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The Sopranos is no stranger to shocking deaths, whether it be Christopher Moltisanti or Sal Bonpensiero’s demise, and one thing common among them is that they’re greatly executed on-screen. However, one crucial death in the show has often been criticized for being a literal mess, which is unlike anything the show had offered during its six-year-long dominance on the small screen.

The Sopranos | Credit: HBO

But given David Chase’s history with the show, beneath the rather unsatisfying death, which ruffled a few feathers, it seems the showrunner’s decision to make Jackie Aprile Jr’s death unappealing might have been the point.

Jackie Aprile Jr’s death encapsulates his pathetic existence Jackie Jr.’ in The Sopranos| Credit: HBO

It’s not hard to see why viewers were initially disappointed by Jackie Aprile Jr’s demise, as in contrast to other deaths in the show, his death feels rushed,...

Robert Iler had sworn off acting after The Sopranos, but life had other plans – specifically, jury duty. The former A.J. Soprano found himself summoned to court, and instead of arguing his way out like a true mob boss’ son, he took a hilariously creative detour.

Robert Iler in The Sopranos | Credits: HBO

How? By booking a guest role on Law & Order. Iler’s post-Sopranos retirement wasn’t so final after all – at least when legal loopholes were involved.

From The Sopranos to jury duty dodging, Robert Iler’s hilarious acting comeback James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, and Robert Iler in The Sopranos | Credits: HBO

Robert Iler had no plans to return to acting after The Sopranos. But when jury duty came knocking, he got creative – by taking a gig on Law & Order.

Iler, best known as A.J. Soprano, has mostly stayed out of Hollywood since The Sopranos ended...

When we talk about peak television, The Sopranos would definitely be among the top ten with its crime saga and psychological elements. Apart from the show, James Gandolfini’s portrayal of the mafia boss Tony Soprano is also widely regarded as one of the finest in the history of television. But behind this tough character was an actor who was deeply committed to playing the role to the best of his abilities.

James Gandolfini in a still from The Sopranos | Credits: HBO

However, one time Gandolfini messed up one scene intentionally just to see if the director noticed or not. To his surprise, his mess-up went unnoticed, and the director simply moved on to the next shot.

James Gandolfini intentionally messed up a scene in The Sopranos that went completely unnoticed James Gandolfini in a still from The Sopranos | Credits: HBO

The list of awards that James Gandolfini has won...

Actor James Gandolfini will be forever remembered for his role as Tony Soprano in the critically acclaimed HBO crime-drama series The Sopranos. The series ran for six seasons and won Gandolfini several accolades, including three Emmy Awards for his brilliant performance as the mob boss. However, one actor got a first-hand experience of just how closely Gandolfini embodied the role.

James Gandolfini played Tony Soprano in The Sopranos (Crfedit: HBO).

During an interview, actor Robert Patrick discussed playing a recurring character in the show’s second season with close ties to Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano. As a result, he carelessly challenged Gandolfini to a fight only to end up regretting the decision when they finally filmed the beat down sequence. Here is what Patrick had to say about working with the late James Gandolfini on The Sopranos.

Robert Patrick recalled challenging The Sopranos star James Gandolfini to a fight

Actor...

"The Sopranos" showcased some incredible performances throughout its six-season run, which makes it even easier to forget some of the supporting talents that briefly passed in and out of episodes who went onto become massive stars. For a short time, David Chase's televised mob masterpiece had appearances from eventual "The Wire" star Michael K. Williams, Riddler-to-be Paul Dano, and even Lady Gaga (even though she might not be a fan of the performance herself). However, one appearance that might stand out more than others is that of actor, director, and co-architect of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jon Favreau.

The director of "Iron Man" and "Iron Man 2" plays an exaggerated version of himself after Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli) is invited to the filming of one of Favreau's movies. After chiming in on a scene rewrite, Favreau takes an interest in Christopher's lifestyle when he learns about his mob connections...

The Sopranos was the king of modern cable television and remains revered even today. As a result, other shows have often referenced the hit series and The Office is no stranger to the same. The NBC sitcom premiered while the James Gandolfini series was still on air but lasted nine seasons in total with a major The Sopranos actor cameoing in the final season.

The Sopranos is one of the best TV shows of all time (Credit: HBO).

Given the lackluster reception of the series following lead actor Steve Carell’s departure, the cameo got lost in discourse over other aspects of the final season. As a result, the cameo feels wasted, especially since another earlier episode would’ve been more suitable for it. Here is everything you need to know about the forgotten The Sopranos cameo in The Office.

