sopranos

"Sopranos" redirects here. For the type of singer, see Soprano.''The Sopranos is a television drama on HBO about a mafia family of the same name. It has enjoyed five very successful seasons, with its sixth season currently in production. In August of 2005, HBO announced it was also producing eight "bonus" episodes that would debut in January, 2007. It is currently believed that those eight bonus episodes will be the last of the series. Since it first aired in 1999, the show has become a cultural phenomenon —gaining wide popularity and exceptional critical acclaim for its groundbreaking approach to its view into the mafia lifestyle, the United StatesAmerican family, and the effects of violence on the human soul.Like other HBO programs, ''The Sopranos'' is rated for mature audiences only —for its adult issues, depictions of violence, and strong language.The series stars James Gandolfini and Edie Falco and highlights the difficulties faced by Tony Soprano, a Mafia boss in suburban Essex County, New JerseyEssex County, New Jersey, as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his wife and family, and his crime "family".

Overview - The series begins with Tony collapsing after suffering an anxiety attack, which prompts him to begin therapy with Jennifer MelfiDr. Jennifer Melfi. Gradually, it is revealed that Tony's mother is manipulative and possibly psychotic; someone in his organization is talking to the FBI; his children have troubled futures; and even his own superiors are plotting his death.

Setting - ''The Sopranos'' portrays the Mafia culture as an exaggerated version of the American nuclear family, in order to explore issues of social classclass, sexuality, criminality, gender rolegender, family dynamics and generational conflict. It has been criticized by some for its supposed reinforcement of negative Italian American stereotypes by focusing on organized crime. This same issue has been addressed on the show several times, notably in the first season episode "The Legend Of Tennessee Moltisanti" and in the fourth season episode "Christopher". The series premiered on HBO on January 10, 1999. ''The Sopranos'' has also been broadcast uncut in Canada by The Movie Network and CTV Television NetworkCTV, in the United KingdomUK by Channel 4, in Ireland by RTE and in Australia by the Nine Network. As of 2005, five seasons of 13 episodes each have been completed, and a sixth 12-episode season is in production, with eight "bonus" episodes to conclude the season following shortly thereafter.

Title sequence - One of the most recognizable parts of ''The Sopranos'' is the program's opening, in which the theme song "Woke Up This Morning", performed by Alabama 3A3, is heard. The show's main character Tony Soprano is seen emerging from the Port Authority of New York and New JerseyPort Authority's Lincoln Tunnel, and entering the New Jersey Turnpike. Numerous landmarks in Newark, NJ (many of which are now famous due to the show's success) are shown in this opening. The sequence ends with Tony pulling into the driveway of his suburban home in Essex County.As Tony turns into the New Jersey Turnpike, an image of the World Trade Center towers can be seen in his rear view mirror. Just prior to the start of the fourth season, HBO and ''Sopranos'' creator and producer David Chase removed this cut altogether in response to the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 attacksSeptember 11, 2001 in which the towers were destroyed.The opening sequence was sufficiently recognizable to be parodied on an episode of ''The Simpsons'' in 2004, with Fat Tony standing in for Tony Soprano. It was also parodied in the Adult Swim show !''Harvey_Birdman%2C_Attorney_A t_LawHarvey Birdman, Attorney at Law'', in 2003, in an episode where Fred Flintstone is a mob boss.

Trivia -

The show was originally slated to air on the FOX network and a television pilotpilot had already been made. However, FOX rejected the show and HBO picked up the series.

Tony Sirico signed on to play Paulie Walnuts as long as his character was not to be a "rat".

Whenever major characters are to be murdered, David Chase tells the actors far in advance to prepare them for the scene.

James Gandolfini was initially opposed to the murder of Richie Aprile; however, the writers and HBO disagreed and he was killed in Episode 25, "The Knight in White Satin Armor".

HBO was concerned about the show's title ''The Sopranos'' because they did not want viewers to think it was about music. Therefore, there is a gun where the "r" should be in the logo.

When the show was a FOX project it was known as ''Made in Jersey''.

Drea de Matteo confirmed in her 2005 audio commentary for the episode "Long Term Parking" that the death of Adriana La Cerva was for real.

David Chase loved Drea de Matteo's acting and enthusiasm as a Maitre'D (at a restaurant Tony and Dr. Melfi dined at) in the pilot so much that he made her a series regular in Episode 3.

