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Funhouse (The Sopranos episode)
Encyclopedia
"Funhouse" is the twenty-sixth episode of the HBO television series The Sopranos
. It is the thirteenth and final episode of the show's second season. It was written by series creator/executive producer David Chase
and co-producer Todd A. Kessler
, and was directed by frequent The Sopranos director John Patterson. It originally aired in the United States
on April 9, 2000, attracting about 9 million viewers.
It was nominated in the category of Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series.
's departure, Tony
and younger sister Barbara arrive at Livia
's home to discuss her permanent living arrangements. When Livia refuses to move in with Tony and Carmela
, and Barbara says her husband won't allow her to live with them, Tony becomes very angry and hands Livia two stolen airline tickets to Arizona (one for herself and for her sister Quintina) and warns her to leave for good.
Later, Tony discusses a calling card
credit scheme with Silvio Dante
and Big Pussy Bonpensiero at Artie Bucco's restaurant, immediately after eating at an Indian restaurant. During the night, Tony dreams that he is walking on the boardwalk in Asbury Park
and meets up with Paulie Walnuts, Silvio Dante
, Christopher Moltisanti
, Philly "Spoons" Parisi, Hesh and an oddly silent, seemingly almost comatose, Big Pussy
. Tony has just received word that he has six months to live from a terminal disease and accepts the information as if he had already known this and come to accept it. He further informs his friends that he is going to kill himself instead, to which his friends commend his bravery and appreciate the favor he will be doing them, sparing them multiple visits to the hospital. Tony douses himself with a container of gasoline and Paulie ignites a Zippo
lighter. Christopher asks, "What if these doctors are wrong?" Tony only gets a split second to process this information, and the gasoline explodes before Tony can even close the Zippo. Tony then quickly awakens to vicious diarrhea and vomiting.
The following morning, Artie Bucco comes over to have the menu checked with Carmela and Tony for Meadow's graduation party only to learn Tony has food poisoning. He and Tony argue about the quality of his food and Artie quickly learns that Tony ate at an Indian restaurant, which could have also caused sickness. Eventually, Artie calls up Big Pussy to see if he is sick as well. Tony then goes into a delirium after receiving a house call from Dr. Cusamano and eventually falls asleep. Tony then begins to dream about having sex with Dr. Melfi
during a therapy session.
Tony also has a minor fever dream about Uncle Junior wandering on a factory site. Furthermore he sees himself through coin-operated tower viewer
playing a card game with Paulie, presumably at a train station. When Paulie says something, Tony shoots Paulie to death.
The dreams caused by the fever finally lead Tony to confront an issue which lays heavily on his subconscious, namely his suspicions that Big Pussy is a government informant. In the dream, Tony speaks to Big Pussy, who has taken the form of a fish: this dream-version of Pussy hints "You know I'm working with the government, right Ton?" and makes tongue-in-cheek reference to "sleeping with the fishes". After this point the confusion of whether or not Tony was truly awake steadily becomes clear. Tony and Silvio later go to Pussy's house, and invite him to go boating with them. Searching Pussy's room, Tony finds Pussy's wire
hidden in a false bottom of a cigar box — proof that Pussy is indeed an FBI informant.
Silvio, Tony and Pussy drive to meet up with Paulie Walnuts at the dock, Tony having his final "fever dream" during the journey, which involves Meadow
announcing over dinner she is planning to attend Columbia University
and Tony informing his family he has purchased a new boat. After setting out for a sail on a yacht, Tony confronts Pussy, and asks how long it has been since he "flipped." Pussy at first denies the charge of informing, but quickly confesses under pressure. He claims not to have given any major information to the Feds, but Tony does not believe him. Silvio excuses himself, claiming to be seasick.
Pussy asks for tequila
, and Paulie pours Jose Cuervo for Tony and Pussy, giving cheers. Silvio returns, as Pussy brags about the girl he used to know at the clinic in Puerto Rico. Tony asks if she was real and Pussy retreats to a corner, resigned to his fate. Then, as he asks to be allowed to sit (after his three consecutive shots of Tequila kick in), he claims his inner ear balance is off. He asks several times if it's okay for him to take a seat, clearly overwhelmed and starting to panic. Tony takes the first shot, Paulie and Silvio follow and shoot him to death, honoring his wishes to not be shot in the face. Paulie removes his jewelry, and together they bind his body in chains and weights, then throw him off the back of the boat, and watch his body slowly sink into the ocean.
