Kennedy and Heidi
Encyclopedia
"Kennedy and Heidi" is the eighteenth episode of the two-part sixth season—the sixth episode of the second part—of the HBO television drama series The Sopranos
and the show's eighty-third overall episode. It was written by Matthew Weiner
and series creator and showrunner David Chase
, both of whom receive credit as executive producers for the episode. It was directed by longtime series director Alan Taylor
. The episode premiered in the United States
on May 13, 2007.
Near the beginning of "Kennedy and Heidi", series protagonist
Tony Soprano
(James Gandolfini
) and Christopher Moltisanti
(Michael Imperioli
) are involved in a car accident that leaves Christopher incapacitated. Instead of helping, Tony murders him by suffocation
. Tony's family and Mafia
associates gather to mourn Christopher, after which Tony travels to Las Vegas
, where he meets one of Christopher's former mistresses, a stripper named Sonya (guest star Sarah Shahi
). In a subplot, A.J. (Robert Iler
) continues with his college courses and reconsiders his relationship with his friends.
The episode has frequently been cited by critics and fans as one of the show's best and is noted for its thematic
complexity and the plot twist
of Tony murdering Christopher early in the episode. It was nominated for an Emmy Award
for writing
and won for directing
.
and New Jersey
families regarding the removal of asbestos
from a building project. Phil is upset because he was unaware that Tony was dumping asbestos. Tony states he should have known that this type of activity is status quo, and suggests there should be minimal repercussions. Phil disagrees, asking for a 25% cut of what they get for the illegal dumping, but Tony rejects his proposal. After the unsuccessful meeting, Tony
and Christopher
drive home along a winding road and talk about the events of the past year, including Tony's shooting at the hands of Uncle Junior
. Christopher complains about the Escalade's stereo, changing from the radio to a CD. Tony eyes him suspiciously but keeps silent. Christopher swerves into the opposite lane, nearly hitting a sedan driven by two teenage girls named Kennedy and Heidi. Christopher's truck avoids the oncoming vehicle but veers off the road and rolls several times, coming to rest upright.
Tony, wearing a safety belt, suffers only minor injuries. Christopher, badly injured, has trouble breathing and coughs up blood. He asks Tony to "help me," and says he will never pass a drug test and will lose his driver's license. Tony notices that the infant carrier seat in the back had been impaled by a tree limb in the crash. Angry, shaken and distraught, he exits the truck, limping around to the driver's side. Christopher again pleads for help, asking Tony to "call me a taxi". He begins to dial 9-1-1
on his cell phone but closes it instead, reaches over and tightly pinches Christopher's nostrils, suffocating him.
Tony is rushed to the emergency room of Saint Clare's Hospital in Denville
. A nurse calls Carmela
and puts Tony on the phone. Carmela is horrified when he tells her about the accident. Largely unscathed, Tony is home the next morning, and is visited by the members of his Family who all lament the death of Christopher. Tony is ambivalent towards Christopher's passing, and has a dream in which he admits to Dr. Melfi
that he killed his best friend Big Pussy, his cousin Tony
and Christopher. In reality, Tony finds himself unable to discuss his true feelings about Christopher's death with anyone, only hinting to Carmela that he feels relieved.
During the preparations for Christopher's wake, Tony hears that Paulie
's adoptive mother, Nucci, has died of a stroke. The Soprano family and associates attend Christopher's wake in morbid celebrity fashion, with Tony appearing noticeably disgusted by the ostentatious display of Mafia grief. Meanwhile, Nucci's wake is poorly attended, deeply upsetting Paulie, which he admits to Tony during the latter's brief appearance at the ceremony.
A.J.
is spending time at Rutgers
with Jason Parisi, Jason Gervasi and Mark Iscaro. The boy they tortured (in the previous episode) for not paying his gambling debts, Victor, is revealed to have had some toes amputated due to damage from the sulfuric acid
that they used (Victor invented his own story, saying that the burns and amputation resulted from an accident with battery acid). Gervasi carelessly opens his car door, causing a Somalian
college student to crash his bicycle. A.J.'s friends pick a fight with the bicyclist, call him a "nigger
," and then beat him up. Although A.J. does not help his friends beat up the bicyclist, he shoves the youth away from him. The youth then falls to the ground where he is beaten. One of the kids then throws the bike into the path of an oncoming vehicle where it is crushed. The incident visibly disturbs A.J. and he later laments to his therapist.
