Tonight.

12 episodes now, then the final eight episodes starting in January.

Wouldn't you know -- Wikipedia has it covered, including all the characters and the episodes, past and future.

[ March 12, 2006, 04:54 PM: Message edited by: fenwayguy ]

I hear there is a shocker at the end of the episode that is one of the best ever. I guess somebody's getting whacked! Can't wait!

OH MY GOD!! What a great premiere!! I'll be nice and won't give anything away for you west coast losers...lol...j/k...kinda ...but it was well worth the wait!!! I was so into it from jump! I can't wait til next week's episode!! I love Desperate Housewives but screw those bitches...I'll be tivo-ing that when it comes up against The Sopranos. Welcome back to the family wink

Wow tonight's episode was great!
I think this season is going to be really intense!

josh

It was!!!!

I can't condone your vulgarity in dissing the girls. wink However, for time-management purposes that is the proper move. You can skip the commercials on DH and watch it in 45 minutes or so.

Ok, we're safe, they're watching it on the west coast now...

I take it the character Carmella was having lunch with was her best friend Rosalie Aprile, played by a new actress.

And what was the music with the trippy spoken narrative?

Wild ending. It's off to the "assisted living facility" for Junior!

I loved it, but I gotta say that I knew Uncle Junior was going to shoot Tony! And as soon as I saw the guy that wanted to move to Florida having a family, I knew he was done for!

So I didn't really watch the Sopranos during the last couple of seasons, but decided to tune in for some of the 6th season premiere (I got to see all the violent stuff). I was totally confused, there were so many characters I wasn't familiar with, but I figure, I'll pick it all up as I go along.

Then I watch Keith Olbermann's countdown last night - which featured the other unfortunate victim last night, and Olbermann brings up a theory that apparently has been bandied about the internet - what we saw last Sunday was, in fact, the last episode of the series, and the remaining 19 episodes will get us from the end of Season 4 to this episode - so the fate of Tony will be a season-long cliffhanger (take that "Dallas" and it's "Who Shot JR" piddling cliffhanger). I guess the main reason for the theory is that so much seemed to have happened since the end of the 4th season. Having not seen that, I can't say myself.

Keith couldn't get and answer from the actor, of course, but he also didn't dismiss the theory out of hand. It would seem a brilliant move if true.

Well, the theory isn't quite correct -- events are occurring in time beyond the point of Tony's being shot, but the season-long "will he live or die" cliffhanger is still a possibility. I think it would get really annoying if they did that, though. What is going on in the "real" world is more interesting than his coma-induced dream.

AJ needs to be beaten. Beaten to a pulp.

Vito and Finn could make quite a couple. Vito nearly was ready to put his tongue down his throat last night.

Yeah, I wonder where that's leading. It was Finn who caught Vito blowing a guy at a construction site last season.

When Vito stroked Finn's arm in this week's episode, it wasn't entirely clear whether the gesture was meant as a come-on or a threat.

[ March 27, 2006, 09:49 PM: Message edited by: fenwayguy ]

Probably both. I also wonder where this plot is going? Does a rejected Vito whack Finn? Does Finn go to Tony, who has Vito whacked? Actually, Vito may get whacked for other reasons. He's quickly becoming a major problem for the family, especially his relationship with the NY family.

Vito stroked Finn because he is, in every sense of the word, hungry. It'll be interesting to see how all this plays out.

So, I just watched the first three episodes back-to-back (thank you, HBO On Demand). I always forget just how brilliant this show is.

That was "Seven souls" by Material with William S. Burroughs.

Wacked with the absurd existential tragedy of it all. Us, that is.

On the other hand, sometimes I go about in pity for myself, and all the while a great wind carries me across the sky.

Another episode that's just left me agog. These characters were made for unravelling.

And James Gandolfini is still the sexiest man on a TV show.