Hours later, Carmela receives a phone call from Livia, who is being detained in Newark Airport
security for possessing stolen airline tickets. Within minutes, FBI agents arrive at the Soprano home with a search warrant and ask to search the residence and cars. An agent reveals he has already searched Tony's car and found the stolen tickets. Tony is placed in handcuffs and is taken to FBI offices for questioning. Tony becomes unbalanced at a point and almost falls, appearing weak in front of the FBI agents. One agent takes the opportunity to point out that mob boss Tony Soprano is "weak in the knees". Instead of his usual bravado to the agents, he angrily tells them he's got food poisoning, and is led into a holding cell for a brief period of time. Tony quickly contacts his lawyer, Neil Mink, and is released on bail in time for Meadow's graduation, which will be held the next day.
Later, at Dr. Melfi's, Tony goes off on a rant about Indian people, because of the food poisoning, and also against his mother, on which Dr. Melfi challenges him. Tony stubbornly refuses to delve into his own mind, and tells her bluntly of his sexual dream with her before leaving happily, singing down the hallway.
The following day at Meadow's graduation ceremony, Tony proudly watches his daughter accept her high school diploma. At the graduation, Tony tells Christopher that he is proposing him to get his "button" and become a made man
. Tony then sees David Scatino, who tells Tony he and his wife are getting a divorce and he will be living "out west", and that his Georgetown University
bound son, Eric, could only afford to get into a state college after his father blew his entire college fund gambling with Tony. Later, Tony and Carmela throw Meadow a graduation party at the Soprano house, with all their family and friends in attendance. The episode ends with a montage of Tony's two families celebrating Meadow's graduation, interspersed with the images of the various illegal enterprises through which Tony makes his fortune—Barone Sanitation, an adult movie theater, a person selling calling cards on the street, Teittleman's motel, the now-abandoned office where the "Webistics" stock scam took place. Carmela looks for Tony among the guests, finding him standing by himself in a corner of the living room, slowly lighting a cigar and blowing out the smoke, with a far-away look on his face. It then fades into a shot of the ocean at sunset, the waves crashing on the shore.
placed "Funhouse" #5 on their list of the 10 greatest The Sopranos
episodes; TIME
placed it at #9.
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...
. It is the thirteenth and final episode of the show's second season. It was written by series creator/executive producer David Chase
David Chase
David Chase is an American writer, director, and producer of television series. Chase has worked in television for more than 30 years; he has produced and written for shows as The Rockford Files, I'll Fly Away, and Northern Exposure. He has created two original series; the first, Almost Grown,...
and co-producer Todd A. Kessler
Todd A. Kessler
Todd A. Kessler is an American screenwriter, playwright, television producer and director. He is the co-creator and head writer of the FX drama series Damages...
, and was directed by frequent The Sopranos director John Patterson. It originally aired in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on April 9, 2000, attracting about 9 million viewers.
It was nominated in the category of Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series.
Starring
- James GandolfiniJames GandolfiniJames J. Gandolfini, Jr. is an Italian American actor. He is best known for his role as Tony Soprano in the HBO TV series The Sopranos, about a troubled crime boss struggling to balance his family life and career in the Mafia...
as Tony SopranoTony SopranoAnthony 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... - Lorraine BraccoLorraine BraccoLorraine Bracco is an American actress. She is best known for her TV roles as Dr. Jennifer Melfi on HBO series, The Sopranos, and Angela Rizzoli on the TNT series, Rizzoli & Isles...
as Dr. Jennifer Melfi - Edie FalcoEdie FalcoEdith "Edie" Falco is an American television, film and stage actress, known for her roles in Oz as Diane Wittlesey, as Carmela Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos, and as the titular character on the Showtime series Nurse Jackie...
as Carmela SopranoCarmela SopranoCarmela Soprano née DeAngelis, played by Edie Falco, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the wife of Mafia boss Tony Soprano and the program's most prominent female character.-Character biography:... - Michael ImperioliMichael ImperioliJames 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...
