One of the many shows that were revisited during the pandemic was the HBO hit series The Sopranos. Among those who have recently rewatched the show was Michael Imperioli, who played the drug-addicted, domestic abuser gangster Christopher Moltisanti, and it seems he wishes he could go back for a redo on some things.
Because the pandemic delayed shows from filming new seasons, streaming services provided an outlet where younger generations could watch critically acclaimed shows from previous eras on platforms like Netflix and HBO Max. Imperioli admitted that he recently rewatched HBO's The Sopranos alongside one of the show's other cast members for the first time since the series went off the air in 2007, which made him reflect on what it was like to be involved with what many consider to be the greatest show of all time.
In an interview with Live Kelly and Ryan, Imperioli admitted that he rewatched the show while doing a podcast with Steve Schirripa, who played Bobby Baccalieri. "Every week, I was watching and taking notes and really studying it, and then talking about it on this podcast. Neither one of us had seen it since it went off the air," Imperioli said. Imperioli admitted he had some criticisms regarding his performance then but loved being involved in the show. "There were a few things I wish I could go back and change and redo. A few scenes that I was like, 'Ugh.' And then for the most part I was really impressed by just how good all the acting was and the filmmaking and the music and the writing."
There was a renewed public interest in The Sopranos when its prequel, The Many Saints of Newark, was released both in theaters and on HBO Max in 2021. While Imperioli did not physically appear in the film for obvious reasons, he did provide narration, which made sense given how big of a role Imperioli played on the show as Moltisanti throughout all seven seasons it was on the air. Imperioli's performance as Moltisanti won him an Emmy for Outstand Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2004.
In this day and age, the public has become more and more fascinated with television antiheroes like Walter White, Don Draper, and Bojack Horseman. It goes without saying that none of those characters would have come to fruition had it not been for The Sopranos paving the way by having Tony Soprano as television's first full-fledged antihero. Better yet, the show also had other antiheroes like Imperioli's Moltisanti to bring nuance to criminals not typically seen in previous television shows. The Sopranos was among the first shows to put nuance into their characters that made their flaws bad but human at the same time.
It's why the show still resonates with viewers today as it did back then. Over the years, television has strayed away from black-and-white storytelling. By making it grayer, it makes it more personable for the viewers. Tony Soprano was an awful human being, as portrayed masterfully by James Gandolfini, but his values as a family man and as someone who needed therapy, gangster or not, made him empathetic to the audience. The other antiheroes who have come since then have all been inspired to some degree by the creation of Tony Soprano, as their showrunners have said as much.
The Sopranos can currently be streamed on HBO Max.
Source: Live Kelly and Ryan/YouTube