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Proshai, Livushka (The Sopranos episode)
Encyclopedia
"Proshai, Livushka" is the twenty-eighth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos
and the second of the show's third season. It was written by David Chase
, directed by Tim Van Patten
and originally aired on Sunday March 4, 2001.
follows his early-morning ritual: picking up the morning paper and scanning the headlines, which address a violent mob conflict involving Tony's company, Barone Sanitation. Tony suffers a panic attack
and collapses in the kitchen. When Carmela
arrives home, she immediately drops her bags to help him off the floor. When she asks what happens, he states "Uncle Ben" and the scene rewinds to Tony greeting Meadow
and her new boyfriend. Tony comes down the stairs and is surprised to see Meadow on the couch. Meadow tells Tony she needed to borrow the VCR and came with a friend. Meadow's boyfriend, Noah Tannenbaum, comes out of the bathroom and happily shakes Tony's hand. He also compliments Tony on his home theater and begins confident chitchat with Tony about his thoughts on film history, as they were just watching James Cagney
's The Public Enemy
, a favorite of Tony's. Unfortunately, Noah is oblivious to Tony's racism
, especially when it involves his treasured only daughter, Meadow, of whom Noah says, "It's too early to tell" when Tony asks, "if they are...", suggesting they have a romantic or possibly physical relationship, or even a blossoming one. When Meadow goes upstairs, Tony asks Noah where his heritage is derived from and says he is Jewish on his father's side and African-American on his mother's. Tony, using a couple of choice racial slurs, warns Noah to stay away from his daughter and to break up with her as soon as they return to campus. Noah takes this as a threat and storms out of the house. Meadow suspects something is wrong and refuses to talk to Tony shortly afterward. Tony goes to the kitchen, opens a cabinet and sees a box of Uncle Ben's Rice. The company logo, a smiling black man, triggers Tony's panic attack from the stress of dealing with Meadow's boyfriend.
Tony visits his mother, Livia
, in an attempt to set things straight and warn her not to talk to the FBI. Livia automatically thinks something is wrong and becomes fidgety. Livia's new aide, Svetlana, then brings out baby books (which were originally supposed to be written almost 20 years ago) and making Livia write some family history. Livia then says, "It is none of anybody's business." Growing aggravated, Tony tells her to do what she wants regarding his upcoming trial and to leave him alone. While Tony is gardening in the yard, Carmela receives a phone call informing her that Livia has died.
As people begin to gather at the Soprano residence, Tony's sister Barbara informs him that Janice
will not be in attendance. In front of a house full of people he calls Janice "a motherfucking bitch". He furiously calls her Seattle home and demands she be on the next plane to New Jersey. Janice tells Tony she has a good reason not to be in the state of New Jersey since she murdered Richie a few months before. Tony tells her "the case is colder than [her] tit" and he would pay for a ticket for her to get there. The next morning, Janice arrives and becomes the center of attention.
This episode also marks the first appearance of Ralph Cifaretto and Eugene Pontecorvo. When Ralphie arrives, along with Vito Spatafore
, Patsy Parisi, Gigi Cestone, and Albert Barese to express his condolences on Tony's mother's passing, Tony informs Ralphie that he needs to speak with him and Albert. Tony, Albert, Ralphie, and Gigi follow Tony out to the pool area where Tony confronts Albert and Ralphie over the recent fires. Tony asks why Ralphie torched Albert's trucks, and Ralph responds "because he lit up two of my dumpsters." Ralphie also says "his crew" The Aprile Crew is in line for a business contract. Tony replies with, "You're a captain Ralphie when I say you're a captain." He then informs both Ralphie and Albert that there will be "no...more...fires..."
At the funeral home, Tony and Barbara arrange a simple service, to which Janice objects and instead wants a funeral with all the trimmings. Tony tells her that he does not want any "California bullshit", just a service with a party afterward. (Livia, however, stated that all she wanted was a burial with no service or commemoration.) Everyone prepares for the wake
the following evening, including Christopher Moltisanti
, Adriana La Cerva
and Furio Giunta
(who get high on cocaine and marijuana); Silvio Dante
, who is angry because he has to miss the New York Jets
home opener; and Ray Curto
, who is wearing a wire
. Uncle Junior
tries to reconcile with Carmela with mixed results and she asks him to act accordingly. The next day at the cemetery, Livia is buried, and Meadow purposely stays away from Tony. Afterwards, Janice informs Svetlana she will be living at Livia's home and would like the LPs
given to her by Livia back by the weekend, even though Livia gave the LPs to Svetlana before her death.
