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Christopher (The Sopranos episode)
Encyclopedia
"Christopher" is the forty-second episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos
and was the third of the show's fourth season. Its teleplay was written by Michael Imperioli
, from a story idea by Imperioli and Maria Laurino
. It was directed by Tim Van Patten
and originally aired on September 29, 2002.
, intensely proud of his Italian heritage, wants to take action against protests for the Columbus Day
Parade by Native Americans
, believing it to be an insult to Italian-Americans. Without Tony
's approval, Silvio and Artie Bucco, along with a few others, attempt to break up the demonstration where a Columbus effigy
is to be burned. Silvio threatens them not to do so and sends Patsy Parisi to take it down. As they leave after being warned by the police, Little Paulie Germani has a glass bottle thrown at him and several others are injured. Tony learns about this and blames Silvio for intervening. Ralph Cifaretto meanwhile tries to threaten the protest leader, Del Redclay, to reconsider since Iron Eyes Cody
—a popular Native American figure—is actually an Italian-American (which is true). Tony tries to pacify the situation by talking to an Indian chief to convince Redclay not to protest during the parade. Although this fails, the chief invites Tony and his crew to his casino to gamble. However, they do not realize it is Columbus Day until they drive off from the casino. Both the parade and protest occur without mob intervention, which upsets Silvio. Tony tries to calm him down by telling him how proud he should be for being who he is and not just his heritage.
Meanwhile at a luncheon meant to enforce Italian pride in women, the "mob wives" are singled out when the speaker discusses the stereotypes of being an Italian in America. After the luncheon, Gabriella Dante lectures Father Phil Intintola on how much the wives, especially Carmela, have given to the parish, and that he had no right to bring in a guest speaker who intended to shame them about how they make a living.
In addition to Uncle Junior's RICO trial beginning, Paulie Walnuts begins to create tension between the two mob families when he tells Johnny Sack
about the joke Ralph told about his wife's weight and how Tony sold Uncle Junior's warehouse on Frelinghuysen Avenue near the Riverfront Esplanade. Johnny Sack contacts Tony and demands a share of the profit since both crime families share the Esplanade and that it would be only fair if they shared the Frelinghuysen Avenue profit. Johnny is also conspicuously rude and stand-offish toward Ralph, going so far as to tell Tony to keep Ralph away from him. It is clear to Tony and Silvio that Johnny is angry with Ralph, but they are mystified as to why.
While stuck in traffic, Bobby Baccalieri
receives a phone call from his son, who relays a message from his wife Karen asking him to buy some food on the way home. Bobby is upset about being asked to do the errand. He then ask his son "She can't do it?" and complains about being stuck in traffic. He then say to his son that "Your mother is a real pain in the you know what sometimes". He later feels great remorse after discovering his wife has died in the car accident that was causing the traffic problems he had complained about.
At the wake, a devastated Bobby kneels in front her casket and loudly sobs. The wives have pity on Bobby since he supposedly never took a comare
. Janice Soprano
continues to see Ralphie Cifaretto, who splits with Rosalie Aprile in order that he can be more open about his new relationship. However, after spending time with the widowed Bobby while on "ziti patrol," Janice breaks up with Ralphie, and pushes him down the stairs of her mothers house, he then threatens to kill her, causing her to run into a bedroom and lock the door, while he hobbles back to his car, outside.
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
and was the third of the show's fourth season. Its teleplay was written by Michael Imperioli
Michael Imperioli
James Michael Imperioli , commonly known as Michael Imperioli, is an American actor and television writer. He is perhaps best known for his role as Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2004. He also...
, from a story idea by Imperioli and Maria Laurino
Maria Laurino
Maria Laurino is an American journalist, essayist, and memoirist.-Early life and education:Maria Laurino, a third generation Italian-American, grew up in northern New Jersey...
. It was directed by Tim Van Patten
Tim Van Patten
Tim Van Patten is an American television director, actor, screenwriter, and producer. As a director, Van Patten has directed episodes of The Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, Boardwalk Empire, Rome, The Pacific, Game of Thrones, Ed, and Sex and the City. Van Patten is perhaps best known for portraying...
and originally aired on September 29, 2002.
