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Cold Cuts (The Sopranos episode)
Encyclopedia
"Cold Cuts" is the sixty-second episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos
and the tenth of the show's fifth season. It was written by Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess
, directed by Mike Figgis
and originally aired on May 9, 2004.
learns that Johnny Sack
has seized an entire load of smuggled Vespa
s that were supposed to be received by Carlo Gervasi's crew and split between the two families. When he confronts Sack, the Lupertazzi family Boss
denies the possession of the Vespas despite evidence against him, and makes a pointed reference to Tony's continued denial that his cousin Tony Blundetto
was involved in the murder of Joey Peeps.
Janice Soprano
makes the TV news after getting arrested for assaulting a parent at a youth soccer game, prompting an infuriated Tony to again demand that Bobby
"take control" of his wife. Bobby gives her an ultimatum to either see an anger management specialist or their marriage will not work.
The "Soprano temper" becomes the focus of Tony's next session with Dr. Melfi
. She observes that depression and anger are Soprano family traits, and that depression can be a manifestation of rage turned inward.
Tony sends Christopher Moltisanti
and Tony B. to Uncle Pat's farm in upstate New York. The farm is about to come under new ownership, so they must locate and move three bodies that were buried there over the years. Christopher and Tony B. bond while doing the night work, but once Tony joins them, he and Blundetto fall back into their old routine of picking on their younger cousin, Christopher. Christopher takes the insults personally, especially the jabs aimed at his substance abuse recovery.
Once back in New Jersey, Tony visits the Bada Bing
and initiates a discussion of the terrorist threat tied to unexamined cargo containers at the ports, especially threats involving smuggled nuclear and biological weapons (about which Tony learned after watching a documentary on the subject). When Georgie Santorelli remarks that "you have to live for today", Tony suddenly explodes and gives him a beating that sends him to the hospital. Afterwards, Tony is remorseful, and gives Paulie a wad of bills and insists that he make sure Georgie receives the best care. Paulie then informs Tony that Georgie does not want to see him again and is quitting his job at the Bada Bing.
Tony joins Janice and Bobby for dinner, but is uncomfortable when he sees Janice deal calmly with a series of minor irritations, having seemingly overcome the "Soprano temper". He tests the newly docile Janice by making sarcastic comments about her estranged son, Harpo. When Tony asks, "What's French-Canadian for 'I grew up without a mother'?" and says: "Sacrebleu! Where is mi mama?" with an imitated French accent, Janice eventually explodes and chases Tony around the room with a fork in her fist. Satisfied, Tony leaves.
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 the tenth of the show's fifth season. It was written by Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess
Mitchell Burgess
Mitchell Burgess is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer. He worked extensively on the HBO hit-series The Sopranos. He was a creator and executive producer for Blue Bloods. He frequently works with his wife Robin Green.-Career:...
, directed by Mike Figgis
Mike Figgis
Michael "Mike" Figgis is an English film director, writer, and composer.-Personal life:Figgis was born in Carlisle, England and grew up in Africa. Figgis for several years had a relationship with the actress Saffron Burrows and cast her in several films...
and originally aired on May 9, 2004.
Guest starring roles
- Frank Albanese as Uncle Pat Blundetto
- 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 - Chris Caldovino as Billy Leotardo
- 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 - Joseph R. GannascoliJoseph R. GannascoliJoseph R. Gannascoli is an Italian-American actor and celebrity spokesman most notable for his portrayal of Vito Spatafore on the HBO series, The Sopranos.-Early life:Joseph R. Gannascoli was born and raised in Brooklyn....
as Vito SpataforeVito SpataforeVito Spatafore, Sr., played by Joseph R. Gannascoli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a member of the DiMeo Crime Family and a subordinate of Tony Soprano. He was married to Marie Spatafore with two children, Francesca and Vito, Jr., and was a closeted homosexual... - Dan GrimaldiDan GrimaldiDaniel "Dan" Grimaldi is an American actor who is known for his roles as twins Philly and Patsy Parisi on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Career:...
as Patsy Parisi - Arthur Nascarella as Carlo Gervasi
- Frank Santorelli as Georgie Santorelli
- David StrathairnDavid StrathairnDavid Russell Strathairn is an American actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for portraying journalist Edward R. Murrow in Good Night, and Good Luck...
as Robert Wegler - Frank VincentFrank VincentFrank Vincent is an American actor, musician, author and entrepreneur. He is a favorite performer of director Martin Scorsese, having played important roles in three of Scorsese's most acclaimed films: Raging Bull , Goodfellas and Casino . He often plays a gangster and works both in features and...
as Phil Leotardo - Chandra WilsonChandra WilsonChandra Danette Wilson is an American actress and director, best known as Dr. Miranda Bailey in the ABC television drama, Grey's Anatomy.-Early life:...
as Evelyn Greenwood
Episode recap
Tony SopranoTony 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...
learns that 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...
has seized an entire load of smuggled Vespa
Vespa
Vespa is an Italian brand of scooter manufactured by Piaggio. The name means wasp in Italian.The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co. S.p.A...
s that were supposed to be received by Carlo Gervasi's crew and split between the two families. When he confronts Sack, the Lupertazzi family Boss
Crime boss
A crime boss or boss is a person in charge of a criminal organization. A boss typically has absolute or near-absolute control over his subordinates, is greatly feared by his subordinates for his ruthlessness and willingness to take lives in order to exert his influence, and profits come from the...
denies the possession of the Vespas despite evidence against him, and makes a pointed reference to Tony's continued denial that his cousin Tony Blundetto
Tony Blundetto
Anthony "Tony" Blundetto, played by Steve Buscemi, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is Tony Soprano's cousin who is released from prison at the beginning of the show's fifth season. Tony Blundetto first appears as a calm, composed, and reformed criminal ready to pursue...
was involved in the murder of Joey Peeps.
