The Happy Wanderer (The Sopranos episode)
Encyclopedia
"The Happy Wanderer" is the nineteenth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos
and was the sixth of the show's second season. It was written by Frank Renzulli
, directed by John Patterson and originally aired on Sunday, February 20, 2000.
's school, Tony
reunites with an old school friend, David Scatino, who owns a sporting goods store in Ramsey, New Jersey
. Davey then casually asks Tony if he can play in the "Executive Game", a high-level poker game established by Tony's father, Johnny Boy, and Uncle Junior
in the 1960s, and now resurrected by Tony himself since Junior's house arrest. Tony warns Davey that because of the high stakes, he recommends that he not join the game due to the fact he believes that Davey lacks the capital to "sit in" such a high stakes game. The following day, Davey begins to owe serious debts after playing at Richie Aprile
's small poker game, and falls behind on payments. Richie warns him that missing payments will only cause his debt to escalate faster (missed payments are added to the principal), and bars Davey from the Aprile poker game until he can catch up.
At his therapy session with Dr. Melfi
, Tony discusses that things are going well for him but that he is becoming angry at everything. As an example he refers to "happy wanderers," people walking down the street with a smile and a happy manner. Tony explains that he is resentful of these people because "they always walk around with a clear head", while he cannot stave off depression and anger even when life is seemingly unproblematic, despairing at the death of his brother-in-law's father, Tom Giglione Sr., who was swept off a roof while putting up a satellite dish just one day after his retirement. Tony then tells Melfi that he is beginning to resent therapy as it encourages feelings of victimization, while his hero, Gary Cooper
, was always resilient, "the strong, silent type". Tony also learns from Uncle Junior that he had another uncle who was mentally disabled. Uncle Junior tells him that his name was Ercoli (nicknamed "Eckley") and that his mother could not take care of him, instead sending him to the most suitable charity home in the state. Melfi sarcastically asks Tony if having a retarded family member makes him feel better about coming to therapy.
At Tom Giglione's funeral, Tony becomes angry when Livia
arrives, saying she is dead to him. He also becomes angry when she attends a school performance where Meadow is scheduled to sing.
Before the card game, Christopher Moltisanti
grooms Matt Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte giving them the dos and don'ts when they arrive at the game. Furio Giunta
arranges the game to be held at the Teittleman motel, and is derisive when Hillel Teittleman complains about the criminal enterprises the mob has brought into his family's establishment, noting that the Hasidim enjoy the services of their prostitutes. At the card game, the players include Frank Sinatra, Jr.
, Johnny Sack
, Silvio Dante
, and Dr. Ira Fried. Tony is surprised when Davey Scatino arrives looking to join the game, and initially resists ("Davey, this is not a game for you") but at his friend's insistence, finally allows him to enter. In the beginning Davey wins a round which upsets Silvo into cursing and insulting Matthew. Tony looks on with a smile on his face. By the morning, Davey owes $45,000 to Tony. Richie then visits the motel room where he sees Davey and attempts to choke him for even daring to enter the Executive Game when he still owes Richie thousands of dollars. Tony breaks up the fight and takes Richie outside. Richie tells Tony that Davey already owes him over $8,000. As punishment for causing a scene during the game and threatening one of his players, Tony tells the disobedient capo that Davey will pay his debt first and then Richie's, and that Richie's credit is frozen, meaning he cannot collect or charge interest from David Scatino until then. Davey fails to come up with the money for Tony, who tracks the debtor down to his store and smacks him around his office. Desperate, Davey turns to his friend Artie Bucco for a loan, but Artie declines when he learns that Davey is asking for $20,000, even though he is concerned by the news that his friend is in debt to Tony. Artie states that the Vesuvio is in need of a new roof.
Tony tracks down David at his store, which causes Tony to smack him and threatens to give him something by the next day. As partial payment, a desperate Davey gives Tony the Nissan Pathfinder
that belongs to his son, Eric Scatino, using the excuse that Eric was off-roading
. Tony then gives the car to Meadow
, who soon realizes that it belonged to her friend and refuses to take it. Offended, Tony tells her that he is justified in demanding whatever payment Davey Scatino could offer, and insists that Meadow understand his work provides for their home. Tony yells that he is fine with Meadow not wanting the Pathfinder, instead he will sell it to Big Pussy and use the money to buy things such as food, clothes, and CD players for her saying he has been doing that ever since the day she was born. Carmela offers a slight rebuttal that the Scatino family is good friends with the provost
of Georgetown
, and he could be endangering Meadow's college choices. However, Eric is not prepared to accept his father's responsibility for the loss of his property. When they meet later that night to perform a duet with Meadow at the school's cabaret night, Eric demands that Meadow "make" Tony give his SUV back. When Meadow points out that she can't force Tony to give anything back, and further suggests that Davey bears at least some responsibility for his situation, he drops out minutes before their scheduled performance, saying, "Fuck you, fuck your gangster father and fuck this." As the show begins, an announcer alerts the audience a program change in the second act: that Meadow will be performing alone. Carmela
is surprised, but relieved that Meadow will have a solo performance for her college application, while Tony seems unrepentant at the obvious impact he has had on the Scatinos and their friendship with his own family.