The Office wasted its big The Sopranos cameo by adding...

One of the greatest and most controversial show endings in TV history is the final moments of The Sopranos. Even after all these years, audiences still discuss what occurred at the end of the famous diner scene, which caught many by surprise with a controversial cut to black. Time and again, fans try and decipher what could have happened to Tony Soprano in the seconds following that cut to black. Theories range from Tony being killed to Meadow being killed in front of him. While each theory is fun to ponder, the beauty of David Chase's ambiguous conclusion is that it leaves the ending open to interpretation.

However, some believe that the scene uses film language to express what plays out without it playing out literally. This seems the most appropriate, considering that David Chase and the creatives involved in The Sopranos often utilized film and writing techniques to...

Steve Schirripa's weight loss in recent years has been quite surprising for those who know him best for starring on The Sopranos as the stout Bobby Bacala. One of HBO's best original series of all time, The Sopranos has been enthralling new viewers and the many fans who have revisited it over the years since it premiered in January 1999, introducing crime boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) and his coterie of violent, unpleasant, and completely fascinating hangers-on. The supporting cast for The Sopranos is as much a reason to watch the show as for Tony.

Every character, even those with little screen time, has substantial arcs that carve them out as human and real, not just red shirts to be murdered on The Sopranos in various grisly ways. Since the end of the show, the actors and crew have fondly recalled their time on the series. The podcasts, Not Today Pal,...

Michael Imperioli continues his journey in the crime genre, narrating a History Channel docuseries on New York's Cosa Nostra outfits. American Godfathers dives deep into the origins and operations of the five families, revealing lesser-known mafia facts and figures. The docuseries excels in authenticity, with meticulous research, expert insights, and engaging storytelling, making it a must-watch for crime fans.

Michael Imperioli is back in the crime genre, but did he ever really leave? The Emmy-winning actor better known for playing the unlucky bartender Spider in Goodfellas and the troubled Dimeo crime family capo Christopher Moltisanti in The Sopranos is now part of another mob project. Imperioli serves as the narrator of American Godfathers: The Five Families, a three-part History Channel docuseries that traces the activities of New Yorks notorious Cosa Nostra outfits across nine decades.

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!

Like Michael Corleone,...

Coconut Head from Ned's Declassified is played by Rob Pinkston, who has since moved on to a career in graphics production at Riot Games. The trio from the show has started a podcast discussing past episodes, following the trend of actors creating podcasts based on their shows. Pinkston's unique appearance as Coconut Head made him easily recognizable on screen, but now he looks very different in his grown-up life.

Coconut Head is a memorable schoolmate of Ned's (Devon Werkheiser) on the Nickelodeon sitcom Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide and the actor, Rob Pinkston, has gone on to an interesting post-Nick career. A classic of 2000s Nickelodeon programming, Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide premiered in 2004 and lasted for three seasons. Following the trio of Ned, Moze (Lindsey Shaw), and Cookie (Daniel Curtis Lee), the series depicts the daily life of middle school students, each episode based around one of Ned's tips...

Patrick J. Adams and Sarah Rafferty want to watch “Suits” with you.

The stars of 2023’s biggest show – albeit the one that started in 2011 and ended in 2019 – are reuniting to host a rewatch podcast for SiriusXM, the audio company announced Tuesday.

The as-yet-untitled weekly podcast will find Adams, who played unlicensed attorney Mike Ross, and Rafferty, who played legal secretary Donna Paulsen, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from every episode of the USA Network drama. They’ll be joined by special guests who worked on the show in front of and behind the camera as well as fans and friends of the show.

“On the heels of the record-breaking ‘Suits’ resurgence, it feels like the perfect time to rewatch the show that changed our lives,” Adams and Rafferty said in a statement. “We are thrilled to collaborate with the incredible team at SiriusXM and look forward to connecting with our friends from the cast and crew,...

“The Sopranos” is turning 25 by way of a 21st century social media phenom: TikTok.

The iconic HBO series celebrates its 25th anniversary with the “Sopranos in :25” campaign on TikTok, with recaps of every episode launching in 25-second snippets.

To further honor the series, streaming platform Max released never-before-seen deleted footage and five hours of behind-the-scenes content. Free episodes of the series will also be available through on-demand cable platforms with select providers, and the first two episodes of the show are streaming for free on Max’s YouTube page. The official “The Sopranos” anniversary date is January 10.

