leung]]
===Crew===
{{seealso|List of The Sopranos writers and directors}}
Series creator [[David Chase]] served as [[show runner]], [[executive producer]], and head writer during the eight years the show was in production.<ref name="chaseHBO"/><ref name="chasehollywood"/> In addition to writing several episodes per season, he would oversee all the [[film editing|editing]] and do extensive re-writing of episodes written by other writers.<ref name="bury"/><ref name="vanityfamily"/> Many members of the creative team behind ''The Sopranos'' were handpicked by Chase, some being old friends and colleagues of his, others were selected after interviews conducted by producers of the show.<ref name="vanity"/><ref name="HBOcastcrew">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/cast/
|title=HBO: The Sopranos: Cast and Crew
|publisher=[[HBO]]
|accessdate=2007-11-11}}</ref>
Many of the show's writers wrote for television prior to ''The Sopranos''. Writing team and married couple [[Robin Green (producer)|Robin Green]] and [[Mitchell Burgess]], who together wrote or co-wrote 19 episodes of the series between 1999 and 2006, had worked with Chase on ''[[Northern Exposure]]''. During the early stages of the show's development, Chase approached the two about a position as staff writers.<ref name="greenburgess">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.tomsgames.com/us/fringedrinking/2007/10/the_sopranos_from_a_different.html
|title=The Sopranos From a Different Perspective
|last=Konow
|first=David
|work=[http://www.tomsgames.com/us/fringedrinking/ Fringe Drinking]
|date=[[2007-10-25]]
|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref>
Two-time [[Emmy Award]]-winner [[Terence Winter]], who became a writer for the show during its second season, practiced [[law]] for two years before deciding to pursue a career as a [[screenwriter]], eventually catching the attention of Chase.<ref name="Winter">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/cast/crew/terence_winter.shtml
|title=HBO: Terence Winter, Executive Producer : The Sopranos
|publisher=[[HBO]]
|accessdate=2007-11-11}}</ref>
[[Matthew Weiner]], a staff writer during the show's final three seasons, wrote a [[spec script]] for a show called ''[[Mad Men]]'' in 2000 (it was eventually produced by [[AMC (TV network)|AMC]] in 2007). The script was passed on to Chase who, after reading it, was so impressed that he immediately offered Weiner a job as a writer for ''The Sopranos''.<ref name="nytimesweiner">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/arts/television/18madm.html?ex=1342411200&en=c2bc74ac3cdf6288&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
|title=In Act 2, the TV Hit Man Becomes a Pitch Man
|last=Steinberg
|first=Jacques
|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''
|date=[[2007-07-18]]
|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref>
Two cast members have also written episodes for the show: [[Michael Imperioli]], who plays [[Christopher Moltisanti]], is also a screenwriter and has written five episodes of the series, many of which deal with [[Italian-American]] issues;<ref name="Imperioli">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/cast/actor/michael_imperioli.shtml
|title=HBO: Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti: The Sopranos
|publisher=[[HBO]]
|accessdate=2007-11-11}}</ref>
[[Toni Kalem]], who plays [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Angie Bonpensiero|Angie Bonpensiero]], also wrote the season five episode "[[All Happy Families...]]".
Before directing ''The Sopranos'', many of the directors worked on other television series. Many of the directors also have backgrounds in [[independent film]]s.<ref name="HBOcastcrew"/> The main directors of the series were [[Tim Van Patten]] (20 episodes), [[John Tiffin Patterson|John Patterson]] (13 episodes), [[Allen Coulter]] (12 episodes), and [[Alan Taylor (director)|Alan Taylor]] (9 episodes), all of whom have a background in television.<ref name="HBOcastcrew"/> Recurring cast members [[Steve Buscemi]] and [[Peter Bogdanovich]] have also acted as directors for the series, Buscemi having directed four episodes and Bogdanovich one. David Chase directed two episodes himself, [[Pilot (The Sopranos)|the pilot]] and [[Made in America (The Sopranos)|the series finale]]. [[Alik Sakharov]] was the show's original [[director of photography]], later alternating episodes with [[Phil Abraham]].<ref name="dop">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/dpfeature/index.shtml
|title=HBO: Sopranos: Behind the Scenes: Director of Photography Feature
|publisher=[[HBO]]
|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref> The show's photography and directing is noted for its [[feature film]]-quality.<ref name="popmatters"/><ref name="badabye">
{{cite web
|url=http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/tv/features/article.aspx?cp-documentid=6495000
|title=Bada Bye To The Sopranos
|last=Cooper
|first=Lorna
|publisher=[[MSN]]
|year=2007
|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref>
This look was achieved by Chase collaborating with Sakharov: "David wanted a look that would have its own two feet. [...] From the pilot, we would sit down with the whole script and break the scenes down into shots. That's what you do with feature films."<ref name="dop"/>
===Music===
{{seealso|Music on The Sopranos}}
''The Sopranos'' is noted for its eclectic music selections and has received considerable critical attention for its effective use of previously recorded songs.<ref name="thehits">
{{cite web
| last =Sepinwall
| first =Alan
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =The hits keep on coming
| work =
| publisher =''[[The Star-Ledger]]''
| date =[[2006-03-08]]
| url =http://www.nj.com/sopranos/ledger/index.ssf?/sopranos/stories/hits_seasonsix.html
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2007-11-11}}</ref><ref name="sharps">{{cite web
| last =Gross
| first =Joe
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Sharps & Flats
| work =
| publisher =[[Salon.com]]
| date =[[2000-01-04]]
| url =http://archive.salon.com/ent/music/review/2000/01/04/sopranos/index.html
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2007-11-11}}</ref><ref name="musicanother">{{cite web
| last =Ventre
| first =Michael
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Music another member of the Sopranos’ crew
| work =
| publisher =[[MSNBC]]
| date =[[2006-04-02]]
| url =http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11994702/
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2007-11-11}}</ref><ref name="peppersandeggs">{{cite web
| last =Browne
| first =David
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =The Sopranos; Peppers & Eggs
| work =
| publisher =''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| date =[[2001-05-18]]
| url =http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,281317,00.html
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2007-11-11}}</ref>
Series creator [[David Chase]] personally selects all of the show's music with producer [[Martin Bruestle]] and music editor Kathryn Dayak, sometimes also consulting [[Steven Van Zandt]].<ref name="thehits"/> The music is usually selected once the production and editing of an episode is completed, but on occasion sequences will be filmed to match preselected pieces of music.<ref name="vanityfamily">{{cite web
| last=Biskind
| first=Peter
| authorlink=Peter Biskind
| coauthors=
| title=The Family that Preys Together
| work=
| publisher=''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]''
| date=[[2007-03-13]]
| url=http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/03/chase200703
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate=2007-11-11}}</ref>
Stylistically, the music on the show can range from mainstream [[pop music|pop]] ([[Britney Spears]], [[The Bangles]]) to '60s [[British rock]] ([[The Kinks]], [[The Rolling Stones]]) to classic [[jazz]] and [[soul music|soul]] ([[Ella Fitzgerald]], [[Ben E. King]]) to [[hip hop music|hip hop]] ([[Xzibit]], [[Time Zone (band)|Time Zone]]), often within the span of a single episode.<ref name="hbomusic">{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =HBO: The Sopranos: Episode Guide
| work =
| publisher =
| date =
| url =http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/episode/index.shtml
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2007-11-11}}</ref>
The opening theme is "[[Woke Up This Morning]]" (Chosen One Mix), performed by [[United Kingdom|British]] band [[Alabama 3]] (known as A3 in the U.S. to avoid confusion with the country group Alabama). [[Music on The Sopranos#End credits|Different songs]] are played over the closing credits of each episode. Many songs are repeated multiple times through an episode, such as "Living on a Thin Line" by [[The Kinks]] in the season three episode "[[University (The Sopranos episode)|University]]"and "Glad Tidings" by [[Van Morrison]] in the season five finale "[[All Due Respect (The Sopranos episode)|All Due Respect]]". Other songs are heard several times throughout the series. A notable example is "[[Con te partiro]]," performed by [[Italy|Italian]] singer [[Andrea Bocelli]],<ref name="carmelasong">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.abmusica.com/ctp.htm
|title=Con Te Partiro - abmusica.com
|publisher=[http://www.abmusica.com/ Andrea Bocelli Lyrics Archive]
|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref>
which serves as something of a [[theme song]] for the character of [[Carmela Soprano]].<ref name="carmelasongb">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.the-sopranos.com/faq.htm
|title=The Sopranos - Family Values - FAQ
|publisher=[http://www.the-sopranos.com/ www.the-sopranos.com]
|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref>
A notable aspect of the show is its sparse, often minimalist use of [[incidental music]]. While most [[television series]] rely on musical scores to emphasize tension or dramatic moments, ''The Sopranos'' rarely if ever uses this resource. The most brutal scenes are often unaccompanied by any sort of background music.<ref name="articlebase">
{{cite web
|url =http://findinarticles.com/asVSVjS/261452/Sopranos_-One-of-the-Most-Popular-TV-Dramas-of-All-Time_.html
|title =Sopranos: One of the Most Popular TV Dramas of All Time!
