October 30, 2008

CableFAX Program Awards, Hall of Fame: The Sopranos, HBO

Was The Sopranos TV’s embodiment of "be careful what you wish for"? Certainly we complained, as early as 2000 — season two — that the series had fallen flat, that creator David Chase’s plots had become excessively weird, that secondary characters were getting too much attention, that after actress Nancy Marchand’s death eliminated the evil princess of self-pity, Tony’s mother Livia, The Sopranos sank faster than a brick-bound corpse in the East River. Fine. So why are we, like many, experiencing so severe a withdrawal that the only palliatives are regular sessions with a Sopranos DVD box set? Admit it, that sometimes when you eat pasta you’re looking for Artie Bucco. Will there ever be a time when the names Tony, Carmela, Sil and Paulie won’t trigger certain thoughts? And what happened to sweet Meadow? Not to worry, we recognize our disease and are seeking treatment. Yes, we’re looking for a reputable doctor...named Melfi.

Return to 2008 CableFAX Program Awards table of contents.