A.J. tells his therapist he has begun taking college courses again and is taken in particular with one that deals with the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Displaying a show of interest, A.J. remarks that "nobody knew who started it." This, combined with (and in relation to) his experience during the morally disgusting beating of the Somalian biker, causes A.J. to exhibit symptoms of extreme distress. He ends by quoting Rodney King
, imploring, "Can't we all just get along?"
Fed up with the outpouring of grief over Christopher, Tony arranges to fly to Las Vegas
on a private plane. In Vegas, Tony receives a phone call from Phil Leotardo, insincerely offering fake condolences for Christopher's passing, while providing no relief for the original asbestos impasse. He meets up with Sonya, a beautiful exotic dancer with whom Christopher used to spend time. He tells her that Christopher has died, and she begins to accompany him during his Vegas trip. The two have sex, smoke a marijuana joint (of which Sarah Shahi
lights the wrong end) and take peyote
. An inebriated Tony then wins a large amount of money on roulette
while still high. Believing his recent bad luck has ended with Christopher's death, he mumbles happily, "He's dead" and subsequently collapses in a laughing fit on the casino floor. The episode concludes with Tony and Sonya looking out on the Nevada desert at sunset. Tony sees the sun flicker in the distance. He stands up to walk towards it. Both crying and laughing he exclaims, "I get it!"
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 show's eighty-third overall episode. It was written by Matthew Weiner
Matthew Weiner
Matthew Weiner is an American writer, director and producer of television drama. He is the creator, executive producer, head writer, and show runner of the AMC television series Mad Men. He is also noted for his work on the HBO series The Sopranos, on which he served as a writer and producer...
and series creator and showrunner 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,...
, both of whom receive credit as executive producers for the episode. It was directed by longtime series director Alan Taylor
Alan Taylor (director)
Alan Taylor is an American television and film director, television producer, and screenwriter. Taylor has directed for numerous programs on both network television and premium cable, most notably on HBO...
. The episode premiered in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on May 13, 2007.
Near the beginning of "Kennedy and Heidi", series protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
Tony Soprano
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...
(James Gandolfini
James Gandolfini
James 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...
) and 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:...
(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...
) are involved in a car accident that leaves Christopher incapacitated. Instead of helping, Tony murders him by suffocation
Suffocation
Suffocation is the process of Asphyxia.Suffocation may also refer to:* Suffocation , an American death metal band* "Suffocation", a song on Morbid Angel's debut album, Altars of Madness...
. Tony's family and Mafia
American Mafia
The American Mafia , is an Italian-American criminal society. Much like the Sicilian Mafia, the American Mafia has no formal name and is a secret criminal society. Its members usually refer to it as Cosa Nostra or by its English translation "our thing"...
associates gather to mourn Christopher, after which Tony travels to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, where he meets one of Christopher's former mistresses, a stripper named Sonya (guest star Sarah Shahi
Sarah Shahi
Aahoo Jahansouz "Sarah" Shahi is an American actress and a former NFL Cheerleader. She is probably best known for starring in The L Word as Carmen de la Pica Morales and in Life as Detective Dani Reese...
). In a subplot, A.J. (Robert Iler
Robert Iler
Robert Michael Iler is an American actor, known for his portrayal of A.J. Soprano on The Sopranos which aired on HBO from 1999-2007....
) continues with his college courses and reconsiders his relationship with his friends.
The episode has frequently been cited by critics and fans as one of the show's best and is noted for its thematic
Theme (literature)
A theme is a broad, message, or moral of a story. The message may be about life, society, or human nature. Themes often explore timeless and universal ideas and are almost always implied rather than stated explicitly. Along with plot, character,...
complexity and the plot twist
Plot twist
A plot twist is a change in the expected direction or outcome of the plot of a film, television series, video game, novel, comic or other fictional work. It is a common practice in narration used to keep the interest of an audience, usually surprising them with a revelation...
of Tony murdering Christopher early in the episode. It was nominated for an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for writing
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
The Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series is awarded to one television episode each year at the Primetime Emmy Awards. Often regarded as the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an individual episode of television, the nominees and winners often reflect outstanding achievement in...
and won for directing
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series is an Emmy presented to the best directing of a television drama series.-Best Direction of a Single Program of a Drama Series:*1959: Jack Smight – Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre ...
.