as 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:... - Dominic ChianeseDominic ChianeseDominic Chianese is an American film, television and theatre actor, perhaps best known for his role as Corrado "Junior" Soprano on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Corrado Soprano, Jr.Junior SopranoCorrado John Soprano, Jr., played by Dominic Chianese, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually referred to as "Junior" or "Uncle Jun", he is the mentor and surrogate father for capo Tony Soprano. A younger Corrado sometimes appears in flashbacks and is played by Rocco... - Vincent PastoreVincent PastoreVincent Pastore is an Italian-American actor, often cast as a mobster and best known for the role of Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Pussy Bonpensiero - Steven Van ZandtSteven Van ZandtSteven Van Zandt is an Italian-American musician, songwriter, arranger, record producer, actor, and radio disc jockey, who frequently goes by the stage names Little Steven or Miami Steve...
as Silvio DanteSilvio DanteSilvio 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... - Tony SiricoTony SiricoGenaro Anthony "Tony" Sirico, Jr. is an American character actor who is most famous for his role as Paulie Gualtieri in the television series The Sopranos.- Background and career :Sirico was born in Midwood, Brooklyn...
as Paulie GualtieriPaulie GualtieriPeter Paul "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri played by Tony Sirico, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is a caporegime and later underboss in the Soprano crime family.-Plot details:... - Robert IlerRobert IlerRobert Michael Iler is an American actor, known for his portrayal of A.J. Soprano on The Sopranos which aired on HBO from 1999-2007....
as Anthony Soprano, Jr.Anthony Soprano, Jr.Anthony John "A.J." Soprano, Jr. , played by Robert Iler, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually just called "A.J.", he is the son of Carmela and Tony Soprano. He is a prototypical underachiever and is a constant source of stress and anxiety for his parents... - Jamie-Lynn SiglerJamie-Lynn SiglerJamie-Lynn Sigler is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Meadow Soprano on the HBO television series The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Meadow SopranoMeadow SopranoMeadow Mariangela Soprano , played by Jamie-Lynn Sigler, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos.-Character:Meadow is the first-born child of Tony and Carmela Soprano... - Drea de MatteoDrea de MatteoDrea de Matteo is an American television actress, perhaps best known for her roles Joey Tribbiani's sister Gina on the NBC sitcom Joey, as Angie Bolen on ABC's Desperate Housewives, and as Adriana La Cerva on the acclaimed HBO TV series The Sopranos, a role for which she won the Primetime Emmy...
as Adriana La CervaAdriana La CervaAdriana La Cerva played by Drea de Matteo, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the long-time girlfriend and, later, fiancée of Tony Soprano's protégé, Christopher Moltisanti.-Character history:... - and Nancy MarchandNancy MarchandNancy Marchand was an American actress, whose career encompassed both stage and screen. She appeared in various theatre productions throughout the early 1950s, before being offered roles on film and television....
as Livia SopranoLivia SopranoLivia Soprano , played by Nancy Marchand, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the mother of Tony Soprano. A young Livia, played by Laila Robins and later by Laurie J. Williams is sometimes seen in flashbacks...
Also Guest Starring
- Sofia MilosSofia MilosSofia Milos is an Italian/Greek actress. She is best known for her role as Yelina Salas on CSI: Miami.Milos was born in Zurich, Switzerland, to an Italian father and a Greek mother. In her teens she entered a local beauty pageant, and after winning first prize went on to win the provincial,...
as Annalisa - Louis LombardiLouis LombardiLouis Lombardi is an American actor.Lombardi was born in The Bronx, New York City, the son of Louis Lombardi, Sr. On television, Lombardi had a recurring role on The Sopranos as Agent Skip Lipari, and guest starred on such shows as Entourage, Heroes and CSI. He was a cast member of a 1990s...
as Skip Lipari - Frank PellegrinoFrank PellegrinoFrank Pellegrino is an American actor and restaurateur.Born in East Harlem, Pellegrino has often acted in law and gangster-themed film and television productions. He was a member of an early sixties singing group called The Holidaes. There is a rare recording of a song called "Never" that appears...
as Frank Cubitoso - Nicole BurdetteNicole BurdetteNicole Burdette is a playwright and actress. She wrote the play Chelsea Walls, which she adapted to film in 2001. She is a co-founder of the Naked Angels . She also gave the company their name....
