"The Sopranos" Employee of the Month (2001)

Director:

John Patterson

Writers:

David Chase (creator)
Robin Green (written by) ...
(more)

TV Series:

"The Sopranos" (1999)

Original Air Date:

18 March 2001 (Season 3, Episode 4)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Dr. Melfi is brutally attacked, and when the justice system lets her down, she must consider asking Tony for help.

Plot Keywords:

Rapist | Rape | Gangster | New Jersey | Violence

Cast

James Gandolfini	...	Tony Soprano
Lorraine Bracco	...	Dr. Jennifer Melfi
Edie Falco	...	Carmela Soprano
Michael Imperioli	...	Christopher Moltisanti
Dominic Chianese	...	Junior Soprano (credit only)
Steven Van Zandt	...	Silvio Dante
Tony Sirico	...	Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri
Robert Iler	...	A.J. Soprano (credit only)
Jamie-Lynn Sigler	...	Meadow Soprano
Drea de Matteo	...	Adriana La Cerva
Aida Turturro	...	Janice Soprano
Federico Castelluccio	...	Furio Giunta
Joe Pantoliano	...	Ralph Cifaretto
Peter Riegert	...	Ronald Zellman
Richard Romanus	...	Richard La Penna
Shaun Toub	...	Arouk Abboubi
Peter Bogdanovich	...	Dr. Elliot Kupferberg
Vincent Curatola	...	Johnny 'Sack' Sacramoni
John Fiore	...	Gigi Cestone
Sharon Angela	...	Rosalie Aprile
Oksana Lada	...	Irina Peltsin (as Oksana Babiy)
Jason Cerbone	...	Jackie Aprile Jr.
Will McCormack	...	Jason La Penna
Maureen Van Zandt	...	Gabriella Dante
Denise Borino-Quinn	...	Ginny 'Sack' Sacramoni (as Denise Borino)
Gary Evans	...	FBI Tech #1
Traci Godfrey	...	Edwina Fowley
Zabryna Guevara	...	Clerk
Glenn Kessler	...	FBI Tech #2
Stephen Kunken	...	ER Doctor
Jill Marie Lawrence	...	Detective Patricia Piersol
Mario Polit	...	Jesus Rossi
Katalin Pota	...	Lilliana Wosilius
Bobby Rivers	...	News Reporter
Igor Zhivotovsky	...	Igor Parnasky
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Coffey	...	College Student (uncredited)
Charlie Kevin	...	Russian Thug (uncredited)

Directed by
John Patterson

Writing credits
David Chase		(creator)
Robin Green		(written by) &
Mitchell Burgess		(written by)

Produced by
Henry Bronchtein	....	co-producer (as Henry J. Bronchtein)
Martin Bruestle	....	producer
Mitchell Burgess	....	executive producer
David Chase	....	executive producer
Gregg Glickman	....	associate producer
Robin Green	....	executive producer
Brad Grey	....	executive producer
Todd A. Kessler	....	producer
Ilene S. Landress	....	co-executive producer
Gianna Maria Smart	....	associate producer
Terence Winter	....	producer

Cinematography by
Alik Sakharov

Film Editing by
Sidney Wolinsky

Production Design by
Bob Shaw

Art Direction by
Scott P. Murphy		(as Scott Murphy)

Set Decoration by
Janet Shaw

Costume Design by
Juliet Polcsa

Makeup Department
Kymbra Callaghan	....	key makeup artist
Stephen Kelley	....	makeup artist (as Kelley M. Stephen)
Mel McKinney	....	key hair stylist
Diana Sikes	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Henry Bronchtein	....	unit production manager (as Henry J. Bronchtein)
Scott Hornbacher	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Randy N. Barbee	....	first assistant director (as Randy Barbee)
Scott Schaeffer	....	second second assistant director
Michael Smith	....	second assistant director (as Mike Smith)

