"The Sopranos" Live Free or Die (2006)

Director:

Timothy Van Patten

Writers:

David Chase (creator)
David Chase (written by) ...

TV Series:

"The Sopranos" (1999)

Original Air Date:

16 April 2006 (Season 6, Episode 6)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Tony seeks guidance from overseas to solve a local problem; and decides whether a top earner deserves another chance.

Plot Keywords:

New Hampshire | Law Firm | Broken Down Car | Diner | Homosexuality

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Nov. 20	8:00 AM	AETV	Live Free or Die	#6.6
Fri. Nov. 20	2:00 PM	AETV	Live Free or Die	#6.6

Cast

James Gandolfini	...	Tony Soprano
Lorraine Bracco	...	Dr. Jennifer Melfi
Edie Falco	...	Carmela Soprano
Michael Imperioli	...	Christopher Moltisanti
Dominic Chianese	...	Junior Soprano (credit only)
Steve Van Zandt	...	Silvio Dante (as Steven Van Zandt)
Tony Sirico	...	Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri
Robert Iler	...	A.J. Soprano
Jamie-Lynn Sigler	...	Meadow Soprano
Aida Turturro	...	Janice Soprano (credit only)
Steve Schirripa	...	Bobby 'Bacala' Baccalieri (as Steven R. Schirripa)
Frank Vincent	...	Phil Leotardo
John Ventimiglia	...	Artie Bucco
Joseph R. Gannascoli	...	Vito Spatafore
Dan Grimaldi	...	Patsy Parisi

Runtime:

58 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:TV-MA | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Boonton, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Brad Grey Television

Trivia:

When Tony comes into the kitchen, he is singing the words "sitting on a park bench", a line from the Jethro Tull song "Aqualung"

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: Tony walks down stairs singing but his lips aren't moving.

Quotes:

Finn Detrolio: It was the other way around. Vito was blowing the security guard.
Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri: Son of a bitch!

Movie Connections:

References "The L Word" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Aqualung

"You knew Vito was a ricchion' ?"

Of all the embarrassing moments the characters of this series have experienced, none can have been more shameful than the discovery that Vito Spatafore, one of Tony's most loyal men, is gay. As you might remember, the fat hoodlum was in a gay bar in the previous episode, wearing an all too obvious leather outfit, and got caught by two low-level crooks.

Now, word is out on the streets, and the reaction is practically unanimous: the poor son of a b*tch should get clipped. Tony disagrees, and with good reason: not only is it the 21st century, a period in which these things are more common every day, Vito also happens to be his top earner (much like Ralphie Cifaretto two seasons ago; that one didn't end well either). Besides, he claims, there's no actual proof, aside from the two guys' testimony, that Vito really is homosexual (Chris's response: "What, we actually have to see him take it in the ass?"). However, once Meadow's fiancé Finn, in the episode's most painfully hilarious scene, tells the crew what he saw back in Season Five (the infamous BJ on a security guard), there is no doubt anymore, and Phil Leotardo insists, with particular enthusiasm (Vito married his cousin), that the mess be settled with old-school methods.

Unfortunately, Vito is nowhere to be found: sensing the gathering storm, he has fled to New Hampshire, leaving his cell phone behind and preparing to start a new, fake life. That life will be the focus of the next few episodes, and the fact that this bloodless subplot works is all due to Gannascoli, whose careful performance is miles away from the overblown "gay gangster" caricatures seen in Guy Ritchie's films. Having stayed in the shadows since Season 2 (plus the cameo in Season 1 as a completely different character), he has been promoted to a series regular in Season Six, Part One, proving he has the same dramatic strength as the rest of the cast.

Okay, so there's pretty much no violence in the episode, or any disturbing moments. But who cares? The subtle writing and expert acting (not to mention a few merciless gay jokes) make it as worthwhile as any other story of the show.