In the pilot, Satriale's Pork Store was known as Centanni's Meat Market a real butcher shop in Elizabeth, New Jersey. However due to the fact that the shop had a steady business, HBO acquired an abandoned location in Kearny, New Jersey and renamed the pork store: Satriale's.

The tumultous relationship between Tony Soprano and his mother, Livia Soprano, is based partially on David Chase's relationship with his own mother, also named Livia.

A majority of the television sets on the show are made by Philips with several by Zenith and Sony.

The Sopranos live at 633 Stag Trail Road in North Caldwell, New Jersey.

The character of Tony Soprano was originally named Tommy.

Though filmed on location in New Jersey, a majority of the interior filming is done at Silvercup Studios in Queens, New York.

When Nancy Marchand died in 2000, David Chase ressurected the character of Livia for one final episode in 2001 using state of the art computer-generated imagery which cost approximately $250,000.00.

Joe Pantoliano knew in 2001 when he signed on to play the role of Ralph Cifaretto that he would only last 2 seasons and that his demise would not be a pretty one.

The college locations and the Maine scenes in "College" were actually filmed in rural New Jersey. The college exteriors are located at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.

All "Bada Bing" interior and exteriors are filmed on location at Satin Dolls, an actual go-go bar in Lodi, New Jersey.

Adriana's club, "The Crazy Horse", was once known as The Lollipop Club, once owned by Vincent Pastore, who played Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero from 1999–2000.

The season finale of Season 4, "Whitecaps", is the longest ''Sopranos'' episode to date clocking in at 75 minutes.

The only character allowed to wear sunglasses on the series is Christopher Moltisanti, according to David Chase; however, Tony has been seen wearing sunglasses on at least two occasions.

In episode 37 (3.11), "Pine Barrens", director Steve Buscemi has said that he was the one who threw the steak at Tony's head.

A parody of The Sopranos was targeted during the Fox pre-race show in 2001 leading to the Coca-Cola 600 called "The Pit Reporters", 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 the Nextel All-Star ChallengeThe Winston, and Myers commented, "They should appear at The Sopranos." For the 600, Tony Soprano (Myers) makes an appearance at Dr. Melfi's (Jeanne Zelasko) office previewing the 600.

Notable plots and timeline -

Season 1 - spoiler

1999

* Introduction to the Soprano blood and crime families.

* Acting New Jersey mob capo, Tony Soprano begins seeing a psychiatrist after suffering a series of panic attacks.

* When Tony finds out that his Uncle Junior plans to kill a rival in a restaurant belonging to Artie Bucco, a childhood friend of Tony's, he sends Silvio Dante to torch the restaurant. Tony believes this is preferable to the bad publicity that would be generated by a murder on the premises.

* Tony moves his mother Livia to a nursing home after she accidentally sets her kitchen on fire and drives away a TrinidadTrinidadian nurse.

* Christopher and a friend, Brendan Fillone, begin carjacking trucks owned by Comley Trucking, a company which Uncle Junior has a percentage of.

* Uncle Junior gets leadership advice from Livia to stage an mock execution for Christopher to teach him a lesson. Brendan Fillone however is murdered by Mike Palmice simultaneously.

* Jackie Aprile, the acting mob boss for the DiMeo Crime family succumbs to cancer. Tony then nominates Uncle Junior as the official new boss, whilst conspiring to run the family from behind the scenes.

* Anthony Jr. finds out that his father is involved with organized crime.

* Tony accompanies Meadow on a trip to a series of colleges in Maine. When they arrive, Tony sees an old Soprano associate who turned out to be an informant and went into the Witness Protection Program. Tony murders him the following day.

* Tony learns that one of his associates is an FBI informant. Tony assumes that Big Pussy BonpensieroPussy is the ''rat'' when he leaves town but then finds out that Jimmy Altieri is an FBI informant. Altieri is soon murdered and is found dead in an alley with a rat in his mouth.

*Livia and Uncle Junior arrange for Tony's murder after he begins to get out of hand. The assassination attempt ultimately fails and Tony strips Uncle Junior of his leadership.

*Tony becomes the permanent boss of the Soprano mob family and seizes Junior's territory and income.

*Uncle Junior is arrested and Livia suffers a stroke in the final episode of Season 1.

*Chucky Signore and Mikey Palmice are shot to death to prevent Junior from launching another assassination attempt on Tony.

