Talking Sopranos

Celebrity Superfan Alec Baldwin joins Michael and Steve this week on Talking Sopranos. Steve and Michael have always said no one comes on the podcast unless they were directly involved in the making of the Sopranos. Well we're going to break that rule for Alec, and we're going to break it again with the Talking Sopranos Superfan Contest!

In order to thank our fans for voting for us for the Webbys, Michael and Steve are going to invite a few lucky fans to join them on the podcast. Just go to the Talking Sopranos website and click the Superfan Contest link to enter. Tell us a little about yourself and why we should have you come on the podcast. We'll pick a few lucky fans to join a future episode.

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Then before getting into this week's episode, Michael and Steve try to rank Sopranos characters by wealth….Tony? Johnny? Who do you think has the most scratch? After that Michael and Steve break down this week's episode, S5 – Ep9 "Unidentified Black Males".

Make sure to subscribe to the Talking Sopranos YouTube channel. Go to our website to ask Michael and Steve questions, buy Merchandise and enter the Talking Sopranos Superfan contest.

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It all begins with a big THANK YOU to all our fans for voting Talking Sopranos the best podcast in Television and Film at the Webbys!

Then Michael and Steve take on one of the best episodes of the entire Sopranos series. They also welcome guests Leslie Rae Bega (Valentina La Paz) and Joe Lisi (Dick Barone). Leslie is a fascinating woman who not only is an incredible actress, but an extremely successful real estate agent and accomplished chef. She tells us the story of her life, her career and how she ended up on the Sopranos. She also talks about how she got the role of Valentina, and what it took for her to give that character real personality. When Leslie was hired she knew there would be some nudity involved but things did get a bit more graphic then she expected. Over all it was an amazing experience and she has many fantastic stories to tell.

After that Michael and Steve welcome Joe Lisi to the podcast. Joe tells us how he went from real NYPD captain to TV and film actor. He said he made more money in one day playing a police captain on TV than he did in a whole week as a real captain. He also tells us the real story of a celeb who went to buy coke, signed autographs for the undercover cops and ended up in cuffs. Joe is the real deal.

Finally Michael and Steve break down S5 – Ep8 "Marco Polo". This is one that Michael wrote so he has lots of really interesting inside info. He tells great stories about the script, the production and what went on behind the scenes. It's another fantastic episode of Talking Sopranos! Don't forget to subscribe to the Talking Sopranos podcast wherever you get your podcasts and visit the Talking Sopranos website to ask Michael and Steve questions and buy official TSP merchandise.

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The one and only Steven Van Zandt joins Michael and Steve this week on Talking Sopranos. Little Steven talks about his early days with Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny and of course the Sopranos. David Chase, the Sopranos creator, saw Steven induct the Rascals into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and asked him to audition for the show. Steven's answer was "thanks but no thanks". Eventually he did come around and was actually cast as Tony Soprano. But it was HBO who nixed the whole idea, they wanted someone with more on-screen experience. Steven had already been working on a script about a wise guy named Silvio Dante. David liked it so much he wrote the character into the show. But just when Steven thought he had found his new career, Bruce called and wanted to put the E-Street band back together. Crazy story and a great interview with a man who starred on one of the greatest TV shows in history and plays guitar in one of the greatest rock and roll bands in history.

Then it's Happy Birthday Mr. Tony Soprano as Michael and Steve break down episode #60 "In Camelot" S5-Ep7. Make sure to subscribe to the Talking Sopranos podcast wherever you get your podcasts, and visit the Talking Sopranos website to ask Michael and Steve questions and get official merchandise.

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Paul was a member of the SUNY Purchase Mafia and talks about his college days with Edie Falco, Hal Hartley and Wesley Snipes. He originally auditioned for the role of Mikey Palmice, but after his audition David Chase asked him to read for Father Phil. Strangely, Paul's real life dad was a bit of a flawed priest himself so Paul knew exactly how to play that part.