as Barbara Giglione - Federico CastelluccioFederico CastelluccioFederico Castelluccio is an Italian-American actor and professional visual artist, who is best known for his role as Furio Giunta on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Furio GiuntaFurio GiuntaFurio Giunta, played by Federico Castelluccio, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was an Italian mobster working for Tony Soprano.-Biography:... - 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 - Tom AldredgeTom AldredgeThomas Ernest "Tom" Aldredge was an American television, film and stage actor.-Life and career:Aldredge was born in Dayton, Ohio, the son of Lucienne Juliet and W. J. Aldredge, a colonel in the United States Army Air Corps...
as Hugo DeAngelis - John FioreJohn Fiore (actor)John Fiore is an American actor from Somerville, Massachusetts.Fiore is probably best known for his recurring role as Detective Tony Profaci on the long-running NBC crime drama Law & Order...
as Gigi Cestone - Toni KalemToni KalemToni Kalem is an American actress, screenwriter and director. Kalem is best known for her portrayal of Angie Bonpensiero on the HBO series, The Sopranos....
as Angie Bonpensiero - Robert LuPoneRobert LuPoneRobert LuPone is an American actor and artistic director. He works both on stage and in film and television. He is the brother of actress Patti LuPone.-Early life and training:...
as Bruce Cusamano - David MarguliesDavid MarguliesDavid Joseph Margulies is an American actor.Margulies was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Runya , a nurse and museum worker, and Harry David Margulies, a lawyer. Margulies graduated from City College of New York. Immediately afterward, he made his stage debut in the off-Broadway play Golden 6...
as Neil Mink - 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 Dwight Harris
- Suzanne ShepherdSuzanne ShepherdSuzanne Shepherd is an American actress and theater director. She is best known for her portrayal of Karen's overbearing mother in the film Goodfellas, and Carmela's overbearing mother in the television program The Sopranos. Shepherd studied acting with Sanford Meisner, and later went on to teach...
as Mary DeAngelis - 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 - Barbara Andres as Aunt Quintina
- David Anzuelo as Flight Attendant
- Kathleen Fasolino as Meadow's Friend
- Ray Garvey as Airport Guard
- David Healy as Vice Principal
- Sig LibowitzSig LibowitzSig Libowitz is an American lawyer, actor, film executive, writer and producer.Libowitz is notable for writing, producing, and acting in a film, The Response, which he wrote after reading the actual transcripts from the Guantanamo detainees' Combatant Status Review Tribunals.Libowitz was a Vice...
as Hillel - Ajay MehtaAjay MehtaAjay Mehta is an Indian-American actor.Mehta was born in New Delhi, India and he was educated in New Delhi, in Mayo College and St. Stephens College. After university, Ajay moved to Hong Kong to be a scriptwriter for the Hong Kong English TV channel TVB Pearl and occasionally appeared as cameo in...
as Sundeep Kumar - Jay Palit as Indian Man
- and Robert PatrickRobert PatrickRobert Hammond Patrick, Jr. is an American actor, known for his leading and supporting roles in a number of films and television shows....
as David Scatino
Plot
Shortly after JaniceJanice 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:...
's departure, 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...
and younger sister Barbara arrive at Livia
Livia Soprano
Livia Soprano , played by Nancy Marchand, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the mother of Tony Soprano. A young Livia, played by Laila Robins and later by Laurie J. Williams is sometimes seen in flashbacks...
's home to discuss her permanent living arrangements. When Livia refuses to move in with Tony and Carmela
Carmela Soprano
Carmela Soprano née DeAngelis, played by Edie Falco, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the wife of Mafia boss Tony Soprano and the program's most prominent female character.-Character biography:...
, and Barbara says her husband won't allow her to live with them, Tony becomes very angry and hands Livia two stolen airline tickets to Arizona (one for herself and for her sister Quintina) and warns her to leave for good.
Later, Tony discusses a calling card
Telephone card
A telephone card, calling card or phone card for short, is a small plastic card, sized and shaped like a credit card, used to pay for telephone services. It is not necessary to have the physical card except with a stored-value system; knowledge of the access telephone number to dial and the PIN is...
credit scheme with Silvio Dante
Silvio 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...
and Big Pussy Bonpensiero at Artie Bucco's restaurant, immediately after eating at an Indian restaurant. During the night, Tony dreams that he is walking on the boardwalk in Asbury Park
Asbury Park, New Jersey
Asbury Park is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, located on the Jersey Shore and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 16,116. The city is known for its rich musical history, including its association with...
and meets up with Paulie Walnuts, Silvio Dante
Silvio 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...