“‘The Sopranos’ left an indelible imprint on the global entertainment culture and was instrumental in defining HBO as the destination for groundbreaking, award-winning programming,” Zach Enterlin, executive VP of brand, content and creative of streaming marketing for HBO and Max said in a press statement. “The many ways we will honor this...

[Editor‘s Note: The following story contains major spoilers for “The Sopranos.”]

Michael Imperioli is opening up about the most “difficult” scenes to film for “The Sopranos.”

Imperioli starred as Christopher Moltisanti in the acclaimed HBO series. His character was murdered by Tony (James Gandolfini) in the final season, but Imperioli does not count his onscreen death as the most “brutal” sequence to film.

“That wasn’t really brutal at all, I’ll be honest with you,” Imperioli told The Guardian. “When we shot it, it wasn’t my last day either because we shot out of sequence. The most brutal, difficult stuff for me is when Christopher had to be physically abusive with Adriana [Drea de Matteo], for obvious reasons.”

He continued, “On a technical level, you’re trying to be really careful so you don’t hurt the person. But having to get to that point of violence towards a woman, you have to go to some nasty places to get there.

Steve Buscemi has been in some of the best films and television series out there, from "Reservoir Dogs" to "Boardwalk Empire." His work spans a multitude of genres, but many of his most notable roles have a single through-line: violence. Buscemi has been cast as many a villainous character in gritty crime dramas, but in more recent years, the actor has moved largely into voice acting for children's animated features like "Boss Baby" or comedic shows like "Miracle Workers" and "Bupkis." What triggered this major career change for Buscemi? As it turns out, one of the best television shows of all time caused the actor to lose his appetite for on-screen bloodshed.

Although he had only a minor recurring role in "The Sopranos," Buscemi was instrumental in the series. Not only was his character a major part of Tony and Christopher's past and one of the show's best characters,...

Updated, July 5: Michael Imperioli returned to Instagram to clarify his comments forbidding “bigots and homophobes” to watch his filmography. Imperioli is now stating that the post was “satirical” and meant to showcase the absurdity of discrimination as a whole.

“After turning down invitations to appear on various news programs, I thought it best just to clarify,” Imperioli wrote. “The post referred to here was a satirical and symbolic take on where blatantly discriminatory Supreme Court decisions are taking us as a nation: into utter division and possibly far worse. I believe in religious freedom, freedom of speech, and the right for individuals to pursue happiness. I also believe in the separation of church and state as stated in the First Amendment. I believe that all people regardless of race, religion, color, creed, gender or sexuality are entitled to freedom, equality, rights and protection under the laws of our nation.

The Sopranos and Goodfellas star Michael Imperioli told "homophobes and bigots" to stay away from any work in which he appears following a Supreme Court ruling that protects businesses denying service to LGBTQ+ customers.

In a recent Instagram post, the actor called out the Supreme Court in a sarcastic statement claiming that the ruling now allows him to discriminate against those who disagree with him in any way, and used it to ban anyone opposed to the LGBTQ+ communities from any content featuring him. "I’ve decided to forbid bigots and homophobes from watching The Sopranos, The White Lotus, Goodfellas or any movie or TV show I’ve been in," Imperioli said. "Thank you Supreme Court for allowing me to discriminate and exclude those who I don’t agree with and am opposed to."

Related: Legality of AI Art Could Be Affected by Supreme Court's Warhol Ruling

The post, which has over 37,000 likes,...

Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa are dissecting “The Sopranos” now on Max.

The former series co-stars host podcast “Talking Sopranos,” which looks back at every episode of the beloved David Chase-led mafia series. The podcast began in April 2020 with Imperioli and Schirripa reexamining the series with guest stars ranging from Lorraine Bracco to David Chase. The podcast concluded in December 2021 after 91 episodes a bestselling book, titled “Woke Up This Morning: The Definitive Oral History of ‘The Sopranos.'” An extended version of the podcast, including a bonus episode on prequel film “The Many Saints of Newark,” now debuts on Max.

Imperioli played Christopher Moltisanti, the nephew and confidante of Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), in the Emmy-winning HBO series. Schirripa later joined the cast as Bobby Bacala, Tony’s enforcer and later brother-in-law.

“Talking Sopranos” features the hosts and special guests from the show’s cast and crew in spirited...

It took Aubrey Plaza close to two decades to finish “The Sopranos.”

The “White Lotus” Season 2 actress starred opposite “Sopranos” alum Michael Imperioli but had not seen the iconic HBO mafia series’ finale until she recently binged the show with “New Girl” and “Minx” star Jake Johnson.

