BADA-BING BUMMER: 'SOPRANOS' SUSPENDED

NY Post ^ | March 13, 2003 | By ADAM BUCKMAN

[Maceman]

The future of "The Sopranos" became even more uncertain yesterday as HBO suspended production indefinitely due to its ongoing contract fight with series star James Gandolfini.

Cast members - including Gandolfini - were scheduled to show up for work at Silvercup Studios in Long Island City on March 24.

[Hildy]

Freakin Hollywood ingrates.

[oyez]

James should sub contract his role as Tony. Anybody got any ideas? Clint Eastwood's too old, huh?

[Dan(9698)]

Never liked their squeaky voices anyway.

[Mr. K]

in a show where anybody could get whacked at any time, this is a bad move by Gandolfini. They could write in a rival 'family' whcaking, or a takeover by one of the other guys so eaily...

[Cagey]

Freakin Hollywood ingrates.

I think you mean Freakin Jersey ingrates.

But, what's wrong with holding out for more dough? Isn't this a free enterprise society? It's not like he's a striking Air Traffic Controller.

[BossLady]

Too bad! Gandolfini's ego has cost many laborers their jobs on the set and otherwise. The crew are the ones who suffer most from all this nonsense.

I always thought Carmella should head the family in the last season anyway. :)

[Daus]

Don't feel bad for HBO... with some of their other popular series ending, delaying the demise of Soprano's is something that doesn't upset them much.

[cmsgop]

James, You signed the contract 2 years ago. Tough Luck, go back to work....

[cmsgop]

He signed a contract.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

The Gal on Fox Just said he was getting 2 mil per episode, making him the highest paid actor on tv, Kelsey Gramer cane in second at 1.6 mill. They must of made a deal?

BigMack

[plusone]

From his standpoint, nothing. But the problem is that we all pay for his salary, like it or not. Even if you don't watch the show, you still get hit in the wallet. The higher the production costs of the program, the more that advertisers are charged for air time for their commercials. Maybe you buy Pepsi, for example. If they advertise on that show, part of the price of a can of pop will reflect what they spend for air time. Even if you try to avoid those products, the companies are so interlocked, you pay some other way, without knowing it. Maybe you eat at Swiss Chalet, for example. Owned by Pepsi. The costs get pooled, and we all pay. And I don't see why we should have to pay three cents more per pop or whatever to subsidize these ingrates.

[angkor]

You are worth what you negotiate. Nothing more, nothing less.

[KneelBeforeZod]

Well you should boycott HBO anyway. They show movies with gays and other blaspheming

[Cagey]

This show airs on HBO which is paid for by subscribers and not ads. And, I can't buy your analogy. If Pepsi has to pay higher advertising rates they do it by choice. Their prices are dictated by demand of product and competition, not by what they are charged to advertise.

Now, if this was PBS and my tax dollars were paying his salary, I'd be ticked.

[finnman69]

At least we still have them

[Maceman]

The higher the production costs of the program, the more that advertisers are charged for air time for their commercials.

uh. There are no commercials on The Sopranos.

[HitmanLV]

The show has been running on fumes all of season 4. Maybe it should just end there, and spare us a more desparate season 5.

[itsahoot]

No way. This show doesn't survive without Tony Soprano. Simple as that.

Watch Fox networks show "The Shield" it is a much better show anyway.