|last =McDonald
|first =Jim
|publisher =[http://findinarticles.com findinarticles.com]
|date =[[2007-06-10]]
|accessdate =2007-11-14}}</ref>
Two [[soundtrack album]]s containing music from the series have been released. The first, titled ''[[Music on The Sopranos#Soundtrack compilations|The Sopranos: Music from the HBO Original Series]]'', was released by [[Sony Music Entertainment]] on [[14 December]], [[1999]]. It contains selections from the show's first two seasons and reached #54 on the [[United States|U.S.]] [[Billboard 200]].<ref name="amazonalbuma">
{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Amazon.com: The Sopranos: Music From The HBO Original Series
| work =
| publisher =[[Amazon.com]]
| date =
| url =http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00003A9MG/
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2007-11-14}}</ref><ref name="albuma"/>
A second soundtrack compilation, titled ''[[Music on The Sopranos#The Sopranos: Peppers & Eggs: Music from the HBO Original Series|The Sopranos: Peppers & Eggs: Music from the HBO Original Series]]'', was released on [[8 May]], [[2001]], also on Sony. This [[double-disc]] album contains songs and selected dialogue from the show's first three seasons.<ref name="amazonalbumb">
{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Amazon.com: The Sopranos - Peppers and Eggs: Music From The HBO Series
| work =
| publisher =[[Amazon.com]]
| date =
| url =http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005AR37/
| doi =
| accessdate =2007-11-14}}</ref>
It reached #38 on the U.S. Billboard 200.<ref name="albumb"/>
===Sets and locations===
[[Image:Sopranos-ontheset.jpg|250px|thumb|right|On the set of ''The Sopranos'' in [[New Jersey]] during the shooting of the [[Made in America (The Sopranos)|final episode]].]]
Most of the exterior shots of the series were filmed on location in [[New Jersey]], with the majority of the interior shots—this includes most indoor shots of the Soprano residence, the back room of the strip club [[Bada Bing!]], and [[Dr. Melfi]]'s [[psychiatrist]]'s office—filmed at [[Silvercup Studios]] in [[Long Island City, Queens|Long Island City]], [[Queens, New York|Queens]], [[New York City]].<ref name="bury"/>
The pork store, a frequent hangout for the [[mobster]]s on the show, was in [[Pilot (The Sopranos)|the pilot]] known as Centanni's Meat Market, an actual [[butcher]]y in [[Elizabeth, New Jersey]]. The meat market was supposed to be a recurring location but because it was a real business it could not keep closing for shooting. After the series was picked up by [[HBO]], the producers leased a building with a store front in [[Kearny, New Jersey]]. For the remainder of the production period, this building served as the shooting location for scenes outside and inside the pork store, now renamed [[Satriale's Pork Store|Satriale's]].<ref name="locations">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.nj.com/sopranos/stories/030401locations.html
|title=The Locations
|last=Parrillo
|first=Rosemary
|date=[[2001-03-04]]
|accessdate=2007-11-14
|publisher=''[[The Star-Ledger]]''}}</ref>
After the series ended, the building was demolished.<ref name="porkstoredemolished">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,310659,00.html
|title='Sopranos' Pork Store Demolished
|publisher=[[FOX News]]
|date=[[2007-11-12]]
|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref>
Bada Bing!, a [[strip club]] owned and operated by the character [[Silvio Dante]] on the show, is an actual [[go go bar]] on Route 17 in [[Lodi, New Jersey]]. Exteriors and interiors (except for the back room) are shot on location.<ref name="locations"/> The club is called [http://www.satindollsnj.com/ Satin Dolls] and was an existing business prior to the show starting. The club continued to operate during the eight years the show was filmed there and continues to do so now. As such, a business arrangement was worked out with the owner. Locations manager Mark Kamine recalls that the owner was "very gracious" as long as the shooting didn't "conflict with his business time."<ref name="locations2">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.nj.com/sopranos/ledger/index.ssf?/sopranos/stories/location.html
|title=Location, location, location
|last=Zoller Seitz
|first=Matt
|publisher=''[[The Star-Ledger]]''
|date=[[2000-01-16]]
|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref>
All the exterior and some interior shots of the Soprano residence were filmed on location at a private residence in [[North Caldwell, New Jersey]].<ref name="locations"/>
===Title sequence===
[[Image:Sopranos titlescreen.png|250px|The Sopranos title screen|right|thumb]]
A recognizable part of ''The Sopranos'' is the program's opening [[title sequence]]. [[Tony Soprano]] is seen emerging from the [[Lincoln Tunnel]] and entering the [[New Jersey Turnpike]]. Numerous landmarks in and around [[Newark, New Jersey]] are shown.<ref name="openingcredits">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/credits/index.shtml
|title=HBO: The Sopranos: Behind the Scenes: Inside the Opening Credits
|publisher=[[HBO]]
|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref>
The sequence ends with Tony pulling into the driveway of his suburban home. [[David Chase]] has said that the goal of the title sequence was to show that this particular [[Mafia]] show was about [[New Jersey]], as opposed to [[New York]], where most such dramas have been set.<ref name="pilotcommentary">
{{cite video
|people=[[David Chase]]
|year=1999
|title="The Sopranos" commentary track
|medium=DVD
|publisher=[[HBO]]
}}</ref>
In the first three seasons, between Tony leaving the tunnel and entering the New Jersey Turnpike, an image of the [[World Trade Center]] towers can be seen in his side rear-view mirror. After the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], this shot was removed, beginning with the show's fourth season.<ref name="jewish">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=7574
|title=The Left ‘Wing’
|last=Pfefferman
|first=Naomi
|publisher=''[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]]''
|date=[[2001-10-12]]
|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref>
==Characters==
{{main|List of characters from The Sopranos}}
{{Refimprovesect|date=September 2007}}
[[Tony Soprano|Anthony "Tony" Soprano]] ([[James Gandolfini]]) is the quick-tempered and fierce [[Underboss]]/''[[de facto]]'' [[crime boss|Boss]] of the [[New Jersey]]-based [[DiMeo crime family]] and patriarch of the Soprano household.<ref name = "Character Profile Tony Soprano">{{cite web
| author =
| title = Character profile - Tony Soprano
| publisher = HBO
| accessdate = 2007-09-28
| url = http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/cast/character/tony_soprano.shtml
}}</ref> Tony begins to suffer from depression and have many panic attacks after years of stress over his "business", repressed emotions and a difficult childhood. He seeks treatment from Dr. [[Jennifer Melfi]] ([[Lorraine Bracco]]).<ref name = "Character Profile Jennifer Melfi">{{cite web
| author =
| title = Character profile - Dr. Jennifer Melfi
| publisher = HBO
| accessdate = 2007-09-28
| url = http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/cast/character/dr_melfi.shtml
}}</ref> Adding to Tony's complicated life is his strained relationship with his wife [[Carmela Soprano]] ([[Edie Falco]])<ref name = "Character Profile Carmela Soprano">{{cite web
| author =
| title = Character profile - Carmela Soprano
| publisher = HBO
| accessdate = 2007-09-28
| url = http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/cast/character/carmela_soprano.shtml
}}</ref> and their two children, [[Meadow Soprano|Meadow]] ([[Jamie-Lynn Sigler]])<ref name = "Character Profile Meadow Soprano">{{cite web
| author =
| title = Character profile - Meado (Meadow) Soprano
| publisher = HBO
| accessdate = 2007-09-28
| url = http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/cast/character/meadow_soprano.shtml
}}</ref> and [[AJ Soprano|Anthony Junior]] ([[Robert Iler]]).<ref name = "Character Profile AJ Soprano">{{cite web
| author =
| title = Character profile - AJ Soprano
| publisher = HBO
| accessdate = 2007-09-28
| url = http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/cast/character/anthony_soprano.shtml
}}</ref>
The starring cast includes members of Tony's extended family including his mother [[Livia Soprano|Livia]] ([[Nancy Marchand]]),<ref name = "Character Profile Livia Soprano">{{cite web
| author =
| title = Character profile - Livia Soprano
| publisher = HBO
| accessdate = 2007-09-28
| url = http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/cast/character/livia_soprano.shtml
}}</ref> sister [[Janice Soprano|Janice]] ([[Aida Turturro]]),<ref name = "Character Profile Janice Soprano">{{cite web
| author =
| title = Character profile - Janice Soprano
| publisher = HBO
| accessdate = 2007-09-28
| url = http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/cast/character/janice_soprano.shtml
}}</ref> uncle [[Junior Soprano|Corrado "Junior" Soprano]] ([[Dominic Chianese]]), who is the technical Boss (although, eventually, semi-retired until he's completely out of the business due to health issues) of the crime family<ref name = "Character Profile Junior Soprano">{{cite web
| author =
| title = Character profile - Corrado "Junior" Soprano
| publisher = HBO
| accessdate = 2007-09-28
| url = http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/cast/character/janice_soprano.shtml
}}</ref>, cousin [[Tony Blundetto]] ([[Steve Buscemi]])<ref name = "Character Profile Tony Blundetto">{{cite web
| author =
| title = Character profile - Tony Blundetto
| publisher = HBO
| accessdate = 2007-09-28
| url = http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/cast/character/tony_blundetto.shtml
}}</ref> and nephew (actually cousin-by-marriage) [[Christopher Moltisanti]] ([[Michael Imperioli]]).<ref name = "Character Profile Christopher Moltisanti">{{cite web
| author =
| title = Character profile - Christopher Moltisanti
| publisher = HBO
| accessdate = 2007-09-28
| url = http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/cast/character/christopher_moltisanti.shtml
}}</ref> Both Livia and Janice are shrewd manipulators with emotional problems of their own. Tony's Uncle Junior is involved in his criminal organization and their family bond vies with their criminal ambitions. Both his cousin Tony and nephew Christopher are also involved with his "other" family and their actions are a further source of conflict. Christopher struggles with drug addiction and alcoholism, and a desire to gain respect, while Tony Blundetto hopes to go straight but has a violent streak.