Ralphie sends Pontecorvo and Bobby Zanone to get rough with a guy named Joseph Zachary who has been interferring with Ralphie's garbage business. Ralph orders his crew to attack the man with baseball bats, saying "Remember guys, Tony said no fires!", implying that Ralph at best is obeying the letter of the law of Tony's orders, and at worst, is being outright disobedient and rebellious to Tony as was Richie Aprile
.
The repast brings anger and resentment when Janice forces everyone to speak their mind about Livia. Livia is eulogized by Hesh Rabkin, an intoxicated Christopher and her friend Fanny. However, Carmela interrupts claiming this is a "crock of shit". She then proceeds to say how Livia was highly dysfunctional and did not want a funeral because she thought no one would come. This seems to satisfy everyone there but Janice and Carmela's mother, who are both livid at her speech. At one point, an out-of-focus male descends the staircase in the background, peers at the gathering, then re-ascends the stairs. He bears an uncanny resemblance to a young Junior Soprano.
Toward the end of the party Artie Bucco, who is catering the event, experiences a flashback of visiting Livia in the hospital. He remembers her telling him about the torching of the Vesuvio, which Tony ordered done. Visibly angry, Artie confronts Tony outside by the pool. He takes the opportunity to inform him of what Livia told him, and remarks that their "little secret" died with her. Tony tries in vain to calm him down, but Artie ultimately stays quiet for the rest of the party.
Later that night, after everyone had left, Tony sits in front of the T.V. with his usual bowl of ice cream, and watches a scene from The Public Enemy
featuring the main character's doting mother, Tony begins to cry and, for the first time, mourn his mother's death. However, Tony seeing the film may have also filled him with sadness that Livia was a mean-spirited, emotionally abusive and unstable woman, whereas Jimmy Cagney's mother was the kind of mother he would have liked to have had.
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
and the second of the show's third season. It was written by David Chase
David Chase
David Chase is an American writer, director, and producer of television series. Chase has worked in television for more than 30 years; he has produced and written for shows as The Rockford Files, I'll Fly Away, and Northern Exposure. He has created two original series; the first, Almost Grown,...
, directed by Tim Van Patten
Tim Van Patten
Tim Van Patten is an American television director, actor, screenwriter, and producer. As a director, Van Patten has directed episodes of The Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, Boardwalk Empire, Rome, The Pacific, Game of Thrones, Ed, and Sex and the City. Van Patten is perhaps best known for portraying...
and originally aired on Sunday March 4, 2001.
Starring
- James GandolfiniJames GandolfiniJames J. Gandolfini, Jr. is an Italian American actor. He is best known for his role as Tony Soprano in the HBO TV series The Sopranos, about a troubled crime boss struggling to balance his family life and career in the Mafia...
as Tony SopranoTony SopranoAnthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely... - Lorraine BraccoLorraine BraccoLorraine Bracco is an American actress. She is best known for her TV roles as Dr. Jennifer Melfi on HBO series, The Sopranos, and Angela Rizzoli on the TNT series, Rizzoli & Isles...
as Dr. Jennifer Melfi - Edie FalcoEdie FalcoEdith "Edie" Falco is an American television, film and stage actress, known for her roles in Oz as Diane Wittlesey, as Carmela Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos, and as the titular character on the Showtime series Nurse Jackie...
as Carmela SopranoCarmela SopranoCarmela Soprano née DeAngelis, played by Edie Falco, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the wife of Mafia boss Tony Soprano and the program's most prominent female character.-Character biography:... - Michael ImperioliMichael ImperioliJames Michael Imperioli , commonly known as Michael Imperioli, is an American actor and television writer. He is perhaps best known for his role as Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2004. He also...