Guest starring roles
- Jerry AdlerJerry AdlerJerry Adler is an American theatre director, production supervisor and a television and film actor.Adler was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Pauline and Philip Adler, who was a general manager of the Group Theatre...
as Hesh Rabkin - Sharon AngelaSharon AngelaSharon Angela is an American film, television actress, screenwriter and director. Angela is probably most well known for her portrayal of Rosalie Aprile on the HBO series, The Sopranos....
as Rosalie Aprile - Max CasellaMax CasellaMax Casella is an American actor. He is known for his roles on the television series The Sopranos, Doogie Howser, M.D., and as the voice of Daxter in the Jak and Daxter video game series.-Life and career:...
as Benny Fazio - Carl CapotortoCarl CapotortoCarl Capotorto is an American actor, known for his portrayal of Little Paulie Germani on The Sopranos. He is also the author of Twisted Head: An Italian-American Memoir.-External links:*...
as Little Paulie Germani - Lola GlaudiniLola GlaudiniLola Glaudini is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Elle Greenaway on the hit CBS series Criminal Minds, and for her role as Agent Deborah Ciccerone on the award winning HBO series The Sopranos....
as Agent Deborah Ciccerone - Tony LipTony LipTony Lip is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of crime boss Carmine Lupertazzi in the HBO series The Sopranos. He portrayed real-life Bonanno crime family mobster Philip Giaccone in Donnie Brasco.Lip is from Paramus, New Jersey...
as Carmine LupertazziCarmine LupertazziCarmine Lupertazzi, Sr., played by Tony Lip, was the fictional Boss of the Brooklyn-based Lupertazzi crime family on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Biography:... - Arthur Nascarella as Carlo Gervasi
- Christine PediChristine PediChristine Pedi is a television and theatre actress. She is also a cabaret performer and radio personality and younger cousin of the late Tom Pedi.-Theatre:BroadwayShe has appeared in three Broadway-theatre productions in New York City, New York....
as Karen Baccalieri
- Peter RiegertPeter RiegertPeter Riegert is an American actor, screenwriter, and film director, best known for his role as Boon from Animal House and crooked New Jersey State Assemblyman Ronald Zellman on the HBO original series The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Assemblyman Ronald Zellman - Craig Zucchero as George "Gus" Inzerillo
- Richard RomanusRichard RomanusRichard Romanus is an American actor of Lebanese descent. Among other roles, he has appeared in Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets, and provided voices for Ralph Bakshi's animated films Wizards and Hey Good Lookin'. He played Lorraine Bracco's ex-husband, later husband again, in three episodes of The...
as Richard LaPenna - Paul SchulzePaul SchulzePaul Schulze is an American actor best known for portraying Ryan Chappelle on the FOX series 24 from 2001 to 2004 and Father Phil Intintola on HBO The Sopranos from 1999 to 2006....
as Father Phil Intintola - Larry SellersLarry SellersLarry Sellers is an American actor/stuntman of Osage/Cherokee/Lakota heritage. He commonly portrays Native American characters such as his role on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as Cloud Dancing-External links:...
as Dr. Del Redclay - Alex RiceAlex RiceAlexandrea Kawisenhawe Rice born in 1972 in Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada, is a First Nation actress.-Early life:Alex Rice is a Kanien'kehaka born in 1972 in Kahnawake, Quebec, and is proud of her Mohawk heritage. She is also a member of the Rice family of Kahnawake, having descended from Edmund...
as Maggie Donner - Matt ServittoMatt ServittoMatt Servitto is an American actor, probably best known for his role on The Sopranos as FBI agent Dwight Harris. He also appeared on all 3 seasons of the Peabody Award-winning series Brotherhood as Rep. Donatello and had a guest appearance on Sex and the City as Carrie Bradshaw's editor...