Tony's close circle within the DiMeo crime family includes [[Silvio Dante]] ([[Steven Van Zandt]]), [[Paulie Walnuts|Paul "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri]] ([[Tony Sirico]]) and [[Big Pussy Bonpensiero|Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero]] ([[Vincent Pastore]]). Silvio is Tony's [[consigliere]] and best friend. Paulie and Big Pussy are longtime soldiers and close allies who have worked with Tony and his father; Paulie soon becomes [[caporegime|capo]] and eventually is further promoted to [[underboss]]. Also in Tony's criminal organization are [[Patsy Parisi]] ([[Dan Grimaldi]]) and [[Furio Giunta]] ([[Federico Castelluccio]]). Patsy is a quiet soldier with a head for figures. Furio is imported muscle from Italy who acts as Tony's feared enforcer.
Other significant characters in the DiMeo family include [[Bobby Baccalieri|Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri]] ([[Steven R. Schirripa]]), [[Richie Aprile]] ([[David Proval]]), [[Ralph Cifaretto]] ([[Joe Pantoliano]]), [[Eugene Pontecorvo]] ([[Robert Funaro]]) and [[Vito Spatafore]] ([[Joseph R. Gannascoli]]). Bobby is a subordinate of Junior's whom Tony initially bullies but later accepts into his inner circle. Cifaretto is a clever, ambitious top-earner but his arrogance and tendency to be obnoxious, disrespectful and very violent make Tony resentful. Richie Aprile is released from prison in season two and quickly makes waves in the organization. Pontecorvo is a young soldier who becomes a made man alongside Christopher. Spatafore works his way up through the ranks to become top earner of the Aprile Crew but has a secret in his personal life.
Friends of the Soprano family include [[Herman "Hesh" Rabkin]] ([[Jerry Adler]]), [[Adriana La Cerva]] ([[Drea de Matteo]]), [[Rosalie Aprile]] ([[Sharon Angela]]), [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Angie Bonpensiero|Angie Bonpensiero]] ([[Toni Kalem]]), along with [[Artie Bucco|Artie]] ([[John Ventimiglia]]) and [[Charmaine Bucco]] ([[Kathrine Narducci]]). Hesh is an adviser and friend to Tony, and served in this role under Tony's father. Adriana is Christopher's long time girlfriend; the two have a tempestuous relationship. Rosalie is the widow of the previous DiMeo boss and a close friend of Carmela's. Angie is Salvatore Bonpensiero's wife who later goes into business for herself. Artie and Charmaine are school friends of the Sopranos and owners of the popular restaurant Vesuvio. Charmaine wishes to have no association with Tony and his crew due to his criminal activities, and often has to insist because Artie -- a law-abiding and hard-working man -- is drawn to Tony's way of life.
[[John Sacramoni|John "Johnny Sack" Sacramoni]] ([[Vince Curatola]]), [[Phil Leotardo]] ([[Frank Vincent]]) and [[Little Carmine|"Little" Carmine Lupertazzi, Jr.]] ([[Ray Abruzzo]]) are all significant characters from the [[NYC|New York]]-based [[Lupertazzi crime family]], which shares a good amount of its business with the Soprano organization. Although the Lupertazzis' and DiMeos' interests are often at odds, Tony maintains a cordial business-like relationship with Johnny Sack, preferring to make deals that benefit both families. His second-in-command and eventual successor, Phil Leotardo, is less cordial and is harder for Tony to do business with. Little Carmine is the son of the family's first boss and vies for power with the others.
==Plot synopsis and episode list==
{{main|List of The Sopranos episodes}}
{{see also|The Sopranos timeline}}
{{expand-section|date=December 2007}}
{{Unreferencedsection|date=May 2008}}
{{Original research|date=May 2008}}
===Season 1===
The series begins with [[Tony Soprano]] collapsing after suffering a [[panic attack]]. This prompts him to begin [[psychotherapy|therapy]] with [[Jennifer Melfi|Dr. Jennifer Melfi]]. Gradually, the storyline reveals: details of Tony's upbringing, with his father's influence looming large on his development as a gangster, but more so that Tony's mother, [[Livia Soprano|Livia]], was manipulative and possibly psychotic; his complicated relationship with his wife [[Carmela Soprano|Carmela]], as well as her feelings regarding her husband's ''cosa nostra'' ties; the lives of his children, [[Meadow Soprano|Meadow]] and [[Anthony Soprano, Jr.|A.J.]], who both have increasing knowledge of their father's mob dealings; federal indictments being brought as a result someone in his organization talking to the [[FBI]]; and his own Uncle plotting his death. Tony's [[Uncle Junior]] had been installed as boss of the family (following the death of previous boss [[Jackie Aprile, Sr.]] from cancer), while actually Tony controls most things from behind the scenes. Furious at Junior's plan to have him killed, Tony responds to the attempt on his life with a violent reprisal and confronts his mother for her role in plotting his downfall. She has a psychologically triggered pseudo-stroke. Junior is arrested by the FBI.
===Season 2===
At the beginning of the [[List of The Sopranos episodes#Season 2: 2000|second season]], Jackie's brother [[Richie Aprile]] is released from prison and proves to be uncontrollable in the business arena as well as starting a relationship with Tony's sister [[Janice Soprano|Janice]], who has arrived from Seattle. Tony's friend [[Big Pussy Bonpensiero|"Big Pussy"]] returns to New Jersey after a conspicuous absence and Tony realizes he is an FBI informant. Tony, [[Silvio Dante]], and [[Paulie Walnuts]] kill Big Pussy on a boat then wrap him up in chains and throw him overboard.
[[Christopher Moltisanti]] becomes engaged to his longtime girlfriend [[Adriana La Cerva]]. Matthew Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte, two low-level soldiers dissatisfied with their lack of success in the Soprano crew, try to make a name for themselves by attempting to kill Christopher. Their plan backfires; Christopher survives the attack (though he is critically wounded), and kills Sean in self-defense, while Tony and Big Pussy murder Matthew soon afterward.
Junior is placed under [[house arrest]] as he awaits trial. Richie, frustrated with Tony's authority over him, entreats Junior to have Tony killed. Junior feigns interest, then informs Tony of Richie's intentions, leaving Tony with another problem to address. However, the situation is diffused unexpectedly when Janice kills Richie in a violent argument; Tony and his men conceal all evidence of the murder, and Janice returns to Seattle.
===Season 3===
The [[List of The Sopranos episodes#Season 3: 2001|third season]] sees the return of the ambitious [[Ralph Cifaretto]] after a long absence in Florida. He gets involved with [[Rosalie Aprile]], widow of the former boss, Jackie Aprile, Sr. Despite a personal animosity and a wariness toward his destructive behavior (Ralph murdered a stripper at the [[Bada Bing]], prompting Tony to assault him, violating Mafia code regarding conduct toward fellow [[made man|made men]]), Tony promotes him to [[caporegime]] because of his professional success. Meadow, now a freshman at [[Columbia University]], begins dating Noah Tannenbaum, who is half-Jewish and half African-American; he becomes the target of Tony's racist ire, and Noah eventually ends their relationship.
