A recent HBO study found that viewership of The Sopranos increased by a staggering 179% during the COVID-19 pandemic.1 The show’s gritty portrayal of complex characters and moral ambiguity resonated with audiences seeking an escape from the real-world challenges.
But there’s much more to this iconic series than meets the eye. Read on to find out 18 surprising facts that you might not have known about this awesome show.
1. The Show Was Almost Canceled after Season 3
Despite its critical acclaim and devoted fanbase, The Sopranos faced cancellation after its third season due to a contract dispute with lead actor James Gandolfini.
HBO eventually agreed to pay Gandolfini $1 million per episode, making him the highest-paid actor in television history at the time.
2. The Opening Credits Sequence Cost $100,000 Per Season
The iconic opening credits, featuring Tony Soprano driving from New York City to his suburban New Jersey home, cost a whopping $100,000 to shoot each season. The sequence used multiple cameras and required shutting down major highways, making it one of the most expensive in television history.
3. The Show’s Theme Song Was Almost Cut
“Woke Up This Morning” by British band Alabama 3 almost didn’t make it as the show’s theme song. Creator David Chase initially wanted to use a different track but was convinced by the show’s music supervisor to give the bluesy tune a chance.
4. James Gandolfini Underwent Extensive Makeup for Tony’s Gunshot Scenes
In the season 6 episode “Join the Club,” Tony Soprano is shot by his uncle Junior and ends up in a coma. To achieve the realistic look of Tony’s injuries, James Gandolfini spent over three hours in the makeup chair each day.
5. The Sopranos Helped Launch the Careers of Many Famous Actors
The show served as a launching pad for several now-famous actors, including Edie Falco (Carmela Soprano), Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti), and Steve Buscemi (Tony Blundetto).
Many went on to have successful careers in film and television after their breakout roles on The Sopranos.
6. The Show’s Writers Kept a “Goomba Board” for Authentic Dialogue
To ensure the show’s dialogue was as authentic as possible, the writers maintained a “Goomba Board” in the writers’ room. This was a bulletin board where they posted slang terms, expressions, and anecdotes overheard from real-life Italian-Americans.
7. The Bada Bing! Strip Club Was a Real Place
The Bada Bing!, the strip club frequented by Tony and his crew, was a real-life establishment called Satin Dolls in Lodi, New Jersey. The interior shots were filmed on a soundstage, but the exterior was the actual club.
8. James Gandolfini Took Home Tony’s Cadillac after the Series Ended
After the show wrapped, James Gandolfini was gifted Tony Soprano’s signature 1999 Chevrolet Suburban as a token of appreciation from the production team. He drove the vehicle home and kept it as a personal memento.
9. The Show Featured over 200 Deaths
Throughout its six-season run, The Sopranos depicted a total of 208 on-screen deaths, averaging nearly 35 per season. The high body count underscored the violent and unpredictable nature of the characters’ lives.
10. The Series Finale Caused a Spike in Power Grid Usage
When the series finale aired on June 10, 2007, it caused a significant spike in power grid usage across the United States as viewers simultaneously turned on their TVs to watch the highly-anticipated episode.
11. The Show’s Influence Extended beyond Television
The Sopranos’ impact reached far beyond the realm of television. The show was referenced in everything from political speeches to academic papers, cementing its place as a cultural touchstone.
12. The Cast Became a Real-Life Family
Over the course of the show’s production, the cast grew incredibly close, often referring to each other as family. They would regularly gather for dinners and celebrations, even after the series ended.
13. James Gandolfini’s Son Played a Young Tony Soprano
In the 2021 prequel film “The Many Saints of Newark,” James Gandolfini’s son Michael portrayed a teenage Tony Soprano. The casting was a poignant tribute to the late actor, who passed away in 2013.
14. The Show’s Costume Designer Created Over 600 Costumes for the Final Season
For the sixth and final season, costume designer Juliet Polcsa created more than 600 individual costumes to ensure each character’s wardrobe was authentic and reflective of their development throughout the series.
15. The Sopranos Helped Popularize the Anti-Hero Protagonist
Tony Soprano, a ruthless mobster struggling with his own morality, paved the way for a new era of complex, flawed protagonists in television.
Shows like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and Dexter all followed in The Sopranos’ footsteps.
16. The Show’s Sets Were Painstakingly Detailed
The production team went to great lengths to ensure every set felt authentic, down to the smallest details. For example, the Soprano family kitchen was stocked with real food and household items, many of which were chosen by the actors themselves.
17. The Sopranos Was the First Cable Series to Win the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series
In 2004, The Sopranos made history by becoming the first cable television series to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. The show went on to win a total of 21 Emmys during its run.
18. The Show’s Legacy Continues to Inspire New Generations
Despite airing its final episode over 15 years ago, The Sopranos remains a cultural phenomenon, inspiring new generations of viewers and creators alike.
Its influence can be seen in countless modern television series, cementing its place as one of the greatest shows of all time.
Source:
1. Variety
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Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.