The Sopranos is a television drama produced by HBO. It first aired in 1999 and is due to be concluded at the end of the upcoming sixth season in 2006. Over the past six years, the show has become a cultural phenomenon, gaining popularity and unparalleled critical acclaim for its groundbreaking approach to family and the mob, as well as for pushing the envelope of violence and strong language on television. The series, which stars James Gandolfini and Edie Falco, highlights the difficulties faced by Tony Soprano, a Mafia boss in suburban Essex County, New Jersey, as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his real family and his crime "family".

1 See also
2 External links

Contents

1 Overview 2 Setting 3 Title sequence 4 Characters 5 Episodes 5.1 Season 1: 1999 5.2 Season 2: 2000 5.3 Season 3: 2001 5.4 Season 4: 2002 5.5 Season 5: 2004

Overview

The series begins with Tony collapsing after suffering an anxiety attack, which prompts him to begin therapy with Dr. 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 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 class, sexuality, criminality, gender, family dynamics and generational conflict. It has been criticized by some for its supposed reinforcement of negative Italian American stereotypes by focussing on organized crime. This same issue, however, has been addressed on the show several times, notably in the first season episode "The Legend Of Tennessee Moltisanti".

The series premiered on HBO on January 10, 1999. The Sopranos has also been broadcast uncut in Canada by CTV, in the UK by Channel 4, in Ireland by RTE and in Australia by the Nine Network. As of 2004, five seasons of 13 episodes each have been completed, and a sixth and final 10-episode season is planned.

Title sequence

One of the most popular parts of The Sopranos is the program's opening, in which the theme song "Woke Up This Morning", performed by A3, is heard. The show's main character Tony Soprano is seen emerging from the Port Authority's Lincoln Tunnel, and as Tony turns towards 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 producer David Chase removed this scene altogether in response to the terrorist attack of September 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.

Characters

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

#	Character name	Actor	Seasons
1	Tony Soprano	James Gandolfini	1999-present
2	Carmela Soprano	Edie Falco	1999-present
3	Meadow Soprano	Jamie-Lynn DiScala	1999-present
4	Anthony Soprano, Jr.	Robert Iler	1999-present
5	Dr. Jennifer Melfi	Lorraine Braco	1999-present
6	Christopher Moltisanti	Michael Imperioli	1999-present
7	Silvio Dante	Steven Van Zandt	1999-present
8	Paulie Walnuts	Tony Sirico	1999-present
9	Corrado Soprano, Junior (Uncle Junior)	Dominic Chianese	1999-present
10	Adriana La Cerva	Drea de Matteo	1999-2004
11	Bobby "Bacala" Baccilieri	Steve R. Schirripa	2000-present
12	Janice Soprano	Aida Turturro	2000-present
13	Patsy Parisi	Dan Grimaldi	2000-present
14	Ralph Cifaretto	Joe Pantoliano	2001-2002
15	Furio Giunta	Federico Castelluccio	2000-2002
16	Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero	Vincent Pastore	1999-2000
17	Johnny "Sack" Sacramoni	Vince Curatola	1999-present
18	Richie Aprile	David Proval	2000
19	Herman "Hesh" Rabkin	Jerry Adler	1999-present
20	Livia Soprano	Nancy Marchand	1999-2001
21	Carmine Lupertazzi	Tony Lip	2001-2004
22	Artie Bucco	John Ventimiglia	1999-present
23	Charmaine Bucco	Katherine Narducci	1999-present
24	Tony Blundetto	Steve Buscemi	2004
25	Michele "Feech" La Manna	Robert Loggia	2004

Episodes

Season 1: 1999

#	Episode Title	Director	Original airdate
1	The Sopranos (Pilot)	David Chase	January 10, 1999
2	46 Long	Daniel Attias	January 17, 1999
3	Denial, Anger, Acceptance	Nick Gomez	January 24, 1999
4	Meadowlands	John Patterson	January 31, 1999
5	College	Allen Coulter	February 7, 1999
6	Pax Soprana	Alan Taylor	February 14, 1999
7	Down Neck	Lorraine Senna Ferrara	February 21, 1999
8	The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti	Tim Van Patten	February 28, 1999
9	Boca	Andy Wolk	March 7, 1999
10	A Hit Is A Hit	Matthew Penn	March 14, 1999
11	Nobody Knows Anything	Henry J. Bronchtein	March 21, 1999
12	Isabella	Allen Coulter	March 28, 1999
13	I Dream Of Jeannie Cusamano	John Patterson	April 4, 1999

