In 1999, a series about a New Jersey crime family premiered on HBO; it would change television. Series creator David Chase, and stars Edie Falco, Steven Van Zandt, Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa, discuss the personal and cultural impact of « The Sopranos. »
This year marks the celebration of the debut of « The Sopranos » a quarter-century ago. The hit HBO drama about a mob family headquartered in a New Jersey strip club would change television.
« I had a lot of friends who were auditioning for this thing called ‘Sopranos' », said actress Edie Falco. « I thought it was about singers. »
Steve Van Zandt recalled, « He calls and says, you know, ‘You wanna be in my new TV show?’ And I say, ‘Yeah, no thanks!' »
Michael Imperioli said, « A series on HBO was kinda like the bargain basement, and I’m not being facetious. »
Series creator David Chase, whose past credits included « The Rockford Files » and « Northern Exposure », had offered « The Sopranos » to all of the broadcast networks. Their reaction? « Too dark », he said.
But it could be darkly funny, too. « I’ve never been able to figure out whether it’s a comedy », said Chase. « I guess it’s like life. I don’t know, I hope. »
It started as a show about a mob boss with a troublesome mom. Chase, who grew up in suburban New Jersey, based her on his own mother. « I believe that if my mother had been male, she might have been a criminal », he said. « Nancy Marchand just brought it to life. »
Tormented, Tony Soprano is driven to see a therapist, Dr. Melfi, played by Lorraine Bracco.
Mason asked, « So, you base Tony’s mother on your mother, and you based the therapist on your therapist? »
« I think I was probably trying to re-mother myself », said Chase. « I was looking for a woman of my mother’s age, who wouldn’t behave like a maniac. »
« And that’s what Tony’s trying to do? »
« Yeah, yeah. »
But Chase also saw « The Sopranos » as a parable of America in decline: « At that time in America, there was so much consumption, greed, that it was enough to make a mob boss sick.