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 sixth of the show's second season. It was written by Frank Renzulli
Frank Renzulli
Frank Renzulli is an American film actor, writer and producer.As an Emmy nominated writer and Golden Globe winner, Renzulli has written teleplays for The Sopranos, mainly in the first two seasons, and another Emmy nominated episode in the third season of the highly acclaimed television show...
, directed by John Patterson and originally aired on Sunday, February 20, 2000.
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:...
* - 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,...
as Richie AprileRichie AprileRichard 'Richie' Aprile, Sr., played by David Proval, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Richie was a capo and the older brother of former DiMeo crime family acting boss Jackie Aprile, Sr... - 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:...
as Janice SopranoJanice SopranoJanice 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:... - 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... - * = credited only
Also guest starring
- 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 - Lillo Brancato Jr.Lillo Brancato Jr.Lillo Brancato, Jr. is a Colombian-born American actor, known for his performance as "Calogero Anello" in Robert De Niro's 1993 directorial debut, A Bronx Tale. He also played Matthew Bevilaqua, a young mobster on The Sopranos. In December 2005, Brancato was charged with second-degree murder for...
as Matt Bevilaqua - Chris Tardio as Sean Gismonte
- 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 FurioFurio 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:... - 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 - John C. HensleyJohn HensleyJohn Carter Hensley II is an American actor. His film appearances have included Peoples, Fifty Pills, Teeth, and Shutter.-Filmography:-External links:*...
as Eric Scatino - Marissa Redanty as Christine Scatino
- Felix Solis as Fishman
- Vincent Curatola as Johnny SackJohnny SackJohn "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...
- Paul MazurskyPaul MazurskyPaul Mazursky is an American film director, screenwriter and actor.-Personal life:He was born Irwin Mazursky in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Jean , a piano player for dance classes, and David Mazursky, a laborer. Mazursky was born to a Jewish family; his grandfather was an immigrant from...
as Sunshine - Frank Sinatra, Jr.Frank Sinatra, Jr.Franklin Wayne Sinatra , professionally known as Frank Sinatra, Jr., is an American singer, songwriter and conductor....
as Himself
- Lewis J. StadlenLewis J. StadlenLewis J. Stadlen is an American stage and screen character actor.-Career:Born in Brooklyn, New York to voice actor Allen Swift, Stadlen studied acting with Sanford Meisner and Stella Adler...
as Dr. Fried - Adam Alexi-MalleAdam Alexi-MalleAdam Alexi-Malle is an Italian actor, singer, dancer and musician born in Siena, Italy. His Italian father and Spanish/Arab mother later emigrated to London in the United Kingdom and finally to the United States...
as College Rep - P.J. Brown as Cop
- Angela Covington as Gudren
- 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... - Barbara Gulan as Mrs. Gaetano
- La Tanya Hall as Hooker
- 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 - David McCannDavid McCannDavid McCann is an Irish professional road bicycle racer. He used to cycle for the Taiwan-based UCI Continental team Giant Asia Racing.McCann was the Irish national road race champion in 2000, 2001 and 2006...
as Priest - Carmine Sirico as Dealer
- Ed Vassallo as Tom Giglione
Episode recap
During College Night at MeadowMeadow 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...
's school, 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...
reunites with an old school friend, David Scatino, who owns a sporting goods store in Ramsey, New Jersey
Ramsey, New Jersey
Ramsey is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located northwest of Midtown Manhattan. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 14,473....
. Davey then casually asks Tony if he can play in the "Executive Game", a high-level poker game established by Tony's father, Johnny Boy, and 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...
in the 1960s, and now resurrected by Tony himself since Junior's house arrest. Tony warns Davey that because of the high stakes, he recommends that he not join the game due to the fact he believes that Davey lacks the capital to "sit in" such a high stakes game. The following day, Davey begins to owe serious debts after playing at Richie Aprile
Richie Aprile
Richard 'Richie' Aprile, Sr., played by David Proval, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Richie was a capo and the older brother of former DiMeo crime family acting boss Jackie Aprile, Sr...
's small poker game, and falls behind on payments. Richie warns him that missing payments will only cause his debt to escalate faster (missed payments are added to the principal), and bars Davey from the Aprile poker game until he can catch up.
At his therapy 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:...