[[Jackie Aprile, Jr.]] becomes involved with Meadow, and then descends into an increasingly reckless life of drugs and crime. Tony initially attempts to chalk up Jackie Jr.'s erratic behavior to a forgivable incident of his youth, and tries to prevent an escalation by having a frank and direct talk with Jackie. Despite Tony's counsel—and warning—Jackie crosses a line by organizing a botched robbery attempt on Ralph's card game. Tony decides to give Ralph the decision regarding Jackie Jr.'s punishment. Despite his role as a surrogate father, Ralph ultimately decides to have Jackie Jr. killed.
Livia dies of a stroke. Tony begins an affair with [[Gloria Trillo]], who is also a patient of Dr. Melfi. Their relationship is brief and tumultuous. Junior is diagnosed with stomach cancer; following chemotherapy, it goes into remission. A.J. continues to get in trouble at school, despite success on the football team; this culminates in his expulsion.
===Season 4===
In the [[List of The Sopranos episodes#Season 4: 2002|fourth season]], New York underboss [[Johnny Sack]] becomes enraged after learning of an inappropriate joke made by Ralph about his wife. He seeks permission to have him killed in retribution, but is denied; tensions between the two eventually cool. Tony later murders Ralph in a violent rage because he believes Ralph killed their racehorse Pie-O-My in a stable fire.
Following the death of [[Bobby Baccalieri]]'s wife, Janice pursues a romantic relationship with him. Christopher's addiction to heroin deepens, prompting his associates and family to organize an [[intervention (counseling)|intervention]], after which he enters a [[drug rehabilitation]] center. Adriana befriends a woman who is a secretly an FBI agent; when Adriana terminates their friendship suddenly, she is brought in and compelled to become a federal informant. Junior faces his [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act|RICO]] trial; it is ultimately declared a mistrial.
Carmela, whose relationship with Tony is tense due to financial worries and Tony's infidelities, develops a mutual infatuation with [[Furio Giunta]]. Fearing the consequences of engaging in a relationship with the wife of a mob boss, Furio flees back to Italy, leaving Carmela despondent. After Tony's former mistress calls their home and drunkenly details his improprieties, Carmela throws Tony out. Tony is approached by Johnny Sack with a proposal to murder [[Carmine Lupertazzi]], which he eventually turns down.
===Season 5===
In the [[List of The Sopranos episodes#Season 5: 2004|fifth season]], Tony's cousin [[Tony Blundetto]] is released from prison alongside other mob figures. Carmine dies unexpectedly and his failure to nominate a successor leads to a power struggle in New York. Despite trying to avoid returning to organized crime, Blundetto gets involved in the conflict against Tony's orders. When Blundetto kills the brother of [[Phil Leotardo]], Johnny demands that Tony turn him in. Refusing to do so provokes the New York faction, and eventually Tony elects to kill Blundetto himself rather than hand him over to be tortured.
Tony and Carmela remain separated, with Tony living at his parents' former house with childhood friend [[Artie Bucco]], who was also left by his wife. Carmela, now the sole authority figure for A.J. in the Soprano house, becomes frustrated as her rules lead her son to resent her; eventually she allows A.J. to live with his father. She has a brief relationship with Robert Weigler, A.J.'s school guidance counselor; he breaks it off abruptly when he suspects that she is manipulating him to improve A.J.'s grades. Tony and Carmela reconcile their marriage; Tony promises to remain faithful, and also agrees to pay for a piece of real estate Carmela wishes to develop.
Adriana continues working as an FBI informant. After being implicated in a murder at her nightclub, federal agents give Adriana an ultimatum: get Christopher to cooperate or go to prison. She confesses her secret to Christopher; initially angry, he then becomes more receptive to the idea of entering [[witness protection]]. However, he finally has another change of heart and tells Tony about Adriana. Tony, with Christopher's understanding, orders Silvio to kill her. Tony approaches Johnny Sack to put an end to the bloodshed between their families and get back to business. As they meet Johnny Sack is arrested by the FBI.
===Season 6===
At the beginning of [[List of The Sopranos episodes#Part 1|the sixth season]], Tony is shot by the now senile and confused Uncle Junior. Rendered comatose, Tony dreams he is a salesman on a business trip, where he mistakenly exchanges his briefcase and identification with a man named Kevin Finnerty. Tony's recovery from the shooting changes his outlook, and he tries to mend his ways. However, he is faced with more problems in his business life. [[Vito Spatafore]] is outed as a [[homosexual]] and Tony is urged to deal with the problem by Phil Leotardo, now acting boss of New York with Johnny Sack in prison. When Tony fails to act, Phil intervenes and kills Spatafore. Tony's crime family commits a reprisal murder and once more it appears that the families are on the verge of all-out war.
In the [[List of The Sopranos episodes#Part 2|second part of the sixth season]], Tony considers killing several of his associates for relatively minor infractions. Christopher is unable to leave the mob, deflecting his problems by relapsing into drug addiction and killing his old Narcotics Anonymous sponsor. He is then seriously injured in a car accident that he causes while driving under the influence of narcotics. Tony, the sole passenger, is unharmed and suffocates Christopher to death. A.J. is dumped by his fiancée and slips into depression, culminating in a failed suicide attempt in the backyard pool. Dr. Melfi is convinced by friends that Tony is making no progress and may even be using talking therapy for his own sociopathic benefit. She drops him as a patient.
Johnny Sack dies from [[lung cancer]] while imprisoned and Leotardo consolidates his position in the Lupertazzi family. He has his opposition for leadership killed and then officially takes over. In a resumption of their past feud Phil will not compromise with Tony on a garbage deal. When Tony assaults a Lupertazzi soldier for bothering Meadow on a date Phil seizes a chance for revenge. Phil orders the execution of Bobby Baccalieri, who is shot to death, Silvio, who ends up comatose, and Tony, who goes into hiding. A deal is brokered where the rest of the Lupertazzi family agree to ignore the order to kill Tony, and give Tony an opportunity to go after Phil. An FBI agent informs Tony of Phil's location and Tony has him killed. With Phil’s death, the threat from New York is extinguished and Tony, Carmela, Meadow, and A.J. meet for dinner.
==Themes and characteristics==
''The Sopranos'' is noted for [[David Chase]]'s multifaceted, [[symbolism]]-heavy style of writing and the series has consistently been the subject of feverish analysis.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |url=http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/6821/kekekekiw2.th.jpg|title=Deconstructing 'The Sopranos' |accessdate=2007-07-03 |author=David Kelly |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=[[2002-09-15]] |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=[[The New York Times]] |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref> The show operates on a rich number of levels. Chase and his co-writers have addressed a large number of [[psychology|psychological]], [[philosophy|philosophical]], [[society|social]] and [[politics|political]] themes throughout the series' run.
:''See also: [[Tony Soprano#Dreams|Tony Soprano's Dreams]]''
A distinctive aspect of ''The Sopranos'' is the dream sequences. Series creator [[David Chase]], who writes most of the dream sequences,<ref name="Alan">Sepinwall, Alan. [http://www.nj.com/sopranos/ledger/index.ssf?/sopranos/stories/tonydreams_six.html The stuff that Tony's dreams are made of], nj.com, [[March 6]], [[2006]], accessed [[March 19]], [[2007]]. </ref> states of them, "We've used those dreams to further the narrative. For example, 'Funhouse' could have been a story in which Tony gets some information that Pussy's the rat and he tracks it down and we do some stultifying procedural until we have the proof in hand. And I just couldn't go through that. I can't stand that (stuff). So we just decided it would be more interesting, that on some level Tony knows this, that his friend is betraying him, and it makes him ill in combination with some bad chicken, and his subconscious erupts like that and gives him the information."<ref name="Alan"/> The dream sequence includes Tony talking to Big Pussy as a fish and realizing his friend is an FBI informant. In the dream, Pussy (the fish) tells Tony, "You knew. You passed me over for promotion." Another famous dream is the sequence in "[[The Test Dream (The Sopranos episode)|The Test Dream]]" that is over 20 minutes in length.<ref name="Alan"/>
Season six contains the longest continuous "dream" sequence with Tony as a regular man having his identity mistaken for a man named Kevin Finnerty.<ref name="msnbc.com">Dehnart, Andy. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11917564 Real, dream families blend for Tony Soprano], msnbc.com, [[March 20]], [[2006]], accessed [[March 19]], [[2007]]. </ref> In the dream, Tony is stuck in [[Costa Mesa]], [[California]], a city he had traveled to for business, and because of mistaken identity, he cannot travel home. Finnerty is portrayed as a salesman who lives a conservative, law-abiding life. During this sequence, he has a memorable run-in with [[Buddhist]] monks at a nearby monastery <ref name="msnbc.com"/>
===Ineptitude of mobsters===
The [[mobster]]s in the series are depicted as tough, savvy, and street-smart but lacking heavily in formal education and a deeper understanding of themselves and their world. The mobsters' educational and linguistic shortcomings, particularly those of [[Paulie Walnuts]] and [[Christopher Moltisanti|Christopher]], are often a source of humor.<ref>Goodman, Tim. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/02/DDG9IOUL3Q1.DTL A tidy finish? Fahgeddaboutit.], ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'', [[April 2]], [[2007]], accessed [[May 24]], [[2007]]. </ref> The characters themselves are frequently oblivious of their use of [[malapropism]]s and misunderstandings of basic history and common knowledge.