Art Department
Troy R. Adee	....	set dresser
James J. Archer	....	set dresser (as Jimmy Archer)
Joseph Badalucco Jr.	....	assistant property master (as Joe Badalucco)
John Basile	....	set dresser
James Covington	....	on-set scenic artist
Anthony Dimeo	....	property master (as Anthony J. DiMeo)
Natalie N. Dorset	....	set dresser (as Natalie Dorset)
Courtney Engelstein	....	art production assistant
Joan Finley	....	set dresser (as Joan Finlay)
Gary Grill	....	construction coordinator
Ann Harmon	....	scenic shop person (as Anne Harmon)
Tom Heaps	....	set dresser (as Thomas J. Heaps)
Miguel Jimenez	....	shop electrician
Derrick Kardos	....	art department coordinator
Rich King	....	construction production assistant
Jeffrey M. Marchetti	....	on-set dresser (as Jeff Marchetti)
Chris Marzulli	....	key construction grip
James McDonagh	....	assistant property master (as James P. McDonagh)
Lou Miller	....	construction foreman
Vincent J. Orofino	....	set dresser (as Vincent Orofino)
Gerard H. Pineo	....	lead man (as Gerard Pineo)
Geoffrey D. Pound	....	construction grip (as Geoff Pound)
Jon Schluenz	....	art department assistant
Cathy Scorsese	....	assistant property master
Ken Sperling	....	construction grip
Jennifer B. Starke	....	assistant set decorator (as Jennifer Starke)
Eric Stepper	....	set dresser
Timothy Tranzillo	....	scenic foreman
Michael Zansky	....	charge scenic

Sound Department
Kevin Patrick Burns	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Kevin Burns)
Alfonso Calvo	....	dubbing mixer
Robert Deschaine	....	adr mixer
Barbara Issak	....	dialogue editor
Paul Koronkiewicz	....	boom operator
Carrie Lisonbee	....	assistant sound editor
Anna MacKenzie	....	supervising sound editor
Mike Marchain	....	adr editor
Kevin McCullough	....	foley editor
Jan McLaughlin	....	sound utility
Hugh Murphy	....	assistant sound editor
Todd Orr	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mathew Price	....	production sound mixer
Brian Risner	....	sound effects editor
Ray Spiess	....	adr editor (as Raymond Spiess II)
Fred Tator	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tami Treadwell	....	adr recordist
Paul J. Zydel	....	adr mixer (as Paul Zydel)

Special Effects by
Connie Brink	....	special effects (as Conrad Brink Sr.)

Stunts
Peter Bucossi	....	stunt coordinator (as Pete Bucossi)
Lisa France	....	stunts
Tony Guida	....	stunts
Steve McAuliff	....	stunts
John Roney	....	stunts
Michael Russo	....	stunt coordinator (as Mike Russo)

Camera and Electrical Department
Tom Anderson	....	best boy electric
Wesley Battle	....	grip
Andrew Casey	....	Steadicam operator
Peter Colavito	....	electrician
William Coleman	....	camera operator (as Bill Coleman)
Benjamin Dailey	....	camera loader
Aaron Dawley	....	grip
Jon Delgado	....	electrician
Ken Ferris	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Brian Fitzsimons	....	grip (as Brian Fitzsimmons)
Anthony Gamiello	....	grip
Dennis Gamiello	....	key grip
Kevin Janicelli	....	gaffer
Peter Koola	....	electrician
Edward W. Lowry	....	dolly grip (as Ed Lowry)
William D. Moran	....	grip (as Bill Moran)
Ben Noble	....	electrician
Tim Norman	....	first assistant camera
John L. Oates	....	gaffer
Tom Percarpio	....	electrician (as Thomas Percarpio)
Louis Petraglia	....	key rigging grip
Phil Purificato	....	grip (as Philip Purificato)
Patrick Quinn	....	second assistant camera
Steve Ramsey	....	electrician (as Steven Ramsey)
Darren Ryan	....	24 frame video operator
Gerard Sava	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Barry Wetcher	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Kathleen Backel	....	casting assistant
Anna Maniscalco	....	background casting
Meredith Tucker	....	casting associate
Grant Wilfley	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mildred Del Rio	....	tailor
Kevin P. Faherty	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Kevin Faherty)
Elizabeth Feldbauer	....	costumer
Gail A. Fitzgibbons	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Gail Fitzgibbons)
Kenn Hamilton	....	costumer
Jennifer Ingram	....	costumer
Barbara Krauthamer	....	costumer (as Barbara Krauthamer)
Jesse Lello	....	wardrobe production assistant
Lauren Press	....	assistant costume designer
Kim Wilcox	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Erick Becerra	....	post-production assistant
Salvatore Catanzaro	....	on-line assistant editor
April Lawrence	....	assistant editor
Linda Olague	....	colorist
Lisa Taylor	....	post-production coordinator
Juliet Walker	....	post-production assistant
Keith Ponschock	....	telecine assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Kathryn Dayak	....	music editor
Evan Greenspan	....	music clearance (as Evan M. Greenspan)
Jennifer C. Harper	....	music clearance

Transportation Department
Patrick Hogan	....	driver
Harry J. Leavey	....	transportation co-captain
James Leavey	....	transportation captain (as Jim Leavey)

Other crew
Bill Ahern	....	production assistant
Susan Aston	....	dialogue coach: James Gandolfini
Zoran Blazevic	....	location scout
Melissa Brides	....	office production assistant
James Brown Jr.	....	script distribution coordinator
Tony Carey	....	production executive
Salvatore Carino	....	production auditor
Noreen R. Cheleden	....	set production assistant (as Noreen Cheleden)
Chris Collins	....	assistant production coordinator
James Cosper	....	location scout
Tony Cypres	....	second assistant accountant
James G. Delaney	....	office production assistant
Tina Elmo	....	production resources
Debora Fearon	....	craft service (as Debbie Fearon)
Bill Garvey	....	location assistant
Christine Gee	....	script supervisor (as Christine Gee Lowrey)
Hans Graffunder	....	production coordinator
Eric Greenberg	....	production assistant: writer's office
Tosha L. Hawkins	....	payroll auditor
Michael E. Hernandez	....	chef (as Mike Hernandez)
Regina Heyman	....	assistant location manager
Mark Kamine	....	location manager
Steve Kornacki	....	assistant production coordinator
Felicia B. Lipchik	....	assistant to writers
Clare Lord	....	location coordinator
Charles McDonald	....	set production assistant
Kyle O'Brien	....	first assistant auditor
David Occhino	....	location assistant
Brian Palatucci	....	location assistant
David Phillip	....	parking coordinator (as Dave Phillip)
Chauency Reese	....	second assistant auditor
Julie Ross	....	assistant: David Chase
Deidre Schrowang	....	first assistant auditor
John Silvestri	....	set production assistant
Frank Slaten	....	production assistant
Anthony Sloan	....	craft service assistant
Rebecca Thornell	....	script clearance
Bethany Tronsky	....	technical advisor
Sandra Vannucchi	....	location scout (as Sandra Vanucchi)
Adam T. Weisinger	....	set production assistant (as Adam Weisinger)
Lori Robins	....	stand in/photo double (uncredited)
Ryder Washburn	....	armorer (uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
David Chase		creator

Produced by
Dan Kaplow	....	producer: LA segment 2001
Omneya 'Nini' Mazen	....	post-production producer (2000)

Original Music by
Ashen Keilyn

Makeup Department
Joseph Farulla	....	special makeup effects artist (season 1)
Julie Kristy	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Charles Miller	....	unit manager
Linette Forbes Shorr	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marcy Patterson	....	dga trainee (season 6)

Art Department
Robert Castillo	....	storyboard artist (season 5)
David Cooney	....	storyboard artist
Molly Mikula	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
David Barbee	....	sound effects editor (multiple episodes)
Mark DeSimone	....	adr engineer (season 1)
Shawn Holden	....	sound mixer: Los Angeles
Brian Miksis	....	sound mixer: additional photography (season 3-5)
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Kelly Neese	....	boom operator: second unit
Cindy Rabideau	....	sound editor
John Rotondi	....	sound engineer: Y4
Raymond E. Spiess III	....	adr editor
Raymond E. Spiess III	....	dialogue editor
Noah Timan	....	sound mixer: second unit
Karl Wasserman	....	additional boom operator
Ben Wilkins	....	sound editor (final season)

Visual Effects by
Will Barker	....	digital artist
Kristen Branan	....	head of production
Tom Slovick	....	visual effects producer

Stunts
Cort Hessler	....	stunt coordinator (2005)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jan Burgess	....	assistant camera: secont unit (season 5)
Rachelle Fankhauser	....	electrician
Matthew Haskins	....	second assistant camera: "a" and "b" camera
Cara Howe	....	assistant camera
Saiyiu. Li	....	additional camera loader
Joe Mellon	....	grip (seasons 1-2)
Jason Micallef	....	electrician
Anna Novick	....	grip
Felix Teitlebaum	....	additional second assistant camera
Joshua Van Praag	....	electrician
Tom Vulliez	....	additional dolly grip