Plot
A late-evening meeting is taken between the New YorkNew York
New 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...
and New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
families regarding the removal of asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
from a building project. Phil is upset because he was unaware that Tony was dumping asbestos. Tony states he should have known that this type of activity is status quo, and suggests there should be minimal repercussions. Phil disagrees, asking for a 25% cut of what they get for the illegal dumping, but Tony rejects his proposal. After the unsuccessful meeting, 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 Christopher
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:...
drive home along a winding road and talk about the events of the past year, including Tony's shooting at the hands of Uncle Junior
Junior Soprano
Corrado 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...
. Christopher complains about the Escalade's stereo, changing from the radio to a CD. Tony eyes him suspiciously but keeps silent. Christopher swerves into the opposite lane, nearly hitting a sedan driven by two teenage girls named Kennedy and Heidi. Christopher's truck avoids the oncoming vehicle but veers off the road and rolls several times, coming to rest upright.
Tony, wearing a safety belt, suffers only minor injuries. Christopher, badly injured, has trouble breathing and coughs up blood. He asks Tony to "help me," and says he will never pass a drug test and will lose his driver's license. Tony notices that the infant carrier seat in the back had been impaled by a tree limb in the crash. Angry, shaken and distraught, he exits the truck, limping around to the driver's side. Christopher again pleads for help, asking Tony to "call me a taxi". He begins to dial 9-1-1
9-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
on his cell phone but closes it instead, reaches over and tightly pinches Christopher's nostrils, suffocating him.
Tony is rushed to the emergency room of Saint Clare's Hospital in Denville
Denville, New Jersey
Denville is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 16,635. Denville is known as the "Hub of Morris County" for its location along major transportation routes at the center of the county...
. A nurse calls 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 puts Tony on the phone. Carmela is horrified when he tells her about the accident. Largely unscathed, Tony is home the next morning, and is visited by the members of his Family who all lament the death of Christopher. Tony is ambivalent towards Christopher's passing, and has a dream in which he admits to 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:...
that he killed his best friend Big Pussy, his cousin Tony
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...
and Christopher. In reality, Tony finds himself unable to discuss his true feelings about Christopher's death with anyone, only hinting to Carmela that he feels relieved.
During the preparations for Christopher's wake, Tony hears that Paulie
Paulie Gualtieri
Peter 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:...
's adoptive mother, Nucci, has died of a stroke. The Soprano family and associates attend Christopher's wake in morbid celebrity fashion, with Tony appearing noticeably disgusted by the ostentatious display of Mafia grief. Meanwhile, Nucci's wake is poorly attended, deeply upsetting Paulie, which he admits to Tony during the latter's brief appearance at the ceremony.
A.J.
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...
is spending time at Rutgers
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
with Jason Parisi, Jason Gervasi and Mark Iscaro. The boy they tortured (in the previous episode) for not paying his gambling debts, Victor, is revealed to have had some toes amputated due to damage from the sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid is a strong mineral acid with the molecular formula . Its historical name is oil of vitriol. Pure sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive, colorless, viscous liquid. The salts of sulfuric acid are called sulfates...
that they used (Victor invented his own story, saying that the burns and amputation resulted from an accident with battery acid). Gervasi carelessly opens his car door, causing a Somalian
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
college student to crash his bicycle. A.J.'s friends pick a fight with the bicyclist, call him a "nigger
Nigger
Nigger is a noun in the English language, most notable for its usage in a pejorative context to refer to black people , and also as an informal slang term, among other contexts. It is a common ethnic slur...
," and then beat him up. Although A.J. does not help his friends beat up the bicyclist, he shoves the youth away from him. The youth then falls to the ground where he is beaten. One of the kids then throws the bike into the path of an oncoming vehicle where it is crushed. The incident visibly disturbs A.J. and he later laments to his therapist.
A.J. tells his therapist he has begun taking college courses again and is taken in particular with one that deals with the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Displaying a show of interest, A.J. remarks that "nobody knew who started it." This, combined with (and in relation to) his experience during the morally disgusting beating of the Somalian biker, causes A.J. to exhibit symptoms of extreme distress. He ends by quoting Rodney King
Rodney King
Rodney Glen King is an American best known for his involvement in a police brutality case involving the Los Angeles Police Department on March 3, 1991...
, imploring, "Can't we all just get along?"
Fed up with the outpouring of grief over Christopher, Tony arranges to fly to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
on a private plane. In Vegas, Tony receives a phone call from Phil Leotardo, insincerely offering fake condolences for Christopher's passing, while providing no relief for the original asbestos impasse. He meets up with Sonya, a beautiful exotic dancer with whom Christopher used to spend time. He tells her that Christopher has died, and she begins to accompany him during his Vegas trip. The two have sex, smoke a marijuana joint (of which Sarah Shahi
Sarah Shahi
Aahoo Jahansouz "Sarah" Shahi is an American actress and a former NFL Cheerleader. She is probably best known for starring in The L Word as Carmen de la Pica Morales and in Life as Detective Dani Reese...
lights the wrong end) and take peyote
Peyote
Lophophora williamsii , better known by its common name Peyote , is a small, spineless cactus with psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline.It is native to southwestern Texas and Mexico...