The gangsters' incompetence is in some way displayed in every episode of the series. Some of the more notable examples include:
*Much of the episode "[[Pine Barrens (The Sopranos episode)|Pine Barrens]]" is devoted to the failings of Paulie and Christopher as they attempt to survive a single day and night in a snowy wilderness after a botched execution. Earlier in the same episode Christopher shows his ignorance of history when he expresses disbelief that the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]] actually occurred by saying: "That was real? I saw [[Thirteen Days (film)|that movie]]. I thought it was bullshit".<ref>{{cite episode
| title = Pine Barrens
| episodelink = Pine Barrens (The Sopranos episode)
| series = The Sopranos
| serieslink = The Sopranos
| credits = [[Terence Winter]]
| writers =
| network = HBO
| station =
| city =
| airdate = 2001-05-06
| season = 3
| number = 11
}}</ref>
*[[Bobby Baccalieri]] draws the ire of Tony while discussing world events and biblical prophecy by erroneously stating that "[[Quasimodo]] predicted all of this." Tony then corrects him by saying that he meant [[Nostradamus]] and that Quasimodo was the [[Hunchback of Notre Dame]]. Baccalieri then continues the conversation by mentioning the backfield of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, now thinking that a hunchback is like a half back.<ref>{{cite episode
| title = For All Debts Public and Private
| episodelink = For All Debts Public and Private
| series = The Sopranos
| serieslink = The Sopranos
| credits = [[David Chase]]
| writers =
| network = HBO
| station =
| city =
| airdate = 2002-09-15
| season = 4
| number = 1
}}</ref>
*Although more intelligent than his cohorts, Tony often uses malapropisms and repeats things that [[Dr. Melfi]] says to him elsewhere, only to get the phrase entirely wrong or to completely miss the point. Some of his more famous malapropisms include "revenge is like serving cold cuts" (a mangling of the expression "revenge is a dish best served cold")<ref name="cc">{{cite episode
| title = Cold Cuts
| episodelink = Cold Cuts (The Sopranos episode)
| series = The Sopranos
| serieslink = The Sopranos
| credits = [[Robin Green (producer)|Robin Green]], [[Mitchell Burgess]]
| writers =
| network = HBO
| station =
| city =
| airdate = 2004-05-09
| season = 5
| number = 10
}}</ref> and describing "amour fou" (a french expression meaning "crazy love") as "our mofo."<ref>{{cite episode
| title = Amour Fou
| episodelink = Amour Fou
| series = The Sopranos
| serieslink = The Sopranos
| credits = [[Frank Renzulli]], [[David Chase]]
| writers =
| network = HBO
| station =
| city =
| airdate = 2001-05-13
| season = 3
| number = 12
}}</ref>
*Recurring character [[Little Carmine|"Little Carmine" Lupertazzi]]'s delusions of eloquence are a consistent source of comedy for viewers.<ref>Goodman, Tim. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/02/DDG9IOUL3Q1.DTL A tidy finish? Fahgeddaboutit.], ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'', [[April 2]], [[2007]], accessed [[May 24]], [[2007]]. </ref> He often muddles metaphors, once telling Tony that "You're at the precipice of an enormous crossroad."<ref>{{cite episode
| title = The Second Coming
| episodelink = The Second Coming (The Sopranos episode)
| series = The Sopranos
| serieslink = The Sopranos
| credits = [[Terence Winter]]
| writers =
| network = HBO
| station =
| city =
| airdate = 2007-05-20
| season = 6
| number = 19
}}</ref> "I have nine pictures under my sub-species," he at one time says of his movie-producing.<ref name="cc"/> He also explains the final scene of the fictitious mafia/slasher [[movie]] ''[[Cleaver (The Sopranos)|Cleaver]]'' as a mix of "the sacred and the propane."<ref>{{cite episode
| title = Stage 5
| episodelink = Stage 5 (The Sopranos episode)
| series = The Sopranos
| serieslink = The Sopranos
| credits = [[Terence Winter]]
| writers =
| network = HBO
| station =
| city =
| airdate = 2007-04-15
| season = 6
| number = 14
}}</ref>
Some mobsters are portrayed as intelligent and well-spoken in contrast, though they appear to be exceptions to the rule. For instance, [[Johnny Sack]], [[Silvio Dante]], [[Ralph Cifaretto]], and [[Tony Blundetto]] are all highly intelligent (Blundetto allegedly has an IQ of 158) and almost never use malapropisms.<ref>Goldberg, Jeffrey and Capeci, Jerry. [http://www.slate.com/id/2100255/entry/2100275/ Mob Experts on The Sopranos, Week 10], slate.com, [[May 10]], [[2004]], accessed [[March 27]], [[2007]]. </ref>
===References and allusions===
====Goodfellas====
Chase has stated that the [[Martin Scorsese]] gangster film ''[[Goodfellas]]'' was a source of inspiration for him, calling the 1990 movie his "[[Koran]]".<ref>Stark, Jeff. [http://archive.salon.com/ent/movies/dvd/review/2001/04/04/sopranos/index.html "Jersey Cases Inspire New Season"], ''[[Newark Star Ledger]]'', [[April 5]], [[2001]].</ref>
''The Sopranos'' began with four starring cast members ([[Lorraine Bracco]], [[Michael Imperioli]], [[Tony Sirico]] and [[Vincent Pastore]]) who had appeared in ''Goodfellas''. Later [[Frank Vincent]], another ''Goodfellas'' cast member, joined the cast as [[Phil Leotardo]]. [[Joseph Gannascoli]], who can be seen briefly in the film as an uncredited [[extra (actor)|extra]], joined the cast as [[Vito Spatafore]]. Recurring characters played by actors who also appeared in ''Goodfellas'' include [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Barbara Soprano Giglione|Barbara Soprano Giglione]] ([[Nicole Burdette]]), [[List of characters from The Sopranos in the DiMeo Crime Family#Lawrence "Larry Boy" Barese|Larry Boy Barese]] ([[Tony Darrow]]), [[Carmine Lupertazzi]] ([[Tony Lip]]), [[FBI on The Sopranos#Chief Frank Cubitoso|FBI Chief Frank Cubitoso]] ([[Frank Pellegrino]]), [[List of characters from The Sopranos in the Lupertazzi Crime Family#Albie Cianflone|Albie Cianflone]] ([[John "Cha Cha" Ciarcia]]), [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Mary Pellegrino De Angelis|Mary De Angelis]] ([[Suzanne Sheperd]]), [[List of characters from The Sopranos in the DiMeo Crime Family#Beansie Gaeta|Beansie Gaeta]] ([[Paul Herman]]), [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Joanne Moltisanti|Joanne Moltisanti]] ([[Marianne Leone]], also played by ''Goodfellas'' alumna [[Nancy Cassaro]] in one earlier episode), [[List of characters from The Sopranos in the Lupertazzi Crime Family#Faustino "Doc" Santoro|Doc Santoro]] ([[Dan Conte]]) and [[List of characters from The Sopranos in the DiMeo Crime Family#Pat Blundetto|Pat Blundetto]] ([[Frank Albanese]]). [[Anthony Caso]] appeared in ''The Sopranos'' episode "[[46 Long (The Sopranos episode)|46 Long]]" as [[Martin Scorsese]] and had a small part in ''Goodfellas''. Actor [[Chuck Low]] appeared as Jewish character Morrie in ''Goodfellas'' and Hasidic hotel owner Mr. Teitlemann in ''The Sopranos''. Actors who have had small roles in ''The Sopranos'' and ''Goodfellas'' include [[Tobin Bell]], Gene Canfield, Gaetano LoGiudice, [[Vito Antuofermo]], Frank Adonis, Anthony Alessandro, Victor Colicchio, and Angela Pietropinto. A total of 27 actors have appeared in both productions.
''Goodfellas'' star [[Ray Liotta]] was also an early candidate to play Tony Soprano. Later on, Liotta also turned down the role of Ralph Cifaretto, which eventually went to Joe Pantoliano.