, 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:...
, Philly "Spoons" Parisi, Hesh and an oddly silent, seemingly almost comatose, Big Pussy
Sal Bonpensiero
Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero, played by Vincent Pastore, was a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Not to be confused with fellow New Jersey mobster "Little Pussy" Malanga, Big Pussy was one of the men who worked for Tony Soprano and the two were close friends.-Biography:The...
. Tony has just received word that he has six months to live from a terminal disease and accepts the information as if he had already known this and come to accept it. He further informs his friends that he is going to kill himself instead, to which his friends commend his bravery and appreciate the favor he will be doing them, sparing them multiple visits to the hospital. Tony douses himself with a container of gasoline and Paulie ignites a Zippo
Zippo
A Zippo lighter is a refillable, metal lighter manufactured by Zippo Manufacturing Company of Bradford, Pennsylvania, U.S. Thousands of different styles and designs have been made in the seven decades since their introduction including military ones for specific regiments.-Establishment:George G...
lighter. Christopher asks, "What if these doctors are wrong?" Tony only gets a split second to process this information, and the gasoline explodes before Tony can even close the Zippo. Tony then quickly awakens to vicious diarrhea and vomiting.
The following morning, Artie Bucco comes over to have the menu checked with Carmela and Tony for Meadow's graduation party only to learn Tony has food poisoning. He and Tony argue about the quality of his food and Artie quickly learns that Tony ate at an Indian restaurant, which could have also caused sickness. Eventually, Artie calls up Big Pussy to see if he is sick as well. Tony then goes into a delirium after receiving a house call from Dr. Cusamano and eventually falls asleep. Tony then begins to dream about having sex 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:...
during a therapy session.
Tony also has a minor fever dream about Uncle Junior wandering on a factory site. Furthermore he sees himself through coin-operated tower viewer
Tower viewer
A tower viewer is a telescope or binoculars permanently mounted on a stalk. The device magnifies objects seen through its lenses, allowing users to see farther and more clearly than they could with the naked eye or with less powerful viewing devices...
playing a card game with Paulie, presumably at a train station. When Paulie says something, Tony shoots Paulie to death.
The dreams caused by the fever finally lead Tony to confront an issue which lays heavily on his subconscious, namely his suspicions that Big Pussy is a government informant. In the dream, Tony speaks to Big Pussy, who has taken the form of a fish: this dream-version of Pussy hints "You know I'm working with the government, right Ton?" and makes tongue-in-cheek reference to "sleeping with the fishes". After this point the confusion of whether or not Tony was truly awake steadily becomes clear. Tony and Silvio later go to Pussy's house, and invite him to go boating with them. Searching Pussy's room, Tony finds Pussy's wire
Covert listening device
A covert listening device, more commonly known as a bug or a wire, is usually a combination of a miniature radio transmitter with a microphone. The use of bugs, called bugging, is a common technique in surveillance, espionage and in police investigations.A bug does not have to be a device...
hidden in a false bottom of a cigar box — proof that Pussy is indeed an FBI informant.
Silvio, Tony and Pussy drive to meet up with Paulie Walnuts at the dock, Tony having his final "fever dream" during the journey, which involves Meadow
Meadow Soprano
Meadow Mariangela Soprano , played by Jamie-Lynn Sigler, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos.-Character:Meadow is the first-born child of Tony and Carmela Soprano...
announcing over dinner she is planning to attend Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and Tony informing his family he has purchased a new boat. After setting out for a sail on a yacht, Tony confronts Pussy, and asks how long it has been since he "flipped." Pussy at first denies the charge of informing, but quickly confesses under pressure. He claims not to have given any major information to the Feds, but Tony does not believe him. Silvio excuses himself, claiming to be seasick.
Pussy asks for tequila
Tequila
Tequila is a spirit made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, northwest of Guadalajara, and in the highlands of the western Mexican state of Jalisco....
