16 + GUIDE - British Film Institute

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
no. 526. 18th February 2000, p.25
Evil genius, by Mike Flaherty
This article looks at the introduction in the second series of old-school goodfella RICHIE
APRILE. There is an interview with the actor David Proval, (RICHIE) who breaks down the
mentality of the character, and where the inspiration for RICHIE came from.
VANITY FAIR
no.474. February 2000, pp.24-27
HBO’s singular sensation, by James Wolcott
Well-written and informative article that principally looks at the success of the cable network
Home Box Office and the roster of award winning shows the channel houses. There is a
breakdown of the shows that appear on the channel which includes SEX AND THE CITY, THE
LARRY SANDERS SHOW and the excellent prison drama OZ, as well as how the idea for the
Sopranos fitted in with the channel’s remit for challenging, risk-taking drama.
Wolcott looks briefly at the role of the female characters in THE SOPRANOS, like the almost
Romanesque cunning of TONY’s mother LIVIA and the compliant yet contradictory role of the
Mafia wife, CARMELA.
The article makes an interesting comparison between THE SOPRANOS and an earlier madefor-TV
gangster series on CBS entitled WISEGUYS. Created by Stephen J Cannell (A-TEAM),
the series was credited with breaking away from the standard format of self-contained
episodes and pioneered the development of the extended story arc, a method THE
SOPRANOS has used to even greater effect.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
no.520. 7th January 2000, pp.20-27
Bright lights, baked Ziti, by Steve Daly
An interesting article especially for fans of the series conducted in between the first and
second series. There are interviews with the leading cast members; James Gandolfini (TONY
SOPRANO), Edie Falco (CARMELA SOPRANO), Aida Turturro (JANICE SOPRANO), Steven
Van Zandt (SILVIO DANTE), Tony Sirico (PAULIE WALNUTS) and the late Nancy Marchand
who plays Tony’s calculating ‘mother with no love’ LIVIA.
Gandolfini, Van Zandt and Sirico recall, amusingly, their different audition experiences which
includes Van Zandt originally going up for the part as TONY. Writer and creator David Chase
discusses his early work and the origins of THE SOPRANOS. The article also looks at the ongoing
saga of the National Italian-American Federation, who objects to the shows portrayal of
Italian-Americans claiming they are defamatory and stereotypical.
WRITTEN BY
September 1999, pp.24-25
Chasing Emmy, by David Chase
David Chase, creator and writer of THE SOPRANOS, writes in his own words about the origins
of the series. From its early beginnings as an idea for a feature film through to the struggles it
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