Michael Imperioli (who, in ''Goodfellas'' was shot in the foot), shoots a store attendant in the foot. As he screams in pain, yelling "You shot me in the foot!", Imperioli exits, saying "It happens..."
Also, Phil Leotardo (Frank Vincent) kills Angelo Garepe (Joe Santos) in "[[The Test Dream (The Sopranos episode)|The Test Dream]]"—similar to the way he died in "Goodfellas" as Billy Batts.
====The Godfather====
{{Original research|date=September 2007}}
Many of the characters are interested in ''[[The Godfather]]'' series of movies and some of the actors who portray them also appear in the films. For example in ''[[The Godfather Part II]]'', [[Dominic Chianese]] (Corrado "Junior" Soprano) plays [[Johnny Ola]]. In "The Godfather" and "The Godfather Part II", Richard Bright (Frank Crisci, Episode 4.4 "The Weight" ) appears as "Al Neri" (IMBD). In ''The Godfather'', Tony Lip (Carmine Lupertazzi) and Lou Martini, Jr. (Anthony Infante) appeared as wedding guests. In ''The Godfather Trilogy'' (a re-edited version of all three ''Godfather'' movies), Richard Maldone (Albert Barese) had a small role as Joey. [[Tony Sirico]] (Paulie Walnuts) claims to have been in ''The Godfather Part II''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20010325/ai_n14520965|title=
Not-So-Goodfella; Sopranos star was real-life gangster|author=Gardner, David|publisher=''[[The Sunday Mirror]]''|date=[[2001-03-25]]|accessdate=2007-06-23}}</ref> but he is not visible in the film.
Christopher Moltisanti is also fascinated with the films' depictions of the Mafia. They have all watched the films so often that Paulie, for example, refers to ''The Godfather'' star [[Al Pacino]] in conversation simply as "Al," Paulie's [[car horn]] plays "[[Love Theme From The Godfather]]", and several of the characters refer to the movies by their numbers: the first movie in the trilogy is simply referred to as "one." Tony and his crew sometimes discuss favorite scenes from the films. Silvio Dante in the early seasons would impersonate Al Pacino, from ''[[The Godfather Part III]]'', saying, "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." He has done impersonations of the scene in ''The Godfather Part III'' between Michael Corleone and Al Neri where Michael says "Our true enemy has yet to reveal himself," (followed, tellingly, by an immediate cut to a shot of Big Pussy). The mobsters compare themselves to the cinematic images of organized crime in ''The Godfather'' trilogy, as well as other well known films about the Mafia, such as ''[[Goodfellas]]''. Late in Season One, Christopher bonds over the Godfather movies with hip-hop mogul Massive Genius, who insists that the third one is "misunderstood."
There are also various visual homages to the ''Godfather'' trilogy.{{Or|date=September 2007}} In Season One, the characters refer to Brendan Filone's murder as the "Moe Greene special" (a clean shot through the eye). Moe Greene was a character in the ''Godfather'' who was killed in the same way Filone was.
At the funeral of Jackie Aprile Sr. in Season One, numerous parallels to the funeral of Vito Corleone in ''The Godfather'' are evident. Tony Soprano and Christopher are in similar positions to Michael Corleone and Tom Hagen in ''The Godfather,'' while Junior Soprano sits in a similar position to Don Barzini in the ''Godfather'' scene. Both scenes were shot in Calvary Cemetery, in Queens, N.Y.
Just before Tony is shot at in a failed assassination attempt in Season One, he buys a bottle of orange juice, a reference to Vito Corleone buying oranges during a similar attempt on his life.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} In addition, following the death of [[Livia Soprano]] in Season Three, there is a point-of-view shot of Tony taking an elevator to the funeral home basement. The scene is a direct homage to the scene in ''The Godfather'' where Vito calls on a favor to Bonasera following the murder of his son, [[Sonny Corleone|Santino]].{{Fact|date=September 2007}}
In season four, Junior Soprano is hit in the head by a television microphone following trial and tumbles down the front steps of the courtroom in a manner reminiscent of Don Emilio Barzini after his execution in ''The Godfather''.
In Season Five, [[Carmine Lupertazzi]] suffers a fatal stroke while eating brunch. At the table, all the glasses are filled with water, except Carmine's, which has orange juice. In Season Six, in the episode "[[Members Only (The Sopranos episode)|Members Only]]", Tony is seen pouring orange juice into a coffee mug, and just after drinking it, he tells AJ that the only people you can really count on are family. Later in this episode Tony is shot by Junior, a family member. In the final episode, "[[Made in America (The Sopranos)|Made in America]]", where it is conjectured that Tony may have been killed, Tony is seen eating an orange at Carmela's safe house. In ''The Godfather'', Vito Corleone dies shortly after placing an orange wedge in his mouth in order to playfully frighten his grandson. In episode 10 of season 5 during the dream sequence [[Tony Soprano]] reaches for a gun behind the lavatory which is reference to the scene in the [[The Godfather]] where [[Michael Corleone]] retrieves the gun to shoot the police captain from where it is strapped to the back of the lavatory.
In the Season Six, Part 1 episode "[[Mayham]]," Anthony Junior plans to avenge the shooting of his father by killing Uncle Junior. A.J. tells Bobby and Christopher that getting to Junior would be "difficult, not impossible" ([[Rocco Lampone]] made this identical remark to Michael Corleone concerning the assassination of [[Hyman Roth]] in ''The Godfather Part II''). When A.J. does in fact get caught in Junior's mental institution-jail with a knife in his revenge attempt, he later screams at Tony that Michael's restaurant revenge scene was always Tony's favorite, and Tony says, "It's a movie, A.J."
During the final scene of the series, in the episode "[[Made in America (The Sopranos)|Made in America]]," an unknown man whom Tony watches closely walks into the bathroom of the restaurant they're in. The scene ends abruptly before the man returns, leading to speculation that the man came out of the bathroom and shot [[Tony Soprano|Tony]]. In ''The Godfather'', [[Michael Corleone]] gets a gun from the bathroom and shoots [[Virgil Sollozzo]] and his policeman bodyguard, Captain McCluskey.
In the first episode of the series, when Chris Moltisanti waits with Big Pussy after killing Emil Kolar, he says "Louis Brasi sleeps with the fishes", and Big Pussy replies "It's [[Luca Brasi]]".
And Tony Soprano's wife is called Carmela—the same name as Vito Corleone's wife in the Godfather.