Casting Department
Chris Bustard	....	extras casting: Los Angeles
Leah Kaplan	....	extras casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jennifer James	....	wardrobe production assistant
Lucia Lettini	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Jonathan Brayley	....	supervising editor
Meghan Robertson	....	post-production assistant
Matthew John Smith	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Marilyn D'Amato	....	music coach
Geoff Levin	....	composer: additional music

Other crew
Keith Adams	....	location scout (season 1)
Stefanie Bari	....	stand-in: Jamie Lynn Sigler
Jackie Campbell	....	production assistant
Todd Carroll	....	production assistant
Bartow Church	....	office production assistant (season 1)
Jan Cosby	....	second assistant accountant
Valerie Desjardins	....	daily script
Johnny Egan	....	production assistant
Krista Fico	....	set production assistant
Aaron Fiore	....	stand-in
Peggy Flood	....	additional voice
Brian Goetz	....	production assistant
David Gross	....	production assistant (2003)
Thalia Harithas	....	additional production assistant
Kyle Koromaldi	....	set production assistant
Victoria Lang	....	set production assistant (as Victoria C. Lang)
Michael McBrien	....	production assistant
J.C. McIlwaine	....	production assistant (season 5)
Kathrina Miccio	....	body double
Kenyon Noble	....	production assistant (seasons 3-4)
Mary Patterson	....	assistant: John Patterson
Mary Patterson	....	production assistant
Joan Preston	....	photo double: Loraine Bracco
Chris Sanata	....	production assistant
Ben Selkow	....	production assistant
Kelly Trivigno	....	assistant payroll accountant
David Velasco	....	production assistant (season 3)
Deana Vinciullo	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Brad Grey Television
• Chase Films

Other Companies

• Grant Wilfley Casting  extras casting
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  special thanks
• People of New Jersey, The  special thanks
• Temptu  tattoos

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Silvercup Studios - 4222 22nd Street, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Brad Grey Television

Goofs:

Continuity: When Tony Soprano is talking to Ralph Cifaretto outside the pizzeria, the positioning of Ralph's coffee cup and spoon continually alternates in-between shots

Quotes:

Ralph Cifaretto:I oughta stick a shiskabbab up your ass!

Movie Connections:

References Gladiator (2000)

Soundtrack:

Love Rollercoaster

"She's so fat..."

Employee of the Month is one of those wonderful Sopranos episodes: so rich of events, character and a truly dark streak. Most movies would have trouble jamming all this stuff into a two-hour running time; this series manages to beautifully in 50 minutes.

Firstly, the show deals with the two new characters introduced in previous episodes: Ralph Cifaretto and Jackie Aprile Jr. (Jason Cerbone), son of the deceased boss from Season One and nephew of the crazy Richie Aprile who rampaged in Series 2. Whereas Tony insists the kid should lead a normal life, Ralphie, who's currently sleeping with Rosalie Aprile, tries to become Jackie's new best friend by letting him participate in a gloriously violent business settlement.

More importantly, though, this chapter belongs to Lorraine Bracco, who goes where no actress has ever gone before with her role: after being brutally raped, Dr. Melfi is confident justice will triumph. When that isn't the case (the creep is released thanks to a lot of bureaucratic crap), she seriously considers asking Tony for help.

Were this a mainstream drama show, that kind of idea wouldn't have made it past the synopsis stage. But this is HBO, and so such a decision represents a triumph of narrative boldness, not to mention actorial: Bracco approaches Emmy-baiting territory with her doubtful, effortlessly gripping performance and receives superb backing from Peter Bogdanovich (always reliable as Elliot Kupferberg) and James Gandolfini, who responds to the ambiguity with more ambiguity.

As for the program's trademark "comic relief" it comes in the form of the news that New York boss Johnny Sack (Vincent Curatola) is buying a house in Jersey, prompting gags about his wife's weight. Pick of the bunch? Silvio's "She's so fat her blood type is ragu" and Paulie's gleeful "She's so fat, she goes campin', the bears have to hide their food". Hilarious.