as Christopher MoltisantiChristopher MoltisantiChristopher "Chris" Moltisanti, played by Michael Imperioli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was Tony Soprano's protégé and a Capo in the Soprano crime family.-Biography:... - Dominic ChianeseDominic ChianeseDominic Chianese is an American film, television and theatre actor, perhaps best known for his role as Corrado "Junior" Soprano on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Corrado Soprano, Jr.Junior SopranoCorrado John Soprano, Jr., played by Dominic Chianese, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually referred to as "Junior" or "Uncle Jun", he is the mentor and surrogate father for capo Tony Soprano. A younger Corrado sometimes appears in flashbacks and is played by Rocco... - Steven Van ZandtSteven Van ZandtSteven Van Zandt is an Italian-American musician, songwriter, arranger, record producer, actor, and radio disc jockey, who frequently goes by the stage names Little Steven or Miami Steve...
as Silvio DanteSilvio DanteSilvio Manfred Dante, often referred to as "Sil", played by Steven Van Zandt, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is the consigliere to Tony Soprano in the Soprano crime family. Silvio has one of the lowest profiles on the show. He is usually a behind the scenes figure... - Tony SiricoTony SiricoGenaro Anthony "Tony" Sirico, Jr. is an American character actor who is most famous for his role as Paulie Gualtieri in the television series The Sopranos.- Background and career :Sirico was born in Midwood, Brooklyn...
as Paulie GualtieriPaulie GualtieriPeter Paul "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri played by Tony Sirico, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is a caporegime and later underboss in the Soprano crime family.-Plot details:... - Robert IlerRobert IlerRobert Michael Iler is an American actor, known for his portrayal of A.J. Soprano on The Sopranos which aired on HBO from 1999-2007....
as Anthony Soprano, Jr.Anthony Soprano, Jr.Anthony John "A.J." Soprano, Jr. , played by Robert Iler, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually just called "A.J.", he is the son of Carmela and Tony Soprano. He is a prototypical underachiever and is a constant source of stress and anxiety for his parents... - Jamie-Lynn SiglerJamie-Lynn SiglerJamie-Lynn Sigler is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Meadow Soprano on the HBO television series The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Meadow SopranoMeadow SopranoMeadow Mariangela Soprano , played by Jamie-Lynn Sigler, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos.-Character:Meadow is the first-born child of Tony and Carmela Soprano... - Drea de MatteoDrea de MatteoDrea de Matteo is an American television actress, perhaps best known for her roles Joey Tribbiani's sister Gina on the NBC sitcom Joey, as Angie Bolen on ABC's Desperate Housewives, and as Adriana La Cerva on the acclaimed HBO TV series The Sopranos, a role for which she won the Primetime Emmy...
as Adriana La CervaAdriana La CervaAdriana La Cerva played by Drea de Matteo, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the long-time girlfriend and, later, fiancée of Tony Soprano's protégé, Christopher Moltisanti.-Character history:... - Aida TurturroAida TurturroAida Turturro is an American actress probably best known for playing Janice Soprano, sister of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, on the HBO TV series The Sopranos .-Personal life:...
as Janice SopranoJanice SopranoJanice Soprano Baccalieri, played by Aida Turturro, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is Tony Soprano's elder sister. A young Janice has appeared in flashbacks, played by Madeline Blue and Juliet Fox.-Biography:... - John VentimigliaJohn VentimigliaJohn Ventimiglia is an American actor, known for his role as Artie Bucco on the HBO television series The Sopranos. He has had parts in feature films such as Cop Land, Jesus' Son, and Mickey Blue Eyes and has appeared in numerous television shows including Law & Order and NYPD Blue...
as Artie Bucco - Federico CastelluccioFederico CastelluccioFederico Castelluccio is an Italian-American actor and professional visual artist, who is best known for his role as Furio Giunta on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Furio GiuntaFurio GiuntaFurio Giunta, played by Federico Castelluccio, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was an Italian mobster working for Tony Soprano.-Biography:... - Steven R. Schirripa as Bobby BaccalieriBobby BaccalieriRobert "Bobby Bacala" Baccalieri, Jr., played by Steve R. Schirripa, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a Capo and later the acting underboss of the DiMeo Crime Family, as well as Tony Soprano's brother-in-law...
