My only complaint in this episode was that there wasn't a paper in the driveway. I also thaought it was sad that Dick Barone died.

I found this interesting observation from a website, when Tony told AJ. Remember this:

"Let me tell you something, AJ," Tony Soprano said to his son in the middle of the sixth season premiere of "The Sopranos." "I don't care how close you are. In the end, your friends are going to let you down. Family, they're the ones you can depend on."

TIS

Btw, I heard Lorraine Bracco say in a brief interview yesterday, that her sister had a part in last night's show, playing a mobster's wife. I thought maybe Eugene's wife, but this morning on Imus they had on Vito, Johnny Sac, and Eugene and they said Eugene's wife was from an acting class (not mentioning Bracco) . So I'm not sure which part she played.

Just another tidbit I'm picking up this morning (they've had Johnny Sac, Vito, and Eugene on MSN on two different shows this morning). I know many thought the Pine Barrens episode was one of the best. They said the same writer who wrote that episode (don't know the writers names) wrote last nights episode.

TIS

Just wondering...

All the hype and speculation leading to last nights eppisode pointed to a character getting killed. Which one do you think it was? Pontecorvo or Curto?

I didn't think about it too much before the episode, but it was clear to me 10 minutes in that Eugene was a dead man walking.
....And I'm starting to change my mind (slightly) whether Junior is losing his mind or acting. I rewatched the episode this morning, and after he went into the closet, he looked as if he knew exactly what he did. I don't understand how killing Tony would help his case that he's senile though.

THe place were Gino killed that fatguy I eat there all
the time it in NEWARK

Rip gino and the fatguy he killed

HBO just posted the summary...

When Phil Leotardo visits Johnny Sack in jail he assures him he's playing nice, but complains that Tony wants the same split on the Office Park deal as the Esplanade. Phil tells him to hold firm---"But don't turn it into World War III."

Eugene Pontecorvo has inherited $2 million from his aunt, and he and his wife Deanne see his inheritance as a way out. Gene goes to Tony with a gift and a request for a favor: permission to retire to Florida. Tony's not thrilled, but when he agrees to think about it, Gene gives Deanne the green light to make an offer on their Florida dream house.

Hanging out at the Pork Store, Vito boasts that the only problem with losing weight is that he may have to join Clothing Anonymous, "You shoulda called your sponsor before you bought that jacket," says Ray Curto.

Agent Harris shows up with his new partner, Goddard. "Where you been," Tony asks. "I got some new federale in my rearview the last six months." Harris, it turns out, was transferred to Terrorism and just got back from Pakistan where the only thing he caught was a parasite.

After dinner at a Chinese restaurant, Hesh and his son-in-law, Eli, are jumped. Hesh escapes, but running away, Eli is hit and dragged by a taxi. He survives, barely. Seems one of Phil's guys- Gerry Torciano - thinks Eli is freelancing in Brooklyn, when in fact he was just collecting for Hesh.

Hesh calls in Tony to straighten things out, but Phil seems in no hurry to accommodate. When Phil is slow to return a call, Tony complains to his crew that he needs to use Ginny's brother as a back channel to Johnny Sack. T blows up: "What the f$#% is it? I can't catch a f*%$#*' break?"

He catches one-though he doesn't even know it-- when Ray Curto keels over just as he's about to tell Agent Robyn Sanseverino what he's got on Tony. The Feds have lost another informant. Meanwhile Tony visits Ginny's brother, optometrist Anthony Infante, to ask him to pass along a message to his brother-in-law Johnny Sack. When Anthony next accompanies his sister Ginny on visiting day, he passes it along: "The guy from Jersey asked me to talk to you." Johnny tells Anthony to have Phil deal with it.

Junior's mind is playing tricks again-he's convinced that Pussy Malanga is stalking him, and that he stole 40 Gs from a job back in the '70s. Tony can't take it. But when he complains to Melfi and she suggests assisted living, Tony cites family loyalty. Melfi hammers at Tony about his mother and his denial about her, and he turns on her: "What was your mother like?" But Melfi's not fazed: "She was controlling and manipulative at times. She also never tried to kill me."