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:...
makes the TV news after getting arrested for assaulting a parent at a youth soccer game, prompting an infuriated Tony to again demand that Bobby
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...
"take control" of his wife. Bobby gives her an ultimatum to either see an anger management specialist or their marriage will not work.
The "Soprano temper" becomes the focus of Tony's next session with Dr. Melfi
Jennifer Melfi
Jennifer Melfi, M.D., is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the psychiatrist of Mafia boss Tony Soprano. She is portrayed by Lorraine Bracco.-Character description:...
. She observes that depression and anger are Soprano family traits, and that depression can be a manifestation of rage turned inward.
Tony sends Christopher Moltisanti
Christopher Moltisanti
Christopher "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:...
and Tony B. to Uncle Pat's farm in upstate New York. The farm is about to come under new ownership, so they must locate and move three bodies that were buried there over the years. Christopher and Tony B. bond while doing the night work, but once Tony joins them, he and Blundetto fall back into their old routine of picking on their younger cousin, Christopher. Christopher takes the insults personally, especially the jabs aimed at his substance abuse recovery.
Once back in New Jersey, Tony visits the Bada Bing
Bada Bing
The Bada Bing! is a fictional strip club from the HBO drama television series The Sopranos. It was a key location for events in the series, named for catchphrase "bada bing", a phrase popularized by James Caan in The Godfather. The popularization of the fictional club benefited the real-life go-go...
and initiates a discussion of the terrorist threat tied to unexamined cargo containers at the ports, especially threats involving smuggled nuclear and biological weapons (about which Tony learned after watching a documentary on the subject). When Georgie Santorelli remarks that "you have to live for today", Tony suddenly explodes and gives him a beating that sends him to the hospital. Afterwards, Tony is remorseful, and gives Paulie a wad of bills and insists that he make sure Georgie receives the best care. Paulie then informs Tony that Georgie does not want to see him again and is quitting his job at the Bada Bing.
Tony joins Janice and Bobby for dinner, but is uncomfortable when he sees Janice deal calmly with a series of minor irritations, having seemingly overcome the "Soprano temper". He tests the newly docile Janice by making sarcastic comments about her estranged son, Harpo. When Tony asks, "What's French-Canadian for 'I grew up without a mother'?" and says: "Sacrebleu! Where is mi mama?" with an imitated French accent, Janice eventually explodes and chases Tony around the room with a fork in her fist. Satisfied, Tony leaves.
First appearances
- Uncle Pat Blundetto: Tony S. and Tony B.'s uncle who was given an early retirement from the DiMeo crime family because of health issues (it is later learned that he was a soldier in Uncle Junior's crew). He settled on a large farm in KinderhookKinderhook (town), New YorkKinderhook is a town in the northern part of Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 8,296 at the 2000 census. The name of the town means "Children's Corner" in the language of the original Dutch settlers . The town of Kinderhook contains two villages, one of which is also...
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
where he was often visited by his nephews Christopher, Tony S. and Tony B. during their childhoods.
Title reference
- Tony tells Dr. Melfi that "revenge is like serving cold cutsCold CutsCold Cuts is a 2002 live album by English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands. It was their first live album to be released in a gatefold/digipack case...
" (inadvertently mangling the adage "Revenge is a dish best served cold"). In the episode Johnny Sack continues to interfere with Soprano business in retribution for the murder of Joey Peeps. - In a scene at Uncle Pat's farm, Christopher, Pat, and Tony B. eat cold cut sandwiches for lunch.
- The title may also refer to the dead bodies Tony B. and Christopher are looking for in this episode.
- Meat, specifically cold cuts, is a prominent symbol in the series that refers to Tony's past and anger issues.
- The title may also refer to the joking and taunting that Tony and Tony B. unleash on Christopher (who is visibly upset by it)
Music
- The song played over the end credits is a live version of "I'm Not Like Everybody ElseI'm Not Like Everybody Else"I'm Not Like Everybody Else" is a song written by Ray Davies and first recorded by The Kinks in 1966.-History:Davies had written the song for The Animals, but it was turned down, so the Kinks released their own version with guitarist Dave Davies on lead vocals...
" by The KinksThe KinksThe Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, which is featured on their 1996 album To the BoneTo the Bone (The Kinks album)To the Bone is a 1994 album by English rock group The Kinks. It was the band's final release before their breakup in 1996.Included are concert recordings plus live-in-studio acoustic reworkings of other songs, a popular trend in the 1990s among established acts due to MTV's Unplugged. In 1996, an...
.