All Happy Families...

Title reference

• The episode's title is taken from the famous opening sentence of Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina: "All happy families are alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."^[1] It refers to the breakup of the Soprano household.

Production

• The episode's script was written by
  Angie Bonpensiero
  , and serves as story editor on several episodes of season five.
• The character of Ira Fried was recast in this episode with actor John Pleshette. The role was initially played by Lewis J. Stadlen.
• This is the first time that singer
  example needed
  ]
• Bernie Brillstein, who plays himself at the card game, is the business partner of Sopranos executive producer Brad Grey. Also appearing in the card game is former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor (whom Tony refers to, in reverence, as “Sir Lawrence of the Meadowlands”) and, in a separate card game, Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth.
• Leon Wieseltier, longtime literary editor of The New Republic, plays car-theft victim Stewart Silverman.

References to other people, characters, and popular culture

• As Christopher and Benny pay a visit to Feech, he called them "Olsen and Johnson." This was in reference to the popular vaudeville duo in the first half of the 20th century.
• Tony's greeting to white-bearded, portly, Brillstein, upon entering the card game, likens Brillstein to Santa Claus.
• Meadow and Finn are watching the film Frida on TV.
• Tony, Artie, Tony B., and A.J. watch "The $99,000 Answer" episode of The Honeymooners on TV.
• While trying to connect with A.J., Carmela references the "drum solo" from The Beatles' song "Birthday", which she mistakenly calls "Happy Birthday."
• While in Manhattan, A.J. attends a concert by the heavy metal band Mudvayne, who are performing at the Hammerstein Ballroom.
• Silvio says "this hand's from thalidomide," referencing the drug that caused shortened limbs in newborns.
• A.J. is aiming for Ramapo College or The College of New Jersey (Trenton State), with his reach schools being University of Arizona and Arizona State University.

Music

• Edison Lighthouse's "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" is played in the background, probably on a radio, while Lorraine is murdered.
• The Starlight Orchestra performs "Siman Tov! Mazel Tov!" during the Horah at the wedding reception.
• As Tony and Carmela see Mr. Wegler about A.J., Tony asks what A.J. did: "Did he call the teacher 'Daddy-O'?" This was based on a line from The Coasters song, "Charlie Brown."
• One scene in the
  Bada Bing features The Cars' "Moving in Stereo
  ".
• In the scene where Tony is arguing with Feech, Jimi Hendrix's "Who Knows" is playing in the background throughout the scene.
• As A.J. and his friends smoke
  marijuana in the hotel room, "Trouble" by West Coast rapper Roscoe
  can be heard playing in the background.
• The music played over the end credits is "La Petite Mer" by
  Thierry Robin
  .
• "Beat Connection" by LCD Soundsystem is playing in a scene set in the Crazy Horse.
• "Nobody Loves and Leaves Alive" by Little Steven and the Lost Boys (real-life band of
  Steven van Zandt
  ) is the song silently pointed out to Tony by Silvio when it is playing in the Crazy Horse.

References