“I’m shook,” Plaza told Vanity Fair of finally watching the polarizing “The Sopranos” series finale. “Yesterday I was like, ’Oh my God, what do you think happened?’ And [Jake] was like, ‘I don’t know but I was crying,’ and I was like, ‘I was crying too.’ I was like, ‘This is ridiculous, that we’re going through “Sopranos” finale stuff.'”

Even though “The Sopranos” is streaming on HBO platform Max, Plaza still purchased the entire show on iTunes, to husband Jeff Baena’s dismay. Plaza cited the frustrating aspect of trying to navigate streamers and keeping track of what’s available.

The new streaming service, Max, which Warner Bros. Discovery recently rebranded from HBO Max, just dropped its catalog for June and the remainder of May.

Audiences can expect this summer to be filled with aliens, mutants and epic stories. The long list of feature films headed to the streaming service includes Avatar: The Way of Water, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Ready Player One and a lot more.

Related: HBO Max Relaunch Unveils New Price Tiers

See Max's full catalog for June below:

May 23

Bama Rush (Max Original)

Clone High, Season 1 (Max Original)

German Genius (Max Original)

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

Gremlins: Secrets Of The Mogwai, Season 1 (Max Original)

Growing Floret (Magnolia Network)

How To Create A Sex Scandal (Max Original)

Maine Cabin Masters, Season 8 (Magnolia Network)

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

SmartLess: On The Road (Max Original)

Talking Sopranos Podcast

Villainous, Season 1A (Cartoon Network)

What Am I Eating?...

There are casual TV fans – the kind of people who are occasionally reminded of an old favorite show and fondly think ‘I used to love that’ but then get back on with wood-staining the garden fence, filling in their tax return or whatever demands adult life is currently making of them – and then there are the TV fans who don’t need reminding of their old favorite shows because they’re currently midway through their fifth Battlestar Galactica go-around while moderating several BSG r/television subreddits and crocheting a replica Saul Tigh eye patch.

The TV rewatch podcast is here for both types of listener – they’re a fun whoosh of nostalgia for the first, and the chance to finally get behind-the-scenes answers to burning questions for the second. Most of all, they’re a good time in the company of pals and a great excuse to revisit an old favorite.

"The Sopranos" cast are all New Jersey icons now, but only one of them was before the series premiered. That was Steven Van Zandt, aka "Little Steven," of the E Street Band. Van Zandt is one of the band's guitarists, alongside Patti Scialfa, Nils Lofgren, and of course the Boss himself Bruce Springsteen. During their hiatus in the '90s, Van Zandt found a new gig on TV even though he had never acted before.

In 1997, Van Zandt gave a speech introducing The Rascals before they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "The Sopranos" creator David Chase saw this routine and contacted Van Zandt about appearing on his show. Van Zandt had previously conceived of the character Silvio Dante, a former hitman turned club owner. So, they added the character to Tony Soprano's crew. Thanks to budget concerns, the luxurious '50s-style establishment that Van...

Michael Imperioli has announced he’s co-writing a film with his old boss, The Sopranos creator David Chase.

Imperioli appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Thursday (27 October) to promote season two of the HBO series The White Lotus. That’s when he made first mention of the duo’s “mystery project”.

He also offered that Sopranos star Steve Schirripa, with whom he hosts the podcast Talking Sopranos, is taking part.

But that’s all Imperioli was willing to divulge.

“Yeah, we’re writing a movie together right now for me and Steve Schirripa. It’s a mystery project,” he said, projecting vagueness. “I can’t talk about it beyond that.”

Later he said: “David and I are writing it together. I can’t say what it’s about. But when it comes out, I’m gonna come here before anybody. I’m gonna come here and talk about it.

Michael Imperioli has confirmed a film in the works with “The Sopranos” creator David Chase.

“The White Lotus” Season 2 star revealed that he is co-writing a feature with Chase that will also involve fellow “Sopranos” alum Steve Schirripa, who co-hosts viral podcast “Talking Sopranos” with Imperioli.

“Yeah, we’re writing a movie together right now for me and Steve Schirripa. It’s a mystery project,” Imperioli said on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” about reuniting with Emmy winner Chase. “I can’t talk about it beyond that.”

He added, “David and I are writing it together. I can’t say what it’s about. But when it comes out, I’m gonna come here. Before anybody, I’m gonna come here and talk about it.”

Some fans have speculated that the film will be part of the expanding “Sopranos” cinematic universe on the heels of prequel movie “The Many Saints of Newark.

Tony Hale’s character development was certainly arrested while filming “The Sopranos.”

