The Sopranos

This article is about the series. For its pilot episode, see The Sopranos (The Sopranos episode). For other uses, see Soprano (disambiguation).

The Sopranos
Genre
Created byDavid Chase
ShowrunnerDavid Chase
Starring
Opening theme"Woke Up This Morning (Chosen One Mix)" by Alabama 3
Ending themeVarious
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes86 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Production locations
Cinematography
Editors
Camera setupSingle camera[4]
Running time43–75 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkHBO
ReleaseJanuary 10, 1999 (1999-01-10) –
June 10, 2007 (2007-06-10)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

The Sopranos is an American crime drama television series created by David Chase. The series revolves around Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster who struggles to balance his family life with his role as the leader of a criminal organization, which he reluctantly explores during therapy sessions with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). The series also features Tony's various family members, Mafia colleagues, and rivals in prominent roles—most notably his wife Carmela (Edie Falco) and his protégé and distant cousin Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli).

Having been greenlit in 1997, the series was broadcast on HBO from January 10, 1999, to June 10, 2007, spanning six seasons and 86 episodes. Broadcast syndication followed in the United States and internationally.[5] The Sopranos was produced by HBO, Chase Films, and Brad Grey Television. It was primarily filmed at Silvercup Studios in New York City, with some on-location filming in New Jersey. The executive producers throughout the show's run were Chase, Brad Grey, Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess, Ilene S. Landress, Terence Winter, and Matthew Weiner.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential television series of all time,[6][7][8][9][10][11] The Sopranos has been credited with kickstarting the Second Golden Age of Television.[12] The series won multiple awards, including Peabody Awards for its first two seasons, 21 Primetime Emmy Awards, and five Golden Globe Awards. It has been the subject of critical analysis, controversy, and parody; it has also spawned books,[13] a video game,[14] soundtrack albums, podcasts, and merchandise.[15] Several members of the show's cast and crew were largely unknown to the public when it began, but have since had successful careers.[16][17][18][19] In 2013, the Writers Guild of America named The Sopranos the best-written TV series of all time,[20] while TV Guide ranked it the best television series of all time.[21] In 2016 and 2022, the series came in first place on the Rolling Stone list of the 100 greatest TV shows of all time.[9][22]

In March 2018, New Line Cinema announced that they had purchased a film detailing the show's background story, set in the 1960s and 1970s during and after the Newark riots. The film, The Many Saints of Newark (2021), was written by Chase and Lawrence Konner and directed by Alan Taylor.[23][24] It starred Gandolfini's son Michael Gandolfini as a young Tony Soprano.[25]

  1. ^ "James Gandolfini: 'The Sopranos'". The Morning Call. January 17, 1999. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  2. ^ Lynskey, Dorian (September 24, 2021). "The dark origins of the Sopranos". UnHerd. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  3. ^ "Black Comedy and the Mob". Splice Today. January 16, 2024. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  4. ^ O'Donnell, Victoria (2016). Television Criticism. SAGE Publications. p. 92. ISBN 9781483377698. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  5. ^ Steinberg, Jacques (May 9, 2006). "Sopranos Undergoes Cosmetic Surgery for Basic Cable". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  6. ^ Lusher, Tim (January 12, 2010). "The Guardian's top 50 television dramas of all time". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  7. ^ Mann, Bill (December 14, 2009). "Bill Mann: TV Critic's Call: Here Are The Decade's 10 Best Series". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on April 20, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  8. ^ Johnston, Andrew; Sepinwall, Alan (March 5, 2008). "David vs. David vs. David; or Which Is the Greatest TV Drama Ever, Simon's The Wire, Milch's Deadwood, or Chase's The Sopranos?". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  9. ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (September 21, 2016). "100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  10. ^ Appelgate, Jaclyn (April 4, 2022). "The 15 Most Historically Important TV Shows Of All Time". CBR. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Variety100 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cooney, Jenny (December 18, 2022). "2000: "The Sopranos" Welcomes the Golden Age of TV". GoldenGlobes.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  13. ^ "The Sopranos books at HBO Store". HBO. Archived from the original on September 13, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2007.
  14. ^ "The Sopranos: Road to Respect at IGN". IGN. Archived from the original on May 16, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2007.
  15. ^ "HBO Store – The Sopranos". HBO. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2007.
  16. ^ Witchel, Alex (June 22, 2008). "'Mad Men' Has Its Moment". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  17. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (September 9, 2010). "Interview: 'Boardwalk Empire' creator Terence Winter". HitFix. Archived from the original on September 12, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  18. ^ Adams, Taylor (June 1, 2009). "The Sopranos: Where are they now?". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  19. ^ "The Sopranos: Where are they now?". The Daily News. March 23, 2009. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  20. ^ "'101 Best Written TV Series Of All Time' From WGA/TV Guide: Complete List". Deadline. June 2, 2013. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2013 TV Guide Great was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2022Greatest was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 8, 2018). "David Chase Revives 'The Sopranos' With New Line Prequel Movie 'The Many Saints Of Newark'". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  24. ^ McNary, Dave (July 3, 2018). "'Sopranos' Prequel Movie Taps Director Alan Taylor". Variety. Archived from the original on July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  25. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).