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Statins are drugs which lower what in the blood? | Statins: Are these cholesterol-lowering drugs right for you? - Mayo Clinic
Statins: Are these cholesterol-lowering drugs right for you?
Statins: Are these cholesterol-lowering drugs right for you?
Find out whether your risk factors for heart disease make you a good candidate for statin therapy.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Statins are drugs that can lower your cholesterol. They work by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol. Statins may also help your body reabsorb cholesterol that has built up in plaques on your artery walls, preventing further blockage in your blood vessels and heart attacks.
Statins include medications such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Altoprev), pitavastatin (Livalo), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor). Lower-cost generic versions of many statin medications are available.
Already shown to be effective in lowering cholesterol, statins may have other potential benefits. But doctors are far from knowing everything about statins. Are they right for everybody with high cholesterol? What kinds of side effects may occur? Can statins help prevent other diseases?
Should you be on a statin?
Whether you need to be on a statin depends on your cholesterol level, along with your other risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Most people should try to keep their total cholesterol level below 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) (6.22 millimoles per liter, or mmol/L). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL, or "bad" cholesterol) should be below 100 mg/dL (3.37 mmol/L).
But the numbers alone won't tell you or your doctor the whole story. High cholesterol is only one of a number of risk factors for heart attack and stroke.
The most important factor to consider is a person's long-term risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke. If the risk is very low, there is probably no need for statins, unless the LDL is above 190 mg/dL (4.9 mmol/L). If the risk is very high — for example, someone who has had a heart attack in the past — the person may benefit from statins, even if his or her cholesterol is not elevated.
Risk assessment tools
Your doctor may suggest using an online tool to better understand your long-term risks of developing heart disease.
The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have recently developed an online tool to predict a person's chances of having a heart attack in the next 10 years. For people under the age of 50, the Framingham cardiovascular disease risk calculator might be a better option because it provides a 30-year risk prediction.
In addition to your cholesterol numbers, these risk calculators also ask about your age, race, sex, blood pressure and whether you have diabetes or smoke cigarettes.
New cholesterol guidelines
New guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association focus on four main groups of people who may be helped by statins:
People who already have cardiovascular disease. This group includes people who have had heart attacks, strokes caused by blockages in a blood vessel, mini-strokes (transient ischemic attacks), peripheral artery disease, or prior surgery to open or replace coronary arteries.
People who have very high LDL (bad) cholesterol. This group includes adults who have LDL cholesterol levels of 190 mg/dL (4.9 mmol/L) or higher.
People who have diabetes. This group includes adults who have diabetes and an LDL between 70 and 189 mg/dL (1.8 and 4.9 mmol/L), especially if they have evidence of vascular disease.
People who have a higher 10-year risk of heart attack. This group includes people who have an LDL above 100 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L) and whose 10-year risk of a heart attack is 7.5 percent or higher.
Lifestyle is still key for preventing heart disease
Lifestyle changes are essential for reducing your risk of heart disease, whether you take a statin or not. To reduce your risk:
Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke
Eat a healthy diet that's low in saturated fat, trans fat, refined carbohydrates and salt, and rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and whole grains.
Be physically active, sit less and exercise regularly
Maintain a healthy waist girth: less than 40 inches in men and less than 35 inches in women
If you're following the recommended lifestyle behaviors but your cholesterol — particularly your LDL (bad) cholesterol — remains high, statins might be an option for you. Risk factors for heart disease and stroke are:
Smoking
Diabetes
Being overweight or obese
Family history of heart disease, especially if it was before the age of 55 in male relatives or before 65 in female relatives
Not exercising
Poor stress and anger management
Older age
Rosenson RS. Statins: Actions, side effects, and administration. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 23, 2015.
Drug therapy for cholesterol. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/PreventionTreatmentofHighCholesterol/Drug-Therapy-for-Cholesterol_UCM_305632_Article.jsp. Accessed March 23, 2015.