Season 2 -

2000

*Tony's sister, Parvati Wasatch (otherwise known as Janice Soprano) arrives in New Jersey from Seattle.

*Tony refuses to speak to his mother Livia after she planned to kill him the year before.

*Big Pussy Bonpensiero returns to New Jersey after claiming to have been rehabilitating in Puerto Rico. In reality, Pussy has been reporting secretly to FBI agent Skip Lipari.

*Jackie Aprile's brother and Adriana La Cerva's uncle, Richie Aprile is released from prison on parole.

*Tony reconciles with Uncle Junior.

*Janice reunites with Richie after they meet at a yoga class.

*Meadow throws a party at Livia's empty house which gets out of hand.

*Beansie Gaeta, a well known owner of a local pizzeria is paralyzed when he refuses to pay Richie protection money.

*In order to reconnect family ties between the mob in Naples: Tony, Christopher and Paulie travel to Naples to meet with the boss. However the acting boss turns out to be a woman named Ana Lisa to whom Tony is immediately attracted.

*Furio Giunta, a capable Neapolitan soldier is sent to New Jersey to work for the Soprano family.

*Tony and Silvio reinitiate the "high-rollers" poker night which had previously been run by Tony's father.

*Janice decides to renovate Livia's home and invites her back home after she has recuperated.

*Christopher proposes to Adriana La Cerva, his long time girlfriend.

*Christopher is shot badly near the Skyways Diner in Kearny by Matt Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte. Bevilaqua escapes when Gismonte is killed by Christopher.

*Christopher is briefly pronounced clinically dead and makes a surprising revelation to Paulie and Tony.

*Matt Bevilaqua is murdered by Tony and Pussy.

*David Scatino, a degenerate gambler looks to Tony for help. However, when he makes risky investments, Tony takes his son's car and a percentage of his business.

*Carmela tries to seduce David Scatino's brother-in-law who leaves after finding out who Carmela's husband is.

*Richie Aprile is murdered by Janice after he punches her in the mouth.

*Pussy becomes further involved with the FBI but gets into even deeper water when he runs over a pedestrian and hides his involvement with the Bevilaqua murder.

*Pussy is murdered while on a boat with Tony, Paulie and Silvio where he confesses to being an informant.

*Tony gets food poisoning (from eating in an Indian restaurant) the day prior to Meadow's graduation.

*Meadow graduates from high school and decides on Columbia University.

Season 3 -

2000

*After hearing of Big Pussy Bonpensiero's murder, the FBI plans to put a plant in the Soprano residence where several of Tony's private meetings occur.

*Livia Soprano dies in her sleep of a massive stroke.

*Meadow begins dating Noah Tannenbaum, a Jewish-African-American whom Tony immediately takes a (racially motivated) dislike to.

*Christopher is officially ''made'' in a special ceremony involving Tony and other family associates.

*During football practice, Anthony Jr. suffers a panic attack.

*Jackie Aprile, Jr. is introduced and becomes a love interest of Meadow.

*Dr. Melfi is brutally raped while walking to her car one evening.

*Bobby Baccalieri's father comes out of retirement to carry out a hit for Uncle Junior. He dies soon after.

*Tony befriends a Bada Bing stripper who becomes pregnant by Ralph Cifaretto. After insulting Ralph in front of other crew members, Tracy is brutally beaten and murdered by Ralph outside of the Bada Bing. Tony is furious and hits Ralph.

*Noah breaks up with Meadow, who then begins seeing Jackie Aprile, Jr. soon afterwards.

*Tony retracts Ralph's invitation to Thanksgiving dinner.

*Tony meets Gloria Trillo, a Mercedes salesperson at an appointment with Dr. Melfi. The two are attracted and become involved.

*Carmela's birthday is celebrated and A.J. gets in trouble when he is caught defacing school property that same day.

*The Soprano family celebrates Christmas at a dinner held by Janice. Tony makes sure that everyone gets exactly what they want which include: Janice's attacker being beaten up and publicly humiliated, each of the kids gifts and Carmela's gift. Tony then witnesses Jackie, Jr. (who is still seeing Meadow) flirting with another woman causing him to intervene.

2001

*After Silvio catches the flu, Tony asks Paulie and Christopher to collect some money from a Russian mob associate, Valery. The meeting turns sour when Paulie starts a fight. They beat Valery and plan to kill him and dispose of his body in the Pine Barrens woods. When they arrive, Valery escapes and Paulie and Christopher get lost in the woods.

