The Ultimate Sopranos Quiz

The Sopranos: An American Crime Drama Television Series

• The Sopranos is an American crime drama television series created by David Chase, which premiered on HBO on January 10, 1999.

• The series revolves around Tony Soprano, a New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster, portrayed by James Gandolfini, who tries to balance family life with his role as the leader of a criminal organization.

• The show explores Tony's difficulties through his therapy sessions with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi, played by Lorraine Bracco.

• The series won numerous awards, including 21 Primetime Emmy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, and two Peabody Awards.

• The Sopranos is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential television series of all time and has been credited with starting the Second Golden Age of Television.

• The show has spawned books, a video game, soundtrack albums, podcasts, and merchandise.

• The 2021 film, The Many Saints of Newark, is a prequel to The Sopranos, set in the 1960s and 1970s during and after the Newark riots.

• The show was initially conceived as a feature film about a mobster in therapy having problems with his mother.

• The cast of The Sopranos includes largely unknown actors, with the exception of Lorraine Bracco, Dominic Chianese, and Nancy Marchand.

• The Sopranos was created by David Chase, who served as showrunner and head writer for all six seasons of the show.

• The series features an eclectic music selection, which has received critical attention.

• The show's photography and directing is noted for its feature film quality.Overview of "The Sopranos" TV Series

• The show's music was selected by David Chase, Martin Bruestle, and Kathryn Dayak, and sometimes consulted Steven Van Zandt.

• The show's opening theme is "Woke Up This Morning" (Chosen One Mix) by Alabama 3, and a different song plays over the closing credits of each episode.

• The majority of exterior scenes in New Jersey were filmed on location, and most interior shots were filmed at Silvercup Studios in New York City.

• The strip club Bada Bing! is an actual strip club on Route 17 in Lodi, New Jersey, and was owned and operated by Silvio Dante on the show.

• Scenes set at the restaurant Vesuvio were filmed at a restaurant called Manolo's located in Elizabeth for the first episode, and exterior scenes set at Nuovo Vesuvio were filmed at an Italian restaurant called Punta Dura located in Long Island City.

• The title sequence shows Tony Soprano emerging from the Lincoln Tunnel and passing through the tollbooth for the New Jersey Turnpike.

• The show's opening title sequence ranked No. 10 on a list of TV's top 10 credits sequences by TV Guide readers.

• The show features a large cast of characters, including Tony Soprano, his family, and members of the DiMeo crime family.

• Tony Soprano is one of the capos of the New Jersey-based DiMeo crime family, and eventually becomes its undisputed boss.

• Tony struggles to balance the conflicting requirements of his family with those of the Mafia family he controls, and receives treatment from psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi.

• The show explores Tony's complicated relationship with his wife Carmela, and his children's knowledge of his mob dealings.

• The first season focuses on Tony's uncle Corrado "Junior" Soprano's orders to murder associates of Tony's, and Tony's control of the family from behind the scenes.

• The show received widespread critical acclaim and won multiple awards, including 21 Primetime Emmy Awards.Summary of The Sopranos Seasons 2-6

• Season 2 sees the release of Richie Aprile from prison, who becomes uncontrollable and starts a relationship with Janice, Tony's sister.

• Christopher Moltisanti becomes engaged to Adriana La Cerva, but is critically wounded by low-level associates attempting to kill him as a favor to Richie. Tony and Big Pussy locate and kill one of the associates, but a witness goes to the FBI and identifies Tony.

• Junior is placed under house arrest as he awaits trial, and Richie entreats Junior to have Tony killed. Janice kills Richie in a violent argument, and Tony suspects Big Pussy of being an FBI informant. He kills him and disposes of his body at sea.

• Season 3 introduces Ralph Cifaretto, who renews a relationship with Rosalie Aprile and proves to be an exceptionally dexterous earner. Ralph beats his pregnant girlfriend to death, infuriating Tony, who violates the traditional mafia code by beating Ralph in front of the entire family. After Cestone suffers a fatal heart attack, Tony reluctantly promotes Ralph to capo.

• Livia is set to testify against Tony but dies of a stroke. Junior is diagnosed with stomach cancer and goes into remission after surgery and chemotherapy. Dr. Melfi is raped and struggles with the fallout of the assault. Tony begins an affair with Gloria Trillo, who is also a patient of Dr. Melfi.

• Jackie Aprile Jr. becomes involved with Meadow and descends into a downward spiral of recklessness, drugs, and crime. He attempts to rob a card game and kills the card dealer, provoking a shoot-out. Ralph decides to have Jackie Jr. killed when other members of the crew play up how badly Jackie had disrespected him.

• A.J. continues to get in trouble at school and is expelled, while Meadow struggles with Jackie Jr.'s death. Tony decides to quit therapy, and after a deal with the Lupertazzi family falls through, he is approached by Johnny Sack with a proposal to murder Carmine. He turns him down.

• Season 4 sees Tony's cousin Tony Blundetto released from prison, along with other Mafiosi. After Carmine Lupertazzi dies, his death leaves a vacancy for the boss of the Lupertazzi family, which will soon be fought over by underboss Johnny Sack and Carmine's son Carmine Lupertazzi Jr. Tony arranges for insubordinate Feech to be sent back to prison.

• The war between Johnny Sack and Carmine Jr. begins, and Tony B's attempt to stay straight comes to a head when he gets into a brawl with his employer. After catching Vito performing fellatio on a security guard, Finn quits his job at a construction site. Adriana is arrested and pressured by the FBI to become an informant against Tony, but instead confesses to Christopher, who informs Tony. Silvio executes Adriana.

• Season 6 sees Tony shot by Uncle Junior, and he dreams he is a salesman named Kevin Finnerty. Johnny Sack's daughter is about to get married, and Johnny is approved to leave prison for six hours to attend, but he is humiliated by having to pay for the metal detectors and the presence of U.S. marshals at the event. As his daughter is about to drive away with her husband, Johnny's time expiresSummary Title: The Sopranos Season 6B

• Johnny Sack dies of lung cancer while in prison and Tony's crew loses respect for Johnny as he is publicly taken back to prison.

• Vito Spatafore is outed as gay and flees to New Hampshire posing as an author. He eventually returns to New Jersey and is brutally executed by Phil Leotardo, the acting boss of New York.

• Christopher and Little Carmine head to Los Angeles in an unsuccessful attempt to sign Ben Kingsley for a slasher film. Christopher's addiction problems escalate, leading to his death when Tony suffocates him after a car accident.

• A.J. falls into depression and attempts suicide before joining the army. Tony is dropped by Dr. Melfi as a patient and quits therapy.

• Phil Leotardo takes over the Lupertazzi family and initiates open war on the Soprano crew, leading to the executions of Bobby and Silvio. Tony goes into hiding and eventually has Phil killed.

• Tony suspects Carlo Gervasi of being an informant and visits Uncle Junior for the first time since the shooting.

• The Sopranos was a major ratings success and has been hailed as the greatest and most groundbreaking television series of all time. It has been credited with creating a new era in the mafia genre and shedding light on Italian family dynamics.

• The show has won and been nominated for numerous awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series and the George Foster Peabody Award.

• The Sopranos has had a significant effect on the American television industry, helping to turn serial television into a legitimate art form on the same level as feature films, literature, and theater.