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Antnee79

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Nov 7, 2017
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[For the poster who met Jim at Greasy Tony's in Tempe, I too was there. Honestly, I don't remember Jim denying you a photo. However, just because I don't recall, certainly does not mean it didn't happen. In my experience Jim was always incredibly gracious and willing to stop for a picture at almost any time for anyone. We left for the game very early that morning and you may have just caught a very sleepy Jim Gandolfini.]

JG was outside Greasy Tony's with at least two others (I guess you were one of them), not eating but just hanging out. I do not usually bother famous people with a request for a photo, but he played such an iconic character on a massively popular show that was filmed in many places I personally was connected with that I finally got up the nerve to ask for a photo. He was polite in his refusal. I did not hold a grudge but was disappointed.
 
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RU Diesel07110

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2007
3,284
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RUfromSoCal? said:
I like to think the onion rings triggered intestinal inflammation and a massive gallbladder attack. The ensuing commotion certainly waylaid anyone intent on a nefarious act.

However, while being rushed to Hackensack UMC, the ambulance was T-boned by a Shop Rite Truck full of London Broil - killing all aboard and delaying that week's $1.99 per lb special..........
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He woulda went to Mountainside, not Hackensack!
 
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mikeinsec127

Junior
Feb 24, 2003
438
328
0
1. Tony gets whacked
2. Holsten's calls itself a confectionery shop - the awning says ice cream shop
3. The nearest hospital is Mountainside, but a head trauma should go to University in Newark
4. Either way he dies - in ER at Mountainside, or enroute to University - if not at the scene
 
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W

WhoRU?

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2003
1,271
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JMORC2003 said:
Always up for a Sopranos discussion.

He’s neither alive or dead. Show ended, story is over, that world no longer exists. I love the idea that Sopranos is happening in some parallel universe and that the show was just our window into it and it is ongoing even without us watching but that’s not the case. Over. Done. Fin.
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Whacking Schrodinger's Cat? If Paulie whacks a Russian in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
 
K

Knightmoves

Heisman
Jul 31, 2001
30,478
16,386
113
altrev said:
So, I will chime in, as I was mentioned a couple of times in this thread. First of all, and not to disappoint, but of the myriad things that Jim and I would talk about, the ending to the show was something that I don't believe we ever discussed. I always just figured that the ending was whatever the individual viewer decided it was. Nothing more...nothing less. Just like life, we are not always afforded the luxury of closure.

For the poster who met Jim at Greasy Tony's in Tempe, I too was there. Honestly, I don't remember Jim denying you a photo. However, just because I don't recall, certainly does not mean it didn't happen. In my experience Jim was always incredibly gracious and willing to stop for a picture at almost any time for anyone. We left for the game very early that morning and you may have just caught a very sleepy Jim Gandolfini.

Lastly, I just want to make a comment about the earlier post that said (and I'm paraphrasing) all Jim had to do was step into the roll and play himself. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jim was almost the antithesis of Tony Soprano. Jim was extraordinarily bright, a voracious reader, and one of the kindest, most giving most gentle people I will ever know. Jim had to work his *** off, on a daily basis, to transform himself into the character of Tony Soprano. It was the fact that he was so brilliant at his craft that made it seem natural and seamless. Believe me, transforming into that dark character was not easy and definitely not a simple feat.

Wow...longest post I've ever written
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Great post altrev, many thx.

Agree with ur point w the photo opp in AZ. Should never have been mentioned in the previous post.
 
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JMORC2003

All-Conference
Dec 22, 2008
4,609
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altrev said:
So, I will chime in, as I was mentioned a couple of times in this thread. First of all, and not to disappoint, but of the myriad things that Jim and I would talk about, the ending to the show was something that I don't believe we ever discussed. I always just figured that the ending was whatever the individual viewer decided it was. Nothing more...nothing less. Just like life, we are not always afforded the luxury of closure.

For the poster who met Jim at Greasy Tony's in Tempe, I too was there. Honestly, I don't remember Jim denying you a photo. However, just because I don't recall, certainly does not mean it didn't happen. In my experience Jim was always incredibly gracious and willing to stop for a picture at almost any time for anyone. We left for the game very early that morning and you may have just caught a very sleepy Jim Gandolfini.

Lastly, I just want to make a comment about the earlier post that said (and I'm paraphrasing) all Jim had to do was step into the roll and play himself. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jim was almost the antithesis of Tony Soprano. Jim was extraordinarily bright, a voracious reader, and one of the kindest, most giving most gentle people I will ever know. Jim had to work his *** off, on a daily basis, to transform himself into the character of Tony Soprano. It was the fact that he was so brilliant at his craft that made it seem natural and seamless. Believe me, transforming into that dark character was not easy and definitely not a simple feat.

