Tony Soprano may have narrowly escaped death, but his show is still lost in a coma.
After three episodes, legions of viewers still loyal to the show are fed up with the soap opera story line, and the competition from “Desperate Housewives” has cut in to its audience share.
“Having Tony shot is a disappointment. We as viewers know he’s not going to die. And so, it was a nonevent when he came out of the coma on Sunday. We’ve seen this sort of device so many times before on other shows, and we expect more,” said Mediaweek’s Marc Berman, who writes “The Programming Insider.”
In the premiere, Tony was shot while caring for his uncle, Junior, a one-time rival who tried to have him executed in season one. Now a feeble old man of questionable metal competence, Junior shuffled down the steps in his pajamas and shot his nephew, then hid in the closet.
In the second and third episodes, Tony’s mob associates vied for positioning while also caring for his family at the hospital.
“Part of the problem is the high expectations after the 21-month layoff since ‘The Sopranos’ was last on the air,” Berman said. “But even a disappointing ‘Sopranos’ is better than most of what’s on the air.”
Don’t click more if you haven’t seen the episode yet and don’t want to know what happens.
Thoughts, reflections, and discussion of the third episode of season 6 of The Sopranos should go here. This topic is now open for discussion for “Mayham”. Episode #68
Synopsis by TV.com:
While Tony attempts to derail a potential lawsuit, Silvio starts to suffer from his added responsibility. To add to the mayhem, Carmela needs help dealing with A.J. while Vito and Paulie argue over the profits from a recent job. Christopher proposes a business opportunity to a friend from rehab.
“I’m 46 years old. Who am I? Where am I going?”
So said Tony Soprano on last week’s second episode in the new season of “The Sopranos.” It was the kind of utterance in this, the beginning of the end of the landmark series, that sat in the air, thick with meaning.
Existential angst in a mob boss — sounds like a great premise for a TV show.
Of course, a whole bunch of “Sopranos” fans were annoyed last week. Here was Tony (James Gandolfini) in yet another of creator David Chase’s constant dream sequences, and the people who were enthralled one week earlier when there was a killing, a suicide and the shocker of Tony being shot by a delusional Uncle Junior, were not happy. Too slow. Too confusing. Too dreamy. They wanted action.
Unfortunately for them, they’re watching the wrong show for the wrong reasons. Oh, sure, “The Sopranos” is a mob drama. People get shot. The iconic Mafia lifestyle is laid out before viewers and sometimes reveled in, sometimes mocked, season after season. Guns go off. There’s a code of honor. Made men, loyalty, thick red sauce on piping hot spaghetti — all of that. And there’s the Bing. It’s all very magnetic in a kind of “Godfather” way — the mob genre being something Americans have a never-ending lust for.
But come on, how many times does this need to be said — “The Sopranos” is a show about words, not guns. In fact, in the entire run of the series, this was the only season it didn’t seem necessary to remind so-called fans to ratchet down their expectations, to remind them that “The Sopranos” was about three things, generally — the inside of Tony’s head, his family and the humor that surrounds daily life. It was never supposed to be “Goodfellas” for television.
But with the long-awaited (21 months) return getting off to such a stunning and, yes, violent start, there was no need to tamp down the voracious appetites of those “Sopranos” fans who wanted mob mythology and little else. They got it in droves with the first episode.
Last week? A significant departure. Stuck, metaphorically, in limbo — also known as Costa Mesa — Tony had lost his identity and he was drifting in and out of danger, both in his hospital bed, fighting for his life, and in some bizarrouniverse as an honest businessman whose briefcase and wallet go missing.
It’s the kind of episode that polarizes “Sopranos” fans. Some love the deep meanings hidden in the sequences and now, as the series begins its 20-episode endgame, they are particularly interested in Tony’s fate. They are looking for clues. And the clues certainly appear to be there if you look hard enough. They’ve always been there. “The Sopranos” is dense with meaning, littered with hints. But Tony walking around Costa Mesa without a Jersey accent, a seemingly decent, slightly wimpy guy who, we hear in his phone calls, has some strange wife and kids (they seem oh so sweet) — it’s just too much of a change, too much of a tonal shift for some.
As Meadow, the Mafia princess on HBO’s hit drama “The Sopranos,” she struggles to lead a normal life, but her violent, dysfunctional family continually punctures the facade.
In real life, however, Jamie-Lynn Sigler has dealt with a problem much more common among women her age: eating disorders.
