‘The Sopranos’ Turns 25: Cast Share Fondest Memories & What They Will Never …
Regardless of what many cast members did before and after their role in The Sopranos, most are forever solidified in the minds of millions with their iconic role as family or friend to troubled crime boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) in HBO’s The Sopranos (1999-2007), one of the most acclaimed dramas in TV history. As The Sopranos celebrates its 25th anniversary, we look back at a feature that ran in our sister publication Channel Guide Magazine, to see what the cast had to share on writing the final episode, their fondest memory on set, their favorite episodes and things they will NEVER do, miss, feel, etc, after the series. Here’s what they had to share.
Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti)
Barry Wetcher/HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection
If you could write the final episode… Christopher becomes Uncle Junior’s roommate in the psychiatric hospital.
Fondest memory on the set… Shooting in Naples [“Commendatori” Season 2]. Just shooting in Italy was a dream.
Favorite episode… “Whitecaps” (Season 4). The scenes where Tony and Carmela’s marriage is on the rocks are some of the most realistic, terrifying and well-acted scenes ever on television.
Now that The Sopranos is officially over, I will never… Be the star of my own reality show.
[He’s pictured above with Drea de Matteo]
Lorraine Bracco (Dr. Jennifer Melfi)
Craig Blankenhorn/ HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection
If you could write the final episode… Dr. Melfi deserves a hot boyfriend.
Fondest memory on the set… When James Gandolfini mooned me.
Favorite episode… “Pine Barrens” (Season 3). I think Steve Buscemi did a great job filming it and the guys were at their peak of acting, and I love the snow.
Now that The Sopranos is officially over, I will never… Put on another pair of pantyhose — that was the worst part of playing Dr. Melfi.
Steven Van Zandt (Silvio Dante)
HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection.
If you could write the final episode… I wouldn’t. My character would live forever in a spinoff show. I love being Silvio and I am going to miss him greatly.
Fondest memory on the set… Getting a chance to work with my wife [Maureen Van Zandt] in a fabulous scene in the sixth season — she’s the real actor in the family and it was an honor to work with her.
Favorite episode… “Denial, Anger Acceptance” (Season 1). I liked Silvio playing the role of ambassador, going outside the family to do business.
Now that The Sopranos is officially over, I will never… Get another reservation in a sold-out Italian restaurant.
Tony Sirico (Paulie Walnuts)
Barry Wetcher/HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection.
If you could write the final episode… Tony Soprano dies and Paulie Walnuts takes over the family.
Fondest memory on the set… Is being in the snow during the “Pine Barrens” episode — the wardrobe ladies continually picked me up out of the snow when I fell. It was cold and the girls helped me warm up.
Favorite episode… “Pine Barrens” (Season 3) because I like what Michael [Imperioli] and I did. Take two wiseguys out of their element, put them in danger and see how quickly they turn on each other. P.S. Never mess with Paulie Walnuts’ hair — never!
Now that The Sopranos is officially over, I will never… Work again. Hopefully I will be proven wrong.
Robert Iler (AJ Soprano)
HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection
If you could write the final episode… I would go and find that Russian guy (Valery in the episode “Pine Barrens”) and kill him because I am tired of people continually asking me about what happened to him. And I would smack Tony in the back of the head in return for all of the times he smacked AJ.
Fondest memory on the set… Anytime we did a dinner scene with Nancy Marchand.
Favorite episode… The pilot because it reminds me of when I was 12 years old and I met all of these great people.
Now that The Sopranos is officially over, I will never… Forget the wonderful people I got to meet.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler (Meadow Soprano)
Barry Wetche/HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection
If you could write the final episode… A year or two ago I might have suggested a big Soprano wedding, but Meadow’s still so young, she’s still looking for direction. I think I’d keep the story going where she stays involved in the law and will always be conflicted between her values and her family’s values.
Fondest memory on the set… “College” (Season 1). I remember feeling like I didn’t really know what I was doing. I would memorize my lines and hope magic would happen — and it did.
Favorite episode… “College” because I learned so much from Jim [Gandolfini] and how to conduct yourself on set and still have fun.
Now that The Sopranos is officially over, I will never… Have this experience again.
Steve Schirripa (Bobby Bacala)
HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection.
If you could write the final episode… Bacala would die in bed with Janice by his side.
Fondest memory on the set… The first day when I worked with Dominic [Chianese] and Jim [Gandolfini]. It was almost surreal working with these two guys I was big fan of.
Favorite episode… “Pine Barrens” (Season 3) when I saved Christopher and Paulie. It was my first major episode and the audience really got to know the character.
Now that The Sopranos is officially over, I will never… Appear on The Surreal Life or Celebrity Fit Club or sell merchandise out of the back of my car.
Dominic Chianese (Junior Soprano)
Anthony Neste/HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection
If you could write the final episode… Uncle Junior would join a Buddhist monastery.
Fondest memory on the set… Sitting around the dinner table with the whole family.
Favorite episode… “Boca” (Season 1). [When Uncle Junior throws a pie into the face of his girlfriend, Bobbi] It was the chance to play the brokenhearted memories of my own life. Junior was hurt and that’s how he reacted.
Now that The Sopranos is officially over, I will never… Discount the power of a television drama. I’ve been watching television for 50 years and have never seen a series this powerful.
Remind Reporting by Jacqueline Cutler, 2007
The Mob Issue
February 2020
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