Spoiler!!!!!!!! dont look if you havent seen it yet


WOW I can't beleive we seen Leather Daddy Vito haha....

but it appears he killed himself..and if thats the case how sad is that..I f**kin hate seeing this kind of shit where guys that cant deal with themsleves just end it all

I would hope the writers of the show had explore more of Vito's character...hopefully he isnt dead

-gilbert

***SEMI-SPOILER ALERT***


That was really f**king insulting. I'm pissed. Amazing that a show that can get so much right can be so coPLETEly wrong sometimes. That whole leather bar sequence was infuriating. It was worse than friggin' Cruising, fer cryin' out loud (which, apparently, was the extent of their research on what a gay bar is like). Just ludicrous.

***SPOILER ALERT/SPECULATION ALERT***


Personally, I think he's going to kill the two New York guys before they out him. Which should create even more tension.

Took the words right outta my mouth. I mean, everybody was dressed like the leather guy from the Village People. A closeted, married Mafia guy woulda been something intersting to explore.

And the 2 guys making their money pickups -- at midnight on a Sat nite? Definitely disappointing, considering how talented Mr Chase is.

In a way

I want Vito..to kill those 2 guys that caught him in the club..

but from the previews it does appear to seem like he either vanish or killed himself

and yes I agree the Leather scene was so 70's - 80's I mean come on they could of depict a better version of a gay club now haha

too bad James Gandolfini character cant be bisexual that would of been something him having a nice looking boy on the side as well as all the girls he f**k with haha..a boy can dream

-gilbert

My complaint was that it looked absolutely nothing like a real leather club. Everyone in chaps? The lamest, most non-hard music imaginable? Christ, even the bartedner was completely timid, and I'm sorry - bartenders at any Eagle are as stoic as they come (and do they come!).

Given that the whole episode was about "weakness," though, I was a little miffed.

[ April 12, 2006, 08:13 AM: Message edited by: ursaminorjim ]

Ok who is the bodyguard that Anthony hired? Talk about gorgeous!!! That boys lips were nice and full and kissable, beautiful skin complexion, great body. I know that ass is FIYAH!! I'm gonna have to see what, if anything else he's been in. That boy was HOT!!!

Tonight's episode of the Sopranos was very interesting. It basically revolved around Vito's homosexuality coming out and everyone's reaction. Anthony talking with Dr. Melfi was interesting when he was talking about how men do it in jail and its acceptable and him actually being open minded to Vito coming back, saying its 2006 and Vito isn't the first. Bottom line is that it is unacceptable in a group of macho mobsters like that. The line would be long of people who would put a bullet in Vito should he ever return. He better get on a plane and make a new life in Costa Rica or somethin cuz he knows he can't return.

What I would give to subscribe to HBO. I've seen a few Sopranos episodes on DVD and I've always been impressed with the shows I've seen. The last episode I saw was last season's episode when viewers found out that Vito was on the DL with a security guard.

I went to the HBO Boards and some viewers do have an issue with Vito (the character and his storyline) while others like the storyline and even sympathize with the character. The actor who plays Vito even suggested this storyline to creator David Chase since there are a few members of the mafia who are gay. It's one of those "don't ask, don't tell" situations in that environment.

Also, the title of episode said it all for me "Live Free or Die".

tonights episode was intresting

at times I was mad and at times I was laughing...all the terms they used to describe a gay person was kind of funny..

the scene with Tony talking to Melfi was great....what I got out of that was if Tony was in Jail for a longtime he would let a guy blow him or screw a guy in there...and the thought of that is just GREAT!!!!


Pauly piss me off so bad...but what can I say he had the natural macho.str8 man reaction....

Vito unforunately is done for....I thought he was going to committ Suicide this episode glad he didnt...him in the diner I thought he was going to do something with the guy giving him the food..who was nice looking.

from the previews of next week they didnt even mention nothing about Vito..so I hope they still progress with this storyline next week.

Tony was very 50/50 about the whole situation... I did like his statement about it being 2006 and how everyone deserves a second chance.... so it will be intresting to see what happens

but I still think Vito is going to die this season.

