Christopher (The Sopranos)
"Christopher" | |
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The Sopranos episode | |
Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 3 |
Directed by | Tim Van Patten |
Story by |
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Teleplay by | Michael Imperioli |
Cinematography by | Phil Abraham |
Production code | 403 |
Original air date | September 29, 2002 |
Running time | 54 minutes |
"Christopher" is the 42nd episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the third episode of the show's fourth season. Its teleplay was written by Michael Imperioli, from a story idea by Imperioli and Maria Laurino. It was directed by Tim Van Patten and originally aired on September 29, 2002.
Starring
- James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano
- Lorraine Bracco as Jennifer Melfi
- Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano
- Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti
- Dominic Chianese as Corrado Soprano, Jr.
- Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante
- Tony Sirico as Paulie Gualtieri
- Anthony Soprano, Jr.
- Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano *
- Drea de Matteo as Adriana La Cerva
- Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano
- Furio Giunta
- Artie Bucco
- Steven R. Schirripa as Bobby Baccalieri
- Johnny Sack
- Charmaine Bucco
- Ralph Cifaretto
* = credit only
Guest starring
- Hesh Rabkin
Also guest starring
- Rosalie Aprile
- Vito Spatafore
- Patsy Parisi
- Agent Harris
- Benny Fazio
- Eugene Pontecorvo
- Father Phil Intintola
- Little Paulie Germani
- Carmine Lupertazzi
- Gabriella Dante
- Frank Santorelli as Georgie
- Karen Baccalieri
- Lexie Sperduto as Sophia Baccalieri
- Angelo Massagli as Robert Baccalieri III
- Ginny Sacrimoni
- Harold Melvoin
- Richard LaPenna
- Assemblyman Ronald Zellman
- Joyce Van Patten as Sandy
- Larry Sellers as Del Redclay
- Alex Rice as Maggie Donner
- Nick Chinlund as Chief Doug Smith
- Montel Williams as himself
- Yul Vazquez as Reuben 'The Cuban'
- Nick Di Paolo as Joey the Cop
- Joseph R. Sicari as Phillip Di Notti
- Randy Barbee as The Judge
- Dan Castleman as Prosecutor Castleman
- Roma Maffia as Professor Longo-Murphy
- Jerry Grayson as Marty Schwartz
- Val Bisoglio as Murf
Synopsis
At a luncheon meant to instill Italian pride in women, the "mob wives" feel singled out when the speaker attempts to dissociate
The
Shortly after Ralphie leaves
First appearances
- Dan Castleman: the prosecutor in Junior's trial
- Pie-O-My: The racehorse that Ralph Cifaretto buys and Tony admires
- Marty Schwartz: an associate of Hesh Rabkin's who organizes the meeting between Tony Soprano and Chief Doug Smith
Deceased
- Karen Baccalieri: wife of Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri; dies in a car accident.
Title reference
- The title refers to the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, the first European in several centuries to land in the Americas, in 1492. The controversy surrounding Christopher Columbus and the Columbus Day parade protests are referenced repeatedly in the episode.
Production
- Dan Castleman, who plays a prosecutor with the same name on the series, first appearing in this episode, also acts as a consultant for the show's writers, giving them expert advice on their questions about legal matters dealing with the Mafia. In his real-life career, Castleman spent 30 years in the Rackets Bureau and then of Investigations.[1]Castleman would be credited for his contributions and given the title of a technical adviser starting with the second part of Season Six.
References to past episodes
- During a therapy session, Janice's therapist tells her she should stop dating her brother (Tony Soprano)'s employees, citing that the last time Janice did, her fiancé ran out on her to enter the witness protection program. This is in reference to Janice's former fiancé Richie Aprile, whom Janice killed in the episode "The Knight in White Satin Armor".
Cultural references
- The speaker at the Italian women's pride event mentions such famous Italian brands as Rudolph Giuliani
- Carmela tells Tony that A.J.'s teacher told his students Columbus would have been prosecuted for crimes against humanity if he lived today, just as Slobodan Milošević was then
- At breakfast, A.J. is reading A People's History of the United States (1980)
- Tony says the casino owner asked him to have Rusty Millio, a Lupertazzi family capo
- Silvio mentions to Tony that mobster Joe Colombo created the first Italian-American Civil Rights Leaguein the 1970s
- Watching a news broadcast of the violence that occurred at the Columbus Day Parade, Melfi's ex-husband Richard remarks that Albinoni's Adagioshould be played over the clip.
- In his conversation with Silvio, Tony reveals Silvio's daughter studies at Lackawanna College
- Chief Smith tells Tony that finding out Iron Eyes Cody is not Native American is like finding out James Caan is not Italian. Cody claimed to be native but was actually of Italian ancestry; Caan is best known for playing Sonny Corleone in The Godfather but was of German-Jewish descent.
- Tony refers to the movie High Noon (1952), in which Gary Cooper, playing a sheriff, faces the Miller gang
- Tony tells Silvio they should take pride in their personal accomplishments rather than merely in the Italian-American accomplishments, such as The Godfather or Chef Boyardee
- Professor Murphy's book is about the strega, Italian witches.
Controversy
The episode created a controversy when cast members of The Sopranos (specifically Dominic Chianese and Lorraine Bracco) were banned from marching in the Columbus Day Parade in New York City, despite having received an invitation to participate in the event from New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.[2][3]
Accolades
Joe Pantoliano won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at the 55th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2003 for his work in this episode and Whoever Did This.[4][5]
Music
- The song played over the end credits is "Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
- "Elevation" by U2 and "Waiting for Tonight" by Jennifer Lopez are both playing when Carmela and Rosalie are in the gym.
- Ralph's ringtone is the Rocky theme.
- Bobby Baccalieri's ringtone is "La donna è mobile" by Giuseppe Verdi.
References
- ISBN 978-1-933821-18-4.
- ^ "The Sopranos out of tune with parade". The Age. Melbourne. October 15, 2002. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
- ^ "'Sopranos' Banned From Parade". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
- ^ Neal, Rome. ""Joe Pantoliano, Emmy Winner."". CBS News. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ISBN 9781419734946.
External links
- "Christopher" Archived 2016-08-18 at the Wayback Machine at HBO
- "Christopher" at IMDb