as Agent HarrisDwight HarrisSpecial Agent Dwight Harris, played by Matt Servitto, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is an FBI agent assigned to Tony Soprano's case... - Nick ChinlundNick ChinlundZareh Nicholas "Nick" Chinlund is an American actor.-Early life:Chinlund was born in New York City. He attended the Friends Seminary in Lower Manhattan, later moving to Albany, NY in order to participate in Albany High School's varsity basketball program...
as Chief Doug Smith - Joyce Van PattenJoyce Van PattenJoyce Benignia Van Patten is an American stage, film and television actress.-Personal life:Van Patten was born in New York City, the daughter of Josephine Rose , an Italian American magazine advertising executive, and Richard Byron Van Patten, a Dutch American interior decorator.She is the younger...
as Sandy - Maureen Van ZandtMaureen Van ZandtMaureen Van Zandt is an Italian-American television actress best known for her small role Gabriella Dante, a close friend to Carmela Soprano on the HBO series, The Sopranos....
as Gabriella Dante - Montel WilliamsMontel WilliamsMontel Brian Anthony Williams is an American television personality, radio talk show host and actor. He is best known as host of the long-running The Montel Williams Show, and more recently as a spokesperson for the Partnership for Prescription Assistance...
as Himself
Episode Recap
SilvioSilvio Dante
Silvio Manfred Dante, often referred to as "Sil", played by Steven Van Zandt, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is the consigliere to Tony Soprano in the Soprano crime family. Silvio has one of the lowest profiles on the show. He is usually a behind the scenes figure...
, intensely proud of his Italian heritage, wants to take action against protests for the Columbus Day
Columbus Day
Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday...
Parade by Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, believing it to be an insult to Italian-Americans. Without Tony
Tony Soprano
Anthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely...
's approval, Silvio and Artie Bucco, along with a few others, attempt to break up the demonstration where a Columbus effigy
Effigy
An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,...
is to be burned. Silvio threatens them not to do so and sends Patsy Parisi to take it down. As they leave after being warned by the police, Little Paulie Germani has a glass bottle thrown at him and several others are injured. Tony learns about this and blames Silvio for intervening. Ralph Cifaretto meanwhile tries to threaten the protest leader, Del Redclay, to reconsider since Iron Eyes Cody
Iron Eyes Cody
Iron Eyes Cody was an American actor. He frequently portrayed American Indians in Hollywood films. In 1995, Cody was honored by the American Indian community for his work publicizing the plight of Native Americans, including his acting in films...
—a popular Native American figure—is actually an Italian-American (which is true). Tony tries to pacify the situation by talking to an Indian chief to convince Redclay not to protest during the parade. Although this fails, the chief invites Tony and his crew to his casino to gamble. However, they do not realize it is Columbus Day until they drive off from the casino. Both the parade and protest occur without mob intervention, which upsets Silvio. Tony tries to calm him down by telling him how proud he should be for being who he is and not just his heritage.
Meanwhile at a luncheon meant to enforce Italian pride in women, the "mob wives" are singled out when the speaker discusses the stereotypes of being an Italian in America. After the luncheon, Gabriella Dante lectures Father Phil Intintola on how much the wives, especially Carmela, have given to the parish, and that he had no right to bring in a guest speaker who intended to shame them about how they make a living.
In addition to Uncle Junior's RICO trial beginning, Paulie Walnuts begins to create tension between the two mob families when he tells Johnny Sack
Johnny Sack
John "Johnny Sack" Sacramoni, played by Vince Curatola, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was the longtime underboss and later the boss of the powerful Brooklyn-based New York City Lupertazzi crime family...
about the joke Ralph told about his wife's weight and how Tony sold Uncle Junior's warehouse on Frelinghuysen Avenue near the Riverfront Esplanade. Johnny Sack contacts Tony and demands a share of the profit since both crime families share the Esplanade and that it would be only fair if they shared the Frelinghuysen Avenue profit. Johnny is also conspicuously rude and stand-offish toward Ralph, going so far as to tell Tony to keep Ralph away from him. It is clear to Tony and Silvio that Johnny is angry with Ralph, but they are mystified as to why.