, and Paulie pours Jose Cuervo for Tony and Pussy, giving cheers. Silvio returns, as Pussy brags about the girl he used to know at the clinic in Puerto Rico. Tony asks if she was real and Pussy retreats to a corner, resigned to his fate. Then, as he asks to be allowed to sit (after his three consecutive shots of Tequila kick in), he claims his inner ear balance is off. He asks several times if it's okay for him to take a seat, clearly overwhelmed and starting to panic. Tony takes the first shot, Paulie and Silvio follow and shoot him to death, honoring his wishes to not be shot in the face. Paulie removes his jewelry, and together they bind his body in chains and weights, then throw him off the back of the boat, and watch his body slowly sink into the ocean.
Hours later, Carmela receives a phone call from Livia, who is being detained in Newark Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
security for possessing stolen airline tickets. Within minutes, FBI agents arrive at the Soprano home with a search warrant and ask to search the residence and cars. An agent reveals he has already searched Tony's car and found the stolen tickets. Tony is placed in handcuffs and is taken to FBI offices for questioning. Tony becomes unbalanced at a point and almost falls, appearing weak in front of the FBI agents. One agent takes the opportunity to point out that mob boss Tony Soprano is "weak in the knees". Instead of his usual bravado to the agents, he angrily tells them he's got food poisoning, and is led into a holding cell for a brief period of time. Tony quickly contacts his lawyer, Neil Mink, and is released on bail in time for Meadow's graduation, which will be held the next day.
Later, at Dr. Melfi's, Tony goes off on a rant about Indian people, because of the food poisoning, and also against his mother, on which Dr. Melfi challenges him. Tony stubbornly refuses to delve into his own mind, and tells her bluntly of his sexual dream with her before leaving happily, singing down the hallway.
The following day at Meadow's graduation ceremony, Tony proudly watches his daughter accept her high school diploma. At the graduation, Tony tells Christopher that he is proposing him to get his "button" and become a made man
Made man
A made man, also known as a Mafioso , made guy, man of honor, or uomo d'onore , is someone who has been officially inducted into the Sicilian or American Mafia . They may also be referred to by some as a goodfella or wiseguy...
. Tony then sees David Scatino, who tells Tony he and his wife are getting a divorce and he will be living "out west", and that his Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
bound son, Eric, could only afford to get into a state college after his father blew his entire college fund gambling with Tony. Later, Tony and Carmela throw Meadow a graduation party at the Soprano house, with all their family and friends in attendance. The episode ends with a montage of Tony's two families celebrating Meadow's graduation, interspersed with the images of the various illegal enterprises through which Tony makes his fortune—Barone Sanitation, an adult movie theater, a person selling calling cards on the street, Teittleman's motel, the now-abandoned office where the "Webistics" stock scam took place. Carmela looks for Tony among the guests, finding him standing by himself in a corner of the living room, slowly lighting a cigar and blowing out the smoke, with a far-away look on his face. It then fades into a shot of the ocean at sunset, the waves crashing on the shore.
First appearances
The episode marks the first appearance of:- Aunt Quintina: Younger sister of Livia SopranoLivia SopranoLivia Soprano , played by Nancy Marchand, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the mother of Tony Soprano. A young Livia, played by Laila Robins and later by Laurie J. Williams is sometimes seen in flashbacks...
. - Pasquale "Patsy" Parisi: Soldier in the Soprano/Gualtieri/Moltisanti crew and twin brother of the deceased Philly "Spoons" Parisi.
Deceased
- Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero: murdered by Tony, Silvio, and Paulie for being an FBI informant. His body was tossed into the ocean.
Title reference
- In the scene when Tony's mother calls his home for help about the stolen airline tickets. Carmela answers the phone. When she hands the phone to Tony and says "Here, the fun never stops".
- In Tony's dream, he is on the boardwalk in Asbury Park, near the Palace AmusementsPalace AmusementsPalace Amusements was an historical indoor amusement park in Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA. Started Monday, Feb. 20, 1888, Ernest S. Schnitzler was soon placing advertisements in the city directory describing his pleasure palace as a place of "refined amusement for Ladies, Gents, and Children....
funhouseFunhouseA funhouse or fun house is an amusement facility found on amusement park and funfair midways in which patrons encounter and actively interact with various devices designed to surprise, challenge, and amuse the visitor. Unlike thrill rides, funhouses are participatory attractions, where visitors...
with the famous wide-eyed clown painted on it known as "Tillie".