Then Jason Minter joins the podcast. Jason started out as the locations manager for the Sopranos but David Chase quickly took him on as his own personal assistant. Jason saw the entire Sopranos operation from the inside out. He knew what was going on before the actors, producers or directors did. When someone on staff leaked secrets about the show, Jason was the one who did some digging to figure out who it was. Turns out the guilty party was making hundreds of thousands of dollars selling story lines to the tabloids.

After that Michael and Steve break down this week's episode. It was directed by Peter Bogdanovich and a big one for both Steve Buscemi and Edie Falco. Check out Talking Sopranos #59 "Sentimental Education" S5 -Ep6. Make sure to subscribe to the Talking Sopranos YouTube channel and go to the Talking Sopranos website to ask Michael and Steve questions and buy official merchandise.

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VOTE TALKING SOPRANOS THE BEST PODCAST IN FILM AND TV AT THE WEBBY AWARDS!

Click the link below or go to https://www.talkingsopranos.com to Vote. Voting is open until May 6th. http://bit.ly/3goJBEf

This week on Talking Sopranos Michael and Steve welcome Maureen Van Zandt (Gabriella Dante)to the podcast. Maureen shares stories about her days with Jimi Hendrix, Tony Sirico, the Beatles and growing up in a Mafia family. She also talks about how Georgianne Walken asked her to audition for the part of Gabriella. She thought it would be weird if she got it, or didn't get it but in the end was the perfect choice for the role.

Then Michael and Steve go through some of the weird phone numbers they have plugged in their phones. Steve has lots of priests, celebs and an old hooker named Grandma Gums….maybe Great Grandma Gums by now.

After that the guys get into this week's episode which was a big one for Michael. It's one of the two episodes that HBO submitted to the Academy for his Emmy win. Michael and Drea are absolutely fantastic in this episode and Michael talks about all their scenes in detail. Check out Talking Sopranos Ep #58 S5 – Ep 5 "Irregular Around the Margins". Don't forget to subscribe to the Taking Sopranos podcast wherever you get podcasts and go to the Talking Sopranos website to ask Michael and Steve questions and get official Talking Sopranos merchandise.

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**VOTE TALKING SOPRANOS THE BEST PODCAST IN FILM AND TV AT THE WEBBY AWARDS!

Go to https://www.talkingsopranos.com to Vote.

Direct Link to Film and TV category at http://bit.ly/3goJBEf

Voting is open until May 6th so VOTE NOW!

This week Michael and Steve welcome Todd A. Kessler (writer/producer) to the podcast. Todd is a really interesting guy who wrote 4 episodes of the Sopranos and produced 20 more. He's a Harvard grad who met David Chase when he was 24 and started writing for the show at 25. He had a great run on the Sopranos until David decided the show would be better off without him. It was a huge blow for Todd and he tells us what James Gandolfini told him the night he left the show. After the Sopranos, Todd went on to become the co-creator and show runner for the very successful series Damages.

Then Michael and Steve breakdown this week's episode. In this one AJ talks Carmela and Tony into letting him spend the night in NYC. He ends up with his face glued to the floor and his eyebrows shaved off. Michael and Steve have a few things to say about this debacle, raising kids and our beloved school system. It's another fantastic episode of Talking Sopranos #57 "All Happy Families" S5-E4. Don't forget to subscribe to the Talking Sopranos podcast wherever you get your podcasts and go to the Talking Sopranos website to buy official merchandise and ask Michael and Steve questions.

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Matt kicks things off with a really interesting story about how a girl and a trip to Italy changed him from a D1 lacrosse player at BC to an actor in NYC. How Georgianne Walken caused him to lose one job, but then got him the gig of a lifetime on the Sopranos. He also shares stories about his first day on set and his audition where he got a rare pat on the back from David Chase.

Then Chris Caldovino joins the podcast. Chris followed Terry Winter from NY to LA and was the only other client of Terry's fake agency. When Chris was hired for the Sopranos he got the role of Billy Saragusa…But after one day the writers changed his name to Billy Leaotardo and that's the way it stayed. Chris may be the only person killed by Steve Buscemi in two different shows!