While stuck in traffic, Bobby Baccalieri
Bobby Baccalieri
Robert "Bobby Bacala" Baccalieri, Jr., played by Steve R. Schirripa, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a Capo and later the acting underboss of the DiMeo Crime Family, as well as Tony Soprano's brother-in-law...
receives a phone call from his son, who relays a message from his wife Karen asking him to buy some food on the way home. Bobby is upset about being asked to do the errand. He then ask his son "She can't do it?" and complains about being stuck in traffic. He then say to his son that "Your mother is a real pain in the you know what sometimes". He later feels great remorse after discovering his wife has died in the car accident that was causing the traffic problems he had complained about.
At the wake, a devastated Bobby kneels in front her casket and loudly sobs. The wives have pity on Bobby since he supposedly never took a comare
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
. Janice Soprano
Janice Soprano
Janice Soprano Baccalieri, played by Aida Turturro, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is Tony Soprano's elder sister. A young Janice has appeared in flashbacks, played by Madeline Blue and Juliet Fox.-Biography:...
continues to see Ralphie Cifaretto, who splits with Rosalie Aprile in order that he can be more open about his new relationship. However, after spending time with the widowed Bobby while on "ziti patrol," Janice breaks up with Ralphie, and pushes him down the stairs of her mothers house, he then threatens to kill her, causing her to run into a bedroom and lock the door, while he hobbles back to his car, outside.
First Appearances
The episode marks the first appearance of:- Pie-O-My: The horse that Tony befriends.
Deceased
- Karen Baccalieri: Wife of Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri; dies in a car accident.
Title Reference
- The title refers to the Italian explorer Christopher ColumbusChristopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
, the first European in several centuries to land in the Americas, in 1492. The controversy surrounding Christopher Columbus and Columbus Day parade protests are referenced repeatedly in the episode. - Michael Imperioli, who wrote the episode, plays Christopher MoltisantiChristopher MoltisantiChristopher "Chris" Moltisanti, played by Michael Imperioli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was Tony Soprano's protégé and a Capo in the Soprano crime family.-Biography:...
throughout the series. - Also, this is a reference to Saint ChristopherSaint Christopher.Saint Christopher is a saint venerated by Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians, listed as a martyr killed in the reign of the 3rd century Roman Emperor Decius or alternatively under the Roman Emperor Maximinus II Dacian...
, who helps travelers bear the burdens of misfortune, sudden and otherwise, by his example. This alludes to the tragedy of Karen's death, as a St. Christopher Medal supposedly protects travelers.
Connections to Other Episodes
- On the ride back from the casino, Tony references his reverence for Gary CooperGary CooperFrank James Cooper, known professionally as Gary Cooper, was an American film actor. He was renowned for his quiet, understated acting style and his stoic, but at times intense screen persona, which was particularly well suited to the many Westerns he made...
, whom he originally refers to in the pilot episode, as well as in Season Five episode "All Happy Families...".
Controversy
- The episode created a controversy when cast members of The Sopranos (specifically Dominic Chianese and Lorraine Bracco) were banned from marching in the Columbus Day Parade in New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, despite an invitation to participate in the event by New York City mayor Michael BloombergMichael BloombergMichael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
.
Music
- The song played over the end credits is "Dawn" by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Valli himself portrayed Lupertazzi capo Rusty Millio in seasons five and six.
- "ElevationElevation (song)"Elevation" is the third track and third single release from U2's 2000 album, All That You Can't Leave Behind. Featuring a thunderous beat, a variety of sound effects on the central guitar riff, and an easy rhyming lyric for the audience to shout along with, it was highly effective in its...
" by U2U2U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
and "Waiting for TonightWaiting for Tonight"Waiting for Tonight" is a song originally recorded by American female pop trio 3rd Party for their 1997 album Alive. American recording artist Jennifer Lopez recorded a version for her debut album, On the 6 , and the song became the second single from the album and also the most famous version of...
" by Jennifer LopezJennifer LopezJennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
are both heard when Carmela and Rosalie are in the gym.