The Sopranos is a televisiondrama produced by HBO. It first aired in 1999 and is due to be concluded at the end of the upcoming sixth season in 2006. Over the past six years, the show has become a cultural phenomenon, gaining popularity and unparalleled critical acclaim for its groundbreaking approach to family and the mob, as well as for pushing the envelope of violence and strong language on television. The series, which stars James Gandolfini and Edie Falco, highlights the difficulties faced by Tony Soprano, a Mafia boss in suburban Essex County, New Jersey, as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his real family and his crime "family".
The series begins with Tony collapsing after suffering an anxiety attack, which prompts him to begin therapy with Dr. Jennifer Melfi. Gradually, it is revealed that Tony's mother is manipulative and possibly psychotic; someone in his organization is talking to the FBI; his children have troubled futures; and his own superiors are plotting his death.
Setting
The Sopranos portrays the Mafia culture as an exaggerated version of the American nuclear family, in order to explore issues of class, sexuality, criminality, gender, family dynamics and generational conflict. It has been criticized by some for its supposed reinforcement of negative Italian Americanstereotypes by focussing on organized crime. This same issue, however, has been addressed on the show several times, notably in the first season episode "The Legend Of Tennessee Moltisanti".
The series premiered on HBO on January 10, 1999. The Sopranos has also been broadcast uncut in Canada by CTV, in the UK by Channel 4, in Ireland by RTE and in Australia by the Nine Network. As of 2004, five seasons of 13 episodes each have been completed, and a sixth and final 10-episode season is planned.
Title sequence
One of the most popular parts of The Sopranos is the program's opening, in which the theme song "Woke Up This Morning", performed by A3, is heard. The show's main character Tony Soprano is seen emerging from the Port Authority'sLincoln Tunnel, and as Tony turns towards the New Jersey Turnpike, an image of the World Trade Center towers can be seen in his rear view mirror. Just prior to the start of the fourth season, HBO and Sopranos producer David Chase removed this scene altogether in response to the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, in which the towers were destroyed.
The opening sequence was sufficiently recognizable to be parodied on an episode of The Simpsons in 2004, with Fat Tony standing in for Tony Soprano.
Characters
The following is a partial listing of characters from the series:
