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Arrivederci, Sopranos

Friday, June 08, 2007
Tony Soprano

We say goodbye to The Sopranos with a discussion with Entertainment Weekly critic-at-large Ken Tucker and your predictions about how the show will end. Plus: what TV shows from the past do you miss most?


Comments

  • [1] Alan kearns from Yonkers June 08, 2007 - 07:09AM

    Paulie will sell Tony out.

    He was feeling out Johnny Sack some time ago, and will save his own skin by giving Tony up.


  • [2] Melanie from nyc June 08, 2007 - 08:23AM

    There's a shootout. Paulie and a few others die. It looks like Tony is about to die but the feds show up and intervene at the last minute. Tony goes to jail instead.

    and AJ joins the Peacecorps.


  • [3] richard from Westchester June 08, 2007 - 09:15AM

    Tony spills all to Feds to save himself and family


  • [4] Ray June 08, 2007 - 09:27AM

    Tony will flip and be put in the witness protection program and given the identity he had during the dream sequence after having been shot.


  • [5] Gustav Rech from Manhattan June 08, 2007 - 10:09AM

    As an homage to Coppola and the two Godfather movies (no one counts the last one), a member of Tony's family (probably Meadow because she was the cause of Tony's curb stomping one of Phil's associates) will be snatched/killed by Phil's henchmen to lure Tony out of his safe house and to his apparent demise. However, having seen the movie, Tony does not fall into the trap but turns it around to find Phil and kill him and Paulie who is an obvious traitor. At the end he is left alone, Carmela having left him and AJ either in an asylum or a victim suicide, to ponder his sad life just as Michael Corleone was at the end of Godfather 2.

    As an aside, I have only seen two episodes of the Sopranos about 5 years ago. Its amazing what you can get on the net!


  • [6] Raymond from HOWARD BEACH June 08, 2007 - 10:18AM

    Tony will not die, he will be left alone at the end of the show having barely beaten Phil Leotardo but his life in a total shambles and an emotional shell. The dynamic twist will be that his sister Janice will show her ruthless side and join with Tony taking revenge for her husband Bobby and will cement Tony's victory. Meadow, his pride and joy will be killed and both Tony and Carmela will lose their minds. Phyric tragedy.


  • [7] susan from essex county, nj June 08, 2007 - 10:47AM

    your show has hit another low, as far as i am concerned. i don't care to listen to what other people THINK might happen on a TV show. is this news???? is this relevant in ANY way?

    you are wasting air time, and this is an insult to my intelligence. too bad.


  • [8] kale from NYC June 08, 2007 - 10:51AM

    Beacuse of all of his crises colliding into one Tony finally has a breakdown. I think AJ steps up. Kicks some serious Brooklyn family butt.


  • [9] Tom Lemmon from New York June 08, 2007 - 10:51AM

    Prediction: Tony calls his Fed-anti-terror buddy to meet him with the idea of him testifying and going into witness protection. Tony goes to meet him but the agent gets out of the car and shoots Tony. He goes back to the car and we see Phil sitting in the back seat.


  • [10] Steve from Brooklyn June 08, 2007 - 10:52AM

    Tony will go to Jail not for any violent crime, but for dumpiing asbestos in the wetlands.


  • [11] Robert from Brooklyn June 08, 2007 - 10:52AM

    Tony wakes up in bed next to Suzanne Pleshette and realizes that the entire run of the Soprano's was just a dream.


  • [12] Laura from NJ June 08, 2007 - 10:52AM

    Carmela will be killed, Tony sent to jail, and Meadow will kill all the heads of the NY mob and run both.

    Or Tony will rat everybody out. After all Sopranos "sing".


  • [13] jake from astoria, ny June 08, 2007 - 10:53AM

    pauly sells out tony to phil, and it's curtains finally for the big soprano.


  • [14] Leonardo from Uptown NYC June 08, 2007 - 10:53AM

    I think that it's going to be a blood bath. Tony will be killed. Syl will be murdered in the hospital and the guy with the grey streaks in his hair will be left running "The Family". No mercy. It's gonna be a tough to watch show I think. I'll miss it.


  • [15] karen from New Jersey June 08, 2007 - 10:55AM

    Tony's family will be killed and he will kill himself.

    Both the Vanity Fair interview with David Chase, and comments made by James Gandolfini in the NJ paper today suggest that a final end to the series. Gandolfini was open to whatever Chase wanted to do, but Chase decided on "no more episodes", this story has been told.

    It may be a neat ending, but also closes the chapter for both Chase and Gandolfini.

    Karen in New Jersey


  • [16] Robert from NYC June 08, 2007 - 10:57AM

    Without a set-up to it, Tony gets smacked at the very end with lots of strings hanging, e.g., who did it, who takes over, what happens next?


  • [17] charlotte elkin June 08, 2007 - 11:04AM

    The New York Metropolitan chapter of the New York State Society for Clinical Social Work generated an interesting response to the therapy issue this past week. Here is the title/send me an email address for a copy of the full article if you are unable to access it:

    Therapists scratch heads over latest 'Sopranos' move

    By Jocelyn Noveck

    AP National Writer


  • [18] elle from New Jersey June 08, 2007 - 11:08AM

    I wonder why Tony does not pack up his family and flee to Italy - the home of his Roman ancestors (this used to be an important part of his identity). Chase could have then made a point about the Fall of Rome...


  • [19] H from New City, NY June 08, 2007 - 11:17AM

    With the World going to "Hell in a handbag" and all that's real to worry about...Does anyone really give SH--?????????


  • [20] RMD from NYC June 08, 2007 - 11:20AM

    Somehow AJ does or has something bad happen to him. Possibly he, instead of Tony, gets killed ala the "GF3" ending. However I got the feeling that Tony goes to the FEDS. Don't know how it will happen but he lives, helping the FEDS in their war against terror while in the "witness protection program." That said, somehow Phil and Paulie get whacked.

    Then again, Chase may just end it on a very traditional note, Carmen is left to pick up the pieces after 1) Tony gets whacked and AJ completes what he started. Carmen stunned by the ruin of her life absent many of her so-called friends of the "family"


  • [21] eligit from astoria June 08, 2007 - 11:22AM

    "does anyone give a (&*?"

    yes, strangely enough.


  • [22] Bert Picot from Jersey City June 08, 2007 - 11:35AM

    First, I think it is great that Brian is bringing attention to this fantastic series. He is always in touch with the majority of New Yorkers who listen to Public Radio.

    The series always seemed to be a modern opera and like a Shakespearean tragedy. But there is the therapy element that has made this series unique is Tony's therapy and if it has had any lasting impact on his morality. Dr. Melfi has cut her ties with Tony because she believes she has made Tony a better criminal.

    I think it will end sadly but with some hope. I hope Tony goes into witness protection but instead it will be a blood bath. Tony will die but he will die with dignity and self-sacrifice that will redeem him especially in the eyes of Dr. Melfi. Aj will kill him in a beautifully crafted Hobson's choice.

    Phil and Paulie will get their just deserts. Flashbacks and dreams will abound (can his mom come back?) and AJ will finally grow up to be a better man than his flawed dad.


  • [23] notowen from nyc June 08, 2007 - 11:36AM

    Carmela sings to the FEDS hoping to save her family and Tony, and Tony ends up having no choice but to whack her. AJ then kills tony, then himself in greek-type revenge.


  • [24] Stollie June 08, 2007 - 11:40AM

    Tony is going to get offed.

    How it happens remains to be seen. I have a sinking feeling he may resort to suicide. Suicide has been a reocurring theme since the show began. AJ's failing effort here is perhaps a foreshadowing.

    We were left with a striking image of T's isolation at the end of last week's edpisode. He is laying in bed alone with his weapon in a dark, empty room behind a closed door. Trsuting no one.

    He is not going into the witness protection program as someone predicted. Chase will leave several threads unresolved, but not T. Once T is decapitated (a fitting word, right?) there is no story.


  • [25] peter from Bklyn June 08, 2007 - 11:48AM

    A therapist acting unethically? Whats unrealistic about that?

    -A therapist


  • [26] rebecc from manhattan June 08, 2007 - 11:49AM

    I haven't seen the show yet!!! Its so wrong for you to have anything from the show on the radio!!! Its the equivalent hearing the ending of a movie that you haven't yet seen but really want to see! STOP!!!!


  • [27] RebJam from NYC June 08, 2007 - 11:59AM

    First. Rebecc chill out, turn off the radio if you don't want to hear. . no one's saying anything that any fan doesn't already know.

    Second, i'd like to guess how it'll end but i know I'll be wrong so why try.

    But what an interesting, chilling and introspective ride it was.


  • [28] Glenn "the Pie Man" from Manahattan June 08, 2007 - 12:03PM

    My prediction, Tony decides to kill everybody so he can start fresh, but cannot bring himself to kill Carm and the kids, who he professes his love for, after rescuing them from the competing mob family. My prediction is that the last scene is Tony walking off into the weeds in the marshlands by the bridge into manhattan.


  • [29] the_mayoress from satriale's June 08, 2007 - 12:04PM

    in my perfect world, meadow takes over, as she's the only competent person to run things, and carm finds out the truth about adriana.

    but this show is a tragedy, so as billy shakes taught us...

    tony must die

    carmela grows old consumed by guilt and regret

    meadow makes it out

    a.j. stepping up would be too much of a 180 at this point - he does something stupid

    janice goes crazy

    paulie remains loyal and is punished

    melfi's story is already resolved

    there is no NY family spinoff

    and

    chase makes crazy $$$ opening a bing franchise nationwide


  • [30] Sean from N.Y.C. June 08, 2007 - 12:19PM

    The Ukrainian victim of mistaken identity might have been a player in the "Russian" mob. If so, they will retaliate .A shot up but alive Tony and perhaps Pauly will survive their ambush. Sylvio will make a deal with the feds from his hospital bed.Tony goes to jail.


  • [31] Kirstin from Traverse City MI June 08, 2007 - 12:49PM

    I cannot get over the people who take the time to write about how meaningless they think this ad hoc poll is-While taking the time to write it!

    This program was great-it will be missed unlike the contrarians who have taken the time out of their superior busy schedules to make negative comments about a motion picture phenom in pop culture. Bouna Serra! Ciao!


  • [32] Michele from Jersey June 08, 2007 - 01:01PM

    I will miss The Sopranos' fine writing and acting, however it ends.

    But people west of the Delaware and east of Berkley think of The Sopranos as a documentary.

    If they really want to know about tri-state Italian-Americans, they should watch "Moonstruck."

    Cheers to Lehrer for (as always) spotlighting the drama that is America.

    Michele-A proud Italian-American


  • [33] denver from Los Angeles, CA June 08, 2007 - 01:05PM

    I agree with Laura in Jersey. Not sure all the details, but a lot of people get killed and then Meadow takes over. That would be the best ending. maybe they could play the Who 'won't get fooled again' as closing music.


  • [34] Jasco Loverly June 08, 2007 - 02:37PM

    I predict that it will take exactly 12 hours for the ending to be revealed to all those (millions of?) viewers who are a season behind because they view the shows via DVD rather than on pay TV! Aargh!


  • [35] Smooth Johnny S June 08, 2007 - 03:21PM

    Tony has had too many lucky breaks with the Feds. I say he's a rat.


  • [36] erik from Manh June 08, 2007 - 03:46PM

    Tony is killed and Paulie is the traitor.

    Clues go back to when Paulie asked Jonny Sack if he could switch families, Paulie was given the job to kill Phil by Tony but screwed it up and Phil explicitly told his crew not to kill Paulie.

    In the end, the meanest guys win: Phil and Paulie


  • [37] udinese from teranna June 08, 2007 - 04:05PM

    The final show will feature the return of the Canada Geese and the elusive Russian from the Pine Barrens episode. Other than that - who knows?


  • [38] Chaya from NY June 08, 2007 - 04:26PM

    The episode will be in the future of the Soprano family with Meadow and AJ as adults in full, taking care of their incapacitated father.


  • [39] roses June 08, 2007 - 06:56PM

    Paulie will turn in Tony to the feds. Tony will regret not taking that opportunity to kill Paulie on the boat.

    Tony will spend time in jail with Scooter Libby. He will convince Libby to "sing like a canary" about Cheney and co.

    Silvio will come out of his coma and tour with Springsteen again.

    If any of these come true, I would like a free WNYC tote bag please.


  • [40] georgia jadick from ramsey, new jersey June 09, 2007 - 01:35PM

    posted by georgia

    It can't happen, but - I wish Carm chould find out that T killed Christopher and had Adrianna and so many other "family" members elimenated. She is so clueless.


  • [41] Burt from Cleveland June 09, 2007 - 07:13PM

    The website www.audienceoftwo.com has a humorous take on this.


  • [42] paula licciardi from boonton,nj June 10, 2007 - 09:35AM

    Carmella must find out about Adriana and Christopher before the show ends or Davod Chase lost it. Paulie definately becomes a traitor. AJ snaps out of it and does some heroic act like saving Tony. The Feds jump in and help Tony by giving him information about the Brooklyn mob leaders whereabouts.


  • [43] George T from Bay Ridge Brooklyn June 10, 2007 - 03:14PM

    After Tony repels New York, a.k.a. gets Phil, he goes for a retreat in Maine. He stops in Rhode Island and happens upon one of the Maggio boys (uncle Junior's associates who when they contracted to hit Johnny Sack gave a photo with both Johnny Sack and Tony). The Maggio boys take out Tony. Last scene: Dr. Melfi getting the morning paper, sees Tony is assassinated, and strangely begins to laugh hysterically. At that moment a duck crashes through her window and falls dead in her newspaper. This is the End by the Doors is playing in the background. Fade out.


  • [44] roses June 10, 2007 - 10:29PM

    changed my prediction(after having seen the finale).

    James Gandolfini can't find any other substantial work. In 3 years HBO will offer David Chase and the cast a trillion dollars to pick up the series where they left off. By that time Silvio will have finished touring with Bruce and will trade in his bandana for that rats nest of a toupee once again.

    And I'd still like that tote bag, please.


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