. An inebriated Tony then wins a large amount of money on roulette
Roulette
Roulette is a casino game named after a French diminutive for little wheel. In the game, players may choose to place bets on either a single number or a range of numbers, the colors red or black, or whether the number is odd or even....
while still high. Believing his recent bad luck has ended with Christopher's death, he mumbles happily, "He's dead" and subsequently collapses in a laughing fit on the casino floor. The episode concludes with Tony and Sonya looking out on the Nevada desert at sunset. Tony sees the sun flicker in the distance. He stands up to walk towards it. Both crying and laughing he exclaims, "I get it!"
Guest starring
- Christiana Anbri as Heidi
- Gregory AntonacciGreg AntonacciGregory Antonacci is an American television actor, director, producer and writer.As a director, producer and writer, he worked on a number of television series namely Brothers, The Tortellis, Perfect Strangers, The Royal Family, The John Larroquette Show, Herman's Head, It's a Living and other...
as Butch DeConcini - Daniel BaldwinDaniel BaldwinDaniel Leroy Baldwin is an American actor, producer and director. He is the second oldest of the four Baldwin brothers, all of whom are actors. Daniel Baldwin is known for his role as Detective Beau Felton in the popular NBC TV series Homicide: Life on the Street...
as Himself - Bambadjan Bamba as Cyclist
- Denise Borino-Quinn as Ginny Sacrimoni
- Elizabeth BraccoElizabeth BraccoElizabeth Bracco is an American actress who is best known for her role as Marie Spatafore, wife of Vito Spatafore, on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos....
as Marie Spatafore - Chris Bashinelli as Kevin
- Leah Bezozo as Kennedy
- Cara BuonoCara BuonoCara Buono is an American actress, screenwriter and director, probably best known for her role as Dr. Faye Miller in the fourth season of the AMC drama series Mad Men.-Early life:...
as Kelli Moltisanti - Lindsay CampbellLindsay CampbellLindsay Campbell is an American actress and web journalist. She was the host of a daily online show called Wallstrip which shoots in Manhattan. She left Wallstrip on January 14, 2008 to host MobLogic....
as Professor Kline - 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
- John Cenatiempo as Anthony Maffei
- John "Cha Cha" Ciarcia as Albie Cianflone
- Michael Countryman as Dr. Richard Vogel
- Michael Drayer as Jason Parisi
- Ray DeMattis as Gerry Gaultieri
- William DeMeo as Jason Molinaro
- Elizabeth Dennis as Andrea
- Danielle Di Vecchio as Barbara Giglione
- Frances Ensemplare as Nucci Gualtieri
- Frank John HughesFrank John HughesFrank John Hughes is an American film and television actor best known for his portrayal of "Wild Bill" Guarnere in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, Tom Fox in Catch Me If You Can, Tim Woods in 24 and Walden Belfiore in The Sopranos.-Early life and career:A native of the South Bronx, Hughes...
as Walden Belfiore - Phyllis Kay as Rita Lombardo
- Mark La Mura as Alan Kaplan
- Jonathan LaPagliaJonathan LaPagliaDr. Jonathan LaPaglia, M.B.B.S. is an Australian actor known for his roles as Frank B. Parker in the television series Seven Days, Kevin Debreno in The District and Det...
as Himself - Marianne Leone CooperMarianne Leone CooperMarianne Leone is an American film and television actress, screenwriter, and essayist. She is likely best-known for her recurring role as Christopher Moltisanti's mother on The Sopranos....
as Joanne Moltisanti - Julianna MarguliesJulianna MarguliesJulianna Luisa Margulies is an American actress and producer.After several small television roles, Margulies achieved success in her regular role as Nurse Carol Hathaway on NBC's long-running medical drama ER, for which she won an Emmy Award...
