"The Sopranos" A Hit Is a Hit (1999)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Matthew Penn

Writers:

David Chase (creator)
Joe Bosso (written by) ...

TV Series:

"The Sopranos" (1999)

Original Air Date:

14 March 1999 (Season 1, Episode 10)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Tony tries to branch out into legitimate investments, while Chris and Adriana decide to try their hands at music production.

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Mafia | Psychiatrist | New Jersey | Racial Slur

Cast

James Gandolfini	...	Tony Soprano
Lorraine Bracco	...	Dr. Jennifer Melfi
Edie Falco	...	Carmela Soprano
Michael Imperioli	...	Christopher Moltisanti
Dominic Chianese	...	Corrado 'Junior' Soprano (credit only)
Vincent Pastore	...	Salvatore 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero
Steve Van Zandt	...	Silvio Dante (as Steven Van Zandt)
Tony Sirico	...	Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri
Robert Iler	...	Anthony 'A.J.' Soprano, Jr. (credit only)
Jamie-Lynn Sigler	...	Meadow Soprano
Nancy Marchand	...	Livia Soprano (credit only)
Jerry Adler	...	Herman 'Hesh' Rabkin
Drea de Matteo	...	Adriana La Cerva
Bokeem Woodbine	...	Massive Genius
Oksana Lada	...	Irina Peltsin (as Oksana Babiy)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Green Brook Country Club - 100 W. Green Brook Road, North Caldwell, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Brad Grey Television

Trivia:

When Carmella is looking at a newspaper article, the name "Peter Kelly" is in bold black letters. Peter Kelly was the show's set production assistant.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Christopher remembers his father talking about the 1950's Philadelphia music scene. However, we later learn that Dickie Moltisanti was killed when Christopher was an infant.

Quotes:

Orange J: We're havin' a party at G's crib. Englewood Cliffs. You interested?
Christopher Moltisanti: And I get served with black-eyed peas tomorrow? Yo, I know what time it is.

Movie Connections:

References Little Caesar (1931)

Soundtrack:

DJ Keep Playin' (Get Your Music On)

Not very relevant in terms of ongoing plot, but superb nevertheless

A Hit Is a Hit, the tenth episode of The Sopranos' first season, is a bit of an oddity in the show's canon, in the sense that the events of the show have no real connection to the longer plot David Chase established for the series. Despite this, it remains compulsory viewing.

After getting a stash of money from his henchmen (needless to say blood was involved in the acquisition), Tony decides to invest some in the stock market in order to provide his family with some legal income, and befriends his neighbor, Dr. Cusamano (the man who recommended he go see Dr. Melfi), so as to find out what stocks are valuable. Meanwhile, Chris's argument with a guy in a restaurant leads to him getting acquainted with rap artist Massive Genius, who suggests Adriana become a music producer. Everything seems to be in order, until Chrissy's temper ruins the whole deal (he is convinced M.G.'s sole aim is to get in bed with Ade, and it's hard to think otherwise).

The story, mostly revolving around the music business, is fairly disconnected from the main plot of the entire season, in fact there is virtually no sign of Livia or Uncle Junior, the two figures who sort of dominate the show's first year. The whole episode is more about defining characters than it is about telling a great tale of gangster life. And yet it is extremely compelling, thanks to the sharp writing and spot-on characterizations: Chris and Adriana's relationship begins to get a little meatier, and Tony's conversation with Dr. Melfi about Italians and "Merigans" is one of the best ever written for the series. Stunning; not exactly essential, but captivating anyway.