Production
- David ProvalDavid ProvalDavid Aaron Proval is an American actor, known for his roles as Tony DeVienazo in the Martin Scorsese film Mean Streets opposite Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel and as Richie Aprile on the HBO television series The Sopranos .-Biography:Proval was born in Brooklyn, New York, of Jewish heritage,...
and Aida TurturroAida TurturroAida Turturro is an American actress probably best known for playing Janice Soprano, sister of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, on the HBO TV series The Sopranos .-Personal life:...
are no longer billed in the opening credits, although Turturro returns next season as a full-time cast member. - Just as in the season opener, "Guy Walks Into a Psychiatrist's Office...", Silvio does his The Godfather Part IIIThe Godfather Part IIIThe Godfather Part III is a 1990 American gangster film written by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, and directed by Coppola. It completes the story of Michael Corleone, a Mafia kingpin who tries to legitimize his criminal empire...
Michael Corleone impersonation in the dream, only in the dream he is referring to Pussy: "Our true enemy has yet to reveal himself". - In his dream, Tony sees Pussy as a fish. The reference is to death, as in "sleeps with the fishes", and it foreshadows Pussy's ultimate resting place, the ocean.
- Every time Tony dreams in this episode, there is a creaking sound in the background. This is the same creaking sound the boat at sea makes when Pussy is shot.
Music
- The song played throughout the episode, including the end credits, is "Thru and Thru" from the 1994 album, Voodoo LoungeVoodoo LoungeVoodoo Lounge is the 20th British and 22nd American studio album by The Rolling Stones, released in July 1994. As their first new release under their new alliance with Virgin Records, it ended a five-year gap since their last studio album, Steel Wheels in 1989...
by The Rolling StonesThe Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
(and sung by Keith RichardsKeith RichardsKeith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
). - The song played on the radio of Tony's car, and in his last "fever dream" is "Free Fallin'Free Fallin'"Free Fallin" is the opening track from Tom Petty's 1989 solo album, Full Moon Fever. The song was written by Petty and his writing partner for the album, Jeff Lynne...
" by Tom Petty and The HeartbreakersTom Petty and the HeartbreakersTom Petty And The Heartbreakers are an American rock band from Gainesville, Florida. They were formed in 1976 by Tom Petty , Mike Campbell , Benmont Tench , , Ron Blair and Stan Lynch... - The song that Pussy puts in the CD player and confesses to him being an informant over is "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" by Frank SinatraFrank SinatraFrancis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
- The song Meadow listens to on the radio in her room, while she is sulking after Tony is arrested in front of her friends, is "Diamonds & RustDiamonds & Rust (song)"Diamonds & Rust" is a song written and performed by Joan Baez - it was released in 1975, but had been written the previous November.In the song, Baez recounts an out-of-the-blue phone call from an old lover, which sends her a decade back in time, to a "crummy" hotel in Greenwich Village; she...
" by Joan BaezJoan BaezJoan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
. - When Tony leaves Dr. Melfi's office after he feels she insulted him, he sings "Maybe BabyMaybe BabyMaybe Baby is a 2000 British comedy film, written and directed by Ben Elton based upon his novel Inconceivable, starring Hugh Laurie and Joely Richardson.-Plot summary:...
" by Buddy HollyBuddy HollyCharles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
and The CricketsThe CricketsThe Crickets are a rock & roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by singer/songwriter Buddy Holly in the 1950s. Their first hit record was "That'll Be the Day", released in 1957....
. - After killing Pussy Bonpensiero, Tony Soprano watches a 1960s broadcast of The TemptationsThe TemptationsThe Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
on television, performing "Ain't Too Proud to BegAin't Too Proud to Beg"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" is a 1966 song and hit single by The Temptations for Motown Records' Gordy label, produced by Norman Whitfield and written by Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr. The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Pop Chart, and was a number-one hit on the Billboard R&B charts for...
".
Critical response
Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
placed "Funhouse" #5 on their list of the 10 greatest The Sopranos
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...
episodes; TIME
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
placed it at #9.
Awards
- This episode was one of two viewer's choice winners on A&EA&E NetworkThe A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
, along with "Pine Barrens".