as Julianna Skiff - Michelle Maryk as Jo Lewis
- Arthur Nascarella as Carlo Gervasi
- Vinnie Orofino as Bryan Spatafore
- Dennis Paldino as Al Lombardo
- Artie Pasquale as Burt Gervasi
- Dina Pearlman as Ellen Reinstein
- Joey Perillo as John Stefano
- Ryan Sullivan as Jason Gervasi
- Mickey Pizzo as Sal Pisano
- Joe Pucillo as Beppy Scerbo
- Anthony J. RibustelloAnthony RibustelloAnthony Ribustello is an actor and Republican activist. He is perhaps best known for his role as Dante Greco, Tony Soprano's driver on the HBO series, The Sopranos....
as Dante Greco - Sarah ShahiSarah ShahiAahoo Jahansouz "Sarah" Shahi is an American actress and a former NFL Cheerleader. She is probably best known for starring in The L Word as Carmen de la Pica Morales and in Life as Detective Dani Reese...
as Sonya Aragon - Sejal Shah as Chandrakanta Pisano
- Zuzanna Szadkowski as Elżbieta
- 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 - Ed Vassallo as Tom Giglione
- Marc Wolf as Mark Lewis
- John Wu as Morgan Yam
Deceased
- 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:...
: suffocated by Tony after suffering massive trauma in a car accident - Marianucci Gualtieri: stroke
Title reference
- Kennedy and Heidi are the names of the teenage girls driving the car that nearly collides with Christopher's vehicle. Heidi refuses to stop after the accident for fear of losing her learner's permitLearner's permitA driver's permit, learner's permit or learner's license, is a restricted license that is given to a person who is learning to drive, but has not yet satisfied the requirements to obtain a driver's license...
from the curfew violation. - "Sonia" was the working title for this episode.
- Tony observes Christopher's wife at the wake and describes her as "Jackie Kennedy".
Music
- The song playing on the car stereo as Christopher is driving Tony is Pink FloydPink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
's "Comfortably Numb", performed by Roger WatersRoger WatersGeorge Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
featuring Van MorrisonVan MorrisonVan Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
& The BandThe BandThe Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
from the soundtrack of The DepartedThe DepartedThe Departed is a 2006 American crime thriller film, fashioned as a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. The film was directed by Martin Scorsese and written by William Monahan...
. - The song playing in the background when Tony first meets Sonya is "Outta My Head" by M. WardM. WardMatthew Stephen Ward, known by his stage name M. Ward, is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who rose to prominence in the Portland, Oregon music scene. In addition to his solo work he is known as a member of She & Him and Monsters of Folk.-Career:...
. - The song played over the end credits is "Minas de Cobre (for Better Metal)" by Calexico.
- The song playing in the background as Tony and Sonya are intimate is "The Adultress" by The PretendersThe PretendersThe Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
. - The song playing in the background when Tony and Sonya are talking in bed is "Space Invader" by The PretendersThe PretendersThe Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
.
Awards
- The following actors submitted this episode as their 2007 Emmy choice: Julianna MarguliesJulianna MarguliesJulianna Luisa Margulies is an American actress and producer.After several small television roles, Margulies achieved success in her regular role as Nurse Carol Hathaway on NBC's long-running medical drama ER, for which she won an Emmy Award...
, Cara BuonoCara BuonoCara Buono is an American actress, screenwriter and director, probably best known for her role as Dr. Faye Miller in the fourth season of the AMC drama series Mad Men.-Early life:...
, Marianne Leone CooperMarianne Leone CooperMarianne Leone is an American film and television actress, screenwriter, and essayist. She is likely best-known for her recurring role as Christopher Moltisanti's mother on The Sopranos....
, 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....
, John VentimigliaJohn VentimigliaJohn Ventimiglia is an American actor, known for his role as Artie Bucco on the HBO television series The Sopranos. He has had parts in feature films such as Cop Land, Jesus' Son, and Mickey Blue Eyes and has appeared in numerous television shows including Law & Order and NYPD Blue...
and Sarah ShahiSarah ShahiAahoo Jahansouz "Sarah" Shahi is an American actress and a former NFL Cheerleader. She is probably best known for starring in The L Word as Carmen de la Pica Morales and in Life as Detective Dani Reese...
. - The episode's director, Alan TaylorAlan Taylor (director)Alan Taylor is an American television and film director, television producer, and screenwriter. Taylor has directed for numerous programs on both network television and premium cable, most notably on HBO...
, won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama SeriesPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama SeriesThe Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series is an Emmy presented to the best directing of a television drama series.-Best Direction of a Single Program of a Drama Series:*1959: Jack Smight – Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre ...
at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards59th Primetime Emmy AwardsThe 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on September 16, 2007 and were televised live on Fox at 8:00 p.m. EDT for the first time in high definition...
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