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The Weight (The Sopranos episode)
Encyclopedia
"The Weight" is the 43rd episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos
and was the fourth of the show's fourth season. It was written by Terence Winter
, directed by Jack Bender
and originally aired on October 6, 2002.
is conversing with an associate, Joe Peeps, in a bar in Little Italy
. While there, Johnny spots a member of Ralph Cifaretto's crew, Donny K., and is infuriated to see him laughing and joking with the bartender, reminding him that Ralph had made an insulting joke about John's wife, Ginny, to a group of mob family insiders. As Donny K. gets up to leave, Johnny follows him outside, beats him into unconsciousness, and urinates on him. Tony Soprano
learns of the encounter the following morning and is deeply troubled that Johnny inappropriately lashed out. Johnny reminds Tony about Ralph's joke regarding Ginny's weight. Tony assures Johnny that the joke is "deplorable" but feels he has to protect his Capos, and Ralph is his highest earner.
Johnny then tries to convince Lupertazzi family Boss, Carmine Lupertazzi
, to intervene. Lupertazzi convenes a sit-down involving John, Ralph, Tony, Silvio Dante
, and by speakerphone Uncle Junior, in order to make a settlement since it may threaten the two families' already tense relationship over the Esplanade building project. Uncle Junior recommends that Johnny receive a piece of his construction business. However, Johnny wants Ralph to be executed for insulting Johnny's wife. After failing to gain support from either Carmine or Junior, Johnny decides to order a hitman
to visit Ralphie in Miami, Florida
, where Tony sent him to vacation until the issue was resolved. Meanwhile, Carmine, who has anticipated Johnny's anger as a threat to profits from the Esplanade, makes a veiled suggestion to Tony to have his Underboss
killed. Quite surprised, Tony is advised by Uncle Junior to put a hit on Johnny using the skills of a notorious crew of an elderly hitman from Rhode Island
, Lou "DiMaggio" Gallina -- nicknamed for his use of a baseball bat as a murder weapon. In Miami, however, events are already well in motion, as an assassin traces Ralph to his hotel. Back in New Jersey, Johnny catches Ginny in their laundry room secretly eating junk food
and yells at her for lying to him. Ginny begins to become emotional and tries to convince Johnny that she truly wants to lose weight. Johnny assures her he does not care about how she looks as long as she is happy. His anger subsiding, he calls off the hit on Ralphie at the last second and approaches Tony, offering reconciliation. Surprised, but relieved, Tony in turn cancels the contract on Johnny's life.
Meanwhile, Meadow Soprano
is recommended by Dr. Elliot Kupferberg's daughter, Saskia, to join the South Bronx Law Center -— to which Tony objects, given the limited profitability associated with representing underprivileged clients. Meadow disagrees with her father's advice and continues to volunteer. Meanwhile, Carmela
draws emotionally closer to Furio Giunta
, who throws a housewarming party to celebrate his new home, and the pair dance together to sensual Italian music. Carmela is happy that Furio is staying permanently and takes along an oblivious A.J.
as a chaperon to be a restraining influence when she returns to Furio's home to help him with decorating.
The following evening, as Tony and Carmela lie in bed, Tony presents Carmela with flowers and a slim designer dress from Saks Fifth Avenue
, which he asks her to put on. Carmela does so and Tony tenderly compliments her figure. They begin to make love as Meadow plays the music from the housewarming party in the next room, reminding Carmela of Furio. This causes Carmela to interrupt Tony's advances, get out of bed, bang on Meadow's bedroom door and tell Meadow to turn it down. Tony and Carmela resume lovemaking but Furio's party music plays in Carmela's head, indicating she is thinking of him as she makes love to Tony.
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 fourth of the show's fourth season. It was written by Terence Winter
Terence Winter
Terence Winter is an American writer and producer of television and film. He is the creator, writer, and executive producer of the HBO television series Boardwalk Empire...
, directed by Jack Bender
Jack Bender
Jack Bender is an American television and film director, actor, television producer and also a screenwriter. Bender was an executive producer and lead director on the ABC television series, Lost. He directed the series finale of Lost. Bender has also directed on other popular shows such as The...
and originally aired on October 6, 2002.
Guest starring roles
- Sharon AngelaSharon AngelaSharon Angela is an American film, television actress, screenwriter and director. Angela is probably most well known for her portrayal of Rosalie Aprile on the HBO series, The Sopranos....
as Rosalie Aprile - Peter BogdanovichPeter BogdanovichPeter Bogdanovich is an American film historian, director, writer, actor, producer, and critic. He was part of the wave of "New Hollywood" directors, which included William Friedkin, Brian De Palma, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Michael Cimino, and Francis Ford Coppola...
as Dr. Elliot Kupferberg - Denise Borino as Ginny Sacramoni
- Carl CapotortoCarl CapotortoCarl Capotorto is an American actor, known for his portrayal of Little Paulie Germani on The Sopranos. He is also the author of Twisted Head: An Italian-American Memoir.-External links:*...
as Little Paulie Germani - Matthew Del NegroMatthew Del NegroMatthew Del Negro is an American actor. He was born in Mount Kisco, New York as the youngest of three children. He is a graduate of Boston College, where he played Division I lacrosse. After graduating, he began to study acting, and after appearing in several minor commercials and independent...
as Brian Cammarata - Raymond Franza as Donny K.
