Reddit community dedicated to the HBO hit TV series, The Sopranos, and movie, The Many Saints of Newark. Like, why did you choose to write about that song? What did you mean by that? IMPERIOLI: He was in the car. Have you had that experience yourself? And he may have to do it. The lead singer and guitarist is my guest, Michael Imperioli. This is FRESH AIR. And you go to hell, or you think you go to hell. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Known for his role as Silvio Dante in The Sopranos, Steven Van Zandt is one of the most memorable actors in the entire series. Can you talk about how you decided to play Dom? And if all this isn't enough to appease his creative appetite, he also sings and plays guitar in his indie rock trio, ZOPA. As a famous musician, Van Zandt has amassed quite the reputation. Knowing him out of the context of his work on-screen, Amitin says Imperioli is nothing like the gangster persona so many know him for. Tony strangled Ralphie to death and recruits Christopher to help him throw the body into a quarry. According to People, he and a friend, Steven Armento, broke into a house on December 10th, 2005 searching for prescription drugs. Including plenty behind the camera, too. BRIGER: (Laughter) Yeah. brought him recognition. That's never been disputed by anybody. IMPERIOLI: Sure. Hearing that makes me miss him a lot, you know? Furthermore, he also happens to be one heck of a marksman. BRIGER: This is FRESH AIR. ALABAMA 3: (Singing) You woke up this morning, got yourself a gun. BRIGER: (Laughter) And he would do his own hair, right? And about three months into writing it, Lou died. It was very popular in a lot of countries, a lot of European countries, before it got popular in Italy. BRIGER: Right. I was just wondering, what was it about this person that influenced the character? God bless him. The role the three-time Emmy winner hoped to bring to life was that of the man w She even went so far as to use her influence to undermine her sons authority as head of the family. BRIGER: But you found yourself behind the wheel, right? It's not a movie that screams Christmas Eve. I don't even think about it ever again. He was behaving in it. "And the idea of shooting in Sicily for four months didn't hurt either," Imperioli added. You know, Bert, who's 80 years old in the show, right? However, this does not mean that he is not a good mobster. And the team does your hair and cuts it if it's needed and styles it and stuff. He was very big that way. Michael Imperioli is an amazing actor and made quite the impact in his debut as Christopher Moltisanti in The Sopranos. But it's not going to be as bad as, you know, what these characters are going through in "Midnight Cowboy." Accuracy and availability may vary. Imperioli speaks first. (SOUNDBITE OF YO-YO MA'S "UNACCOMPANIED CELLO SUITE NO. Although, due to Perrys hot-headed nature, his role as Tonys bodyguard and driver hit a snag after he got into a fight with him. You know, how do they justify or compartmentalize it? Dominics efforts have payed off as he is not only a famous actor, but a talented songwriter as well. He had some kind of mysterious process that he woke up very early in the morning for and air-dried it with tons of hairspray and, I guess, styling product and had it dyed by this - you know, his barber - those wings, the white wings in his hair, were - that was, you know - he would get that done before the season started, you know, and maintain it himself. Conclusion on "I look at Buddhism much more like a science than anything else, more than a religion or even a philosophy," Imperioli says. It seems to have given him a healthy perspective on life, too. Amitin didn't know who Imperioli was when they first started playing together in 2006. Food and sex are - food, obviously, you need to eat. And Rolling Stone Magazine recently named it the greatest show of all time. Then they went on a safari Neil Young and Snoop Dogg joined Willie Nelson on stage for a 90th birthday concert, More people are getting away with murder. WebApart from the damage it causes to his professional prospects, alcohol addiction also endangers his brothers life. What's the relationship? COURANTE"). Since he was born, Borgese has been frequently surrounded by mob and gangster influence. And he said he could give me the real - he could show me the real way to strangle somebody with a - whatever - piano wire IMPERIOLI: Or however they did it back then. According to the New York Post, Borgese'sfather was frequently in and out of prison while he was growing up. who was the baby leta lestrange swapped June 15, 2022. joyeux anniversaire ma belle soeur humour 12:11 am 12:11 am Newsletters Bevilaquais a close associate with the Soprano crew and works closely with Christopher Moltisanti. I'm a feminist. Silvio was a well-liked character that knew how to gettough when the situation called for it. To avoid conviction, which would have cost him his role in the show, Lier pleaded guiltyto the charge for his involvement in forcibly taking $40 from two teenage boys on a corner in New York Avenue. But actually, what I had to do that first day was kind of complicated even if you had a license, which was back down the sidewalk with trees on both sides and extras running away and looking at a mark straight ahead doing dialogue. He knows he'll probably always be the "Sopranos guy." And I feel like that's one of the, you know, best things I've ever