-gilbert

Definitely an improvement after the leather-bar cliches of the previous ep (well, the antique store scene was a bit much, but still). I wasn't expecting so much time to be spent on Vito, and it was a pleasant surprise. The use of the great song "4th of July" by the band X, over the closing credits (celebrating Vito's independence?) was a nice touch.

But my question is -- since when is New Hampshire so freakin' gay? eek!

Well, it was actor Joe Gannascoli's suggestion that Vito be gay - he saw it as a way to stand out amongst such a powerhouse cast of characters.

From AP:

“I saw him as, like, a cross between Mike Tyson and Liberace,” Gannascoli told The Associated Press in an interview at his home. “I wanted to make him sort of in self-denial, self-loathing, a real gay hater.”

Gannascoli’s suggestion was inspired by the book Murder Machine, about the Gambino family, which had an openly gay member also named Vito.

“They didn’t bother him about it, because I guess he was good at what he did, which was chopping up bodies,” Gannascoli said.

Gannascoli concedes that he had a self-serving motivation for making the suggestion: Breaking out of the pack.

“I thought that was a way of separating myself from the other actors, because I would have been in the background most of the time. You know, line here, line there, and nothing really substantial,” said Gannascoli, whose character previously was best known for whacking Jackie Aprile Jr. “To really make an impact is all I can ask for.”

He also thought it would create an interesting acting challenge. But even amid all the recent gay buzz, Gannascoli knows the reaction to Vito won’t be all positive.

“I’m a Brooklyn guy. I was just in Brooklyn last night. And, you know, I had some real wise guys that look at me and they give me dirty looks. I’ve had guys, like, come after me in clubs,” he said.

He just hopes the “cerebral people” will appreciate his performance.

Oh, and that short-order cook can make me jonny cakes any time he'd like. Woof.

New Hampshire, here I come!

Oh! And hilarious that HBO's Tony Soprano gave a tip of the hat to Showtime's The L Word, by the way.

Oh. My. God.

He's a volunteer firefighter, too? And he rides a hog?! Swoon...

So, what - am I the only one left here watching?

They do one episode without Vito and everybody runs off to watch something else.

I must say I was impressed Sun nite -- after that awful leather bar interlude, I questioned whether David Chase could write believable gay scenes. But the Vito thing has become both interesting and moving. And yes, Mr Short-order-cook/Fireman is hot hot hot.

I'm watching

Jerseyguy and I email each other every Monday morning dishing about the previous episode

No more Johnny Cakes.....waaaaaaaa. The Vito storyline has been very intriguing, although I wasn't quite sure what to make of the ending last week....the photographer talking about the photo shoot with Vito after seeing his obit. in the paper.

Note the photog's surprise: "He was in the MOB?" I saw it as a kind of way of linking being gay and being in the mob as to kinds of closetedness.

On last nite's Giants game, they showed a fan in the stands who looked kinda like Vito, and one of the Giants' announcers said "didn't I see him getting beat up on the Sopranos last nite?" and then he made a JohnnyCakes reference! I nearly fell off the couch laughing!

Season semi-finale tonight!

Per their Web site, the remaining eight episodes of the final season will debut in early 2007.

Okay what the hell was that?

I know- I am completely confused by this ending. It went to black and I was like- ummmm- did my TV just go out?

Do you think that they are playing a joke on all of us and going with another season?

Or will this go down as one of the worst endings of a series ever?

I assume that Tony, Carm and AJ were offed. The episode was full of clues about what happened. I just haven't figured them out yet.



Was it Tony's guys who "took care" of Phil?

Yeah that was one of Tony's guys that whacked Phil. But that quick cut to black I guess was intended to make us wonder and ponder.

All that stuff with the cat and AJ's career. Who effin cares! Give us some freakin closure!

Yeah it was my assumption with miss lawyer having trouble parking correctly that she was going to miss whatever was going to happen inside the restaurant.

I just figured we might see it...

