OT: Sopranos open thread, w/ trivia

by Brian Thomas on Jun 10, 2007 8:13 PM CDT

Last show ever. Pretty exciting.

I wanted to do a lengthy diary on questions I had about the various seasons, as well as a favorite moments aspect. For example, in season 4/epis. 1, was that cop that Christofa killed really his father's murderer, or was Tony playing him to, as he put it (paraphrasing), bond Chrissy to him irreparably.

Unfortunately, I just got back from a road trip. Stupid I-95.

So, instead, open thread w/ trivia:

Name every character w/ a speaking part that has been thought to be a rat.
Speaking of rats, what did Pussy get caught doing?
What was the name of the drug dealer that was thrown into Patterson Falls? Who did he work for, who threw him, and why?
What was the name of the bar Chris gave to Adriana? Bonus portion: A football bet lost to the family was the reason he won the club. What happened in that football game?
What prominent official did Junior write alot of letters to this season?
Livia's oft repeated phrase to young Tony was what?
For what reason did Junior break up w/ his girlfriend in season 2? Where did they vacation?
What is Tony's kid sister's name?
How were Tony and Christofa related?
How were the 2 Tonys related?
What is Janice's son's name?
What is Tony's nickname for Phil?
What was the class of 2004? Be specific, w/ a conclusive list of names.
What were the circumstances of Bobby Baccalieri's father's death? What excellent actor played him?
What is the name of the rival NY family?
What was the name of the retirement home where Livia stayed?
What stock was being pushed in Season 2 in a scam, and what is the term for that scam?
What NFL players have acted in the series?
Which family capo is under house arrest? What is his brother's name?
What did Corrado have done to Chrisofa in Season 1 because of the truck hijack his best friend committed? What was his friend's name?
How was Chucky Signore killed?
How was Jack Masarone killed, and why?
Why did Tony and Zellman have a falling out?

Poll to your right...

Poll

How will it end for Tony?

Phil dead.

5 votes

A truce between the 2 families.

1 votes

Please God, let AJ fall into a hole full of black mambas.

7 votes

Shot dead.

6 votes

Incarceration.

0 votes

19 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 41 comments

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Comments

Never really watched the show...

and I just watched the final 5 minutes... anyone want to explain why the show ended like that?

by cmkelly29 on Jun 10, 2007 9:06 PM CDT 0 recs

yep

never seen the show.

by Longhorn on Jun 10, 2007 9:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

Never seen it either

How did it end?

"The Summer of Suck"

by boomer1 on Jun 10, 2007 9:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

Never seen it???

If you have a pulse and some brainwaves, you'll love it (I'm not implying you are lacking either).

Go rent season 1. Seriously, do it this week.

"Why wasn't I moved by Million Dollar Baby? Because I have no soul, that's why." The Dirkatron, movie hater

by Brian Thomas on Jun 11, 2007 9:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

Word

Normally I'd take anything Brian Thomas tells you about "good entertainment" with a grain of salt the size of a bowling ball, but he's actually right on the Sopranos.

Go rent it, starting with season one.

It's really, really good.

And did anyone catch John from Cincy? I watched twice. That show has its claws into me deep after just one episode. Damn you, HBO!!!

I'm officially on the bandwagon: FIRE JOHN DANIELS!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2007 2:11 AM CDT up 0 recs

really?

all i'd been hearing was john from Cincinnati was awful, i tivo'd it to watch later

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Jun 12, 2007 6:42 AM CDT up 0 recs

It's really weird

I found it enthralling, but then again I love odd shit.

Go in with an open mind and I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I really want to know what's up with those pants!

I'm officially on the bandwagon: FIRE JOHN DANIELS!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2007 9:36 AM CDT up 0 recs

well

it's got to be better than big love right? man i was out on that show after like 2 episodes

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Jun 12, 2007 9:55 AM CDT up 0 recs

Word

That show sucked monkey nuts.

I'm officially on the bandwagon: FIRE JOHN DANIELS!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2007 2:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

Re: Dirk and Rentz

Since you, Rentz, and I seem to be the only ones who give a damn about this discussion, what was your take on the supposed crooked cop in S4/E1?

"Why wasn't I moved by Million Dollar Baby? Because I have no soul, that's why." The Dirkatron, movie hater

by Brian Thomas on Jun 12, 2007 7:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

Oh, and what about those trashmen?

"Why wasn't I moved by Million Dollar Baby? Because I have no soul, that's why." The Dirkatron, movie hater

by Brian Thomas on Jun 12, 2007 7:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

John from Cincy

Just got done. Loved it.

