The Sopranos is widely regarded as the show that changed television.
David Chase’s 1999 drama, backed by HBO after it was rejected by network television, is also seen as the show that spearheaded cable television, although others such as The Larry Sanders Show, Oz and Sex & the City had come before it.
But The Sopranos was a critical darling, winning 21 Emmy Awards across its six seasons, making stars of its cast and leaving the stage in 2007 as boldly as it began.
A new two part documentary, Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos, by filmmaker Alex Gibney (Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley) dives deep into its origins, risks and success through its creator and showrunner David Chase.
Chase, now in his late 70s, sits down with Gibney in a face to face therapy session / interview which mirrors Episode One’s session between mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) and psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco).
Even though this is produced by HBO, with all the necessary access to footage, Chase is a reluctant participant.
“I didnt realise it was going to be about me,” he tells Gibney, as he is forced to reflect on his upbringing in New Jersey and relationship with his mother.
Growing up around the New Jersey Meadowlands, visiting New York City, and having parents who ran a hardware store were influences that would shape his outlook, whilst seeing the films of Fellini and Polanski at University would ignite his screenwriting and directing ambitions.
His early television work included writing jobs on The Bold Ones, The Magician, The Rockford Files, and even Northern Exposure. But encouraed to ‘write what you know’ he turned back to his mother, serving as the inspiration for Livia Soprano (Nancy Marchand).
Chase reveals he originally wanted Robert de Niro and Anne Bancroft to play the show’s mother and son. Remarkably the doco includes original auditions for roles including Tony, Livia, Carmela and Christopher (see Jonathan LaPaglia’s audition).
There are interviews with Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Drea de Matteo (she thought it was a show about opera!) and musician Steven Van Zandt who was a contender for the role of Tony but ultimately written into a role by Chase as Silvio Dante.
Gandolfini speaks from the grave via earlier interviews, including with Inside the Actors Studio.
Also reflecting on the show’s phenomenal success are Robin Green, The Sopranos writer and producer, Chris Albrecht, former chairman and CEO of HBO, Carolyn Strauss, former president of HBO Entertainment, Alik Sakharov, director of photography and more.
There were fears around turning Tony Soprano into a killer in episode 5, the authenticity of filming in New Jersey instead of LA sound studios and Chase admitting he was ready to give up and write film scripts on spec.
Gibney features very little in the doco, no surprise given the entertainment giant that is Chase himself. The colour and character of the creator punctuates the doco with humour, anecdotes, fears and ambition. For any true fan of the show, or those of the “Golden Age of Television,” it is a glorious time-capsule.
As one creative sums up The Sopranos impact, “Television in the past is always about making you feel good.. .David was all about the opposite.”
Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos screens 8:30pm Sunday on Famous / Binge.
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