Sigler appeared before a mostly student crowd of about 200 people at the University of Florida’s Reitz Union Thursday night to discuss her battles with anorexia nervosa, her subsequent recovery and her efforts to educate the public about the disease.
“I always ask myself, ‘Why me? Why did I let myself be so affected by other people in my life?’” Sigler said. “I have a story to share that I hope can help people.”
Sigler, 24, recounted her rapid decline, which began when she was 16, between the filming of the “Sopranos” pilot and the start of shooting for the first season of the show. A breakup with her first boyfriend threw her into an emotional decline, and she said she latched onto dieting and calorie counting as a way of finding something in her life she could control.
There’s still time to get in on the Atlantic City Hilton’s “Sopranos” drawing.
Anyone holding a Hilton VIP card can play slots between noon and 10 p.m. today and swipe the card at any Hilton kiosk to qualify to win a personal meet-and-greet in the hotel’s sumptuous Chairman’s Suite with series stars James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli, Tony Sirico, Steven Van Zandt and Steven R. Schirripa.
For the past couple of weeks, 15 people have been selected hourly and entered into the final drawing to take place at 4 p.m. Saturday.
In addition to the grand prize, 10 winners will be chosen to enjoy cocktails and get a photo taken with the cast. Twenty-five additional runners-up will watch this year’s season premiere in The Hilton Theater, then attend a Q&A session with the actors.
More info is available in the hotel lobby or by calling (609) 340-7200.
Chuck Darrow Gannett New Jersey
The ex-manager of troubled “The Sopranos” star Vincent ‘Big Pussy’ Pastore has been reportedly slapped with a $3 million defamation suit by the actor’s battered former fiancee, according to a published report.
Bob McGowan denied his client had physically and emotionally abused Lisa Regina when she took him to court last year, even though the actor pleaded guilty.
McGowan no longer represents Pastore but told a newspaper before the trial, “(Pastore) never touched (Regina). She’s extorting him and that will all be coming out soon,” reports The New York Post.
SAN Francisco Cigar and Gift Board President Ed Arri once again pulled out all the stops in preparation for the company’s celebration of The Sopranos’ sixth season.
This group loves to party, and they always do it up right. It seems that rain, wind, hail or snow did not deter the more than 800 patrons from enjoying champagne, premium cigars and plentiful Soprano apparel.
Kathleen Cole and Sue Condeff were kept busy behind the counter, taking care of the customers, while Steve and Kathy Pittlick made sure everyone’s glass was filled. Spotted in the crowd were local heavy hitters including Dr. Dino Cacioppo, Mike Delaney, Dom Torchia, Doug and Marc Emeldi, Bob Mussano, Rob Cook, Brian Pahl and Rick Martinez.
And, contrary to belief that only fellas attend these galas and smoke cigars, several ladies such as Marge Cacioppo, Deb Delaney, Sharon Butler, Toni Toy, Joanne Sexton, Tina Emeldi and Janis Baier added some class to the festivities.
Shhhh, some were even seen partaking of a smooth cigar.
All guests were treated to the fabulous collection of hand-signed, authentic Soprano memorabilia, which was displayed throughout the SF Cigar Store, 4469 Railroad Ave., in Pleasanton. Some of the unique pieces are still available for purchase and can be viewed at the store through April.
Rumor has it that the company just might have an instant replay of this event in May, on the eve of the show’sseason finale. I’ll keep you updated.
by Joe Gandelman
So Tony Soprano on HBO’s The Sopranos was shot by his senile Uncle Junior. And, then, a week later, on Sunday’s episode we found him on life-support with doctors all but hitting viewers over the head with a baseball bat as they deliver the news that the outlook for Tony is bleak — in an episode marked by a looong dream sequence scene. So was it art or was it crap?
Many of the stars of the HBO hit show ‘The Sopranos’ came out in force Monday night for a benefit to support Michael Imperioli’s theater company, Studio Dante.
But according to TMZ.com, it was Sunday’s ‘Sopranos’ episode — and Tony Soprano’s latest dream sequence — that had everyone chatty.
Steve Schirripa is asked about the dream sequences and whether or not Tony will come out of coma to which he responds. “I don’t know.. but If I were a betting man.. you know..” Imperiolie responds with.. “I don’t know that it’s a dream.. He’s in an aternative reality.. that doesn’t mean it’s a dream.. that may be another dimension.” Listen/view here from our friends at TMZ.