What great fucking dialogue, just like Milch's masterpiece, Deadwood.

The previews didn't entice me at all, but as a former SD resident and huge David Milch fan, I still wanted to investigate.

Rewarding investigation.

As an aforementioned former San Diego resident, it is a little puzzling to me that they set the show in Imperial Beach. IB is a ghettoesque lil burg that really doesn't have much surf, mostly just douchebag gangbangers. After watching the 1st episode, almost everything was filmed in Ocean Beach, which is the closest thing to a beach community in SD county. Oddly dishonest.

One other issue. Butchie has trouble scoring dope. Uhh, dude, you are five miles from the biggest drug and hooker bazaar in North America. You got hookups...

"Why wasn't I moved by Million Dollar Baby? Because I have no soul, that's why." The Dirkatron, movie hater

by Brian Thomas on Jun 12, 2007 8:53 PM CDT up 0 recs

ending

that has to be the worst series finale ever
only explanation is its being setup for a movie

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Jun 10, 2007 9:11 PM CDT 0 recs

meh finale

the episode before this was a lot better.

by DSheppard on Jun 10, 2007 9:15 PM CDT 0 recs

across message boards, my friends, and others...

all i've heard so far is "Worst ending ever"

by cmkelly29 on Jun 10, 2007 9:18 PM CDT 0 recs

yup

that is exactly what i posted on another board.
i mean, i understand leaving it loose for a movie....but give us something!

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Jun 10, 2007 9:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

Really?

I loved it. All sorts of goodies in there. A lot of metaphors and shit to ruminate on, as usual. We even got the Phil thing to satisfy our blood lust. And that final scene had me sitting on egg shells.

I thought it was a lot like the final episode of Seinfeld... it didn't give us the most satisfying ending, but really it was the only way it could end.

Free Jason Botts. Now.

by thedirkatron on Jun 10, 2007 9:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

well

i knew it wouldnt be a bloodbath, and i knew it wouldnt tie up everything....i just expected more.

but yeah, i thought for sure there would be a godfather moment in that last scene.

btw, last episode of seinfeld... meh

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Jun 10, 2007 9:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

Ummm...

I thought it was a lot like the final episode of Seinfeld... it didn't give us the most satisfying ending, but really it was the only way it could end.

You know what would have been a better ending for Seinfeld?

ANYTHING!!!

by Adam J. Morris on Jun 10, 2007 9:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yeah

You don't want your finale to be the worst of all your episodes. It had maybe 3 funny jokes in it.

Seinfeld shouldn't have even had a finale, it should have just had any old episode and then poof, it'd be done.

by JBImaknee on Jun 10, 2007 9:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

I dunno

the episode itself wasn't really all that funny, but it was more of a clipshow than anything else.

With Seinfeld I'm just talking about how it ended, with the group finally being called to task for what horrible people they all were.

I read an interview with Larry David where he said there was no other possible way he was going to end the show.

Free Jason Botts. Now.

by thedirkatron on Jun 10, 2007 11:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

What Happened?

How did it end, and why was it so disappointing?

Meanwhile, everyone remember: the best show in television comes back Wednesday at 9pm CST on FX.

That's right: Rescue Me.

Rangers in '07. Obama in '08.

by ghtd36 on Jun 10, 2007 9:26 PM CDT 0 recs

Here you go

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Made_in_America_%28The_Sopranos_episode%29

by Adam J. Morris on Jun 10, 2007 9:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

The ending

was perfect.

The Sopranos wasn't just about the mob, it was about more than that - how Tony was an average family man with family problems, a crazy mother who screwed him up in the mind, etc. It wouldn't be fitting for the show to overemphasize any one aspect - the Sopranos is far too complex for a simple "Oh, I'll just go into witness protection" ending.

Just because the show is over, doesn't mean that the world stops. Tony's "work problems" are going to continue. The family, while appearing on the upswing at the moment, is still not perfect. In effect, what we see is that nothing has changed despite all the bloodshed, etc.

I can't think of a better ending - something that tied everything up wouldn't have been realistic.

by JBImaknee on Jun 10, 2007 9:47 PM CDT 0 recs

Some question answers

Easy ones only, since I'm tired and haven't watched the old seasons in a really long time.

Dick Cheney
She blabbed about their sex life to Carmela. Myrtle Beach.
Carmela's cousin
Blundetto? Cousins.
Harpo?
Steve Mangini was in it the other day. I remember some played the high-stakes poker game.

by JBImaknee on Jun 10, 2007 9:54 PM CDT 0 recs

answers tomorrow

But you didn't do so well...

