Sopranos Season 5 & 6 (spoilers)

He Iwan ik wist niet dat jij de Sopranos volgde. Leuk.

Posted on Fri, Oct. 08, 2004

Walken has 'Sopranos' itch

BY MICHAEL SZYMANSKI

Zap2it.com

How do big name stars get a role on "The Sopranos"? Sometimes they contact Academy Award winner Christopher Walken.

"It's amazing how many actors say to me, `Put in a word for me, I would like to do it.' And I mean big names," says Walken, who is married to the HBO drama's casting director, Georgianne. "You'd be surprised how many people want to be in that show."

Himself a fan, Walken watches regularly and does occasionally pass on some casting suggestions to his wife.

He almost appeared as Dr. Melfi's (Lorraine Bracco) therapist, but had to drop out at the last minute. The role instead went to director Peter Bogdanovich.

Still, with a season left before the award-winning mob drama sleeps with the fishes, he may still get a chance to hang with Tony and the gang.

"It's a terrific show," Walken says. "And yes, there is still a possibility I may get on it."

HBO to hit replay button

By DAVID BIANCULLI
DAILY NEWS TV CRITIC

The latest season of 'The Sopranos' will be on DVD earlier than expected.

A new season of "The Sopranos" isn't due until next year, but HBO may have something to keep fans busy - the company is bumping up the release date of the fifth-season DVD.
"Frankly, it seems to make sense to us to not let the distance between the release of season four and season five get too great," Caroline Rhea, senior vice president of marketing for HBO Video, revealed to the Daily News, noting season four came out in October 2003.

In the past, HBO has released the most recent season of a show on DVD near the launch date for the next season, as a way to boost interest in the returning show. For example, HBO last week put out the first season of "Deadwood," which returns for its second outing next month.

But, because "The Sopranos" is coming back with what's being billed as the final season in 2006, HBO has stepped up the release of the new DVD to June 7, in time for Father's Day.

Chase in charge

The return date to HBO for "The Sopranos" is dictated by creator David Chase, who demands and receives the time to produce the show on his own timetable. The most recent season, the fifth, ran from March to June of last year.

Yet it's already been a long time since season four of "The Sopranos" was available on DVD and HBO Video is both acknowledging, and trying to stem, the fans' impatience.

Because of Chase's work load and methods, he doesn't personally provide as much as other HBO show creators to the DVD supplementary material - but Rhea says fans and critics seem to accept that. Four directors will provide commentary for the fifth-season box, including Mike Figgis and "Sopranos" fifthseason recurring guest star Steve Buscemi.

A "Sopranos" Stay of Execution?

by Sarah Hall
Jun 7, 2005, 3:30 PM PT

It seems The Sopranos may not be sleeping with the fishes as soon as expected.

Despite creator David Chase's claims that the upcoming sixth season of the show would be the last for his gang of merry mobsters, the Sopranos mastermind appears to have left the door open for a possible seventh season.

At a media breakfast for the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications last month, Chase was asked whether the sixth season would mark the conclusion of the hugely popular HBO series.

According to Broadcasting & Cable magazine, Chase indicated that he felt the show had run its creative course, but said that there could be a seventh season without altering the outcome of the sixth season already in production.

Chase's admission seemed to be the first clue that the show's protagonist, Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), would avoid getting whacked in the near future, leaving the door open for a seventh season, as well as a rumored Sopranos movie.

At the DVD release party for the fifth season of The Sopranos Monday, Chase again said he was mulling the idea of extending the show's run.

"I'm ambivalent," Chase told reporters. "HBO wants me to do it, and I can't deny that there's a certain pull on me from the cast."

It's not the first time the Emmy-winning Sopranos creator and executive producer has given the show a stay of execution.

Chase has wavered about bringing the show back ever since the fourth season when his initial contract expired.

After HBO made him an offer he couldn't refuse (pegged at somewhere between $15 million to $20 million), Chase agreed to return for a fifth season, with the caveat that it would likely be the last.

Just when he thought he was out, HBO pulled him back in for a sixth season deal--just 10 more episodes instead of the customary 13.

Apparently, the allure of the mob is hard to resist--even the small-screen version.

Chase said he would decide whether to add a seven-episode seventh season sometime this month.

The sixth season of the show will premiere in March 2006 with 13 new episodes.

Some 11 million viewers tuned in for the fifth-season closer last June, which featured Tony Soprano putting a bullet in the brain of his cousin, Tony Blundetto (Steve Buscemi).

Bron: E Online

Crime marches on

To fans' relief, 'The Sopranos' finally puts its Cosa Nostra to the grindstone

By MARISA GUTHRIE
June 7, 2005

He bounces up and down a few times, testing the shocks.

Gandolfini's killing time between takes on the first episode of the upcoming season of "The Sopranos." The motorcycle shop is behind Satin Dolls, the actual strip club that doubles as the Bada Bing, a site of much debauchery and ­treachery through the five seasons of "The ­Sopranos."

The episode, called "Members Only," is an allusion to the '80s jackets that have recently become de rigueur again — and to membership in "the family."

The scene behind the Bada Bing is a meeting Tony (Gandolfini) and Christopher (Michael Imperioli) have with Phil Leotardo (Frank Vincent) and his entourage, which today consists of Vito Spatafore (a somewhat slimmed down Joe Gannascoli). Tony is attempting to smooth things over with Phil after Tony's cousin, Tony Blundetto (Steve Buscemi), gunned down Phil's brother Billy in one of last season's final episodes.