*Jackie, Jr. and a friend rob a Soprano controlled poker game in the hopes of impressing Tony and the rest of his crew. However the robbery goes totally wrong and a number of people are shot. Jackie, Jr. goes into hiding.

*Tony breaks it off with Gloria after she engineered a meeting with Carmela.

*Jackie, Jr. is murdered by Vito Spatafore after hiding out in the Booton projects.

Season 4 -

2001

*Christopher murders the policeman who killed his father several years before.

*Tony buys a property from Uncle Junior on Frelinghuysen Avenue in Newark knowing it to be worth far more than he is paying.

*The New York and New Jersey mobs invest in a riverfront property called the Esplanade to be shared between the two families.

*Silvio and Ralph plot to interrupt a Columbus Day parade protest by local Native Americans in the United StatesNative Americans.

*Ralph invests in a race horse nicknamed ''Pie-O-My'' Tony gives tips on racing that turn Pie-O-My into a winner and starts to become involved in her care.

*Paulie is released from Youngstown prison after serving time for possession of a firearm used in a murder in the town eight years earlier. He then has a impromptu meeting with Johnny Sack.

*Uncle Junior is put on trial for the RICO (law)RICO statutes.

*Adriana learns that her friend Danielle is an undercover FBI agent named Deborah Ciccerone who wants information about Christopher's involvement in the mob.

*Tony learns that Gloria Trillo committed suicide shortly after their breakup.

*Tony meets Ralph's girlfriend, Valentina and begins seeing her secretly.

2002

*Ralph's son is hospitalized following a serious injury and begins to have doubts when the medical bills arrive.

*Pie-O-My dies in a stable fire which Tony believes Ralph is responsible for. Ralph is strangled and killed by Tony after refusing to confess. His body is dismembered and disposed of by Tony and Christopher.

*After Christopher's heroin addiction worsens he is confronted in an intervention (counseling)Intervention which leads to his agreeing to attend rehab.

*Adriana begins reporting to Agent Sanseverino after she is reassigned from Agent Ciccerone for her protection.

*Tony quits therapy with Dr. Melfi.

*Furio leaves America fearing for his life after he becomes obsessed with Carmela.

*Carmela learns of Tony's extended infidelity causing her to throw out his belongings and demand a divorce. Tony leaves and moves into a hotel.

Season 5 -

2004

*A flood of parolees begin to reinitiate contact within the Soprano and Lupertazzi families. They include Tony Blundetto, Tony's cousin who was jailed 15 years after a failed hijacking. Phil Leotardo, a longtime Lupertazzi solider. Angelo Garepe, Carmine's former consigliere and Feech La Manna, a Soprano capo prior to his arrest.

*Tony and Carmela have been separated for some time and Tony attempts to woo Dr. Melfi. She rebuffs his advances but Tony has difficulty taking no for an answer.

*Tony B. tells Tony that he wants to remain a civilian but thanks him for his job offer.

*Carmine Lupertazzi dies after suffering a stroke. A power struggle ensues after involving Johnny Sack and Little Carmine.

*Lorraine Calluzzo, a loan shark is murdered for remaining loyal to Little Carmine.

*Tony is soon drawn back to Dr. Melfi when he admits he has an attraction to his future niece Adriana.

*Adriana and Tony are involved in a serious car accident causing much chatter between the family.

*Tony B. returns to the mob after his frustration with his boss ends in a fist-fight.

*Tony meets his father's mistress and learns that she was not given her equal share of a racetrack owned by Hesh at the time of his father's death.

*Despite being separated, Tony and Carmela throw a 75th birthday party for Carmela's father Hugh.

*To avenge the deaths of Lorraine Calluzzo and Jason Evanina, Tony B. gets an offer by the New York mob to kill Joey Peeps. Tony B. ponders on the offer and later accepts.

*Meadow manages to get her boyfriend, Finn, a job at the Esplenade construction site. However when when Finn witnesses a brutal fight between two of Tony's crew and later sees Vito Spatafore fellating a security guard he quits.

*Meadow and Finn become engaged.

*Janice attends anger management classes after violently beating a soccer mom.

*Angelo Garepe is ambushed and murdered by Phil Leotardo for the death of Joey Peeps.