BTW ever since the Milton Berle huge cock episode we've been getting a lot of e-mails and Steve is finally going to set the record straight about who's packing in Hollywood. The Golden Poddy awards have been released and you'll be surprised at what Talking Sopranos has been nominated for. It's all this week plus the episode breakdown of "Where's Johnny?" on Talking Sopranos Ep #56 S5-E6. Make sure to subscribe to the Talking Sopranos podcast wherever you get your podcasts and go to the Talking Sopranos website to ask questions and buy official Talking Sopranos merchandise.

This week Oksana Lada (Irina Peltsin) and Carl Capotorto (Little Paulie Germani) join Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa for another amazing episode of Talking Sopranos.

Oksana doesn't do a lot of interviews so it's a real pleasure to hear how she's doing. She looks exactly the same as she did 20 years ago and just as much fun.

Then Carl Capotorto joins the podcast and shares some stories about the Sopranos he has never revealed before. He talks about how he auditioned for Ralphie four or five times but didn't get the part. Then after Ralphie was cast, Georgianne Walken called him back and asked him to audition for the part again! Eventually Joe Pantoliano was cast as Ralphie and was brilliant. Carl also talks about the first time he met Tony Sirico and how Tony thought Carl was stealing his look!

After that Michael and Steve get into the episode but get sidetracked with a few crazy stories about the Rat Pack and Napoleon's penis….well…I guess you just have to hear it. It's a great episode with lots of juicy info. Talking Sopranos Ep #55 S5 - Ep2 "Rat Pack". Make sure to subscribe to the Talking Sopranos podcast wherever you get your podcasts and go to the Talking Sopranos website to ask questions and buy official merchandise.

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Will is a great guest and shares some hilarious stories about his life, the business and of course the Sopranos. He tells us about how his mother prepared him for his Sopranos audition, and how nervous he was the first day on set. He also shares a really funny story about smoking pot right before one of his scenes, and how he got through it….totally baked. He also talks about how shocked he was he first read the script where Finn catches Vito in the parking lot. He thought his character would get killed or worse and was totally up for it.

Before breaking down this week's episode Michael and Steve recap the body count through the first 52 episodes. There were 48 deaths so far and the bodies will continue to pile up as some big names are about to join the cast…. Steve Buscemi (Tony Blundetto), Frank Vincent (Phil Leotardo) and Robert Loggia (Feech La Manna) all make their first appearance in the season 5 premiere. It's a great episode and a fantastic way to kick off season 5. Talking Sopranos S5 – Ep1 "Two Tonys". Make sure to subscribe to the Talking Sopranos podcast wherever you get your podcasts and go to the Talking Sopranos website to ask questions and buy official Talking Sopranos merchandise.

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This week on Talking Sopranos Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa welcome a real legend. Frankie Valli (Rusty Millio), singer, songwriter and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee joins the podcast. In an extremely revealing interview, Frankie talks about growing up on the mean streets of New Jersey, and how without music, many of his friends may have ended up dead, in the mob or in jail. He also shares how he developed a close relationship with Frank Sinatra and why it all went south. He also talks about how much he loved being on the Sopranos, and was actually willing to put his entire singing career on hold for a regular part. This is absolutely a fantastic interview.

Then Michael and Steve get into one of the best episodes from the entire Sopranos series….Whitecaps. This is one of Michael's favorite episodes and at 72 minutes long, like a mini movie. James Gandolfini and Edie Falco are simply spectacular as we watch their marriage fall apart right before our eyes. World class acting, an Emmy award winning script and award winning directing. Possibly one of the best episodes of TV ever! Don't miss Talking Sopranos S4-Ep13 "Whitecaps". Make sure to subscribe to the Talking Sopranos podcast wherever you get your podcasts and visit the talking sopranos website to ask Michael and Steve questions or buy merchandise.

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