After much delay, Phil shows up for a meeting at the Bada Bing offering 50k for Eli's troubles. That settled, they move on to the Office Park. When Tony agrees to a 65/35 split, Christopher balks. "I'm not caving, it's a strategy," Tony explains. "Johnny's in jail. You keep him happy, he'll keep a lid on Phil."

Christopher orders Gene to take care of a bad debtor, promising to put in a good word to Tony "on that Florida thing" in exchange. But after Gene shoots Teddy Spirodakis in a fast food chicken joint, Silvio breaks the news that Florida's out. Deanne is devastated- "Tony, Tony! Why don't you kill him?....You think I don't know you've done it before?" she screams. It only gets worse when the Feds call in Gene, who we learn has been a cooperator, and tell him he's got to replace Curto as their man on the inside. Feeling as if he has no choice, Gene hangs himself.

Called off a cruise on the Stugots II to babysit Junior, T bust in on Janice and Bacala, but she's too busy with her new baby to help out. "F$#@ it! You want something done, do it yourself."

Tony makes dinner while Junior goes to look for his teeth. But the aging wiseguy finds a gun instead, and in a fit of paranoia, shoots Tony in the stomach. Junior hides in the closet while Tony struggles to make it to a phone to call 911.



I was sad to see him go

EDIT: I just saw that Furio is still credited as appearing in last night's episode. Did anyone see him? I was thinking maybe he made a ghostly appearance like the one of Big Pussy in Season 3 that nobody caught. I'll have to go back a look for him specifically.

I'm afraid of something annoying, like the rest of the season being a dream while Tony is in the hospital.

Vercetti, you worry too much.

Apparently, it maybe for only one episode....though this season maybe set about his underlings trying to take over with Tony disabled.....and yes, I'm sure someone will get whacked.

Havent we read that 2 of the next 3 episodes will be largely dream-based? I really don't mind the dream sequences, but I wouldn't want them to do a whole season that way.

I remember reading awhile back that Tony was going to be hurt and in the hospital. I be lieve this was before the show was renewed for a final season. On another front, Jamie Lyn Seigler[Meadow] went back to her maiden name, is she divorced in real life?

Yes

I really dug it. "Members Only" is perhaps the best season premiere episode we have ever seen, maybe with the exception being the pilot episode.

I was surprised by a few things. Raymond Curto's death wasn't what I expected. He's been wearing a wire for at least five years. I always thought he'd avoid being found out by his fellow mobsters and he'd avoid getting killed for it, since he was a LOT smarter than any of the other rats we've seen (Jimmy Altieri, Big Pussy Bonpensiero, Adriana, Jack Masserone). He was a captain (and once was almost boss after Jackie Sr died) and thus in the best position to bring down Tony and the Family. His heart attack was definitely a surprising twist, especially since the previous scene was Tony whining, "Why can't I ever catch a break?" He has no idea what a break he caught with Curto's sudden death.

I get a kick out of how this show will bring up some obscure name from earlier seasons and make it a major plotline (example, Feech LaManna). They did it again with Junior raving about Little Pussy Malanga. For longtime watchers, you'll recongnize Malanga as the mobster Junior wanted to have killed in Artie's restaurant, which Tony set on fire to avoid having a mob execution take place there. We never did see how Junior eventually did away with Little Pussy Malanga, but going by Tony's words, he's now been dead for a while.

Junior shooting Tony was totally unexpected and was absolutely great.

I have a theory here, and maybe I'm totally wrong, but hey, it's just a feeling: I betcha that Junior's insanity is all an act. According to rumors, Junior hires a slick new lawyer who's pretty ruthless. My guess is Junior is amping up the senility act so he gets declared not competent enough to stand trial. I'm sure he still feels resentment to Tony for setting him up in the first place to be taken down by the FBI.

Maybe I'm totally wrong (in fact, I probably am), but it's an interesting theory, no?

