The Sopranos
 

It's already been five years, but for any nostalgic fans out there this is a thread dedicated to this timeless classic.

The definitive Sopranos thread! To me this was the first true HBO show that transformed TV today. A show that's really about two families, including gratuitous violence, sex scenes/ nudity at the Bada Bing (always dreamed of running a strip club...true story), stellar soundtrack, and memorable characters + scenes.

I LOVE The Sopranos. One of the greatest TV shows ever.





I totally need to start it from the beginning again!

Corrado was like Carlo Gambino. Almost certain they got the look from that don. Luckbox watched it five times, I've seen it seven times with the exception of Season 6 where I've watched it three times.

They modelled some of the characters from numerous real life mobsters.

Tony Soprano - Vinny Ocean based on the Decalvacante family in Jersey. He owned a mini mansion and a strip joint.

Although many other bosses can lay claim David Chase has said the Sopranos' model was in fact the Boiardo family - run by Ruggiero "Richie the Boot" Boiardo and his son "Tony Boy", and linked to the Genovese family that largely ruled Newark, the state's biggest city back in the 1960s and 1970s.

Vito Spitafore - John "Johnny Boy" D'Amato was murdered in 1992 for the same allegations as his counterpart.

Johnny Sacramoni - John Teflon Gotti. Both wore Brioni suits, chain smokers who died in prison of cancer. Also Johnny wanted to wack Carmine Lupertazzi which is an homage of John Gotti putting the hammer on Paul Castellano.

"Big P****" Bonpensiero - Big P and Little P were top allies and henchman for Ruggiero "Richie The Boot" Boiardo.

Silvio Dante - Tommy Ricciardi was the top enforcer for the Lucchese crime familys New Jersey faction. The television mobster, like his real-life counterpart, likes to dress well in wiseguy chic, and they both carry themselves with a dont-mess-with-me swagger.

Peter Paul "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri - His surname is taken from real life DeCavalcante crime family mobster Frank Gualtieri, who served under Vincent Palermo.

Little Carmine Lupertazzi - It is believed that the inspiration for Little Carmine's character is John A. Gotti, who was also groomed by his father to take over the reins, despite showing little of the intelligence, tactical brutality, or stomach needed for the job.

I loaded this yesterday and never watched it. NEVER seen an episode but watched Donnie Brasco the other day and wanted to continue getting into the Mafia shit (and my PS3 is broke so Vito and Joe won't have any adventures).

Is it THAT mafia like? I hate the Godfather, but I love Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco, Sopranos PS2 game :D, Mafia games, Godfather games etc.

It's about as mafia as you can get these days. Try it, you'll love it

It's the show that changed TV history. The Godfather is a very subtle film. Every mafia flick has paid tribute to it one way or another. Robert Dinero was in The Godfather Part II before he made Goodfellas and same with Al Pacino before Donnie Brasco. If you get a chance maybe watch it again...it's one of the greatest films of all time. That is how the mafia operates and how modern day mafioso model themselves surprisingly.

I swear they had real life mafia members consult for the Sopranos. Well, Tony Sirico who plays Pauli Walnuts was part of the Columbo Crime Family.

*Note* Luca Brasi was a real life enforcer and bodyguard. That's what made him intimidating and gave the film authenticity. It could not have been made without the blessing of the REAL MOB.

You got six seasons and you're gonna love it!

No doubt! They're coming out with a new film with Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen. He worked for Jack Dragna, but became the bodyguard of Bugsy Siegel when he got sent from the East Coast. Harvey Keitel plays Mickey in Bugsy.

EDIT: Just read the funniest anecdote.

Arnold "Squiggy" Ezekiel Squitieri(born February 2, 1936) of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey is a convicted drug dealer and former acting boss and current Underboss of the Gambino crime family.[1] He is also known as "Zeke", "Bozey", and "Squitty".

While on parole from prison, Squitieri received a flat panel television as a gift from an undercover FBI agent Joaquín "Jack" García. One evening, Squitieri was watching an episode of the TV series The Sopranos (All Happy Families...). Wanting to get rid of a mobster on parole, boss Anthony Soprano sends him a stolen TV set. Soprano then arranges for a parole officer to visit the mobster and arrest him for possessing stolen property. When the show was over, a frightened Squitieri gave away the TV[6] and purchased his own.

Watched the first 3 episodes so far. A little on the slow side but we'll see what happens as I get into it. I want to get the first season done before Walking Dead comes out and to hell with everything else haha

Well it's not really an action packed show. It's wildly different to the standard build of a TV show like 24, LOST, Prison Break and the rest, the story arc is soo much more unpredictable and rewarding. There are also no real use of cliffhangers between episodes and seasons, they are there, but much more subtle. The real treat about wathcing The Sopranos is the interacting between the characters, you get really involved and invested in their lives and you are kinda forced to take sides, even though whoever you side with is a liar and a crook, and when the drama and the brutality happens (and it will, trust me), it hits you that much harder because you are so invested in the characters and that's the real payoff.

Well put. That's a really good point you made. Never quite thought about that. If you notice Breaking Bad, True Blood, Sons Of Anarchy and pretty much majority of the drama there's always cliff hangers which I find gimicky at times. All in the name to entice viewers to return to the show. One other point is there are few cameo roles because I remember reading that they would come with too much baggage. David Chase knew that they had a very loyal following and didn't need any fluff or standard marketing tools to entice viewers. It was simply that good.

The Sopranos was about sophistication ala the Italian La Cosa Nostra. Everything down to the way they dressed, interaction with one another, mafioso politics, internal/external strife, and both 'family' issues. The whole show gave the viewers a psychological point of view perspective from a mob boss. All time greatest show.

I love the Sopranos and it has been the drama by which I compare all other dramas. It set the standard. That being said, I just finished The Wire and I'd have to say it gives the Sopranos a run for its money.