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Patrick Walsh

I like to move it. Move it.

The Best Show In Television History

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posted Monday, 27 March 2006

No, I'm not talking about MTV's bonerrific Spring Break coverage. There's really no debate anymore. The Sopranos is the greatest show in the history of television.

Each week this show is better written, acted and directed than 100% of television and probably 99% of feature films. The fact that they have kept this quality up for so long is frankly shocking, and the people who lob lazy criticisms at it whenever an episode doesn't deliver exactly what they want are totally misguided.

You NEVER know what's going to happen when you tune in to an episode of The Sopranos. Never. I'll agree sometimes it heads into directions that are bizarre, even frustrating, but why should TV always take the easy, expected way out? This is a show that demands patience. People bitch about stories starting up and having no "point" or not going anywhere, but every second of this show is crammed with double and triple meanings, nothing is thrown together. It's a show that demands attention, thought, second viewings, and discussions.

And it's really funny.

Some spoiler-free thoughts:

I have always thought Edie Falco is the best actress on television. After the first three episodes this season, I think we might be talking about one of the best actresses working today.

James Gandolfini is just as good. Can you imagine how sad it must be for these people to go work in the shitty movies they do in the off season?

This show should win the Pulitzer Prize for casting. People with three lines leave an impression on The Sopranos.

This season and last owe big debts to David Lynch and Stanley Kubrick, with even seemingly normal scenes stuffed with dread, menace, and meaning. The "alternate" sequences (the dream episode from season 5, big chunks of the last two episodes), though they may seem totally pointless, I feel they tell you just as much about the characters as what happens to them in the "normal" sequences. How risky for a show beloved by so many people to take narrative chances like this.

I think the woman Tony is talking to on the phone in the Finnerty sequences is Charmagne Bucco, Artie's wife and the woman Tony dated before Carmela. Give that some thought and get back to me, I think I'm right, and it adds another level of juice to those scenes.

That ten minute sequence last night with Tony approaching the "house" with his "briefcase" is one of the most insanely great things the show has ever done, and I don't think I breathed the entire time. What a strange, beautiful, emotional way to deal with what could have been a stock dramatic scene.

Paulie was particularly hilarious last night.

I know there are other good shows on television. There are shows that I absolutely love. The Sopranos bends over and takes a huge dump on those shows, week after week. It's like The Beatles, you just sort of acknowledge it as being on its own plane and THEN you can discuss the rest of what's out there.

The greatest aspect of this show? It is on Sunday nights. So instead of staring at the ceiling mourning the impending loss of freedom and return to work on Monday, the whole heirarchy is thrown out of whack, and Sunday becomes the jewel of the weekend crown. And there's nine more glorious weeks to come. If you've never watched this show, you're not too late. Rent the DVDs. Borrow them. I'll loan them to you. Just make it happen.

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What do you think? Leave me a comment! (16)


1. Dale left...
Monday, 27 March 2006 12:29 pm

I was just glad to see steve buschemi back in action. I love that guy!


2. Kevin left...
Monday, 27 March 2006 4:11 pm

I actually think the voice on the other end of the phone is Dr. Melfi. Must admit I just got into the show this season (having only seen the pilot) and while it kills me to think of all the seasons I've missed I am LOVING it.


3. sam left...
Monday, 27 March 2006 5:13 pm :: http://craftysam.blogspot.com

I just wish I had HBO...the only Season I've been able to watch while it actually aired was Season 3 in college. Sunday nights we always ate spaghetti and peppermint patty brownies and watched Sopranos in my friend's dorm room...those were good times...I finally have DVR but I still haven't shelled out the dough for HBO...maybe I'm a fool.


4. Matthew left...
Monday, 27 March 2006 6:06 pm :: http://www.turboshark.blogspot.com

Let's see; you go to Hollywood, and then come back singing high praises of The Sopranos? Looks like somebody got a job at HBO.


5. RØB left...
Monday, 27 March 2006 7:20 pm :: http://www.pancakeproductions.net

See, you actually had me captivated there for a second--having never seen an episode of THE SOPRANOS, I was eagerly hanging onto everything you said as generally abidable or even absolutely trustworthy information. I was ready to buy the first season without ever having seen it, and those aren't cheap DVDs! Then ya said that thing about the Beatles, and now I'm going to make it a point never to see the show, and to destroy every TV on which I see it playing, ever.


6. Matthew left...
Monday, 27 March 2006 8:23 pm :: http://www.turboshark.blogspot.com

The Sopranos are bigger than Jesus.


7. Matthew left...
Wednesday, 29 March 2006 12:51 pm :: http://www.turboshark.blogspot.com

Hey Pat, are you going to see that Britney Spears Pro-Life statue in the near future? I hear it's free! http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060328/ap_en_ot/britney_art_brouhaha


8. JJ left...
Thursday, 30 March 2006 3:41 pm :: http://spaces.msn.com/politicsJJ/

Pat, you are not watching 24, eh? It is on par with The Sopranos. Matt, I think I might see the sculpture if they offer a 360 view.