Season 2: 2000

#	Episode Title	Director	Original airdate
1	Guy Walks Into a Psychiatrist's Office	Allen Coulter	January 16, 2000
2	Do Not Resuscitate	Martin Bruestle	January 23, 2000
3	Toodle-Fucking-Oo	Lee Tamahori	January 30, 2000
4	Commendatori	Tim Van Patten	February 6, 2000
5	Big Girls Don't Cry	Tim Van Patten	February 13, 2000
6	The Happy Wanderer	John Patterson	February 20, 2000
7	D-Girl	Allen Coulter	February 27, 2000
8	Full Leather Jacket	Allen Coulter	March 5, 2000
9	From Where to Eternity	Henry J. Bronchtein	March 12, 2000
10	Bust Out	John Patterson	March 19, 2000
11	House Arrest	Tim Van Patten	March 26, 2000
12	The Knight in White Satin Armor	Allen Coulter	April 2, 2000
13	Funhouse	John Patterson	April 9, 2000

Season 3: 2001

#	Episode Title	Director	Original airdate
1	Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood	Allen Coulter	March 4, 2001
2	Proshai, Livushka	Tim Van Patten	March 4, 2001
3	Fortunate Son	Henry J. Bronchtein	March 11, 2001
4	Employee of the Month	John Patterson	March 18, 2001
5	Another Toothpick	Jack Bender	March 25, 2001
6	University	Allen Coulter	April 1, 2001
7	Second Opinion	Tim Van Patten	April 8, 2001
8	He Is Risen	Allen Coulter	April 15, 2001
9	The Telltale Moozadell	Dan Attias	April 22, 2001
10	To Save Us All From Satan's Power	Jack Bender	April 29, 2001
11	Pine Barrens	Steve Buscemi	May 6, 2001
12	Amour Fou	Tim Van Patten	May 13, 2001
13	The Army of One	John Patterson	May 20, 2001

Season 4: 2002

#	Episode Title	Director	Original airdate
1	For All Debts Public and Private	Allen Coulter	September 15, 2002
2	No Show	John Patterson	September 22, 2002
3	Christopher	Tim Van Patten	September 29, 2002
4	The Weight	Jack Bender	October 6, 2002
5	Pie-O-My	Henry J. Bronchtein	October 13, 2002
6	Everybody Hurts	Steve Buscemi	October 20, 2002
7	Watching Too Much Television	John Patterson	October 27, 2002
8	Mergers & Acquisitions	Dan Attias	November 3, 2002
9	Whoever Did This	Tim Van Patten	November 10, 2002
10	The Strong, Silent Type	Alan Taylor	November 17, 2002
11	Calling All Cars	Tim Van Patten	November 24, 2002
12	Eloise	James Hayman	December 1, 2002
13	Whitecaps	John Patterson	December 8, 2002

Season 5: 2004

#	Episode Title	Director	Original airdate
1	Two Tonys	Tim Van Patten	March 7, 2004
2	Rat Pack	Alan Taylor	March 14, 2004
3	Where's Johnny	John Patterson	March 21, 2004
4	All Happy Families...	Rodrigo Garcia	March 28, 2004
5	Irregular Around the Margins	Allen Coulter	April 4, 2004
6	Sentimental Education	Peter Bogdonavich	April 11, 2004
7	In Camelot	Steve Buscemi	April 18, 2004
8	Marco Polo	John Patterson	April 25, 2004
9	Unidentified Black Males	Tim Van Patten	May 2, 2004
10	Cold Cuts	Mike Figgis	May 9, 2004
11	The Test Dream	Allen Coulter	May 16, 2004
12	Long Term Parking	Tim Van Patten	May 23, 2004
13	All Due Respect	John Patterson	June 6, 2004

See also

• The Soprano family tree
• Mafia

External links

• HBO's The Sopranos website
  • The Sopranos Cast and Crew