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The Sopranoshas often been regarded as one of the greatest TV shows of all time. It ushered in a new direction in which serial programming was viewed by audiences and networks alike. The HBO show was extremely influential to many of the dramatic shows that are part of pop culture now.
The James Gandolfini starrer has even gained celebrities as fans, with actors like Brad Pitt and John Turturro expressing their adoration for the series. In fact,The Departedactor Alec Baldwin had actually tried to be included in the show in a pivotal scene of the series. He was fortunately unsuccessful.
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The Legacy OfThe Sopranos
WhenAlec Baldwinpitched himself to be onThe Sopranosto the creators, they said that they would add him to the long list of Irish actors who want to be on the show. Such was the popularity of the crime drama. Creator David Chase was a huge fan of gangster films such asGoodfellas, The Untouchables,The Public Enemy,andThe Sopranoswas his homage to them.
Chase initially conceived the story of a mafia head visiting therapy to deal with issues with his mother as a feature film. After he pitched it to several executives and networks, one executive financed the pilot of the show and it was kept on hold for several months. Chase thought of asking money to extend the pilot by a few more minutes so he could release it as a feature film, but HBO picked up the show by then.
The Sopranoswas constantly rated high and received increased viewership during its six-season run. It was lauded for its portrayal of the everyday life of the mafia as well as the Italian-American culture. It transformed the image of HBO into a serious network that was capable of producing high-quality drama shows. It won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series twice and was the first cable TV show to win the award. Lead actors James Gandolfini and Edie Falco won the Emmy for Best Actor and Actress thrice.
Also read:“He didn’t have a name”: Robert De Niro Almost Replaced James Gandolfini In The Sopranos After Original Creator Was Ridiculed By Agency For Pitching Mob Drama
What Was Alec Baldwin’s Pitch ToThe SopranosCreators?
The Sopranosalso influenced many more shows to come such asSix Feet Under, Mad Men,andRescue Me. It even influencedBreaking Badcreator Vince Gilligan, who claimed that there would be no Walter White without Tony Soprano. Many stars were huge fans of the show and with the final season on the horizon, had expressed their desire to be a part of it.
The Departedactor Alec Baldwin had particularly requested to be an important part in the series finale. In the podcastTalking Sopranos, Baldwin mentions,
“I called up whoever it was, I forget, and I said, ‘Tell them when it’s time to kill Jimmy’ — this was early before you get to the end — ‘there’s only one man in this business who should come in, whack Jimmy, and ride off with Edie [Falco], and I am that man.’ I am the guy who needs to blow Jimmy away and take Edie, who I’m madly in love with, away.”
Also read:“You have to go to some nasty places”: James Gandolfini’s ‘The Sopranos’ Co-Star Had a Hard Time Filming Intensely Disturbing Scene in Series Bursting With Violence
Fortunately for the world, the actor’s request was denied andThe Sopranosended without a rogue Alec Baldwin shooting someone. The final season of the show was released in two parts. Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano has a near-death experience and undergoes a spiritual awakening after it.
The real ending of the TV show was quite controversial and is still debated to this day. The final season ofThe Sopranoswon Primetime Emmys for both Outstanding Drama Series as well as Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series. The show also spawned a prequel feature film calledThe Many Saints of Newark, which starred James Gandolfini’s son Michael Gandolfini as a younger Tony Soprano.
Source:Talking Sopranos
Also read:“If he didn’t die that night, it’s his legacy”: The Sopranos Writer Stirs Debate Yet Again on Show’s Divisive Finale as Fans Still Ponder About Tony Soprano’s Fate After 15 Years
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2416
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