- Robert FunaroRobert FunaroRobert Funaro is an American film and television actor. Funaro is best known for the role of Eugene Pontecorvo in the Emmy Award-winning television series The Sopranos...
as Eugene Pontecorvo - Katherine Narducci as Charmaine Bucco
- with Nancy MarchandNancy MarchandNancy Marchand was an American actress, whose career encompassed both stage and screen. She appeared in various theatre productions throughout the early 1950s, before being offered roles on film and television....
as Livia SopranoLivia SopranoLivia Soprano , played by Nancy Marchand, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the mother of Tony Soprano. A young Livia, played by Laila Robins and later by Laurie J. Williams is sometimes seen in flashbacks... - and Joe PantolianoJoe PantolianoJoseph Peter "Joe" Pantoliano is an American film and television actor. He played the character of Ralph Cifaretto on The Sopranos, Bob Keane in La Bamba, Cypher in The Matrix, Teddy in Memento, Francis Fratelli in The Goonies, Guido "the Killer Pimp" in Risky Business, and Jennifer Tilly's...
as Ralph Cifaretto
Also Guest Starring
- Peter RiegertPeter RiegertPeter Riegert is an American actor, screenwriter, and film director, best known for his role as Boon from Animal House and crooked New Jersey State Assemblyman Ronald Zellman on the HBO original series The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Assemblyman Zellman - Tom AldredgeTom AldredgeThomas Ernest "Tom" Aldredge was an American television, film and stage actor.-Life and career:Aldredge was born in Dayton, Ohio, the son of Lucienne Juliet and W. J. Aldredge, a colonel in the United States Army Air Corps...
as Hugh DeAngelis - Suzanne ShepherdSuzanne ShepherdSuzanne Shepherd is an American actress and theater director. She is best known for her portrayal of Karen's overbearing mother in the film Goodfellas, and Carmela's overbearing mother in the television program The Sopranos. Shepherd studied acting with Sanford Meisner, and later went on to teach...
as Mary DeAngelis - Alla KlioukaAlla Kliouka SchafferAlla Kliouka Schaffer is a Russian actress, and former wife of Ken Schaffer. Her American TV work includes playing Svetlana Kirilenko on the HBO T.V. series The Sopranos.-External links:*...
as Svetlana Kirilenko - Vincent Curatola as Johnny SackJohnny SackJohn "Johnny Sack" Sacramoni, played by Vince Curatola, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was the longtime underboss and later the boss of the powerful Brooklyn-based New York City Lupertazzi crime family...
- John FioreJohn Fiore (actor)John Fiore is an American actor from Somerville, Massachusetts.Fiore is probably best known for his recurring role as Detective Tony Profaci on the long-running NBC crime drama Law & Order...
as Gigi Cestone - Joseph R. GannascoliJoseph R. GannascoliJoseph R. Gannascoli is an Italian-American actor and celebrity spokesman most notable for his portrayal of Vito Spatafore on the HBO series, The Sopranos.-Early life:Joseph R. Gannascoli was born and raised in Brooklyn....
as Vito SpataforeVito SpataforeVito Spatafore, Sr., played by Joseph R. Gannascoli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a member of the DiMeo Crime Family and a subordinate of Tony Soprano. He was married to Marie Spatafore with two children, Francesca and Vito, Jr., and was a closeted homosexual... - Dan GrimaldiDan GrimaldiDaniel "Dan" Grimaldi is an American actor who is known for his roles as twins Philly and Patsy Parisi on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Career:...
as Patsy Parisi - George Loros as Raymond CurtoRay CurtoRaymond "Buffalo Ray" Curto, played by George Loros, is a fictional character on the HBO original series The Sopranos. An older Capo in the DiMeo Crime Family, Curto was an FBI-informant throughout almost the entire series....
- Richard Maldone as Albert Barese
- Vincent PastoreVincent PastoreVincent Pastore is an Italian-American actor, often cast as a mobster and best known for the role of Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Pussy Bonpensiero - Gregalan Williams as Reverend James, Jr.