I have a question regarding Curto. Why did he flip in the first place? I have a feeling that this is something that we were never told but I could be wrong.

I liked the episode. The end was pretty surprising. I figured it would happen, but not that Junior would do it.

Curto was a storyline that for several seasons never went anywhere. At least they finally ended it.

I've been meaning to try and pinpoint the first episode we are made aware of this. Anyone know off the top of their head?

EDIT: I just read that it's "Proshai, Livushka," where his cooperation is first revealed. I still don't remember the scene specifically though. So he was one episode away from being a rat for a full 3 seasons, and nothing ever really came of that storyline.

You have one kid and you stop posting in a timely fashion?? Geez.... :p

I look forward to your reviews this season.

Hey SC. Man, I wish I had the chnace to do up the big reviews every episode. I had plenty of time during Season Five to do the writeups, not so this time. Two years ago, we just moved back to Buffalo from Philly and I was job-hunting, and we didn't have our little bundle of joy, either!
Ah well...

I was just jokin', Chris.

A new baby takes precedence!

I'm origionally from Buffalo too. Damn I miss Ted's Hot Dogs!

On a Soprano note, I wonder if the dream sequence would be about Tony being a "civilian" instead of a mobster. Maybe Big Pussy would be in it because he might be still alive if it wasn't for Tony's dream.
Or another intersting thing I thought of, maybe Tony will have the same dream as Christopher did in the second season, with Brenden Falone and Mikey Palmice. Maybe once Tony wakes from his dream he mentions this to Paulie, and thats why he acts crazy this season (as reported).

i finally managed to see the first episode of season six yesterday (im sorry to say i've had to avoid this website for that matter) and i have to say that this was an awesome episode. it had the feel of the first couple of seasons. i don't know if anyone agrees with me. and can't believe that eugene killed himself...and that tony was shot. i always wished that juniour would one day be able to get back up there in the ranks again.

he wont get back up the ranks...he is ombatz.

if anything he will put out to pasture...ie allowed to retire or something.

still havent seen this episode yet...goddammed internet isnt surfacing.

hey ben you must not be looking in the right places, i got it on tuesday!! and i sent you s message but no reply?

Hey SC or Geoff

When Eugene shoots that guy in the diner..is that the same diner we saw on the tour? Remember? It kind of looked like it no?


TIS

No, TIS. That wasn't the same place. Don Vencent posted that he eats at that place (in real life, of course) and that its in Newark.

Just came across something on the TV Guide website. It had a picture from the Sopranos and said something about how they're getting ready for a funeral, but not the one you think. Tonight should be interesting!

mate.

i havent had any private messages at all.

oh mate...any chance you could email me it??? I am dieing to see it.

i will private message my email address.

no message yet ben?

Just saw the opener.

Haven't laughed at the show in a while as much as I did when the camera cut from the scene with Curto in the Fed car and then to Tony looking at his corpse at his wake.

The final hanging scene was incredible to watch; could have been even more powerful had Pontecorvo had more screentime before this episode. It's a pattern now I'm familiar with: when a character suddenly starts getting a lot of screentime, he probably won't make it past this particular episode.

The aesthetics of season five continue: awkward editing within scenes (matching up multiple takes of one scene is difficult), with a brown tinge to the cinematography. I love it. Love it love it love it.

I also noticed Gandolfini's obviously put on a considerable amount of weight for this season. He really does look brilliant, and of his part, for this season; as if afraid the audience won't notice, Chase makes sure that he has an abundance of scenes with Tony eating out in plush restaurants--and even weighing himself at one point.

A few other things: loved the opening montage with the music; up there with "Good Year" at the beginning of season two. Carmela is proving more dislikeable, perhaps more credible, each season. I find her character fascinating. John Ventimiglia, as Johnny Sac, continues to prove his underrated worth; the brief scenes he has in jail were episode-stealers. Wasn't too keen, however, on the give-away essential dialogue: Phil telling Johnny in jail "My brother Bill" and all that; we know who the characters are, no need to make it too obvious.

Great episode. I have two and three ready to go...