been a part of," Imperioli said. It ran for six seasons and had set the standard for appointment TV when it ended in 2007. In the show, he plays Artie Bucco, a temperamental chef that is close friends with Tony Soprano. He enjoys anime, the MCU, loves Japanese and Italian food and likes to keep up to date on social media. BRIGER: This is FRESH AIR. Brancatos character shows that he is not afraid to get his hands dirty if the situation demands it. GROSS: Michael Imperioli spoke with FRESH AIR producer Sam Briger. So in that way, it's been very helpful, just to live.". NPR takes a look at his legacy as Christopher Moltisanti in "The Sopranos" and more. WebBest Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries. Imperioli's wiseguy credentials were established long before The Sopranos, and much like he lives on as Christopher in the minds of many, other fans of his work also recall his small role as Spider in Martin Scorsese's 1990 mobster film Goodfellas. What's that all about? Yeah, that says a lot about our family, doesn't it? And as soon as he's done with it, this, you know, wave of guilt and remorse and regret come over him all the time. And he comes over and asks you what's going on. Michael Imperioli is a busy guy. WebMichael Imperioli published his first novel, "The Perfume Burned His Eyes," in 2017, and it's being rereleased this December. Most actors dont work. You're talking about going back to early part of the 20th century, probably, and maybe earlier. However, when it comes to experience and criminal background, no other cast member stands out more than Tony Sirico. However, he has had his moments of rage and will not hesitate to confront people who have wronged him. BRIGER: Michael, let's take a short break here. However, Squicciarini was the first cast member to be involved in a more serious crime. It might have been. And as The White Lotus ignites his on-screen renaissance, The Sopranos has been experiencing a revival of its own. pic.twitter.com/cFgx9EwygZ. In 2006, he was spotted weaving in and out of traffic near his home. Unfortunately, Lier likewise takes it to a new level in real life. She joined NPR after spending 4 years at CNN, where she worked for various shows and CNN.com in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Ryan began her career in journalism as a print reporter covering arts and culture. August 18, 2020. And he secretly contracted a local sex worker to stay the week with him, which is causing him a lot of shame and guilt as he hopes to change and save his marriage. In character, in the context of that world, he was not acting. IMPERIOLI: That song's about my wife, you know, who I think is just extraordinary and one of the most unique people I've ever met and probably the smartest person I know. In the end, Nancy went above and beyond forand showed great dedication to seeing her role through to the very end. But he wakes you up because he wants to assuage his fears about hell. More after a break, this is FRESH AIR. The Sopranos goes above and beyond to include a cast that embodies the reality of mob culture that they demonstrate in the series. With such an intense reputation on TV, its only natural for some people to feel intimidated by Proval in real life. And I was like, oh, that's why this went on, and that's why he did this. Like, but we finally kind of got introduced at a concert in around 2001, and he invited me backstage and and we became friends. Your mother is a brilliant, amazing woman. And every night at midnight, they whack him the same way he was whacked in life. I always say nothing is sacred to me in my imagination. And he said, wow, that's very sweet. But eventually, I think they started watching and, you know - and a lot of people in Italy really like it. And Gen Z did what it does best: meme-ified it. After all several of the shows actors, many of whom are on this list, are responsible for a variety of crimes. Paulie is not a bully. Were plastered. You know, addiction really is something that a person has to define for themselves, at least in my opinion. And that song, I think, both terrifies him and inspires him in a way. But particularly, what it was, was this person, who I knew when I was a lot younger, was very hyperbolic in his expression of emotions to the point where sometimes I wasn't sure if he was acting or not. Do you remember doing that? But your character also is cheating on his wife, but he feels a lot of shame. IMPERIOLI: Yeah. The Sopranos viewership shot up 179%. He was also one of many characters that survived through some of the series most intense situations. While he may have been an important character in the series, Squicciarini still had his own demons when he was alive. And you know, at that time he was living with Rachel Humphreys in this building on the east side. IMPERIOLI: But raising kids, I can - I really learned a lot about my parents and particularly my father and how difficult it is to do that. Schirripa recently shared with Insider one of the more memorable set moments from making The Sopranos. During the filming of one fourth season episode, cast members James Gandolfini and Michael Imperioli had to be chained to a tree because they got too drunk before shooting. And it's painful night after night. What are you going to do, go Henry Hill on me now? It came out in 2017. A wildness and vulnerability, even while he was being ruthless. And he came to work - he didn't even go in