- Patrick TullyPatrick TullyFather Patrick Tully was a well known figure in Meath GAA circles, particularly for his training of Meath Gaelic football teams of 1949, 1954 and 1967 to All Ireland Senior titles...
as Noah Tannenbaum - Nicole BurdetteNicole BurdetteNicole Burdette is a playwright and actress. She wrote the play Chelsea Walls, which she adapted to film in 2001. She is a co-founder of the Naked Angels . She also gave the company their name....
as Barbara Giglione - Ralph Lucarelli as Cozzarelli
- Peter McRobbiePeter McRobbiePeter McRobbie is a Scottish-born, American-based character actor.-Career:McRobbie has more than 60 movies and television series to his credit. The movies include Spider-Man 2, World Trade Center, Sleepers, and Bullets over Broadway...
as Father Felix - Sharon AngelaSharon AngelaSharon Angela is an American film, television actress, screenwriter and director. Angela is probably most well known for her portrayal of Rosalie Aprile on the HBO series, The Sopranos....
as Rosalie Aprile - Jason CerboneJason CerboneJason Cerbone is an actor from Yonkers, New York.He got his start acting at age 4, appearing on a commercial for Sesame Street. He signed with the Ford Modeling Agency in New York City at age 7. Jason later appeared in Bon Jovi's "Silent Night" music video, as well as the title character in...
as Jackie Aprile, Jr.Jackie Aprile, Jr.Giacomo Michael Aprile, Jr. , played by Jason Cerbone, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. In the episode "...To Save Us All From Satan's Power", Cerbone's younger brother Matt played a younger Jackie Jr. in a flashback sequence.-Plot details:Jackie Aprile, Jr. was born into... - Tim Gallin as Joseph Zachary
- Marcia Haufrecht as Fanny
- Maureen Van ZandtMaureen Van ZandtMaureen Van Zandt is an Italian-American television actress best known for her small role Gabriella Dante, a close friend to Carmela Soprano on the HBO series, The Sopranos....
as Gabriella Dante - Vito AntuofermoVito AntuofermoVito Antuofermo is an Italian-American actor who is also a former world Middleweight boxing champion.-Background:Antuofermo was born in Italy, in the town of Palo del Colle, which is located about 15 km inland from the city of Bari. but his family moved to the United States when he was 17...
as Bobby Zanone - Dimitri de Fresco as Young Man
- Marie Donato as 2 to 5 / 7 to 9
- Katalin Pota as Lilliana Wosilius
- Ed Vassallo as Tom Giglione
- Gary Evans as FBI Tech #2
- Frank PandoFrank PandoFrank Pando is a Chilean American actor. Pando's acting career debuted in 1999 in the TV series The Sopranos as Agent Frank Grasso. Also, he is scheduled to appear in the 2012 movie Man on a Ledge as a cameraman for Kyra Sedgwick's role, a newsperson....
as Agent Grasso - Carlos LopezCarlos LópezCarlos López can refer to:* Carlos Antonio López , Paraguayan politician* Carlos López , Mexican baseball player* Carlos Lopez * Carlos López de Silanes, Mexican football player...
as FBI Tech - Michael Strano as FBI Agent
Episode recap
TonyTony Soprano
Anthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely...
follows his early-morning ritual: picking up the morning paper and scanning the headlines, which address a violent mob conflict involving Tony's company, Barone Sanitation. Tony suffers a panic attack
Panic attack
Panic attacks are periods of intense fear or apprehension that are of sudden onset and of relatively brief duration. Panic attacks usually begin abruptly, reach a peak within 10 minutes, and subside over the next several hours...
and collapses in the kitchen. When Carmela
Carmela Soprano
Carmela Soprano née DeAngelis, played by Edie Falco, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the wife of Mafia boss Tony Soprano and the program's most prominent female character.-Character biography:...
arrives home, she immediately drops her bags to help him off the floor. When she asks what happens, he states "Uncle Ben" and the scene rewinds to Tony greeting Meadow
Meadow Soprano
Meadow Mariangela Soprano , played by Jamie-Lynn Sigler, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos.-Character:Meadow is the first-born child of Tony and Carmela Soprano...
and her new boyfriend. Tony comes down the stairs and is surprised to see Meadow on the couch. Meadow tells Tony she needed to borrow the VCR and came with a friend. Meadow's boyfriend, Noah Tannenbaum, comes out of the bathroom and happily shakes Tony's hand. He also compliments Tony on his home theater and begins confident chitchat with Tony about his thoughts on film history, as they were just watching James Cagney
James Cagney
James Francis Cagney, Jr. was an American actor, first on stage, then in film, where he had his greatest impact. Although he won acclaim and major awards for a wide variety of performances, he is best remembered for playing "tough guys." In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him eighth...