During a small role as Uncle Junior’s (Dominic Chianese) nurse oncologist in the 2001 episode “Second Opinion,” Hale recalled his hands “violently shaking” on set.

“I’ll never forget on ‘The Sopranos’ — because of my anxiety, my nerves will manifest itself in my hands; my hands will start shaking,” Hale said on SiriusXM’s “Pop Culture Spotlight With Jessica Shaw” talk show. “And I was a nurse oncologist to Uncle Junior, and I’ll never forget my hands were violently shaking about to put a tube into his arm.”

The “Mysterious Benedict Society” actor continued, “Can you imagine Uncle Junior, ‘Who’s this guy giving me chemo treatments and his hands are violently shaking against my skin?'”

Hale completed the scene “by the grace of God,” and two years later, landed his breakout role as Buster Bluth on “Arrested Development.

Some of the most riveting scenes in "The Sopranos" have nothing to do with La Casa Nostra. Rather, it's the moments when Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) is on the couch with his psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). It's usually a writing cheat to have your characters directly say their feelings aloud, but it worked in "The Sopranos" because of the therapeutic setting.

Since Melfi was Tony's therapist, she kept a distance from his personal life. Psychiatric practitioners have to do that, and it's an especially good idea when your patient is a crime boss. This meant that despite Bracco being part of the show's cast for its entire six season run, the vast majority of her scenes are with Gandolfini. Since the Tony's therapy scenes were a regular feature of the show, the cast and crew developed a go-to method for shooting them.

Bracco, like most of the "Sopranos" cast,...

If you ever wondered how such a blatantly Irish kid landed the part of Aj in "The Sopranos," you aren't alone. The HBO series broke television convention in a lot of ways, particularly for its cinematic exploration of a mafioso's subconscious, but it was also known for its unexpected casting choices. Robert Iler never thought he would get a call back after his "Sopranos" audition, but his hilarious improvisation made him stand out from the other candidates. It didn't matter that Iler didn't look the part — he was a perfect fit.

When Iler's mother saw the other actors auditioning for Aj, she was sure that her son would never land the part. "It was a roomful of a hundred Italian kids, and they all had the slicked-back hair, leather jacket, and they were trying to be like 'The Sopranos.' Little Italian mob guys," Iler recalled (via Woke Up...

For those who like some reading with their gabagool, "Woke Up This Morning: The Definitive Oral History of The Sopranos" provides a comprehensive collection of memories and insights from the cast and crew of one of the greatest TV drama series of all time. The book was inspired by the robust success of their definitive and thorough re-visit podcast "Talking Sopranos," the groundbreaking HBO series' stars Michael Imperioli (who plays Christopher Moltisanti) and Steve Schirripa (Bobby Baccalieri) and brings incisive and often surprising behind-the-scenes history of the show's 86 episodes. Trending often in the HBO streaming app, "The Sopranos" remains one of the most binged TV shows fifteen years after its final episode aired in June of 2007.

In the book, casting director Georgianne Walken remembers how mesmerized she was by the incredible memory of showrunner David Chase, who incorporated his lifelong fascination with the mafia into the show's observation of an Italian-American mobster,...

Lin-Manuel Miranda fondly remembers that time he was on “The Sopranos” — just don’t call his appearance a cameo.

Miranda, who appeared as a bellhop in Season 6 of the Emmy-winning HBO series, explained that the very minor role was intimidating back in the day.

“I went on lots of voiceover auditions and acting auditions, and the only thing I booked was ‘The Sopranos,’ as a bellboy; I say, ‘I don’t know’ twice,” Miranda told Judd Apatow for Apatow’s latest book “Sicker in the Head: More Conversations About Life and Comedy,” available March 29. “I’m so green you can see me look down at my mark. Watch it if you get a chance, because now people are like ‘Lin-Manuel’s cameo on ‘The Sopranos’!’ It wasn’t a cameo. I wasn’t even in the union yet.”

Miranda appears in the 15th episode of Season 6, “Remember When,” as an...

[Editor’s Note: The following story contains spoilers for “The Sopranos.”]

Fans of “The Sopranos” will recall the abrupt and rather unceremonious exit of Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) in Season 6, Episode 20, “The Blue Comet.” After being berated by her colleagues at a dinner party, Dr. Melfi decides to sever ties with mobster Tony Soprano, for whom she’s served as a therapist for the entirety of the show.

But, as revealed on a recent episode of the “Talking Sopranos” podcast, Oscar- and Emmy-nominee Lorraine Bracco said she felt unsatisfied with her how her character departed from the series. (Via Deadline.)