the makeup trailer 'cause his hair was already done. But, yeah, you know BRIGER: Ooh, la, la, is not part of a Tibetan Buddhism IMPERIOLI: Ooh, la, la, no, is just - you know, sometimes you're just working on a song, and these things just come - you know? They're really intense scenes. It was a fun conversation. Although the details regarding his role are not entirely clear, he potentially still played a part in Hernandezs murder. It started in the early days of the pandemic, when HBO made hundreds of hours of content available for viewers without a paywall. "You just can't forget the kid," Scorsese told me. Schirripa and Imperioli co-hosted a podcast Talking Sopranos, and co-wrote a book about the show: Woke Up This Morning: The Definitive Oral History of The Sopranos. One is "Street Hassle," which is, like, one of my favorite songs from anyone. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. Erika Ryan is a producer for All Things Considered. Its a big production value thing, Imperioli said earlier this year on his podcast. Even though Tony got the better of him, it was still pretty gutsy of him to take him on. I'm Terry Gross. And it was - you know, the car - it was - I hit it pretty hard. In addition to The Sopranos, Schirripa also stars in other roles across TV and film. I mean, the book is not factual IMPERIOLI: Or biographical. GANDOLFINI: (As Tony) Forget Hollywood screenplays. And sex addiction can come in many, many, many forms. However, Sirico made it very clear to the shows creator David Chase that he would only accept the role under one condition. However, while several of the shows fictional characters may be legitimately tough in real life, the opposite also holds true. Tony takes it for a little bit. All rights reserved. From Barbie to The Flash, Here Are the Movies That Made the Biggest Impact at CinemaCon. In the world of The Sopranos, which is dominated by the machismo of male gangsters, Carmela is one of the few female actresses that stands out as a tough talking icon, according toThe Guardian. 'Yellowjackets' Showrunners Cite Tony Soprano as an Inspiration: 'That's What We're Aiming for' IMPERIOLI: You know, I met a couple of people who said they did what I did but for real, which means that they probably didn't, because anybody who really was in that life is not going to say it. For members of The Sopranos cast, its no secret that several of them have had run ins with the law. They rebel against them. he said. As a result, he became closely acquainted with several wise guys, allowinghimto build up on his real-life connections. Last year, he started leading free meditation groups over Zoom for anyone to join. He wasn't a mobster, but there were - he had some brushes with them. Michael Imperioli is starring in the second season of the HBO series "The White Lotus," which was created by Mike White. Or did you actually tell them you did know how to drive? Before hegot his big role inGodfather: part 2, Dominic worked for the Drug Commission of New York State as a recreational worker in a rehab center. I don't know if it was totaled. You're doing a good job. You can easily live your - you know, hopefully live your life without them, right? That's good. He made his 20 million dollar fortune with Men However, this was only one instance of Gross engaging in criminal mischief. He took on roles in theater, small independent films, and TV shows like Californication, This Fool, and Alex, Inc., and cameos elsewhere. Those things are going to destroy you. For over two decades, she not only fought against her alcohol addiction, she also devoted her heart and soul to her acting career, while also raising her kids. Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! And the reason was the idea of a mobster going to therapy to Italians just didn't make any sense at all 'cause they're just like, he - well, he's a Mafioso. GANDOLFINI: (As Tony) I'll [expletive] kill you. Does that sound like heaven to you? His firstone in the pilot is a testament to this fact. IMPERIOLI: I do remember doing that because that was the barbecue. This includes engaging in small time robbery, scamming, and even committing assault. Were stumbling to the cliff and we have to get to the edge to throw the body. BRIGER: Did you do much research into sex addiction and compulsion for the role? And 6,000 years is nothing in eternity times. Who talked Did you talk to her? Do you feel that's true? Someone might say you're being over-the-top or something, right? It's a beautiful and dark song BRIGER: about love and death and loss. I mean, I take it as a very high compliment to be the subject of people's memes.". Ha, ha, ha, ha, ho. IMPERIOLI: Dominic is wrestling with doing things he doesn't really want to do and feeling kind of propelled to do them once he gets kind of that bug in his head. However, none of the roles he starred in were enough to bring him recognition. In the show, A.J. "Then I think it naturally kind of moved towards meditation as well. I don't wait for people just to cast me, you know what I mean? After we take a short break, podcast critic Nick Quah will review podcasts that are intended to help you get to sleep. You multiply that number by 50. When Michael Imperioli joins the Zoom call, he's sitting in a beautiful home surrounded by stacked bookshelves, artwork and marble statues. It was kind of complicated. And as I started raising kids, I think I really forgave a lot of things that I might have been holding on to. However, overtime, it becomesclear that their relationshipis slowly onthe decline. "So for young people in their late teens and early twenties to be discovering it, and not just discovering it, but be really passionate about their love for it is kind of remarkable.". I don't think so. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "WOKE UP THIS MORNING"). IMPERIOLI: Well, those are really fun to play as an actor. IMPERIOLI: (Laughter) He was really protective. @MichaelImperio9. ", "You know, I always considered him one of the finest we have worked with.". And yes, he's laughing, too. And before that, he started doing martial arts. She said I could sell my life's story, make millions. And so I wanted to play the scene where Paulie - well, you're in the hospital. There was always a certain something about the character of Christopher Moltisanti that drew fans to him. I stuck it out with you. You couldn't change a comma. The Sopranos is back in a huge way thanks to pandemic streaming, the upcoming prequel film The Many Saints of Newark, and various show-devoted podcasts such as Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripas popular Talking Sopranos series. IMPERIOLI: Yeah. BRIGER: You know, there's kind of a pattern in the Tony-Christopher scenes, where, like, Christopher is grousing about something. And Tony went, I'm fine with that. The man best known for his career-defining role as the hothead wiseguy Christopher Moltisanti in The Sopranos is back in the spotlight. That's part of the magic and why it's resonating, you know, still. He appeared in the films One Night in Miami and Goodfellas, and starred in HBOs The Sopranos. Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. I love how Paulie is sort of, like, comparing doing time at purgatory, is like doing time in prison. "We're in the middle of recording our second album and it's about to be mixed. Unlike his niece, Richie is a true sociopath in nature and is one of the shows most ruthless characters. Such an incident happened to him after walking into theChin Chin restaurant in West Hollywood. BRIGER: Yeah. OFTA Television Award. And he's got a band called Zopa that's releasing new music. BRIGER: Finally, I just have to ask you about what sounds like a slightly odd Imperioli family tradition. ZOPA: (Singing) Oh, my Vita, holy madness made you mine. BRIGER: This is FRESH AIR. And you repeat these lines in different parts of the song, like, you're not like anybody else. Hell is hot. BRIGER: So when you got the role, you didn't tell the producers that you didn't know how to drive. They harbor these things and whatever - harbor things against them. WebMichael Imperioli is an amazing actor and made quite the impact in his debut as Christopher Moltisanti in The Sopranos. IMPERIOLI: Oh, I don't even know if it came up. His accomplishments include being a core member of the E Street Band, founding Wicked Cool Records in 2005, co-writing for Springsteen, as well as branching out into TV and movies beyond The Sopranos, such as the Netflix series Lillyhammer. Interestingly, not only were several of the shows cast featured in other memorable Gangster flicks like the Godfather films and Goodfellas, many of them are known for having criminal records. Like, as a profession and have some kind of longevity in this business. Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. But when there's no words, you really have to rely on connecting to the emotion as real as you can. He further states that when he hugged you, it was genuine. He was sent to the hospital to fix the cuts on his hand, but the staff didn't realize his foot cast, fake blood, and fake bullet holes on his chest were from a film set, and they panicked and rushed to help. So I started writing this coming-of-age story about this kid who moves - his mother inherits some money, and they move from a blue-collar, working-class neighborhood in Queens to a rather posh east midtown, you know, doorman building, you know, a distance that's, you know - I don't know - two miles maybe as the crow flies, but very, very different lifestyles, you know, different types of - it's a totally different kind of world for this kid. Despite being complete opposites of one another, both characters share a similar toughness and no-nonsense attitude that sets them apart from other characters in their respective series. And upstairs from him lives Lou Reed and his lover Rachel Humphreys, a trans woman who was like Reed's muse through the mid-'70s. Photograph: Courtesy of Steve Schirripa On one Friday night, they started drinking You know, you've said that you don't know how to act in a funny way, but you certainly know how to write a funny scene. Copyright 2022 NPR. You know, I'm not going to do stunts. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. During the two years that he was studying there, his teacher would frequently tell him to just let everything out. Although he is not really part of Tonys crew, the idea of participating in the lifestyle that Tony is known for is an exciting prospect for him. This video contains language and violence that some might find offensive. He went so far as to choose his crime family over the love of his life, Adriana, after she reveals herself to being an FBI informant. And then, Tony goes to see his - you know, this madam, who was a friend of, you know, Makazian, and they're talking about Paulie Walnuts. In The Sopranos, Darrow is one of the many gangsters that make up Tonys crew. A few days following his arrest, Ventimiglia was released from jail, without bail. Today, we're talking with actor, writer and musician Michael Imperioli. For example, even though he plays a mobster in The Sopranos, he stars as a detective in Blue Bloods. As someone whos in recovery, there where times when they was he absolutely killed this character, I was "And he improvised so well with Pesci, which is not easy to do. You know what I mean? Rolling Stone Magazine named ZOPA's debut album La Dolce Vita on its list of the best music of 2021. However, as brutal as he is as Christopher, Michael Imperioli is it the total opposite of his counterpart. Growing up, Lier spent a lot of his time auditioning and preparing for roles. That's how I was parented - never supported, never complimented. IMPERIOLI: No. Eventually, Richie reaches his limits after learning that his son is possibly gay. If you've heard "Coney Island Baby," you'd know that he shouts out to her at the end of that. In the second season, Michael Imperioli plays Dominic Di Grasso, a successful Hollywood producer with a sex addiction who's destroyed his marriage by cheating on his wife a lot. That seems to be playing out as well in your character. Imperioli has worked nonstop since The Sopranos. You've said that you've studied addiction your whole life. WebMichael Imperioli, 55, is an actor, writer, director and musician. BRIGER: Well, Michael Imperioli, thanks so much for being here. Lou Reed, Sydney 1975 Watch on It's this troubled version of Reed that becomes an unlikely father figure to Matthew in the novel. BRIGER: Well, you know, let's listen to a scene between you and James Gandolfini, who, of course, plays Tony Soprano. WebMichael Imperioli's drug taking/mental state in the years before he was cast in The Sopranos In the latest podcast he said that he was visited by a female spirit. So in that way, it's very positive and uplifting, you know? And then he, like, blows up. On the break, while they set up the lights, Michael and Jim [Gandolfini] drank a bottle of Wild Turkey, Schirripa said. He would swoop up his - the gray part of his hair and do those wings and come IMPERIOLI: Well, he would - you know, when you do a TV show, you come to work in the morning. Tell me that you will in the Bardo when I'm frightened and when I'm blind. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Then a prequel film for the show, The Many Saints of Newark, which Imperioli narrates, came out in 2021. But he says, you know, those were peccadillos. But what of the mind behind the character that supposedly defines Imperioli's acting career, David Chase? The latest news and how to stay informed. I've never really gotten an understanding of what that song is about, but it's definitely about suffering. It definitely does. And there's probably evidence that he has supported women and promoted women and feels like a feminist. WebMichael Imperioli was terrified of being fired from The Sopranos from the start. And Jim never found out who he was or how he got his number or anything like that. Whether or not Bert was a sex addict, I don't know. This one just might be a bit brighter than it's been for a while. Is there a relationship? He stars in the HBO series "The White Lotus" as a sex-addicted Hollywood producer on vacation in Sicily with his father and son. Sopranos creator David Chase has his own theory about why Christopher has held up as a distinctive character. But I just try to express as much as I can - you know? I don't think it was that. However, as dangerous as he is in the show, Dominic Chianese is an amazing person. There was even a time when he was affiliatedwith the Gambino crime family. He was responsible for grooming him into his eventual role as the head of their crime family. A request he was more than happy to fulfill. And Jim's like, yeah? From then on,helearned how to control and channel his rage into his performances. I've always promoted women. You know, once I use it, it's done. Since then, Broncato has been released from prison. Everythingchanged once The Sopranos came along in 1999. You guys are at Tony's house for a barbecue. and our There are very few shows, especially on HBO, that have been able to achieve a similar level of success to that ofThe Sopranos. They're not words. And a lot of my heroes, you know, artistic heroes, because most of my heroes from when I was young were artists, died of it as well. WebImperioli, left, with fellow cast members Steve Schirripa, centre, and Steven Van Zandt. His father Bert, played by F. Murray Abraham, flirts with any woman he comes across and his son Albie, played by Adam DiMarco, thinks they're both sexist dinosaurs. When the time came for him to becomeTony Soprano, Gandolfini's persona changed. You know, last year, you published a book called "Woke Up This Morning: The Definitive Oral History Of The Sopranos" that you co-wrote with Steve Schirripa, and he played Bobby Bacala in "The Sopranos." However, despite her diagnosis, she made a request to David Chase to let her continue working for as long as she was able. The scene can be found in the fourth season episode Whoever Did This, which finds Tony Soprano (Gandolfini) and Christopher Moltisanti (Imperioli) heading to upstate New York to dispose of the body of Ralphie Cifaretto (Joe Pantoliano).
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