"Why wasn't I moved by Million Dollar Baby? Because I have no soul, that's why." The Dirkatron, movie hater

by Brian Thomas on Jun 10, 2007 10:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

#12: Grey Goose?

by JBImaknee on Jun 11, 2007 10:09 AM CDT up 0 recs

The perfect ending

I always pictured it w/ him in prison, bars slamming shut.

However, anyone w/ a brain would know that wasn't the way it would end, one week remaining. They couldn't wrap up an entire arrest and conviction situation w/ one episode.

Not sure what I think about it yet. I have alot of questions. I told my wife before it started that there was no way we wouldn't be disappointed. Always the case, initially, w/ this show, and then you watch it a second and third time and realize what little subtleties your dopeyass missed.

I've had a couple young scotches, so I'll forego any further commentary, except for this.

Don't forget the trivia...

"Why wasn't I moved by Million Dollar Baby? Because I have no soul, that's why." The Dirkatron, movie hater

by Brian Thomas on Jun 10, 2007 10:07 PM CDT 0 recs

Yeah...

However, anyone w/ a brain would know that wasn't the way it would end, one week remaining. They couldn't wrap up an entire arrest and conviction situation w/ one episode.

I remember watching the season one finale of Twin Peaks, when the whole "Who Killed Laura Palmer?" issue was supposed to be resolved, and remember looking at the VCR clock and seeing that there was 15 minutes left in the show, with nothing close to be resolved, and thinking, "We're going to have a major letdown here"...

by Adam J. Morris on Jun 10, 2007 10:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

Horrible

what a give up!!!

Worse than the Seinfeld ending.

"Everyone in the world thinks they know everyhing" - DStar

by Mike Simonek on Jun 11, 2007 12:05 AM CDT 0 recs

Trivia answers

Carlo, Pussy, Jimmy Altieri, Christopher, Adriana, Ray Curto, Gene Pontecorvo, Jack Massarone
selling heroin
Rusty Irish, Junior, Mikey Palmice & another guy, because he sold drugs to the grandson of Junior's tailor, and the kid killed himself
Crazy Horse
Dick Cheney
"Poor you"
Because she told her hairdresser that Junior liked to go down on her & Tony found out; Boca Raton
Barbara
Christopher is Carmela's second cousin
first cousins- their mothers are sisters
Hal or Harpo
The Shah
A group of mobsters that got out of jail- Phil Leotardo, Angelo Garepe, Feech LaManna, Tony Blundetto
Heart attack while driving away from a hit; Burt Young
Lupertazzi Family
Green Grove
Webistics, pump & dump
Tony Siragusa, Eric Mangini
Larry Boy Barese, Ally Boy Barese
mock execution, Brendan Filone
shot by Tony
shot & left in the trunk of a car with a golf club cover in his mouth; because he was a rat
Zellman was dating Tony's old girlfriend, Irina

"Then I met some friends for a beer, went to a BoDeans's concert, and son of a vondruke, if I didn't leave him at the concert hall."

by RCCook on Jun 11, 2007 9:33 AM CDT 0 recs

Well done, Roberto

The only one you missed a little was #18. You forgot Sir Lawrence.

I wasn't sure if I was making the quiz tough or not. I guess I wasn't. Numbers 3, 9, 10, 14, 19, and 22 were the ones that I thought would be harder for some. The rest were easy. Maybe the quiz was just boring to the rest.

So, back to my initial question. Was that Christofa's father's killer (Season 4) or not? I say no, but I'm certainly not beyond persuasion.

"Why wasn't I moved by Million Dollar Baby? Because I have no soul, that's why." The Dirkatron, movie hater

by Brian Thomas on Jun 11, 2007 8:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

Chris's dad

I was always of the opinion that it wasn't, and that Tony was just trying to have something on him for protection.

by JBImaknee on Jun 12, 2007 10:14 PM CDT up 0 recs

I got really annoyed with...

the tension in the diner. the whole tension was based on where they were sitting. its like tony was a mob boss who had never watched the godfather, and even though he's a regular and he's a mob boss, it hasnt ever occurred to the guy that basically mobsters always sit with their back to a corner so they dont have some guy catch them unaware.

think about it:

ur tony u just hit ur main opposition boss
u regularly go to an eating establishment
u sit in a booth right across from the bathroom where ur back is open, u cant keep an eye behind u and on the guy coming outa the bathroom and coming in the door.
remember this is all from a guy who was so paraniod he slept with an M16, but he's not paraniod enough to sit in the corner?

i literally think at least half the people watching thought that an intern had kicked the cable out of the wall at the HBO home office with 30 seconds left in the show.

the whole Michael Corleone symbolism thing was very ghey. And Tony living oblivious to it was even more stupid. "Hi im Tony Soprano, im sitting in the stupidest place in the whole diner."

its cool. nothing happens. when did finishing a show right become too cliche for hollywood?

my 1st thought when it was over was Im not going to see the movie they dont deserve me going. My second was the finale Seinfeld.