- Robert FunaroRobert FunaroRobert Funaro is an American film and television actor. Funaro is best known for the role of Eugene Pontecorvo in the Emmy Award-winning television series The Sopranos...
as Eugene Pontecorvo
- Joseph R. GannascoliJoseph R. GannascoliJoseph R. Gannascoli is an Italian-American actor and celebrity spokesman most notable for his portrayal of Vito Spatafore on the HBO series, The Sopranos.-Early life:Joseph R. Gannascoli was born and raised in Brooklyn....
as Vito SpataforeVito SpataforeVito Spatafore, Sr., played by Joseph R. Gannascoli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a member of the DiMeo Crime Family and a subordinate of Tony Soprano. He was married to Marie Spatafore with two children, Francesca and Vito, Jr., and was a closeted homosexual... - Dan GrimaldiDan GrimaldiDaniel "Dan" Grimaldi is an American actor who is known for his roles as twins Philly and Patsy Parisi on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Career:...
as Patsy Parisi - Tony LipTony LipTony Lip is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of crime boss Carmine Lupertazzi in the HBO series The Sopranos. He portrayed real-life Bonanno crime family mobster Philip Giaccone in Donnie Brasco.Lip is from Paramus, New Jersey...
as Carmine LupertazziCarmine LupertazziCarmine Lupertazzi, Sr., played by Tony Lip, was the fictional Boss of the Brooklyn-based Lupertazzi crime family on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Biography:... - Richard Maldone as Ally Boy Barese
- Joe Maruzzo as Joey Peeps
- 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 - Joseph Castellana as Lou 'Dimaggio' Galina
- Richard BrightRichard Bright (actor)Richard James Bright was an American actor best known for his role as Al Neri in the The Godfather films.-Early life & work:...
as Frank Crisci - Jeff Robins as Chris Galina
- Lisa Altomare as Rose Galina
- Stephen Sable as Florida Hit Man
Episode recap
Johnny SackJohnny 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...
is conversing with an associate, Joe Peeps, in a bar in Little Italy
Little Italy, Manhattan
Little Italy is a neighborhood in lower Manhattan, New York City, once known for its large population of Italians. Today the neighborhood of Little Italy consists of Italian stores and restaurants.-Historical area:...
. While there, Johnny spots a member of Ralph Cifaretto's crew, Donny K., and is infuriated to see him laughing and joking with the bartender, reminding him that Ralph had made an insulting joke about John's wife, Ginny, to a group of mob family insiders. As Donny K. gets up to leave, Johnny follows him outside, beats him into unconsciousness, and urinates on him. 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...
learns of the encounter the following morning and is deeply troubled that Johnny inappropriately lashed out. Johnny reminds Tony about Ralph's joke regarding Ginny's weight. Tony assures Johnny that the joke is "deplorable" but feels he has to protect his Capos, and Ralph is his highest earner.
Johnny then tries to convince Lupertazzi family Boss, Carmine Lupertazzi
Carmine Lupertazzi
Carmine Lupertazzi, Sr., played by Tony Lip, was the fictional Boss of the Brooklyn-based Lupertazzi crime family on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Biography:...
, to intervene. Lupertazzi convenes a sit-down involving John, Ralph, Tony, 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 by speakerphone Uncle Junior, in order to make a settlement since it may threaten the two families' already tense relationship over the Esplanade building project. Uncle Junior recommends that Johnny receive a piece of his construction business. However, Johnny wants Ralph to be executed for insulting Johnny's wife. After failing to gain support from either Carmine or Junior, Johnny decides to order a hitman
Hitman
A hitman is a person hired to kill another person.- Hitmen in organized crime :Hitmen are largely linked to the world of organized crime. Hitmen are hired people who kill people for money. Notable examples include Murder, Inc., Mafia hitmen and Richard Kuklinski.- Other cases involving hitmen...
to visit Ralphie in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, where Tony sent him to vacation until the issue was resolved. Meanwhile, Carmine, who has anticipated Johnny's anger as a threat to profits from the Esplanade, makes a veiled suggestion to Tony to have his Underboss
Underboss
Underboss is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the boss...
killed. Quite surprised, Tony is advised by Uncle Junior to put a hit on Johnny using the skills of a notorious crew of an elderly hitman from Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, Lou "DiMaggio" Gallina -- nicknamed for his use of a baseball bat as a murder weapon. In Miami, however, events are already well in motion, as an assassin traces Ralph to his hotel. Back in New Jersey, Johnny catches Ginny in their laundry room secretly eating junk food
Junk food
Junk food is an informal term applied to some foods that are perceived to have little or no nutritional value ; to products with nutritional value, but which also have ingredients considered unhealthy when regularly eaten; or to those considered unhealthy to consume at all...
and yells at her for lying to him. Ginny begins to become emotional and tries to convince Johnny that she truly wants to lose weight. Johnny assures her he does not care about how she looks as long as she is happy. His anger subsiding, he calls off the hit on Ralphie at the last second and approaches Tony, offering reconciliation. Surprised, but relieved, Tony in turn cancels the contract on Johnny's life.