9. Matthew left...
Friday, 31 March 2006 12:40 pm :: http://www.turboshark.blogspot.com

Yeah,I want to see Sean Preston's head crowning out of Britney's 'gina, but I can't find any pics on the Internet. :(


10. Bryan left...
Friday, 31 March 2006 2:30 pm

Hey Pat,

It makes sense if Charmagne was on the other end of the line, considering their history together. It was also interesting that, during Carmela's amazing bedside monologue, (with "American Girl" playing in the background on that little boombox, great ironic counterpoint), the story she chose to remember was of Tony saving Charmagne from drowning, back when they were young and he had a "full head of hair."

And yeah, Paulie was so fucking funny last night. I laughed every time he mentioned his "ma." So pathetic and hilarious.

What I particularly liked about the dream/surreal sequences was that even though they presented Tony living a normal, law-abiding life, he's certainly not happier, and is even forced by circumstances to break the law. (Though using someone else's credit card is a tad different than murder. But still). In the dream, he's so anonymous that he's mistaken for someone else, and his identity will be further destroyed because of the Alzheimer's. Plus he's completely powerless. He even gets pushed around. By monks!

There was nothing random or pointless about this sequence. It was perfectly in synch with the show's dark vision.


11. Patrick Walsh left...
Sunday, 2 April 2006 10:08 pm

Dale,

Agreed on Buscemi. He immediately elevates everything he's in. Even "Armageddon."

Kevin,

Aren't you at all confused starting this show in the sixth season? By all means, go back and watch the rest! They're incredible.

Sam,

Peppermint Patty Brownies? I just came in my pants. Please send a recipe.

Matthew,

I do not have a job at HBO. Unless you count my extensive appearances on "G-String Divas."

Rob,

Your "hatred" of The Beatles seems to be just a way for you to seem cool and different from everybody else. It's OK to love something that is popular. And The Beatles have NOTHING to do with The Sopranos, so even if you do hate them, please watch the show. A "Twin Peaks" fan would love it.

JJ,

I watched the first season of "24" but found it too distracting to have to pause it and jerk off every twenty minutes to Elisha Cuthbert. I plan on catching up on DVD someday.

Bryan,

Very interesting points on "Sopranos," and I pretty much agree with all of them. I've got to say that bedside Carmela monologue was beyond great, one of the best things the show's ever done.


12. RØB left...
Monday, 3 April 2006 8:44 pm :: http://www.pancakeproductions.net/mustar

I never said I hated the Beatles. To quite the contrary, I own more of their discography than anyone I can think of that I know personally, and I have some pieces of their discography not commonly owned, to boot. You might even say I'm a fan.

You're telling me it's okay to like popular stuff? I like plenty of popular stuff (ever seen or heard Mustardfish, for example? As I recall, most of our songs are covers of popular songs--if you need a refresher, check out the link I used for this comment, you can even download songs to yer iPod as necessary!)! I just happen to think that as highly rated as the Beatles are by just about everyone, they are (therefore?) among the most overrated . I never thought of them as on their own plane (with regard to what came before, that which was contemporaneous with them, and what has come since, whether as influenced by them or otherwise), as far as comparisons to other things goes, is all. I don't know that I consider anything to be on such a plane, in music or otherwise.

Also, your keen eye for satire appears to have softened up a bit! I'm not really going to smash every TV I see, after all. Matter of fact, I just put the first season of THE SOPRANOS on reserve at the library as per your suggestion!

Additionally, thanks for making the podcasts. Somehow three nerds baring how sexually frustrated they really are A)rings a bell, and B)tends to keep my drowsy ass awake on the 40-minute ride home better than music usually does. Capital job!


13. Patrick Walsh left...
Wednesday, 5 April 2006 9:35 am

Rob,

My eye for satire has not softened, you must have just caught me in a sour mood. I just re-read my comment to you and it's a bit saltier than I intended. Cheerfully withdrawn.

PS, are you saying that these podcasts keep you awake on the road, and therefore...our podcasts keep you alive? And would you be willing to attest to that in some sort of public forum so that more people will listen to them?


14. RØB left...
Thursday, 6 April 2006 6:11 pm :: http://www.pancakeproductions.net

Pat, I will attest to just about anything, especially if it'll get more people to listen to yer podcast, whether you get me a job with your fancy TV show or not. a-HINT, uhh, I mean, a-HEM.


15. Denny left...
Wednesday, 12 April 2006 11:20 am

Edie Falco is the most amazing actress in the universe. She made me fucking cry in season 5(?) when she forced tony out of the house and threw his shit onto the driveway.. i mean.. GOD she is so incredible. The Sop's is amazing.. truly a gift to television.