“I just felt that [creator David Chase] wanted me to get rid of [Tony Soprano]. I would have liked for it to have been more meaningful,” she told the podcast’s hosts, “Sopranos” stars Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa. “I mean, I think she cared for Tony. Even though he was a f**k-up and maybe he was never going to really straighten out…...

On a November 21 episode of the podcast Talking Sopranos, longtime Sopranos cast member Lorraine Bracco addressed her discontent with how her character, Dr. Jennifer Melfi, exited the iconic HBO series.

“I just felt that [creator David Chase] wanted me to get rid of [Tony Soprano]. I would have liked for it to have been more meaningful,” the Oscar-nominated actress told the podcast’s hosts, The Sopranos alums Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa. “I mean, I think she cared for Tony. Even though he was a f**k-up and maybe he was never going to really straighten out…I think she really cared for him. You don’t spend seven years with someone and discard them. I felt bad about that.”

Dr. Melfi made her final appearance on The Sopranos in the series’ penultimate episode, “The Blue Comet,” unceremoniously cutting ties with her longtime client from the New Jersey mob, after being...

Lorraine Bracco was thoroughly unhappy over the way her iconic character departed The Sopranos in the show’s final season.

Recently visiting Talking Sopranos, the popular podcast hosted by show alums Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa, the actress who starred as therapist Dr. Jennifer Melfi revealed her displeasure over her final scene, which occurred with Tony (James Gandolfini).

In the classic HBO show’s penultimate episode, “The Blue Comet,” Melfi while at a dinner party with colleagues is made aware of a study that claims sociopaths take advantage of talk therapy. Looking into the matter on her own, Melfi is convinced of ...

Lorraine Bracco was thoroughly unhappy over the way her iconic character departed The Sopranos in the show’s final season.

Recently visiting Talking Sopranos, the popular podcast hosted by show alums Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa, the actress who starred as therapist Dr. Jennifer Melfi revealed her displeasure over her final scene, which occurred with Tony (James Gandolfini).

In the classic HBO show’s penultimate episode, “The Blue Comet,” Melfi while at a dinner party with colleagues is made aware of a study that claims sociopaths take advantage of talk therapy. Looking into the matter on her own, Melfi is convinced of ...

“The Sopranos” actors Steve Schirripa and Michael Imperioli have reignited conversations around the Emmy-winning HBO drama series thanks to their popular “Talking Sopranos” podcast, and now they’ve published a book-length oral history of the show under the title “Woke Up This Morning.” The book includes an anecdote from series guest star Peter Riegert in which it’s revealed the lengths James Gandolfini went to protect him from acting in an unwanted nude scene (via Insider). Riegert starred as Assemblyman Ronald Zellman on the third and fourth seasons of “The Sopranos.”

“I show up at the [table] read and find out what I was going to be doing,” Riegert said of preparing for the seventh episode of Season 4. “The scene was Tony beating the living shit out of me with a belt, but in the scene description, it’s written that he pulls my underwear off…I was going to be naked.

Exclusive: Michael Imperioli is adding his voice to another project.

The Sopranos star, who narrates feature prequel The Many Saints of Newark and co-hosts his own Talking Sopranos podcast, is to host and exec produce Kerouac and Me.

The audio project, first revealed by Deadline in August, comes from authors and podcast hots Dave Wedge and Casey Sherman, who struck a deal with The Jack Kerouac Estate.

Kerouac and Me, which is based on the writings of the beat icon, will see stars of music, film, television, literature, politics, sports and business share in-depth stories of how the writer inspired their work. It will also feature newly unearthed, never-before-heard audio recordings of Kerouac at the height of his creative powers.

“Jack Kerouac changed my life,” said Imperioli, who will lead interviews and tell his own stories of how the novelist helped him.

Kerouac and Me was created by New York...

[This story contains spoilers for The Many Saints of Newark.]

When Michael Imperioli made the decision to reprise his iconic Sopranos character in The Many Saints of Newark, he had no idea his understanding of Christopher Moltisanti would be forever altered.

With the beloved HBO Mafia drama still being a major force in his life thanks to Talking Sopranos, the popular podcast Imperioli co-hosts with fellow series alum Steve Schirripa, the veteran actor knew there was a massive appetite for the show and characters. So, when creator-writer David Chase brought him the script for The Many Saints of Newark, Imperioli told The Hollywood Reporter, he was immediately interested in the surprising cameo as narrator.

“For me, it was ...

[This story contains spoilers for The Many Saints of Newark.]

