to this.
Tony Soprano from “The Sopranos”. One of my favourite quotes from one of my favourite TV shows.
At the time it had to go some way to beat “Homicide: Life On The Streets” and “Oz” but it did. Did it by having the story lines with great characters and the humour that needs to be in such work. Thank god Channel 4 managed to keep hold of the series unlike others that have been lost to the satellite wilderness.
James Gandolfini played that main central character but it wouldn’t have been the show it was without Paulie, (Camel Nose) Chris, Silvio, Ralph, Junior, Janice, Livia, Bobby, Vito, Carmela and quite a number more over the six series.
Don’t know if I’d go as overboard about Gandolfini’s acting as many seem to be doing. He was great in the part and was good in other stuff as well but it’s this part that made him a known name and what he’ll be remembered for. Don’t know if he struck lucky or was Chase’s first choice to play the part.
It’s funny how when you hear of someone who was the first choice to play an iconic role you think nah they wouldn’t fit. Jackie Gleason as “Popeye” Doyle in “The French Connection”, Frank Sinatra as “Dirty Harry”. Someone else as Tony Soprano. Nah, it wouldn’t work.
He certainly grew into the character. You thought he was big at the beginning, well he was more than a touch bigger at the end, as the breathing became more laboured.