===Product placement===
''The Sopranos'' has been consistent in the frequent depiction of actual [[brand]] names for products on the program. This practice is widely regarded within the media as [[product placement]].<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/FineOnMedia/archives/sopranos/index.html "Sopranos Product Placement Watch"], BusinessWeek Online, 2006 </ref><ref> [http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/2002-12-02-sopranos_x.htm "HBO shows use real brands"], USA Today, [[December 12]], [[2002]] </ref><ref>[http://medialit.med.sc.edu/sopranos.htm "Advertisers find "Sopranos" hard to refuse"], [[Reuters]], [[October 11]], [[2002]] </ref>
==Reception==
===Critical response===
[[Image:SopranosVanityFair.jpg|left|thumb|[[James Gandolfini]] and [[David Chase]] on the April 2007 cover of ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'']]
''The Sopranos'' is acknowledged by [[critic]]s as one of the greatest and most ground-breaking [[television series]] of its time, although critical appreciation of the show have varied considerably from season to season.<ref name="hollywoodreporter"/><ref name="greatest"/><ref name="Time"/>
It has been called "perhaps the greatest [[pop-culture]] masterpiece of its day" by ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]''.<ref name="vanity">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/04/sopranos200704?currentPage=1
|title=An American Family
|accessdate=2007-09-22
|last=Biskind
|first=Peter
|authorlink=Peter Biskind
|year=2007
|month=April
|publisher=''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]''}}</ref>
''[[TV Guide]]'' ranked ''The Sopranos'' #5 on their "Top 50 TV Shows of All Time" list.<ref name="TVguide">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/04/26/entertainment/main507388.shtml
|title=TV Guide Names Top 50 Shows
|date=[[2002-04-26]]
|accessdate=2008-02-18
|publisher=[[CBS News]]}}</ref>
In 2007, [[Channel 4]] ([[United Kingdom|UK]]) named ''The Sopranos'' the greatest television series of all time.<ref name="c4">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/tvtoday/2007/03/the_50_greatest_tv_dramas.php
|title=The 50 greatest TV dramas
|last=Matthewman
|first=Scott
|date=[[2007-03-06]]
|accessdate=2007-11-11
|publisher=''[[The Stage]]''}}</ref>
The show was also included on ''[[Time Magazine|TIME]]'' magazine's "The 100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME," with editor James Poniewozik writing "This mafia saga showed just how complex and involving TV storytelling could be, inspiring an explosion of ambitious dramas on cable and off."<ref name ="Time">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1651341_1659196_1652728,00.html
|title=The Sopranos - The 100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME - TIME
|last=Poniewozik
|first=James
|publisher=''[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]''
|year=2007
|month=October
|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref>
The writing, acting, and directing have often been singled out for praise. The show has also received considerable attention from critics and journalists for its music selections, cinematography, and willingness to deal with difficult subjects.<ref name ="Time"/><ref name="badabye"/>
The first season of the series received overwhelmingly positive reviews.<ref name="tom1">{{cite web
|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sopranos_the_complete_first_season
|title=The Sopranos - The Complete First Season - Rotten Tomatoes
|accessdate=2007-11-27
|publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref>
Following its initial airing in 1999, ''[[The New York Times]]'' stated "[''The Sopranos''] just may be the greatest work of [[American popular culture]] of the last quarter [[century]]."<ref name="familyman"/> In 2007, [[PopMatters]] wrote "the debut season of ''The Sopranos'' remains the crowning achievement of American television."<ref name ="popmattersdvd">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/features/article/49146/part-4-feasts-from-the-fringe/
|title=Part 4 - Feasts from the Fringe
|last=Holland
|first=Roger
|publisher=[[PopMatters]]
|date=[[2007-10-11]]
|accessdate=2007-11-27}}</ref>
===Awards===
{{main|List of The Sopranos awards and nominations}}
{{Refimprovesect|date=May 2008}}
The Sopranos has been nominated for most Outstanding Drama Series every year of its run, including 2007, its final season. James Gandolfini and Edie Falco have also been nominated every year but one and have also been nominated in 2007. After being nominated for and losing the [[Emmy Award]] for Outstanding Drama Series in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2003 (losing the first time to ''[[The Practice]]'', then the latter three to ''[[The West Wing]]''), ''The Sopranos'' finally won the award in 2004, and again in 2007, becoming the first and only cable series to win the award. It also joined ''[[Sex and the City]]'' as the only cable show to pick up a best series Emmy. In 2003, the series won Emmys for Writing, Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Joe Pantoliano), Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Edie Falco), and Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Gandolfini). The show has dominated the writing categories at the Emmys, picking up 17 nominations over five seasons and winning the award four times. It is also a perennial nominee at the Golden Globes (winning the Best Drama Series in 2000) and the major guild awards (Directors, Producers, Writers, and Actors).
''The Sopranos'' has also won at least one Emmy Award for Acting in every season with the exception of the year 2006. Edie Falco and James Gandolfini have each been nominated five times for the leading roles in the show, each winning a total of three awards. Joe Pantoliano won an Emmy (for Supporting Actor) in 2003, and Michael Imperioli and Drea de Matteo also won Emmys in 2004 for their supporting roles on the show. Other actors who have received Emmy nominations for the series include Lorraine Bracco (in the Lead Actress and Supporting Actress categories), Dominic Chianese, Nancy Marchand, Aida Turturro, Steve Buscemi (who was also nominated for directing the ''Pine Barrens'' episode), [[John Heard (actor)|John Heard]] and [[Annabella Sciorra]].
In 2006, ''The Sopranos'' received its sixth Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, but lost the award to ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]''. Three-time Emmy winners James Gandolfini and Edie Falco were snubbed in the Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress in a Drama Series category, respectively. Michael Imperioli was the only cast member to receive a nomination (his fifth nomination as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series). The show did pick up a trophy for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series for Terence Winter for the episode "Members Only".
On [[July 19]], [[2007]], it was revealed that "The Sopranos" was nominated for fifteen Emmys, including its seventh Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama Series. Gandolfini and Falco were once again nominated for their lead roles of Tony and Carmela Soprano, and Michael Imperioli picked up his second Outstanding Supporting Actor nomination in a row. Rounding out the actor categories, Aida Turturro was nominated for her role of Janice Soprano; Lorraine Bracco received her fourth Emmy nomination for her performance of Dr. Melfi (her first since 2001); and an Outstanding Guest Actor nomination went out to Tim Daly for his performance as writer J.T. Dolan. David Chase, Matthew Weiner, and Terence Winter were nominated for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series, among the other well-entitled nominations for the show's direction, sound mixing, editing, and cinematography.
On [[September 16]], [[2007]], the show received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series for the second time, becoming the first drama show in history to win the award in its final broadcasting season. While the show was shut out of all acting awards, Alan Taylor also won Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the episode "Kennedy and Heidi", and David Chase was awarded Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for the final episode, "Made in America".
==References in popular culture==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Simpsopranos.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Chris Moltisanti, ''Simpsons'' character [[Springfield Mafia#Johnny Tightlips|Johnny Tightlips]], Silvio Dante, and Paulie Gualtieri in ''[[The Simpsons]]'']] -->
The show has been referenced in many forms of media. The opening sequence was parodied in an episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' in 2002, with [[Fat Tony]] standing in for Tony Soprano in "[[Papa's Got a Brand New Badge]]," followed by a sequence in which characters similar in appearance to Silvio Dante, Paulie Gualtieri, and Christopher Moltisanti appear as the "Jersey Muscle," though without speaking.<ref>[http://www.tv.com/simpsons/papas-got-a-brand-new-badge/episode/113449/summary.html Papa's Got A Brand New Badge], tv.com, accessed [[May 9]], [[2007]]. </ref> The first episode of ''The Simpsons''' eighteenth season called "[[The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer]]" has several references to ''The Sopranos''. Actors [[Joe Pantoliano]] and [[Michael Imperioli]] appear on the same episode as the voices of Dante and Dante Jr.<ref name="tv.com">[http://www.tv.com/the-simpsons/the-mook-the-chef-the-wife-and-her-homer/episode/728345/trivia.html The Mook, the Chef, the Wife, and Her Homer], tv.com, accessed [[May 9]], [[2007]]. </ref>
Another simpsons reference comes when Homer and grandpa are driving late at night and get into a car accident that parodied the episode of Kennedy and Heidi, where after falling into a ditch with christopher driving high, tony dramatically dials 9-1, then closes his phone and proceeds to squeeze christopher's nose suffocating him to death.
''The Sopranos'' was also parodied in the [[Adult Swim]] show ''[[Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law]]'', in 2003, in an episode in which [[Fred Flintstone]] is a mob boss.<ref>[http://www.tv.com/harvey-birdman-attorney-at-law/the-dabba-don/episode/167850/summary.html The Dabba Don], tv.com, accessed [[May 9]], [[2007]]. </ref> During the 2001 Fox [[NASCAR]] coverage of the [[Coca-Cola 600]], a segment called "The Pit Reporters" was played in which [[Chris Myers]] is Tony Soprano and [[Jeanne Zelasko]] is Dr. Melfi. It was inspired by an incident where [[FOX]] NASCAR studio host [[Chris Myers]] and analyst [[Jeff Hammond]] were attacked by Super Soaker water gun-wielding pit reporters Dick Berggren and Matt Yocum during a rain delay at [[NEXTEL All-Star Challenge|The Winston]]. Myers commented, "They should appear in The Sopranos." For the 600, Tony Soprano (Myers) makes an appearance at Dr. Melfi's ([[Jeanne Zelasko]]) office previewing the 600. The show has many other references in a wide variety of media resources. ''[[Arthur (TV series)|Arthur]]'' also did a parody of it once, in the episode "Bleep" but it was called "The Altos." ''[[Attack of the Show!]]'' did a parody called "The Marios" where [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]] acted out scenes from ''The Sopranos'' and other mafia movies/series.
''The Sopranos'' was parodied in a ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' skit, in which [[Molly Shannon]]'s character Sally "I'm Fifty!" O'Malley auditions to be a dancer at Bada Bing (all the while wearing her red "dance pants"). Uncle Junior also shows up brandishing a [[banana]] ("I was gonna shoot you again but I forgot my gun").
''The Sopranos'' was also parodied by ''[[Mad TV]]'', in a skit where a censored version of the show appeared on the [[PAX Network]]. It goes through typical scenarios of Sopranos episodes, with all adult themes censored out: Carmela and Tony arguing with all the swearwords cut out, Tony at Dr. Melfi's office with all the swearwords cut out, Tony being seduced by a stripper with the nudity completely removed, Tony and his top captains killing a traitor with all the swearing and violent scenes removed, Meadow screaming at Tony with the swearwords removed, and finally Tony and his top captains screaming at each other with every second word being left out. To parody the amount of this content it had, the entire episode was only around 3 minutes, the amount of time the parody lasted.