*Tony B. learns of Angelo's death and attempts to murder Phil but instead kills his younger brother, Billy.

*Tony has a dream involving many of the deceased people who had an impact on his life. The dream persuades him to get back together with Carmela.

*After Adriana covers up a murder at her club, the FBI try to persuade her to wear a wire. She then confesses everything to Christopher and tries to persuade him to turn informant and enter the Witness Protection Program. Christopher tells Tony who has Silvio kill Adriana.

*Tony is forced to surrender Tony B. or a mob war will ensue. Tony delivers a gunshot into his cousin's forehead to spare him torture, ease things over with Brooklyn, and regain the loyalty of his own crime family. However, Johnny Sack is still not happy. The following morning, the two meet at Johnny's house but are interrupted by an FBI raid in which Johnny is arrested.

Season 6 -

2006

* Plot to be announced.

Real life basis - Several main characters' personalities are based on real life mobsters. For article go to this website.crimelibrary.com - Court TV's Crime Library

Characters - The following is a partial listing of characters from the series:

Broadcasting - ''The Sopranos'' is broadcast on the following stations around the world.

USA: January 10, 1999 on HBO

United KingdomUK: July 15, 1999 on Channel 4 and E4 (channel)E4

France: September 5, 1999 on Jimmy and France 2

Switzerland: October 27, 1999

Hungary: February 9, 2000 on HBO Central-Europe

Germany: March 12, 2000 on ZDF (Season 1-3), 2004 on pay-TV channel Premiere (Seasons 1-5) and 2005 on Kabel 1

Spain: May 7, 2000 on FOX

Canada: September 17, 2000 on The Movie Network/Movie Central and CTV

Finland: October 2, 2000 on Nelonen

Iceland: October 2, 2000

Sweden: October 6, 2000 on SVT

Belgium: November 20, 2000

Turkey: December 7, 2000 on CNBC-e

Italy: May 23, 2001 on FOX

Austria: July 3, 2002 on ORF

Russia: October 27, 2002 on NTV

Kosova: on RTK

Denmark: on TV2

Ireland: on RTE

Bosnia and Herzegovina: on Mreza Plus

Australia: on the Nine Network and Foxtel

Republic of MacedoniaMacedonia: on A1 (TV station)A1 TV

New Zealand: on TVNZ

Norway: on NRK

Pakistan: on tv1online.tv - TV ONE

Arab World: on One TV

HBO Broadcasting History -

Sunday January 10, 1999 – Sunday April 4, 1999 at 9:00 pm

Sunday January 16, 2000 – Sunday April 9, 2000 at 9:00 pm

Sunday March 4, 2001 – Sunday May 20, 2001 at 9:00 pm

Sunday September 15, 2002 – Sunday December 8, 2002 at 9:00 pm

Sunday March 7, 2004 – Sunday June 6, 2004 at 9:00 pm

Sunday March 12, 2006 – Sunday June 4, 2006 at 9:00 pm

See also -

List of The Sopranos episodes

List of deaths in The Sopranos series

List of The Sopranos writers and directors

The Soprano family tree

Mafia

External links - wikiquote

hbo.com - HBO's ''The Sopranos'' website

*hbo.com - ''The Sopranos'' Cast and Crew

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TheSopranos.com - The Sopranos fan site and news

*TheSopranos.com - The Sopranos Message Board and Fan Community

thesopranos.tk - TheSopranos.tk - An online forum and web communityCategory:The Sopranos Category:HBO network showsSopranosCategory:Drama television seriesSopranosCategory:Mafia drama seriesSopranosCategory:1990s TV shows in the United StatesSopranosCategory:2000s TV shows in the United StatesSopranosde:Die Sopranosfr:Les !Sopranohe:הסופרנוסnl:T he? Sopranossv:Sopranos DEBUG REDIRECT (the sopranos)

HBO Online
HBO's website includes program descriptions, schedules, and contests.
http://www.hbo.com

TheSopranos.com - Family Values
Soprano fan site with pictures, sound bites, and a full episode guide.
http://www.the-sopranos.com

Sopranoland
Comprehensive guide with images, sounds, wallpaper and RealVideo of the cast, including James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli, Tony Sirico and Vincent Pastore.
http://www.sopranoland.com

New Jersey Online
News from the Star-Ledger, the Times of Trenton, and the Associated Press. Everything you need if you live, work, or are interested in New Jersey.
http://www.nj.com/