The Sopranos is a popular television series created by David Chase and noted for its commercial success and critical acclaim. It is set and produced in New Jersey and has been the topic of much discussion. The Sopranos has been called one of the greatest TV series of all time and introduced a higher level of artistry that inspired many of the drama series that followed.
The story revolves around mobster Tony Soprano, who faces difficulties as he tries to balance the conflicting responsibilities of his home life and his life as chief of a criminal gang. The series addresses a number of social, psychological and political issues. It was first broadcast on 10 January, 1999, on HBO in the United States. Since then, it has been broadcast on different networks in several other countries. The success of the series saw many spin-offs in the form of books, merchandise, sound tracks and video games.
The story was initially conceived as a full-length feature film centring on a man in therapy because of problems with his mother. But David Chase decided to convert it into a television drama and so it became a TV series. The popularity after the first few episodes proved Chase right in his planning. The pilot episode was shot in 1997. Chase had previously directed episodes of The Rockford Files and Almost Grown . But it took two years for the show to be premiered. Apart from the pilot episode, Chase also directed the series finale.
Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) is the hot-tempered boss of the DiMeo crime family and patriarch of the Soprano family. His family comprises wife Carmela (Edie Falco) and two children – Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) and Anthony Junior (Robert Iler). Because of a tough childhood and business stress, Tony Soprano suffers from bouts of depression for which he seeks treatment from Dr Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco).
Many of the actors on this show are Italian-American in real life, like the characters they portray. Before the main cast was selected, the applicants had to undergo a lengthy auditioning process. After the initial success of the series, more well-known faces joined the crew. Around 27 artistes from this series, including Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli and Tony Sirico, also had parts in the 1990 Martin Scorsese film, Goodfellas . Eight of them also acted in Mickey Blue Eyes in 1999.
The main directors of the series are Tim Van Patten, John Patterson, Allen Coulter and Alan Taylor. All of them have had a background in television direction. The music of The Sopranos ranges from modern pop to 1960s British rock, classic jazz and soul. David Chase, producer Martin Bruestle and music editor Kathryn Dayak select the music for each show.
The Sopranos has won many awards, including 21 Emmys and 5 Golden Globe Awards to date.
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