's The Public Enemy
The Public Enemy
The Public Enemy is a 1931 American Pre-Code crime film starring James Cagney and directed by William A. Wellman. The film relates the story of a young man's rise in the criminal underworld in prohibition-era urban America...
, a favorite of Tony's. Unfortunately, Noah is oblivious to Tony's racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, especially when it involves his treasured only daughter, Meadow, of whom Noah says, "It's too early to tell" when Tony asks, "if they are...", suggesting they have a romantic or possibly physical relationship, or even a blossoming one. When Meadow goes upstairs, Tony asks Noah where his heritage is derived from and says he is Jewish on his father's side and African-American on his mother's. Tony, using a couple of choice racial slurs, warns Noah to stay away from his daughter and to break up with her as soon as they return to campus. Noah takes this as a threat and storms out of the house. Meadow suspects something is wrong and refuses to talk to Tony shortly afterward. Tony goes to the kitchen, opens a cabinet and sees a box of Uncle Ben's Rice. The company logo, a smiling black man, triggers Tony's panic attack from the stress of dealing with Meadow's boyfriend.
Tony visits his mother, Livia
Livia Soprano
Livia Soprano , played by Nancy Marchand, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the mother of Tony Soprano. A young Livia, played by Laila Robins and later by Laurie J. Williams is sometimes seen in flashbacks...
, in an attempt to set things straight and warn her not to talk to the FBI. Livia automatically thinks something is wrong and becomes fidgety. Livia's new aide, Svetlana, then brings out baby books (which were originally supposed to be written almost 20 years ago) and making Livia write some family history. Livia then says, "It is none of anybody's business." Growing aggravated, Tony tells her to do what she wants regarding his upcoming trial and to leave him alone. While Tony is gardening in the yard, Carmela receives a phone call informing her that Livia has died.
As people begin to gather at the Soprano residence, Tony's sister Barbara informs him that Janice
Janice Soprano
Janice Soprano Baccalieri, played by Aida Turturro, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is Tony Soprano's elder sister. A young Janice has appeared in flashbacks, played by Madeline Blue and Juliet Fox.-Biography:...
will not be in attendance. In front of a house full of people he calls Janice "a motherfucking bitch". He furiously calls her Seattle home and demands she be on the next plane to New Jersey. Janice tells Tony she has a good reason not to be in the state of New Jersey since she murdered Richie a few months before. Tony tells her "the case is colder than [her] tit" and he would pay for a ticket for her to get there. The next morning, Janice arrives and becomes the center of attention.
This episode also marks the first appearance of Ralph Cifaretto and Eugene Pontecorvo. When Ralphie arrives, along with Vito Spatafore
Vito Spatafore
Vito Spatafore, Sr., played by Joseph R. Gannascoli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a member of the DiMeo Crime Family and a subordinate of Tony Soprano. He was married to Marie Spatafore with two children, Francesca and Vito, Jr., and was a closeted homosexual...
, Patsy Parisi, Gigi Cestone, and Albert Barese to express his condolences on Tony's mother's passing, Tony informs Ralphie that he needs to speak with him and Albert. Tony, Albert, Ralphie, and Gigi follow Tony out to the pool area where Tony confronts Albert and Ralphie over the recent fires. Tony asks why Ralphie torched Albert's trucks, and Ralph responds "because he lit up two of my dumpsters." Ralphie also says "his crew" The Aprile Crew is in line for a business contract. Tony replies with, "You're a captain Ralphie when I say you're a captain." He then informs both Ralphie and Albert that there will be "no...more...fires..."
At the funeral home, Tony and Barbara arrange a simple service, to which Janice objects and instead wants a funeral with all the trimmings. Tony tells her that he does not want any "California bullshit", just a service with a party afterward. (Livia, however, stated that all she wanted was a burial with no service or commemoration.) Everyone prepares for the wake
Wake (ceremony)
A wake is a ceremony associated with death. Traditionally, a wake takes place in the house of the deceased, with the body present; however, modern wakes are often performed at a funeral home. In the United States and Canada it is synonymous with a viewing...
the following evening, including Christopher Moltisanti
Christopher Moltisanti
Christopher "Chris" Moltisanti, played by Michael Imperioli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was Tony Soprano's protégé and a Capo in the Soprano crime family.-Biography:...