Sun Sports, in conjunction with the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]], did two different Sopranos-like intros, one with [http://youtube.com/watch?v=FUgS0C6Py08 The Lightning Bug] team mascot as the driver, and another with Sun Sports' on-air personality Paul Kennedy as the driver. New Jersey was replaced with well-known Tampa locations, such as Bayshore Boulevard, Ybor City, and the Crosstown Expressway. The credits were names of team players, the coach, and front office staff.
''The Sopranos'' season two promotional poster was parodied in the video game ''[[Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine]]'', with the "Peraltos" replacing The Sopranos. Several characters from the game assume poses that are similar to those of ''The Sopranos'' characters in the original poster. Additionally, the letter 'r' in the word 'Peraltos' is substituted for a Western-style revolver.
The series is also referenced in the novel ''The Watchmen'' (2004, G.P. Putnam's Sons) by [[John Altman]], in which an Italian-American character wryly reflects that the TV series encourages negative stereotypes of Italians.
The character of Christopher Moltisanti is referenced in the animated show ''[[Family Guy]]'', where he helps [[Stewie Griffin|Stewie]] to dig a hole in the season four episode "[[Sibling Rivalry (Family Guy episode)|Sibling Rivalry]]". Afterwards, [[Stewie Griffin|Stewie]] and [[Brian Griffin|Brian]] appeared at the 2007 [[Emmy Awards]], singing a song about current TV shows; the line about the Sopranos goes: "Now the Sopranos is a show I'd recommend, because you never know just how it's gonna - " followed by a sudden stop and a blank screen, lampooning the show's abrupt ending. It was also parodied at the end of [[Lois Kills Stewie]], when [[Brian Griffin|Brian]] tells [[Stewie Griffin|Stewie]] that the ending of that episode is like a "giant middle finger to (the audience)," while [[Stewie Griffin|Stewie]] replies: "Well at least it didn't end like the Sopranos, where it just cut to black in mid-sen - " followed, again, by a sudden stop and a blank screen. This is in reference to the final segment of ''[[Made in America (The Sopranos)|Made in America]]'', the series finale. This segment has been [[Parody|parodied]] by several diverse groups such as [[ABC News]],<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2VYI-o38SE World News Now - The Sopranos Ending]</ref> the [[Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign, 2008|presidential campaign]] of [[Hillary Rodham Clinton|Hillary Clinton]],<ref>[http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/song/video/?sc=1216 HillaryClinton.com - Our Campaign Song]</ref> and the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] [[baseball]] team.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZC1jiwKMHc The Parrot - Final Episode]</ref>
More recently, the New York Lottery has released a scratch-off card called Ba-Da Bling. In the commercial, four Italians in suits that look like Tony Soprano, Silvio Dante, Paulie Walnuts, and Christopher Moltisanti come on screen and sing the jingle. The name Ba-Da Bling is a reference to the Bada-Bing, a strip club featured prominently throughout the series.
[[Phil Bell]], a character in the video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV]]'', bears a strong resemblance to Tony Soprano.
==DVD releases==
{| class="wikitable"
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|Release dates
!rowspan="2"|Episodes
!rowspan="2"|Special features
!rowspan="2"|Discs
|-
![[DVD region code|Region 1]]
![[DVD region code|Region 2]]
![[DVD region code|Region 4]]
|-
!1
|align="center"|[[12 December]] [[2000]]
|align="center"|[[24 November]] [[2003]]
|align="center"|[[24 November]] [[2003]]
|align="center"|13
|
*A 77-minute interview with series creator [[David Chase]], conducted by film historian and director [[Peter Bogdanovich]].
*"Family Life" featurette.
*"Meet Tony Soprano" featurette.
*One audio commentary by David Chase and Peter Bogdanovich for the pilot episode.<ref name="dvd1">{{cite web |url=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/481212/The-Sopranos-Series-1/Product.html |title=The Sopranos - Series 1 |accessdate=2007-09-22 |publisher=[[Play.com]]}}</ref>
!rowspan="7"|4
|-
!2
|align="center"|[[6 November]] [[2001]]
|align="center"|[[24 November]] [[2003]]
|align="center"|[[24 November]] [[2003]]
|align="center"|13
|
*"The Real Deal" featurette.
*"A Sit Down With Tony Soprano" featurette.
*Four audio commentaries by directors for the episodes "Commendatori", "From Where to Eternity", "The Knight in White Satin Armor", and "Funhouse".<ref name="dvd2">{{cite web |url=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/481213/The-Sopranos-Series-2/Product.html |title=The Sopranos - Series 2 |accessdate=2007-09-22 |publisher=[[Play.com]]}}</ref>
|-
!3
|align="center"|[[27 August]] [[2002]]
|align="center"|[[24 November]] [[2003]]
|align="center"|[[24 November]] [[2003]]
|align="center"|13
|
*"A Day On The Set Of The Sopranos" featurette.
*Three audio commentaries by writers and directors for the episodes "The Telltale Moozadell", "Pine Barrens", and "Amour Fou".<ref name="dvd3">{{cite web |url=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/481215/The-Sopranos-Series-3/Product.html |title=The Sopranos - Series 3 |accessdate=2007-09-22 |publisher=[[Play.com]]}}</ref>
|-
!4
|align="center"|[[28 October]] [[2003]]
|align="center"|[[3 November]] [[2003]]
|align="center"|[[3 November]] [[2003]]
|align="center"|13
|
*Easter Eggs.
*Episodic previews and recaps.
*Cast and crew biographies.
*Four audio commentaries by writers for the episodes "The Weight", "Everybody Hurts", "Whoever Did This", and "Whitecaps".<ref name="dvd4">{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Sopranos/572 |title=The Sopranos: The Complete 4th Season |date=[[2003-08-02]] |accessdate=2007-09-22 |publisher=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]]}}</ref>
|-
!5
|align="center"|[[7 June]] [[2005]]
|align="center"|[[20 June]] [[2005]]
|align="center"|[[17 August]] [[2005]]
|align="center"|13
|
*Five audio commentaries by directors and cast members for the episodes "All Happy Families...", "Sentimental Education", "In Camelot", "Cold Cuts", and "Long Term Parking".<ref name="dvd5">{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdfanatic.com/review.php?id=sopranos5 |title=The Sopranos: The Complete Fifth Seaso |accessdate=2007-09-22 |publisher=[http://www.dvdfanatic.com/ DVDfanatic.com]}}</ref>
|-
!6
(Part 1)
|align="center"|[[7 November]] [[2006]]
|align="center"|[[27 November]] [[2006]]
|align="center"|[[7 March]] [[2007]]
|align="center"|12
|
*Four audio commentaries by writers and cast members for the episodes "Join The Club", "Luxury Lounge", "The Ride", and "Kaisha".<ref name="dvd6a">{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdfanatic.com/review.php?id=sopranos61 |title=The Sopranos - Season 6, Part 1 |accessdate=2007-09-22 |publisher=[http://www.dvdfanatic.com/ DVDfanatic.com]}}</ref>
|-
!6
(Part 2)
|align="center"|[[23 October]] [[2007]]
|align="center"|[[19 November]] [[2007]]
|align="center"|[[31 January]] [[2008]]
|align="center"|9
|
*"Making ''[[Cleaver (The Sopranos)|Cleaver]]'': Behind the scenes of Christopher's horror film" featurette.
*"The Music of The Sopranos" – Creator David Chase, cast, and crew discuss the songs from the show.
*Four audio commentaries by cast members for the episodes "Soprano Home Movies", "Remember When", "The Second Coming", and "The Blue Comet".<ref name="dvd6b">{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Sopranos/7749 |title=The Sopranos - Season 6, Part 2 |date=[[2007-07-29]] |accessdate=2007-09-22 |publisher=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]]}}</ref>
|}
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*[http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/ Official Site] on HBO.com
*{{imdb title|0141842}}
*{{dmoz|Arts/Television/Programs/Dramas/Sopranos,_The/|The Sopranos}}
*[http://www.sopranosuessightings.com/ Sopranos locations and sightings]
*[http://www.sopranomusicguide.com/ Sopranos music guide]
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{{succession box | before = [[The Practice]] | title = [[List of Golden Globe Awards: Television, Best Series, Drama|Golden Globe - Best Television Series - Drama]] | years = 2000 | after = [[The West Wing]]}}
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{{EmmyAward DramaSeries 2001-2025}}
{{The Sopranos}}
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[[Category:The Sopranos]]
[[Category:HBO network shows]]
[[Category:1990s American television series]]
[[Category:2000s American television series]]
[[Category:1999 television series debuts]]
[[Category:2007 television series endings]]
[[Category:Serial drama television series]]
[[Category:Edgar Award winning works]]
[[Category:Peabody Award winners]]
[[Category:Clifton, New Jersey]]
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