.500 or bust!

by Jayslick on Jun 11, 2007 1:25 PM CDT 0 recs

um, what?

You really missed the point.

There is a 0% chance of seeing a Sopranos movie. It's over, and it was great.

I'm officially on the bandwagon: FIRE JOHN DANIELS!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2007 7:23 PM CDT up 0 recs

movie

there had been talk about a movie, but i think chase is now saying there wont be one

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Jun 11, 2007 8:31 PM CDT up 0 recs

Sopranos movie

Zero chance is not quite true. According to Chase, he has no ideas for a movie currently, but is not at all opposed to the idea. So, sigh, there's a chance.

HBO and all of the primary cast members have said they would be thrilled to be involved in a future movie, as well.

FWIW, David Milch is making 2 Deadwood movies to be release in 08.

I would love to see a movie that begins w/ Tony in prison. He gets released early on a technicality after 3 or 4 years, and promptly proceeds to have the usual struggles w/ both families.

Perhaps his acting boss was back-dooring him. Perhaps someone was "back-dooring" him in prison. Maybe he considers retiring, they have flashbacks of his travails in prison, etc.

There is plenty of material to be mined, yet.

"Why wasn't I moved by Million Dollar Baby? Because I have no soul, that's why." The Dirkatron, movie hater

by Brian Thomas on Jun 11, 2007 8:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

I hope not

I guess you're right and there is a greater than zero chance. I read some interviews with Chase where it sounded like he had an idea how he wanted the show to end, and then that would be it. Also Gandolfini has said a few times that he's bored with Tony as a character and that there's no point in exploring him further.

But, give them a few years and plop a sack full of money at their doorsteps and, you're right, they might ruin the whole thing (imo) by making a movie.

I'm officially on the bandwagon: FIRE JOHN DANIELS!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2007 2:07 AM CDT up 0 recs

People weren't paying close enough attention,

He tells his kid that someday "you wouldn't even know it had happened: everything would just go black" and then a few seconds later we see the restaurant from Tony's perspective as he looks up to see who was coming in the door and "BLAMMO" screen goes blank.

Someone whacked Tony.

Now, we have to figure out who it was...

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.

by WhipSmart on Jun 11, 2007 2:12 PM CDT 0 recs

Naw

the last scene was a mataphor for the life Tony has made for himself. It's a life of constant paranoia, where his only joy comes from being with his family... but he can't really even enjoy that because of all the shit in his life.

And that's the way his life is always going to be. From now until the time he dies. (Which, yes, was the screen going black.)

Or at least that's the way I interpreted it.

I really don't see them trying to tell us Tony got whacked there.

I'm officially on the bandwagon: FIRE JOHN DANIELS!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2007 7:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

My take, too

Never an easy breath, that's the life.

I have heard alot of so called television pundits today proclaim that he gets popped in the diner, or that Chase was leaving it up to the viewer to decide his fate. I don't buy either theory.

The first scenario, I think, obviously underestimates Tony's prodigious crimimal acumen. As he has frequently said, he may not have morals, but he does have rules. They may shit on Omerta these days, but they still recognize beefs are hell on the bottom line. Its rings a little stupid to me that he could be duped into trusting Butchie and Albie. If they said it was over, he'd know whether they meant it. I don't see how he immediately moves both families back into their regular routines if there is any doubt.

The second premise is somewhat more plausible, but I think it is also offbase. I highly doubt Chase cares enough about what the viewer wants/thinks to try and please everybody w/ a little trick like that, and I definitely didn't see what was so ominous about anyone in the diner.

The episode was a little on the generic side, though. I liked it. I didn't expect tidy resolutions to all the plot lines, but I did anticipate a little more irony.

Like maybe Janice kills Tony in a fit of rage over Bobby, or something along those lines.

The final scene in front of Satriale's? Loved it. And then there were two. Perfect.

And what a whoopass cat...

"Why wasn't I moved by Million Dollar Baby? Because I have no soul, that's why." The Dirkatron, movie hater

by Brian Thomas on Jun 11, 2007 8:39 PM CDT up 0 recs