, Adriana La Cerva
Adriana La Cerva
Adriana La Cerva played by Drea de Matteo, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the long-time girlfriend and, later, fiancée of Tony Soprano's protégé, Christopher Moltisanti.-Character history:...
and Furio Giunta
Furio Giunta
Furio Giunta, played by Federico Castelluccio, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was an Italian mobster working for Tony Soprano.-Biography:...
(who get high on cocaine and marijuana); Silvio Dante
Silvio Dante
Silvio Manfred Dante, often referred to as "Sil", played by Steven Van Zandt, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is the consigliere to Tony Soprano in the Soprano crime family. Silvio has one of the lowest profiles on the show. He is usually a behind the scenes figure...
, who is angry because he has to miss the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
home opener; and Ray Curto
Ray Curto
Raymond "Buffalo Ray" Curto, played by George Loros, is a fictional character on the HBO original series The Sopranos. An older Capo in the DiMeo Crime Family, Curto was an FBI-informant throughout almost the entire series....
, who is wearing a wire
Covert listening device
A covert listening device, more commonly known as a bug or a wire, is usually a combination of a miniature radio transmitter with a microphone. The use of bugs, called bugging, is a common technique in surveillance, espionage and in police investigations.A bug does not have to be a device...
. Uncle Junior
Junior Soprano
Corrado John Soprano, Jr., played by Dominic Chianese, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually referred to as "Junior" or "Uncle Jun", he is the mentor and surrogate father for capo Tony Soprano. A younger Corrado sometimes appears in flashbacks and is played by Rocco...
tries to reconcile with Carmela with mixed results and she asks him to act accordingly. The next day at the cemetery, Livia is buried, and Meadow purposely stays away from Tony. Afterwards, Janice informs Svetlana she will be living at Livia's home and would like the LPs
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
given to her by Livia back by the weekend, even though Livia gave the LPs to Svetlana before her death.
Ralphie sends Pontecorvo and Bobby Zanone to get rough with a guy named Joseph Zachary who has been interferring with Ralphie's garbage business. Ralph orders his crew to attack the man with baseball bats, saying "Remember guys, Tony said no fires!", implying that Ralph at best is obeying the letter of the law of Tony's orders, and at worst, is being outright disobedient and rebellious to Tony as was Richie Aprile
Richie Aprile
Richard 'Richie' Aprile, Sr., played by David Proval, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Richie was a capo and the older brother of former DiMeo crime family acting boss Jackie Aprile, Sr...
.
The repast brings anger and resentment when Janice forces everyone to speak their mind about Livia. Livia is eulogized by Hesh Rabkin, an intoxicated Christopher and her friend Fanny. However, Carmela interrupts claiming this is a "crock of shit". She then proceeds to say how Livia was highly dysfunctional and did not want a funeral because she thought no one would come. This seems to satisfy everyone there but Janice and Carmela's mother, who are both livid at her speech. At one point, an out-of-focus male descends the staircase in the background, peers at the gathering, then re-ascends the stairs. He bears an uncanny resemblance to a young Junior Soprano.
Toward the end of the party Artie Bucco, who is catering the event, experiences a flashback of visiting Livia in the hospital. He remembers her telling him about the torching of the Vesuvio, which Tony ordered done. Visibly angry, Artie confronts Tony outside by the pool. He takes the opportunity to inform him of what Livia told him, and remarks that their "little secret" died with her. Tony tries in vain to calm him down, but Artie ultimately stays quiet for the rest of the party.
Later that night, after everyone had left, Tony sits in front of the T.V. with his usual bowl of ice cream, and watches a scene from The Public Enemy
The Public Enemy
The Public Enemy is a 1931 American Pre-Code crime film starring James Cagney and directed by William A. Wellman. The film relates the story of a young man's rise in the criminal underworld in prohibition-era urban America...
featuring the main character's doting mother, Tony begins to cry and, for the first time, mourn his mother's death. However, Tony seeing the film may have also filled him with sadness that Livia was a mean-spirited, emotionally abusive and unstable woman, whereas Jimmy Cagney's mother was the kind of mother he would have liked to have had.
First appearances
The episode marks the first appearance of:- Ralph Cifaretto: A high-ranking soldier in the former Aprile crew who pushes to be made captain of said crew and a very good old friend of Tony's.