When Michael Imperioli made the decision to reprise his iconic Sopranos character in The Many Saints of Newark, he had no idea his understanding of Christopher Moltisanti would be forever altered.

With the beloved HBO Mafia drama still being a major force in his life thanks to Talking Sopranos, the popular podcast Imperioli co-hosts with fellow series alum Steve Schirripa, the veteran actor knew there was a massive appetite for the show and characters. So, when creator-writer David Chase brought him the script for The Many Saints of Newark, Imperioli told The Hollywood Reporter, he was immediately interested in the surprising cameo as narrator.

“For me, it was ...

“The Sopranos” is back in a huge way thanks to pandemic streaming, the upcoming prequel film “The Many Saints of Newark,” and various show-devoted podcasts such as Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa’s popular “Talking Sopranos” series. Schirripa recently shared with Insider one of the more memorable set moments from making “The Sopranos.” During the filming of one fourth season episode, cast members James Gandolfini and Michael Imperioli had to be chained to a tree because they got too drunk before shooting. The production required the two actors to stand close to the edge of a cliff, which was made risky because they were inebriated.

“On the break, while they set up the lights, Michael and Jim [Gandolfini] drank a bottle of Wild Turkey,” Schirripa said. “They were so drunk that they had to chain their legs to a tree, because they were afraid they were going to fall off the cliff.

Tim Daly had several memorable scenes as J.T. Dolan in The Sopranos, but his favorite is his character’s saddest moment.

The Wings star stopped by the most recent installment of the popular Talking Sopranos podcast hosted by show alums Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa, where he discussed his character’s funny, but mostly sad moments.

Daly played J.T. Dolan, a down-on-his-luck screenwriter, who is a recovering drug addict and compulsive gambler. He befriends (at least for a moment) fellow recovering addict Christopher Moltisanti.

Daly was pals with series creator David Chase and even screened the pilot when HBO picked it up, the actor said of ...

Tim Daly had several memorable scenes as J.T. Dolan in The Sopranos, but his favorite is his character’s saddest moment.

The Wings star stopped by the most recent installment of the popular Talking Sopranos podcast hosted by show alums Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa, where he discussed his character’s funny, but mostly sad moments.

Daly played J.T. Dolan, a down-on-his-luck screenwriter, who is a recovering drug addict and compulsive gambler. He befriends (at least for a moment) fellow recovering addict Christopher Moltisanti.

Daly was pals with series creator David Chase and even screened the pilot when HBO picked it up, the actor said of ...

Robert Patrick was the latest guest on Michael Imperioli and Steven Schirripa’s “Talking Sopranos” podcast (via Uproxx), and he told a memorable story of performing a beatdown scene with the late James Gandolfini during his three-episode arc as Davey Scatino in the show’s second season. Patrick’s character was a gambling addict and childhood friend of Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano.

“I had never met Mr. Gandolfini,” Patrick said. “I am out front on a bench smoking a cigarette with Jimmy after we’d just done this read through. And we’re trying to get to know each other a little bit because we’re supposed to be high school buddies. As the conversation was winding up, I said to him, ‘You know the scene where you come to get your money, you better bring your fucking A-game.’ And he looked at me and said, ‘Oh, I’ll bring my fucking A-game.

Robert Patrick made it a point to get under James Gandolfini’s skin right away to ensure his character’s beating in an early, classic Sopranos episode would be intense.

The Davey Scatino actor appeared on the most recent installment of the popular Talking Sopranos podcast hosted by show alums Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa, where he discussed his pathetic character’s three episodes, starting with “The Happy Wanderer” (season two, episode six).

Patrick shared a great anecdote about his first day on the set and how he pushed Gandolfini’s buttons on purpose, which was advice from his acting coach.

“...

Robert Patrick made it a point to get under James Gandolfini’s skin right away to ensure his character’s beating in an early, classic Sopranos episode would be intense.

The Davey Scatino actor appeared on the most recent installment of the popular Talking Sopranos podcast hosted by show alums Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa, where he discussed his pathetic character’s three episodes, starting with “The Happy Wanderer” (season 2, episode 6).

Patrick shared a great anecdote about his first day on the set and how he pushed Gandolfini’s buttons on purpose, which was advice from his acting coach.

“...

We already knew the late, great James Gandolfini, best known for his work on HBO’s The Sopranos, was in the running to join NBC’s The Office when Steve Carell left the show. What we didn’t know, however, was that HBO paid Gandolfini $3 million not to take the part. In a recent episode of the Talking Sopranos […]

The post HBO Apparently Paid James Gandolfini a Ton of Money to Not Join ‘The Office’ After Steve Carell Left appeared first on /Film.

