David Chase, the innovative creator of The Sopranos, joins Lorraine Bracco, who played the insightful Dr. Melfi, and Michael Imperioli, known for his role as Christopher. They discuss the groundbreaking character development of Tony Soprano, revealing the emotional depth brought by James Gandolfini. The conversation dives into how classic horror films influenced Chase's storytelling and explores complex family dynamics portrayed in the series, highlighting the pressures of mob life and the intricacies of therapy and personal growth.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Initial Concept
David Chase initially envisioned The Sopranos as a movie.
He wanted Robert De Niro and Anne Bancroft to star as Tony and his mother.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Casting Van Zandt
David Chase hired Steven Van Zandt after seeing him on TV.
Van Zandt initially thought he was being asked about music for the show.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Therapy's Impact
Therapy helped Tony become a better mobster, not a better person.
This was a deliberate choice by David Chase.
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25 years ago, The Sopranos premiered on HBO and changed expectations of what TV could be. There's a new two-part documentary, called Wise Guy, about the making of the show, centering on the series creator and executive producer, David Chase. We're using that as an excuse to revisit our interviews with Chase, as well as Lorraine Bracco, who played Tony's psychiatrist, Dr. Melfi, and Michael Imperioli, who played Tony's impetuous nephew.
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