"The Sopranos" The Telltale Moozadell (2001)

Director:

Daniel Attias

Writers:

David Chase (creator)
Michael Imperioli (written by)

TV Series:

"The Sopranos" (1999)

Original Air Date:

22 April 2001 (Season 3, Episode 9)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Tony continues seeing Gloria, another of Dr. Melfi's patients, while Meadow continues seeing Jackie Jr.

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Psychiatrist | Mafia | New Jersey | Gay Character

Cast

James Gandolfini	...	Tony Soprano
Lorraine Bracco	...	Dr. Jennifer Melfi
Edie Falco	...	Carmela Soprano
Michael Imperioli	...	Christopher Moltisanti
Jason Cerbone	...	Jackie Aprile Jr.
Andy Davoli	...	Dino Zerilli (as Andrew Davoli)
Louis Crugnali	...	Carlo Renzi
Robert Iler	...	A.J. Soprano
Jamie-Lynn Sigler	...	Meadow Soprano
Nick Tarabay	...	Matush (as Emad Tarabai)
Aida Turturro	...	Janice Soprano
Federico Castelluccio	...	Furio Giunta
John Ventimiglia	...	Artie Bucco
Joe Pantoliano	...	Ralph Cifaretto
Jerry Adler	...	Hesh

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Brad Grey Television

Trivia:

Christopher buys Adriana a nightclub, which they re-name "Crazy Horse". That was the name of a nightclub in New Rochelle, NY, once owned and operated by Vincent Pastore, who plays "Big Pussy".

Movie Connections:

Features It's a Gift (1934)

Soundtrack:

I (Who Have Nothing)

A dangerous game

Remember Annabella Sciorra in Jungle Fever? She played a normal Italian-American girl who shamelessly embarked on a relationship with the black Wesley Snipes, causing her closest relatives (including Sopranos cast members Michael Imperioli and Frank Vincent) to embrace a quite bleak solution to the problem. This time around, she has no one to upset with her behavior, but the guy she has chosen to bed spells "mayhem" like few others do: James Gandolfini.

Picking up from a brief scene in the previous episode, we now follow Tony's affair with Gloria Trillo (Sciorra), a patient of Dr. Melfi. At first, everything seems to be fine: they meet, chat and have casual sex without thinking too much. Soon enough, though, it becomes clear Gloria might be as big a pain in the ass as Tony's past mistress Irina, and that one tried to kill herself! Another relationship that is causing controversy is Meadow's involvement with Jackie Jr. : Carmela is particularly annoyed, even though Tony seems to think it could work out fine, especially after having an open conversation with the boy. Of course, no one told him Jackie is friends with a drug dealer who has been bothering Christopher recently, and that things are likely to get out of hand.

With the exception of the Chrissy part of the narrative (he gives Adriana a club as a present and makes sure nothing illegal happens there), the episode is entirely devoid of mob violence, focusing wholeheartedly on the two conflicting romances, one almost idyllic (Meadow-Jackie), the other destined to get screwed up (Tony-Gloria). The latter is given extra energy by Sciorra, who injects her role with appropriately Italian fiery passion that contrasts nicely with the emotional coldness of other women in the show (Melfi in particular). She is not exactly scene-stealing, but hers is one of the better guest appearances in the series.

Oh, and the title? It derives from the American pronunciation of "mozzarella", the kind of cheese they use to make pizza. It is one such meal that reveals A.J. and his buddies vandalized the school's swimming pool. Hilarious.