- Eugene Pontecorvo: A well liked associate and soon-to-be made man in the Aprile crew.
- Noah Tannenbaum: A half black, half Jewish college student and unofficial boyfriend of Meadow's.
- Ronald Zellman: Assemblyman for Newark, New JerseyNewark, New JerseyNewark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
's Lower 8th Ward.
Title reference
- Transliteration of the RussianRussian languageRussian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
Прощай, Ли́вьюшка: "Farewell, little Livia." Said in Russian, as a toast in Livia's memory by Livia's nurse, Svetlana.
Production
- Although this episode aired second in season three, it was the first to be shot.
- Because of Nancy MarchandNancy MarchandNancy Marchand was an American actress, whose career encompassed both stage and screen. She appeared in various theatre productions throughout the early 1950s, before being offered roles on film and television....
's death, David ChaseDavid ChaseDavid Chase is an American writer, director, and producer of television series. Chase has worked in television for more than 30 years; he has produced and written for shows as The Rockford Files, I'll Fly Away, and Northern Exposure. He has created two original series; the first, Almost Grown,...
decided that Livia should die as well. Livia's final scene was created using CGIComputer-generated imageryComputer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
with previous sound clips and scenes featuring Marchand. The cost was approximately $250,000. - This is the final episode in which Nancy Marchand is billed in the opening credits.
- Joe PantolianoJoe PantolianoJoseph Peter "Joe" Pantoliano is an American film and television actor. He played the character of Ralph Cifaretto on The Sopranos, Bob Keane in La Bamba, Cypher in The Matrix, Teddy in Memento, Francis Fratelli in The Goonies, Guido "the Killer Pimp" in Risky Business, and Jennifer Tilly's...
(Ralph Cifaretto), Steve R. Schirripa (Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri), Robert FunaroRobert FunaroRobert Funaro is an American film and television actor. Funaro is best known for the role of Eugene Pontecorvo in the Emmy Award-winning television series The Sopranos...
(Eugene Pontecorvo), John VentimigliaJohn VentimigliaJohn Ventimiglia is an American actor, known for his role as Artie Bucco on the HBO television series The Sopranos. He has had parts in feature films such as Cop Land, Jesus' Son, and Mickey Blue Eyes and has appeared in numerous television shows including Law & Order and NYPD Blue...
(Artie Bucco), and Katherine Narducci (Charmaine Bucco) are now billed in the opening credits as part of the main cast, but only in episodes in which they appear. - David Chase had planned a major story line for the third season concerning Tony's efforts to patch things up with his mother to prevent her from testifying against him at his RICORICO-Music:*Rico , a 2000 album by Matt Bianco*"Rico" , a 1998 song the Matthew Good Band from the album Underdogs*Rico International, a manufacturer of reeds, mouthpieces, and woodwind accessories...
trial. Nancy Marchand's death caused Chase to revise a large portion of the season. The idea of Livia's being made to testify was also mentioned at the FBI meeting in the preceding episode, "Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood". - The episode was part two of a two-hour season premiere when it originally aired in 2001.
- Vincent PastoreVincent PastoreVincent Pastore is an Italian-American actor, often cast as a mobster and best known for the role of Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on The Sopranos.-Early life:...
makes a cameo in this episode, when Tony opens a closet door and Pussy is seen in the mirror.
Music
- The song played over the end credits was "I'm Forever Blowing BubblesI'm Forever Blowing Bubbles"I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" is a popular song which debuted in 1918 and was first published in 1919.-Creation:The music was written by John Kellette. The lyrics are credited to "Jaan Kenbrovin", actually a collective pseudonym for the writers James Kendis, James Brockman and Nat Vincent...
" by Les PaulLes PaulLester William Polsfuss —known as Les Paul—was an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is credited with many recording innovations...
. - "Eyeless" by SlipknotSlipknot (band)Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
can be heard playing in A.J.'s room. - The song played by Janice on the stereo, in honor of her mother, is "If I Loved You" by Jan ClaytonJan ClaytonJan Clayton was a film, musical theatre, and television actress.-Career:...
, from the original Broadway cast recording of CarouselCarousel (musical)Carousel is the second stage musical by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II . The work premiered in 1945 and was adapted from Ferenc Molnár's 1909 play Liliom, transplanting its Budapest setting to the Maine coastline...
.