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James Gandolfini Was Never the Same After 'The Sopranos'
collider ^ | 09/12/2024 | Shawn Van Horn

Posted on 09/13/2024 6:53:49 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27

The new docuseries from HBO, Wise Guy, is out now. In it, David Chase, creator of The Sopranos, speaks about the creation of the show that changed television history. Wise Guy takes an interesting look at how Chase came up with the idea, as well as a look into the writer's room where so many classic episodes were created. The Sopranos was one of the best series of all-time, with brilliant writing, thrilling twists, and some memorable characters, but none of it would have mattered without James Gandolfini, the actor tasked with playing The Sopranos' lead, a tortured man filled with anger. Playing such a character won James Gandolfini a few Emmys, but it also took a heavy toll on him physically and emotionally.

(Excerpt) Read more at collider.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: gandolfini; never; same; sopranos
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To: MayflowerMadam
I won a Trivia game because I knew the lyrics, and what series it went with.

Nice! I play almost every week.
41 posted on 09/13/2024 11:11:08 AM PDT by mmichaels1970
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To: circlecity

He played a general in “In the Loop.” A reviewer said it was impossible for a real general to act like Gandalfini’s general. There was too much “Tony Soprano” in the character.


42 posted on 09/13/2024 11:37:20 AM PDT by x
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To: MplsSteve

He was on top of her in the sex scene. I bet she never lived that down, lol.

Another good movie I liked was “Down the Shore” and I think that was filmed in Atlantic City.


43 posted on 09/13/2024 12:00:14 PM PDT by OftheOhio (never could dance but always could fight - Romeo company)
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To: 2CAVTrooper; americas.best.days...; angcat; AnotherUnixGeek; Atticus; AU72; aynrandfreak; ...

The Sopranos ping!

To be added or dropped from this pinglist, freepmail Albion Wilde.

44 posted on 09/13/2024 12:16:20 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (Propaganda keeps only governments in business, not corporations. —John Nolte)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

The whole series was a study in contrasts.

Examples :
The likability and kindness at times of criminal psychotic killers.

The episode ‘University’Tony’s daughter (Meadow)at college and her ‘problems’ verses the stripper whore at the Bing, who is about the same age as Meadow, getting beat to death by that ‘but he’s a good earner’ super creep Ralph.

Get’s away with it because he’s a made guy.

Disrespected the Bing dat guy….

Loved when Ralph got whacked by Tony in a rage over his dead race horse that Tony was so fond of.

Tony to Christofer, “You’re the only one who knows about it.”


45 posted on 09/13/2024 12:18:42 PM PDT by right way right (“May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our only true hope”)
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To: right way right

Loved when Ralph got whacked by Tony in a rage over his dead race horse that Tony was so fond of.


Tony also had a thing for animals, remember his obsession with ducks. Despite that, he never had a pet.


46 posted on 09/13/2024 12:24:19 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Col Frank Slade
Bobby Bacala : “Quasimodo predicted all of this”

Steve Schirripa landed himself a terrific character role in Blue Bloods after The Sopranos. Now that long-running show will end with this fall season, as well. I'll miss Steve's performances every week.

47 posted on 09/13/2024 12:24:56 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (Propaganda keeps only governments in business, not corporations. —John Nolte)
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To: Albion Wilde

Of all the whackings in The Soprano’s Bobby Bacala’s was the one that made me sad. Especially as a toy train enthusiast, myself.


48 posted on 09/13/2024 12:28:00 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: yldstrk

The whole point of the show was that they were so wrapped up in their world they didn’t see the all around them the Italian Mafia was losing relevance.

There’s a great scene in the Final Season where two of the NY Crew are walking in Little Italy only to realize they were then walking in Chinatown, which shows how much smaller “Little Italy” became over time. A metaphor for the mob, itself, as new non-Italian gangs started taking over.


49 posted on 09/13/2024 12:32:41 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: mmichaels1970
"I thought it was the most brilliant way to end a series, especially a mob-based series, that could have possibly been conceived."

Absolutely. Like most, I kept waiting for someone to "whack" Tony or other family members because of the setups with "Members Only" jacket guy and the Daughter's difficulty parking her car. She almost got run over while crossing the street. I would have been disappointed.

Unlike my Wife and thousands of viewers, it took me just seconds to realize that it wasn't a HBO or DVR failure or my TV. I knew before the credits rolled that it was planned. I have become a fan of trick endings for some years. I'm a fan of Tarantino and M .Night Shyamalan for their surprising story-telling. Interesting how so many Directors/Producers now are doing the same.

I don't need blood and guts and gun fights and hand to hand and crashing cars. I want to be surprised and entertained beyond my ability to figure out where the story is heading, whether an action flick or a Rom-Com.

Good for you for getting the black screen. It was delicious...I sat there in awe!

50 posted on 09/13/2024 12:32:54 PM PDT by A Navy Vet (USA Birth Certificate - 1787. Death Certificate - 2021? )
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To: A Navy Vet

Chase said the ending was one of the first things he fleshed out when he started writing the series.

As he said, “It’s all there!”


51 posted on 09/13/2024 12:35:07 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: V_TWIN
“The Museum of Science and Trucking”.......everytime I think about that I laugh my ass off. 😁

I was constantly amused by the name “Satriale's Pork Store” myself.

52 posted on 09/13/2024 12:37:19 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (Propaganda keeps only governments in business, not corporations. —John Nolte)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Pssh...he ran a glorified crew


53 posted on 09/13/2024 12:46:44 PM PDT by AppyPappy (Biden told Al Roker "America is back". Unfortunately, he meant back to the 1970's)
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To: woodbutcher1963

It helped that the guy who played Paulie was an actual mob guy


54 posted on 09/13/2024 12:50:30 PM PDT by AppyPappy (Biden told Al Roker "America is back". Unfortunately, he meant back to the 1970's)
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To: right way right

That episode was Brutal


55 posted on 09/13/2024 12:52:22 PM PDT by mowowie
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To: mowowie

“Good morning, Rat!”

Do you notice how Tony recognized the Rat? He noticed the Reagan bust on his desk.


56 posted on 09/13/2024 12:54:01 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: dfwgator
Of all the whackings in The Soprano’s Bobby Bacala’s was the one that made me sad.

He was a very loveable character. The scene where he dressed in hunting gear slayed me. He had a soft side—the way he mourned and clung to the memory of his dead wife, and cherished her last frozen ziti until Janice cooked it in a fit of jealousy.

57 posted on 09/13/2024 1:00:30 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (Propaganda keeps only governments in business, not corporations. —John Nolte)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

I don't care how bats__t crazy Gloria was, I still would have, like the fist of an angry god!

58 posted on 09/13/2024 1:06:11 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: dfwgator

but why does she wear those clodhoppers?


59 posted on 09/13/2024 1:11:55 PM PDT by bankwalker (Repeal the 19th ...)
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To: Albion Wilde

“Satriale’s Pork Store”.....there was some cross contaminated DNA in that place. 😏


60 posted on 09/13/2024 1:47:19 PM PDT by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
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