It would have been nice for them to do a post-production breakdown of the show as well- interviews of the cast, etc. Just to give us some closure.

Oh well. Fuhhhhgetaboutit.

Worst. Ending. Ever.

The rest of the show before it was only mildly interesting.

I have to agree that this was far from the ending I was expecting. There was such a build-up to the whole thing.

Meadow was basically walking in the door when it went to black, so I would expect she was the person we heard coming through the door.

I guess the abrupt ending was meant to leave us wondering if the suspicious characters were there to get Tony. I can just as easily believe they were not. It was sort of David Chase's way of amping up the adrenaline for the ending without taking any real action.

I would have been mildly accepting of Meadow arriving and the four of them settling in for dinner. The ending seemed to be heading to the "wrap up loose ends and continue life as normal" outcome. It would have been fitting for them all to end up at dinner together as the show closed.

The episode was basically a snoozer though. Phil getting offed was a nice loose end tied up. But that was on its way from early in the episode.

Oh well. More times than not these big finales are a bit of a letdown. This one falls into that category.

No, after thinking about it..

The ending was sort of like the Saprano's themselves, things change, shit happens, mundane life goes on no matter what. After everything that happened, you get on with the small mundane parts of living your everyday life.

What were they going to do? Whack Tony? Lousy ending. Have Tony go into Witness Protection? Lousy ending. Some accident that wipes out most of the family? Lousy ending. Have Tony wake up next to the duck pond from a dream? Lousy ending. Every one of them has been done to death.

Shit happens. Life goes on as best it can. It fits. Not great - not dramatic - not earth shattering - but it fits.

R

What was that ending? I guess after all the dramatics of last week's show I was expecting something a bit more. Just the way it ended with Meadow seemingly coming into the diner and then fade to black. I don't know. IT I guess your explanation does seem to fit and I wasn't expecting anyone in the family to get whacked, but I was expecting a bit more than that. Oh well.

I don't watch the show, but from the descriptions of the last scene that I've read it seems that Tony was killed, it just was done artfully in a non-sledgehammer-obvious way. In other words, too subtle for America to get it. What an idiocracy.

I agree, Rob. As endings go, the ambiguity (see Brian Williams' blog) is exactly the way Chase would have it ... the way he sees reality. And, indeed, much the way reality (as in sh*t) happens.

Who knows whether the guy in the bathroom was gonna come out and make a hit on Tony. Or is he an informer for the FBI? Or just a customer? T's bad luck has turned around ... for now. But the implicit threat in the world he inhabits and creates is still there. And that's the point ... threat is in the air. Like an Italian friend of mine from NJ said: Tony'll spend the rest of his life (however long -- or short -- that may be) looking over his shoulder.
Yeah .. the family was back together, but their "happiness" was just as much grounded in illusion at the diner as it was in their house the preceding Christmas (the episode which concluded the first portion of season six).

It was an interesting music choice Chase had Tony make at the diner ...

Closure is not something Chase is interested in.

The most interesting interpretation I have read is that the series was a voyeuristic opportunity for the audience to peak into the lives of the Soprano family. And the ending was just us being tuned out of the story that would continue without us watching. Which I kind of like and agree with overall.

The other item I really agreed with was someone who pointed out that the final minutes of the show really reflected Tony's reality. Potential threats were at every turn, his anxiety was grounded in his reality, and his life was going to continue to present him with the stresses and strains we saw over six seasons.

I still would have preferred something different, but the more I talk to others the more I can see the finale as a fair reflection of the show.

There are many really upset people out there though. Kind of crazy how emotionally involved many of the fans were with the show.

I almost choked on that one...

"...Strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people, living just to find emotion
Hiding, somewhere in the night

Working hard to get my fill,
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin anything to roll the dice,
Just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on

(chorus)

Dont stop believin
Hold on to the feelin
Streetlight people..."

Indeed.

I also snarfed some damn good Gentleman Jack.

But I think that it went way over most people's heads.

And I agree - Closure was not the point.

R