The Sopranos turns 20 this week (it first aired January 10, 1999). Yeah, we feel old too. To think that Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri got poison ivy killing Mikey “Grab Bag” Palmice 20 years ago this year.
Saying The Sopranos was a massive influence on the American Pulps team would be a huge understatement. If it’s not the best show ever on television it’s in the Top 2. We often talk about and quote from it.
Christopher Moltisanti: What if it was the Feds talking to John?
Silvio Dante: Conspiracy theories now?
Christopher Moltisanti: Why not? Create a little dysentery among the ranks?
And any scene with Little Carmine is very quotable.
We’re at a fuckin’ stagmire.
While it has one of the most iconic theme songs out there, David Chase only wanted “Woke up This Morning (Chosen One Remix)” to be in the pilot. His idea was to have a different song for the opening credits of each episode. HBO didn’t want that so they compromised and had a different song at the end of most episodes (Full Leather Jacket, and Made in America are the only ones with no music at all).
Many of the songs have a lot to do with the plot, and it introduced us to a lot of awesome songs. Of course we’re not talking about the fictional band Adriana tries to manage, “Defiler” that meow song sucks. However the scene where Christopher tries to give them speed to play better is awesome.
If you’ve got Spotify, here’s a playlist we made, Defiler isn’t on it don’t worry:
Also, we’ll add to the American Pulps playlist from time to time and put up some songs from our house band The Rich and Powerful so throw us a follow, we’ve got eclectic tastes so there’s really something for everyone on there.
Like the mob movies that influenced The Sopranos which they references countless times in the show, they drew a lot of inspiration off of the real life mafia. Tony Soprano is said to be based off of a few guys out of Jersey’s DeCavalcante crime family. One is former boss, John ‘The Eagle’ Riggi the other is Vincent “Vinny Ocean” Palermo. Riggi probably influenced the fleshing out of Junior Soprano more than Tony but still.
David Chase told New Jersey Monthly that the show was modeled partly on a Genovese family who ran mob operations in the Newark, New Jersey area.
In the same interview he referenced, Ruggerio ‘Richie the Boot’ Boiardo and his relatives in Newark’s North Ward. Saying the show’s 90% made up but the DiMeo crime family is loosely based off the Boiardo and DeCavalcante crime families for the most part.
Like I said earlier, they often talk about the mafia movie genre in the show, quoting and talking about The Godfather Trilogy especially. Like here:
Not only do they quote and reference the movies, a lot of the cast was in a mob movie or two. Junior Soprano (played by Dominic Chianese) played Johnny Ola in The Godfather Part II for instance. But it was Goodfellas where most of the cast came from (39 to be exact) and even Martin Scorsese makes an “appearance” in episode 2 (it’s not really him).
Some of the 39 are Lorraine Bracco as Karen Hill and Dr. Melfi (obviously). Michael Imperioli as Chris Moltisanti and poor, poor Spider.
Check out Tony Sirico (Paulie Walnuts) as Tony Stacks.
Suzanne Shepherd played both Carmella’s and Karen Hill’s mother. Frank Albanese was Uncle Pat Blundetto and the Mob Lawyer. Tony Darrow pissed off Tommy and they burned down his club eventually in a bust out, but he was part of the crew in the Sopranos as Larry Boy Barese.
Carmine Lupertazzi was played by Tony Lip who was also Frankie “The Wop” in Goodfellas. Frank Pellegrino portrayed the top FBI director in charge of taking down Tony Soprano which is ironic because he played Henry Hills cellmate in Goodfellas. Chuck Low was Schlomo the Jewish Motel owner in The Sopranos and Maury the Wig guy in Goodfellas, such a good scene.
But look at Vincent Pastore (Big Pussy) who was “Man With Coatrack” in Goodfellas.
Possibly my favorite characters in both Goodfellas and The Sopranos was portrayed by Frank Vincent. In Goodfellas he’s Billy Batts and he’s Phil Leotardo in The Sopranos. Here’s what I think are his best scenes in both rolls:
Lastly I’m going to show you Tobin Bell who I totally forgot was in The Soprano’s and had no idea he was in Goodfellas too. He played Major Zwingli, the guy in charge at AJ’s military school. In Goodfellas he was a Parol Officer for Jimmy the Gent. They also reference Saw when Christopher pens the screenplay for Cleaver.
I’m just gonna end the with some of our favorite scenes from the show.
Best scenes from Pine Barrens that someone else put together.
I have to say, I saw a post on Twitter (that’s a mistake right there I know) where a guy said this was the worst episode because they pump gas themselves which is illegal in Jersey. That person can fuck off, Pine Barrens is the best episode.
Love this scene with Furio:
Tony: What do I need it for and Mr. William’s here, he don’t play. Right?”
Furio: Stupid-a fahking game.
And I’ll end this with a compilation someone else did of Carmine Lupertazzi Junior, “The Witless Wonder”
