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Christopher (The Sopranos)

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For the character of the same name, seeChristopher Moltisanti.
"Christopher"
The Sopranosepisode
Episodeno.Season 4
Episode 3
Directed byTim Van Patten
Story by
Teleplay byMichael Imperioli
Cinematography byPhil Abraham
Production code403
Original air dateSeptember 29, 2002(2002-09-29)
Running time54 minutes
Episode chronology
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"Christopher"is the 42nd episode of theHBOoriginal seriesThe Sopranosand the third episode of the show's fourth season. Its teleplay was written byMichael Imperioli,from a story idea by Imperioli andMaria Laurino.It was directed byTim Van Pattenand originally aired on September 29, 2002.

Starring[edit]

* = credit only

Guest starring[edit]

Also guest starring[edit]

Synopsis[edit]

Silviowants to take action againstNative Americansprotesting theColumbus Dayparade,believing their actions to be insulting toItalian-Americans.When, withoutTony's approval, he,Patsy,andArtieattempt to break up the protest,Little Paulieand several others are injured.Ralphiethreatens the protest leader, Professor Del Redclay, that he will make it known thatIron Eyes Cody,a popular Native American figure, was actually an Italian-American. Tony unsuccessfully appeals toAssemblymanRon Zellmanand to an Indian chief to convince Redclay to cancel the protest. The chief invites Tony and his crew to hiscasino.Both the parade and protest occur without mob intervention, which upsets Silvio. Tony forcefully argues to Silvio that his achievements came through his own abilities, not through his heritage, and scorns the idea that everyone belongs to a victimized group.

At a luncheon meant to instill Italian pride in women, the "mob wives" feel singled out when the speaker attempts to dissociateItalian culturefrom the Mafia. After the luncheon,GabriellalecturesFather Philabout how much the mob wives, especiallyCarmela,have given to the parish, and says he had no right to bring in a guest speaker who intended to shame them.

TheSopranoandLupertazzi familiesmeet over a meal:Johnny,speaking forCarmine,demands a share of the profit Tony made fromJunior's warehouse, which was recentlyflipped.Tony agrees, but comes to the conclusion that someone from his organization is leaking information to the Lupertazzi family. Now that Johnny knows ofRalphie's joke about his wife, he is furiously hostile to him, but will not say why.

Bobby's wifeKarenis killed in a road accident. The mob wives feel sympathy for Bobby during thewakeand discuss his having never taken acomare.Spending time with him in his home, Janice is touched by his sincere grief.

Shortly after Ralphie leavesRosalie,Janice allows him to move in with her; but after a discussion with her therapist, she wills herself to break up with him. When he comes home with his baggage, she yells at him to leave and pushes him down the stairs, injuring his back. Janice locks herself in her room as Ralphie hobbles back to his car, bags in hand.

First appearances[edit]

  • Dan Castleman:the prosecutor in Junior's trial
  • Pie-O-My:The racehorse that Ralph Cifaretto buys and Tony admires
  • Marty Schwartz:an associate of Hesh Rabkin's who organizes the meeting between Tony Soprano and Chief Doug Smith

Deceased[edit]

Title reference[edit]

  • The title refers to the Italian explorerChristopher Columbus,the first European in several centuries to land in the Americas, in 1492. The controversy surrounding Christopher Columbus and the Columbus Day parade protests are referenced repeatedly in the episode.

Production[edit]

  • Dan Castleman, who plays a prosecutor with the same name on the series, first appearing in this episode, also acts as a consultant for the show's writers, giving them expert advice on their questions about legal matters dealing with the Mafia. In his real-life career, Castleman spent 30 years in theManhattanDistrict Attorney's office as chief of theRacketsBureau and then of Investigations.[1]Castleman would be credited for his contributions and given the title of a technical adviser starting with the second part of Season Six.

References to past episodes[edit]

  • During a therapy session, Janice's therapist tells her she should stop dating her brother (Tony Soprano)'s employees, citing that the last time Janice did, her fiancé ran out on her to enter the witness protection program. This is in reference to Janice's former fiancé Richie Aprile, whom Janice killed in the episode "The Knight in White Satin Armor".

Cultural references[edit]

  • The speaker at the Italian women's pride event mentions such famous Italian brands asArmani,Asiago,Barolo,andMoschino,and says Italian-Americans should not be exemplified byJohn Gotti,but instead byRudolph Giuliani
  • Carmela tells Tony that A.J.'s teacher told his students Columbus would have been prosecuted for crimes against humanity if he lived today, just asSlobodan Miloševićwas then
  • At breakfast, A.J. is readingA People's History of the United States(1980)
  • Tony says the casino owner asked him to haveFrankie Vallicome perform at his casino; Valli would later act on the series, beginning with season 5, asRusty Millio,a Lupertazzi family capo
  • Silvio mentions to Tony that mobsterJoe Colombocreated the firstItalian-American Civil Rights Leaguein the 1970s
  • Watching a news broadcast of the violence that occurred at the Columbus Day Parade, Melfi's ex-husband Richard remarks thatAlbinoni's Adagioshould be played over the clip.
  • In his conversation with Silvio, Tony reveals Silvio's daughter studies atLackawanna College
  • Chief Smith tells Tony that finding outIron Eyes Codyis not Native American is like finding outJames Caanis not Italian. Cody claimed to be native but was actually of Italian ancestry; Caan is best known for playingSonny CorleoneinThe Godfatherbut was of German-Jewish descent.
  • Tony refers to the movieHigh Noon(1952), in whichGary Cooper,playing a sheriff, faces the Miller gang
  • Tony tells Silvio they should take pride in their personal accomplishments rather than merely in the Italian-American accomplishments, such asThe GodfatherorChef Boyardee
  • Professor Murphy's book is about thestrega,Italian witches.

Controversy[edit]

The episode created a controversy when cast members ofThe Sopranos(specifically Dominic Chianese and Lorraine Bracco) were banned from marching in the Columbus Day Parade inNew York City,despite having received an invitation to participate in the event from New York City mayorMichael Bloomberg.[2]This followed on from a ban for cast members two years before the episode went out.[3]

Accolades[edit]

Joe Pantolianowon thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Seriesat the55th Primetime Emmy Awardsin 2003 for his work in this episode andWhoever Did This.[4][5]

Music[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Martin, Brett (2007-10-30). ""Got Myself a Gun": Theft, Murder, and Other Assorted Violent Tendencies ".The Sopranos: The Complete Book.New York:Time.p. 126.ISBN978-1-933821-18-4.
  2. ^"The Sopranos out of tune with parade".The Age.Melbourne. October 15, 2002.Retrieved2008-02-08.
  3. ^"'Sopranos' Banned From Parade ".ABC News.Retrieved2008-02-08.
  4. ^Neal, Rome.""Joe Pantoliano, Emmy Winner."".CBS News.CBS Interactive Inc.Retrieved27 June2020.
  5. ^Sepinwall, Alan; Seitz, Matt Zoller (January 8, 2019).The Sopranos Sessions.Abrams Press.ISBN9781419734946.

External links[edit]

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