Meanwhile, Meadow Soprano
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...
is recommended by Dr. Elliot Kupferberg's daughter, Saskia, to join the South Bronx Law Center -— to which Tony objects, given the limited profitability associated with representing underprivileged clients. Meadow disagrees with her father's advice and continues to volunteer. Meanwhile, 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:...
draws emotionally closer to 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:...
, who throws a housewarming party to celebrate his new home, and the pair dance together to sensual Italian music. Carmela is happy that Furio is staying permanently and takes along an oblivious 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...
as a chaperon to be a restraining influence when she returns to Furio's home to help him with decorating.
The following evening, as Tony and Carmela lie in bed, Tony presents Carmela with flowers and a slim designer dress from Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
, which he asks her to put on. Carmela does so and Tony tenderly compliments her figure. They begin to make love as Meadow plays the music from the housewarming party in the next room, reminding Carmela of Furio. This causes Carmela to interrupt Tony's advances, get out of bed, bang on Meadow's bedroom door and tell Meadow to turn it down. Tony and Carmela resume lovemaking but Furio's party music plays in Carmela's head, indicating she is thinking of him as she makes love to Tony.
First appearances
- Joseph "Joey Peeps" Peparelli: Associate in the Lupertazzi family. Driver/Bodyguard of Johnny Sack.
- Brian Cammarata: Carmela's cousin and the family's "financial adviser".
Title reference
- The title refers to the joke Ralph Cifaretto made about Ginny Sacramoni's weight in "No Show," which Johnny Sack eventually learned about from 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:...
. - The title is also a reference to 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...
's songThe Weight"The Weight" is a song written by Robbie Robertson. It was released by The Band as Capitol Records single 2269 in 1968, and appeared one week later on the group's debut album Music from Big Pink. The song is listed as #41 on Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Songs of All Time published in 2004, and...
of the same name. In the song, the weight (referred to as "a load" in the lyrics) is the removal of a burden off one person and putting it on another. Several characters do this throughout the plotline involving Ralph and Johnny, most obviously Carmine, when he places the burden of eliminating Johnny on Tony. - The title may also be a subtle double entendreDouble entendreA double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
regarding the song's chorus ("Take a load off, Fanny") which could be interpreted as a reference to Ralph's joke about Ginny having a 90-pound mole removed from her rear end. - The title also refers to various emotional tensions key characters feel: Bobby Baccalieri, Jr. is caught between debilitating griefGriefGrief is a multi-faceted response to loss, particularly to the loss of someone or something to which a bond was formed. Although conventionally focused on the emotional response to loss, it also has physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, and philosophical dimensions...
for his wife and his responsibilities to his children and Uncle Junior and Carmela is caught between her responsibilities as a wife and mother and her burgeoning desire for Furio.
Music
- Music from Furio's housewarming includes "O'Mare" and "Vesuvio" by Italian band SpaccanapoliSpaccanapoli band-Formation and identity:The band was founded in 1999 by violinist and composer Antonio Fraioli and vocalist Monica Pinto. It was named after Spaccanapoli, a street that traverses the ancient city centre of Naples....
. - "Suddenly Last Summer" by The MotelsThe MotelsThe Motels are a New Wave music band from the Los Angeles area best known for "Only the Lonely" and "Suddenly Last Summer", each of which peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982 and 1983, respectively. Their song "Total Control" reached #4 on the Australian charts in 1980...
plays in the background when Furio visits Carmela. - One scene at the Bada BingBada BingThe Bada Bing! is a fictional strip club from the HBO drama television series The Sopranos. It was a key location for events in the series, named for catchphrase "bada bing", a phrase popularized by James Caan in The Godfather. The popularization of the fictional club benefited the real-life go-go...
features ZZ TopZZ TopZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
's "TushTush (song)"Tush" was the only single from ZZ Top's fourth album Fandango!. It reached number 20 on the pop chart.The song is a twelve-bar blues in the key of G. The recording was produced by Bill Ham, and recorded and mixed by Terry Manning...
". - "Sally Go Round the Roses" by The JaynettsThe JaynettsThe Jaynetts were a Bronx, New York girl group who became one-hit wonders with "Sally Go 'Round the Roses", which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963.-Beginnings:...
plays in the Johnny Sack's car radio.