, Tony discusses that things are going well for him but that he is becoming angry at everything. As an example he refers to "happy wanderers," people walking down the street with a smile and a happy manner. Tony explains that he is resentful of these people because "they always walk around with a clear head", while he cannot stave off depression and anger even when life is seemingly unproblematic, despairing at the death of his brother-in-law's father, Tom Giglione Sr., who was swept off a roof while putting up a satellite dish just one day after his retirement. Tony then tells Melfi that he is beginning to resent therapy as it encourages feelings of victimization, while his hero, Gary Cooper
Gary Cooper
Frank 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...
, was always resilient, "the strong, silent type". Tony also learns from Uncle Junior that he had another uncle who was mentally disabled. Uncle Junior tells him that his name was Ercoli (nicknamed "Eckley") and that his mother could not take care of him, instead sending him to the most suitable charity home in the state. Melfi sarcastically asks Tony if having a retarded family member makes him feel better about coming to therapy.
At Tom Giglione's funeral, Tony becomes angry when 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...
arrives, saying she is dead to him. He also becomes angry when she attends a school performance where Meadow is scheduled to sing.
Before the card game, 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:...
grooms Matt Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte giving them the dos and don'ts when they arrive at the game. Furio Giunta
Furio Giunta
Furio 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:...
arranges the game to be held at the Teittleman motel, and is derisive when Hillel Teittleman complains about the criminal enterprises the mob has brought into his family's establishment, noting that the Hasidim enjoy the services of their prostitutes. At the card game, the players include Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Franklin Wayne Sinatra , professionally known as Frank Sinatra, Jr., is an American singer, songwriter and conductor....
, 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...
, 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 Dr. Ira Fried. Tony is surprised when Davey Scatino arrives looking to join the game, and initially resists ("Davey, this is not a game for you") but at his friend's insistence, finally allows him to enter. In the beginning Davey wins a round which upsets Silvo into cursing and insulting Matthew. Tony looks on with a smile on his face. By the morning, Davey owes $45,000 to Tony. Richie then visits the motel room where he sees Davey and attempts to choke him for even daring to enter the Executive Game when he still owes Richie thousands of dollars. Tony breaks up the fight and takes Richie outside. Richie tells Tony that Davey already owes him over $8,000. As punishment for causing a scene during the game and threatening one of his players, Tony tells the disobedient capo that Davey will pay his debt first and then Richie's, and that Richie's credit is frozen, meaning he cannot collect or charge interest from David Scatino until then. Davey fails to come up with the money for Tony, who tracks the debtor down to his store and smacks him around his office. Desperate, Davey turns to his friend Artie Bucco for a loan, but Artie declines when he learns that Davey is asking for $20,000, even though he is concerned by the news that his friend is in debt to Tony. Artie states that the Vesuvio is in need of a new roof.
Tony tracks down David at his store, which causes Tony to smack him and threatens to give him something by the next day. As partial payment, a desperate Davey gives Tony the Nissan Pathfinder
Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder is a SUV manufactured by Nissan Motors since 1986, derived from Nissan's compact pickup truck platform. The Pathfinder is slotted in size between the Murano and Armada or Patrol, but in price between the Xterra and Murano...
that belongs to his son, Eric Scatino, using the excuse that Eric was off-roading
Off-roading
Off-roading is a term for driving a vehicle on unsurfaced roads or tracks, made of materials such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and other natural terrain.-Off-road vehicle:...
. Tony then gives the car to 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...
, who soon realizes that it belonged to her friend and refuses to take it. Offended, Tony tells her that he is justified in demanding whatever payment Davey Scatino could offer, and insists that Meadow understand his work provides for their home. Tony yells that he is fine with Meadow not wanting the Pathfinder, instead he will sell it to Big Pussy and use the money to buy things such as food, clothes, and CD players for her saying he has been doing that ever since the day she was born. Carmela offers a slight rebuttal that the Scatino family is good friends with the provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
of Georgetown
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...
, and he could be endangering Meadow's college choices. However, Eric is not prepared to accept his father's responsibility for the loss of his property. When they meet later that night to perform a duet with Meadow at the school's cabaret night, Eric demands that Meadow "make" Tony give his SUV back. When Meadow points out that she can't force Tony to give anything back, and further suggests that Davey bears at least some responsibility for his situation, he drops out minutes before their scheduled performance, saying, "Fuck you, fuck your gangster father and fuck this." As the show begins, an announcer alerts the audience a program change in the second act: that Meadow will be performing alone. 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:...
is surprised, but relieved that Meadow will have a solo performance for her college application, while Tony seems unrepentant at the obvious impact he has had on the Scatinos and their friendship with his own family.
First appearances
- 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...
