Pilot (10 Jan. 1999)

A mobster passes out at a family barbecue and seeks therapy to understand why.

Director:

David Chase

Writers:

David Chase (creator), David Chase

Stars:

James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
James Gandolfini	...	Tony Soprano
Lorraine Bracco	...	Dr. Jennifer Melfi
Edie Falco	...	Carmela Soprano
Michael Imperioli	...	Christopher Moltisanti
Dominic Chianese	...	Junior Soprano
Vincent Pastore	...	Salvatore 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero
Steven Van Zandt	...	Silvio Dante
Tony Sirico	...	Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri
Robert Iler	...	A.J. Soprano
Jamie-Lynn Sigler	...	Meadow Soprano
Nancy Marchand	...	Livia Soprano
Michael Gaston	...	Alex Mahaffey
Joe Lisi	...	Dick Barone
John Ventimiglia	...	Artie Bucco
Jerry Adler	...	Hesh

Storyline

Tony Soprano is a New Jersey mobster with a complicated life. He's recently passed out as a result of an anxiety attack and begins to see a psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi. Tony's mother is at an age where she should be in a retirement home but she flatly refuses, obviously preferring to nag at her son. His father's brother, Uncle Junior, is planning a hit at a restaurant owned by his high school buddy Artie Bocco. A rival company is edging in on his trash removal business. At home, his teenager daughter Meadow is rebelling against parental authority, especially her mother's. Finally, a family of wild ducks that had taken to living in his backyard pool and who he fed regularly has flown away.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to gary cooper | gangster

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 January 1999 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brad Grey Television, Chase Films, Soprano Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert Loggia was seriously considered for the role of Uncle Junior but lost out to Dominic Chianese. Loggia would appear later in the series as Michele "Feech" La Manna.

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Goofs

The ducks in Tony Soprano's swimming pool in the pilot episode are all female. There are several remarks about the group of ducks being a family. No male ducks are within that group.

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Quotes

Herman 'Hesh' Rabkin: I hear Junior wants to whack Pussy Bonpensiero.
Tony Soprano: Pussy Malanga.
Herman 'Hesh' Rabkin: Oh, Little Pussy.
Tony Soprano: Yeah, Little Pussy. You think he's going to fuck with Big Pussy? My Pussy?

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Connections

References The Birds (1963)

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Soundtracks

"Who's Sorry Now"
(uncredited)
Composed by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, Ted Snyder
Performed by Connie Francis

User Reviews

It's a pilot,, folks

Aspiring mob boss Tony Soprano has a fainting spell and ends up in a shrink's office. It quickly becomes apparent through his chat with the shrink and a series of mostly comical flashbacks that he is a very bad man involved in some very bad stuff. You can feel the makings of a show here, obviously based on both THE GODFATHER and GOODFELLAS. Everything feels a bit rushed, but hey, it's a pilot and there's a lot to establish. Characters are not truly formed yet. Carmela is a typical New Jersey shrieker of a housewife, the kind we see in movies and hope never to meet. Sil and some of the other "boys" are only briefly glimpsed. Tony himself is not quite yet the Tony we will come to know; the gravitas is missing, if you'll pardon my use of that $100 word. But watch Tony's face as he gleefully runs down the guy who owes him money. He obviously loves the rough stuff, while feeling guilty about being both that guy and a family man with family responsibilities. By the way, the little bit of screen time Uncle Junior and Tony's mom have is worth its weight in gold, as these characters are played by two very sharp veteran actors. But just as THE GODFATHER was all about Marlon Brando, THE SOPRANOS ultimately will be all about James Gandolfini. Bring on all the guest stars you want, but without Gandolfini, there would be no THE SOPRANOS.