While James Gandolfini will always be best remembered as Tony Soprano, the late actor’s proximity to becoming another beloved TV character was closer than many realize.

The “Sopranos” star was apparently offered the role of Michael Scott’s replacement on “The Office” in 2011 after Steve Carell left the NBC comedy series. However, HBO paid Gandolfini $3 million to turn down the role.

That’s all according to Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa, Gandolfini’s former “Sopranos” co-stars who host a podcast together called “Talking Sopranos.” On Monday’s episode, during an interview with Ricky Gervais, star of the U.K. version of “The Office,” Schirripa talked about the previously unknown “Office” offer.

“I think before James Spader and after Carell, they offered Jim, I want to say, $4 million to play him for the season — and HBO paid him $3 million not to do it. That’s a fact,” Schirripa, who played...

Tony Soprano is a near appendage of HBO, so much so that HBO paid James Gandolfini to take a knee when NBC offered him the chance to replace Steve Carell in The Office. On the latest episode of the Talking Sopranos podcast, Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa shared details of the $3 million deal with the creator of The Office, Ricky Gervais.

The star of the original U.K. Office series offered praise and appreciation for Steve Carell. who he said "put his life on hold for seven years," when Imperioli interjected. "You know, they talked about having Gandolfini at one point replace him (Steve Carell), did you know that?" he asked.

Ricky Gervais hadn't heard the story, so Schirripa then relayed the info while revealing why he says it ultimately didn't happen. "I think before James Spader and after Carell, they offered Jim, I want to say $4 million, to play him for the season,...

If you’re a fan of “The Office,” you know that after Steve Carell left the series, the show found it difficult to replace him, often relying on guest stars to help carry the load. Well, eventually, the show landed on James Spader to guest star in a string of episodes, but before that, according to the hosts of the Talking Sopranos podcast, James Gandolfini was in line to appear.

Continue reading HBO Reportedly Paid James Gandolfini $3 Million To Turn Down A Role On ‘The Office’ at The Playlist.

The most recent episode of the “Talking Sopranos” podcast finds hosts and “The Sopranos” actors Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa dropping a bombshell on guest Ricky Gervais. According to the actors behind Christopher Moltisanti and Bobby Baccalieri, HBO paid “Sopranos” lead star James Gandolfini a whopping $3 million not to appear on NBC’s sitcom “The Office.” The series was the U.S. remake of Gervais’ BBC comedy of the same name.

“You know, they talked about having Gandolfini at one point replace him,” Gandolfini told Gervais (via Insider). “Did you know that?”

Schirripa added, “I think before James Spader and after [Steve] Carell, they offered [Gandolfini], I want to say, $4 million to play him for the season — and HBO paid him $3 million not to do it. That’s a fact.”

When Carell decided to leave “The Office” at the end of season seven, high profile guest stars such as James Spader joined...

James Gandolfini as the head of The Office? Yep, it almost happened! A recent episode of the Talking Sopranos podcast revealed that HBO paid the actor $3 million to turn down the role that would've served as Steve Carell's replacement once he left The Office. During the recent episode, co-hosts Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa, who played Christopher Moltisanti…...

It was the easiest $3 million James Gandolfini ever made.

A recent episode of the Talking Sopranos podcast saw co-hosts Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa (aka Christopher Moltisanti and Bobby Baccalieri on The Sopranos) reveal that James Gandolfini was paid $3 million to turn down a role as the new boss in The Office.

The story came up during a conversation with Ricky Gervais, who created the original UK version of The Office.

“You know, they talked about having Gandolfini at one point replace him [Steve Carell], did you know that?” Imperioli said.

The story goes like this: Several years after The Sopranos ended, NBC needed an impact replacement for Steve Carell’s departure from The Office.

Schirripa claimed NBC offered Gandolfini $4 million dollars for one season.

But HBO paid him $3 million not to do it.

“Jim was going to do it because he hadn’t worked and it was a number...

Sopranos stars Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa say that James Gandolfini was paid millions to not supersede Steve Carell following his departure from NBC’s The Office.

Imperioli and Schirripa spoke about the reported deal during the latest episode of their Talking Sopranos podcast, which featured guest Ricky Gervais. The star of the original U.K. Office series offered praise and appreciation for Carell, who he said “put his life on hold for seven years,” when Imperioli interjected.

“You know, they talked about having Gandolfini at one point replace him [Steve Carell], did you know that?” he said.

Gervais wasn’t familiar with ...