Wow...longest post I've ever written
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Excellent insight. Thank you for sharing. I’ve never met Gandolfini but have been at a few panels with the writers and creators of the show and they’ve all said the same about him. There’s a book titled Difficult Men that looks at the complicated male anti-heroes of the third golden age of tv (ie, tony soprano, Walter white, don draper. A good read of you’re interested in tv and the tv business). It spends a lot of time on Gandolfini and what he went through while making the show. It took a huge emotional toll, and there are stories of him locking himself in his trailer screaming and beating himself up just to get into the right head space in order to be Tony (they also say that Edie Falco was the complete opposite, where she would easily be able to turn it on and off no matter how emotional or difficult the scene). Watching the show, I can’t even imagine the challenge it must have been.
 
A

Altrev

All-Conference
Mar 7, 2003
2,098
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Thanks guys. Jim was a great, loving, giving guy. He's missed terribly by many.
 
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BillyC80

Heisman
Oct 23, 2006
17,112
15,545
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altrev said:
Out of curiosity, who was your teammate?.Just his first name. Thanks. Might have been a roommate of mine too.
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His first name is Ray. If you know him too then we probably have some stories to share, lol.
 
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Altrev

All-Conference
Mar 7, 2003
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BillyC80 said:
altrev said:
Out of curiosity, who was your teammate?.Just his first name. Thanks. Might have been a roommate of mine too.
Click to expand...

His first name is Ray. If you know him too then we probably have some stories to share, lol.
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Hahaha. Ray was awesome. Jim and I lived with him in Birchwood. We used to call Ray the mayor of Birchwood. In fact, I had dinner with Ray a few years ago.
 
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P

Plum Street

Heisman
Jun 21, 2009
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Great show! Only thing I hated were those dream finnerty sequences. Never quite got it and never liked them.
 
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BillyC80

Heisman
Oct 23, 2006
17,112
15,545
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altrev said:
Hahaha. Ray was awesome. Jim and I lived with him in Birchwood. We used to call Ray the mayor of Birchwood. In fact, I had dinner with Ray a few years ago.
Click to expand...

Ray was the one who gave me the nickname I use as my handle on this board. I'd come off the field after making a play and he'd get in my face and say, "Way to go, BillyC!"
 
F

famousbill19

Senior
Nov 26, 2006
1,221
770
73
MGSA99 said:
Best way to end a series ever. We are STILL talking about it after all these years.
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Abro1975 said:
Breaking Bad might have had the all time best last show finale, leading up to the epic final scene !

Sons of Anarchy another tremendous final show with epic final scene.

PS- Any Michael Imperioli (Christopher) fans, he co stars in Amazon Prime's 'Mad Dogs' , an original 10 part series . 4 friends from Chicago go down to Belize to party with their good friend who hit it big and bought a mansion on the beach. Action packed, strange plot twists, gorgeous girls, and lots of drugs. Binge watch worthy.
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The Shield had the best ending ever. Seven seasons of constantly increasing tension, all crashing down in the final two episodes. It is one of my favorite shows ever along with The Wire/Breaking Bad. (Classic scene below from the finale- caution major spoilers).

Breaking Bad last episode, albeit satisfying, was too much of a "happy ending" for me.

Soprano's was controversial (I liked it). I gave up on SoA after Season 3.

+1 for Mad Dogs, which coincidentally was also produced by Shawn Ryan, who was the show runner for The Shield.

 
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A

Altrev

All-Conference
Mar 7, 2003
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BillyC80 said:
altrev said:
Hahaha. Ray was awesome. Jim and I lived with him in Birchwood. We used to call Ray the mayor of Birchwood. In fact, I had dinner with Ray a few years ago.
Click to expand...

Ray was the one who gave me the nickname I use as my handle on this board. I'd come off the field after making a play and he'd get in my face and say, "Way to go, BillyC!"
Click to expand...

I can hear him saying that!!! I knew a bunch of people he played with on that team. You and I may have met. My name is Mark. Also worked with Ray at the pub.
 
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anon_ivydyf0amkzay

Guest
I bet I'm the ONLY one on any of the RU boards that has never watched even a minute of that show![winking]
 
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RUSeaGirtMA

Senior
Mar 8, 2011
515
586
0
I always thought the Sopranos producers missed an opportunity at the end of the penultimate episode. Tony lays down for a little shuteye in the safe house down the shore with his AR-10 across his chest. They should have ended the episode with Gimme Shelter by the Stones - it would've been the absolute perfect song for that moment (remember, it wasn't looking good for Tony at that point).
 
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