They also have business to discuss in the wake of the arrest of Johnny Sack (Vincent Curatola) in the season finale. "As of right now," said Vincent during a break in filming, "I'm handling Johnny's business, so whether I'll be the big man or not remains to be seen."

Security is tighter than a G-string. The cast only gets one episode's script at a time. And none of them are privy to the plans of David Chase and his writers.

Omerta rules.

"We don't know anything," said ­Imperioli.

Terence Winter, who wrote "Members­ Only" — he also wrote the famous "Pine Barrens" episode — sits in a chair next to director Tim Van Patten. The two of them are probably the only people on the set today who know the fate of these characters.

Will the Members Only jacket end up being funeral attire for the one wearing it?

Winter isn't talking.

Today, everyone is dressed in the traditional capo uniform: bespoke suit and pinky ring.

It is the eighth day of filming on the first episode of the sixth season, which premieres on HBO next March.

Everyone seems upbeat, happy to be back at work after a long hiatus.

"You pick it right back up," said ­Winter. "These characters are like real people now."

"It's great to be back," said ­Imperioli. "After so many years, you become so friendly and comfortable. And the work is so good, so interesting and vital."

Van Patten does several takes of the scene behind the Bada Bing, during which a reference to Tony Blundetto is made. Winter calls Buscemi "part of the family."

Is it possible that Buscemi, who has directed multiple episodes — including "Pine Barrens" — will return in front of the camera as an apparition or to haunt Tony in his dreams?

"I don't know," said Winter ­slyly. "Anything could happen on this show."

What about Adriana (Drea de Matteo)?

"Same response."

"Oh, God," said Imperioli. "That's all [Christopher] needs is a ghost ­haunting him, although that would be ­interesting."

It's quiet inside the club. There are a few girls wandering around in black hot pants and tight, turquoise Bada Bing shirts with front zippers that reveal fathoms of cleavage. Anise Labrim, Maggie Lawrence and Grace Desena are not playing strippers. Not today. Today they're bartenders.

"No swinging from poles," said ­Desena, a tall blond who has played a Bada Bing bartender since the second season. "Frank Vincent just asked me why aren't we dancing today," she continued. "The guys are always asking me when I'm gonna get naked. I'm like, 'Uh … never.'"

Tony Sirico, who plays Paulie Walnuts, is "the biggest dog," said Desena.

Satin Dolls doesn't need any embellishment to double as the Bada Bing. Inside, the only trace of the show is a "Sopranos" pinball machine. Patrons come here for the real dancers, not to bask in the hazy neon glow of a hit television show. Near the semi-private lap-dance corner, there is a cash machine. The maximum withdrawal is $100 — and the fee is $10.95.

The establishment celebrated its 10th anniversary last month. When "The ­Sopranos" films at Satin Dolls, they're usually done by 4 p.m. so the club can open for regular business.

At one point, an early patron wanders in. He looks around at the crew, many of them fully clothed women and mutters: "Ah. I guess you're not open."

'Sopranos' break lets stars don new roles

'Sopranos' cast members have learned how to kill time during their long hiatus while creator David Chase and his writers came up with new scripts for the sixth season. Here's what they've been doing:

James Gandolfini

He has done a slew of soon-to-be-released movies, including "All the King's Men," an adaptation of the Robert Penn Warren classic about a Southern governor.

He's also in the John Turturro-directed musical "Romance and Cigarettes," playing a two-timing ­husband forced to choose between his wife and mistress. Kate Winslet, Susan Sarandon and "Sopranos" cast members Steve Buscemi and Aida Turturro co-star.

He stars in "Lonely Hearts," a story of two homicide detectives tracking a murderous couple who lure their victims through the personals. John Travolta and Gandolfini play the dicks trailing Salma Hayek and Jared Leto.

And he'll play Ernest Hemingway opposite Robin Wright Penn's Martha Gellhorn, Hemingway's lover and muse.

Edie Falco

She broke up with boyfriend Stanley Tucci and completed her treatment for breast cancer, discovered in 2003. But doctors reportedly cautioned her against getting pregnant for at least five years. So in December, Falco, 41, adopted a baby boy and named him Anderson, after her mother, actress Judith M. Anderson.

Robert Iler

With his arrest finally behind him — he received three years' probation in 2002 for second-degree robbery — he got back to work, landing a few guest-star stints on TV in "Law & Order: SVU" and USA's sci-fi series "The Dead Zone."

Jamie-Lynn DiScala

Last fall the stage veteran played Cinderella opposite Eartha Kitt's Fairy Godmother in New York City Opera's touring production of the fairy tale. She also released a book last year, "Wise Girl: What I've Learned About Life, Love and Loss," which deals with her struggle with anorexia. She has also filmed a couple of teen horror flicks: "Dark Ride" and "I Remember."

Michael Imperioli

He played a character on the right side of the law in four episodes of NBC's "Law & Order," filling in for Jesse L. Martin, who was off filming "Rent." A year and a half ago, he and his wife, Victoria, opened a theater, Studio Dante, on W. 29th St.

Lorraine Bracco

She did an episode of "Law & Order: Trial by Jury," in which she played an ethically challenged lawyer with a very heavy Noo Yawk accent. She also revealed that she has been battling depression. Her ordeal landed her a book deal with Putnam. Her memoir, "On the Couch," is due out next spring.