: Richie Aprile's nephew, who is also in his crew. - David Scatino: Tony's childhood friend and compulsive gambler.
- "Sunshine": The Executive Game's dealer, who would return to deal at Eugene Pontecorvo's poker game in the episode "Amour Fou".
- Dr. Ira Fried: A player in the Executive Game and doctor specialized in treating erectile dysfunction. Also performs illegal surgeries for mob-related injuries.
Deceased
- Tom Giglione, Sr.: Tony's brother-in-law's father, who died after falling off a roof.
Title reference
- The episode's title refers to a "happy wanderer", a person who walks around with no worries in the world, whom Tony despises.
- "The Happy WandererThe Happy Wanderer"The Happy Wanderer" is a popular song by Friedrich-Wilhelm Möller written shortly after World War II. It is often mistaken for a German folk song, but it is actually an original composition...
" is also a German song written by Friedrich-Wilhelm Möller. An English version sung by Frankie YankovicFrankie YankovicFrankie Yankovic was a Grammy Award-winning polka musician. Known as "America's Polka King," Yankovic was the premier artist to play in the Slovenian style during a long and successful career.-Background:Of Slovene descent, he was raised in South Euclid, Ohio...
is played during the end credits.
Music
- The song sung by the blond sopranoSopranoA soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
after Meadow and Eric's on-stage rehearsal, and again at the beginning of the concert, is "Gretchen am SpinnradeGretchen am SpinnradeGretchen am Spinnrade is a selection of text from Goethe's Faust. It was set by Schubert in 1814, Op.2, D 118, and was his first successful Lied...
" by Franz SchubertFranz SchubertFranz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
. - When Eric picks up Meadow, he is listening to "Down" by Stone Temple PilotsStone Temple PilotsStone Temple Pilots is an American rock band from San Diego, California that consists of Scott Weiland , brothers Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo , and Eric Kretz ....
. - The duet that Meadow and Eric are practicing is "Sun and Moon" from the musical Miss SaigonMiss SaigonMiss Saigon is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, with lyrics by Boublil and Richard Maltby, Jr.. It is based on Giacomo Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly, and similarly tells the tragic tale of a doomed romance involving an Asian woman abandoned by her American lover...
. - The song "Love Is StrangeLove Is Strange"Love Is Strange" was a crossover hit by American rhythm and blues duet Mickey & Sylvia, which was released in late November 1956 by the Groove record label.The song was based on a guitar riff by Jody Williams. The co-writers of the song are of some dispute...
" by Mickey and Sylvia can be heard playing in the background when David goes to Artie's restaurant seeking a loan from him. - The song "Tequila SunriseTequila Sunrise (song)"Tequila Sunrise" is a song written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, and recorded by the Eagles. It was the first single from the band's second album Desperado...
" by The Eagles can be heard playing when Tony goes to collect his first payment from David "Davey" Scatino.
Cultural references and references to other media
- Junior says Ercoli was a derivation of HerculesHerculesHercules is the Roman name for Greek demigod Heracles, son of Zeus , and the mortal Alcmene...
and that Ercoli was strong like a bull, and handsome like George RaftGeorge RaftGeorge Raft was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s...
. - Silvio is getting increasingly agitated during a losing night of poker and finally explodes after Matt Bevilaqua sweeps up crumbs near him, yelling at Tony: "I'm losin' my balls over here. This fuckin' moron's playing Hazel?" HazelHazel (TV series)Hazel is a Screen Gems television series about a fictional live-in maid named Hazel Burke and her employers, the Baxters. The five-season, 154-episode series aired in primetime from September 1961 until April 1966...
was a 1960's hit TV show starring Shirley BoothShirley BoothShirley Booth was an American actress.Primarily a theatre actress, Booth's Broadway career began in 1925. Her most significant success was as Lola Delaney, in the drama Come Back, Little Sheba, for which she received a Tony Award in 1950...
. - Meadow complains to her chorus teacher that her last solo was in Kiss of the Spider WomanKiss of the Spider Woman (musical)Kiss of the Spider Woman is a musical with music by John Kander and Fred Ebb, with the book by Terrence McNally. It is based on the Manuel Puig novel El Beso de la Mujer Araña...
, two years ago. - When Davey Scatino opts out of doing the "Sun and Moon" duet with Meadow, the emcee announces that Meadow will, instead, sing the solo "My Heart Will Go OnMy Heart Will Go On"My Heart Will Go On" is the theme song/love theme of the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic. With music by James Horner, lyrics by Will Jennings, and production by Simon Franglen, James Horner and Walter Afanasieff ,, it was recorded by Céline Dion...
", from TitanicTitanic (1997 film)Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. A fictionalized account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson, Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater and Billy Zane as Rose's fiancé, Cal...
(1997).