AskMayoExpert. Hyperlipidemia: What are the newly released American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines on heart disease prevention (including new guidelines for treatment of cholesterol abnormalities) and what are Mayo's recommendations in response to these new guidelines? Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2014.
Rosenson RS. Statins: Possible noncardiovascular benefits. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 23, 2015.
Levels of cholesterol. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/FatsAndOils/Fats101/Levels-of-Cholesterol_UCM_305051_Article.jsp. Accessed March 24, 2015.
Rosenson RS. Treatment of lipids (including hypercholesterolemia) in secondary prevention. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 24, 2015.
What are coronary heart disease risk factors? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hd#. Accessed March 25, 2015.
Hennekens CH. Overview of primary prevention of coronary heart disease and stroke. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 25, 2015.
FDA expands advice on statin risks. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm293330.htm. Accessed March 25, 2015.
Rosenson RS, et al. Statin myopathy. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 25, 2015.
Opie LH. Present status of statin therapy. Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine. 2015;25:216.
Lopez-Jimenez F (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 26, 2015.
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In mathematics, how many degrees are in a straight angle? | Statins: Drug List, Names (Brand & Generic) & Side Effects
Pharmacy Author: Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD
Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD
Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.
Medical and Pharmacy Editor: Jay W. Marks, MD
Jay W. Marks, MD
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Medical Editor: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.
Are there differences among statins?
What are statins, and how do they work?
"Statins" is a class of drugs that lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver . (The other source of cholesterol in the blood is dietary cholesterol.) Statins block the enzyme in the liver that is responsible for making cholesterol. This enzyme is called hydroxy-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase). Scientifically, statins are referred to as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
Cholesterol is critical to the normal function of every cell in the body. However, it also contributes to the development of atherosclerosis , a condition in which cholesterol-containing plaques form within arteries. These plaques block the arteries and reduce the flow of blood to the tissues the arteries supply. When plaques rupture, a blood clot forms on the plaque, thereby further blocking the artery and reducing the flow of blood. When blood flow is reduced sufficiently in the arteries that supply blood to the heart, the result is angina ( chest pain ) or a heart attack . If reduced flow is caused by plaques in the arteries of the brain, the result is a stroke . If reduced flow is caused by plaques in the arteries of the leg, they cause intermittent claudication (pain in the legs while walking ). By reducing the production of cholesterol, statins are able to slow the formation of new plaques and occasionally can reduce the size of plaques that already exist. In addition, through mechanisms that are not well understood, statins may also stabilize plaques and make them less prone to rupturing and develop clots.
The important role of cholesterol in atherosclerosis is widely accepted by scientists. Research from the last few years shows that aggressive cholesterol reduction is more beneficial than modest reductions. Nevertheless, atherosclerosis is a complex process that involves more than just cholesterol. For example, scientists have discovered that inflammation in the walls of the arteries may be an important factor in in the development of atherosclerosis. In addition to lowering cholesterol levels, statins also reduce inflammation, which could be another mechanism by which statins beneficially affect atherosclerosis. This reduction of inflammation does not depend on statins' ability to reduce cholesterol. Furthermore, these anti-inflammatory effects can be seen as early as two weeks after starting statins.
What are some examples of statins?
Statins that are approved for use in the U.S. include:
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Fleeceflower, Monkey Fungus and Hancock’s Curse are all names for which invasive Asian plant? | Plant invaders cause real harm | Invasive Species Council of British Columbia | ISCBC Plants & Animals
Invasive Species Council of British Columbia
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Parrot's Feather
A popular aquatic garden plant that spreads with water currents, animals, boats/trailers and fishing gear. Dense stands can stagnate water, and increase breeding grounds for mosquitoes
Zebra/Quagga Mussels
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Scotch Broom
An evergreen shrub that invades rangelands, replaces forage plants, causes allergies in people, and is a serious competitor to conifer seedlings
learn more »
Plant invaders cause real harm
Victoria Times Colonist (Editorial), Aug. 15, 2014: It looks attractive, but once it gets into your garden, it never leaves. It will take over your yard, your house, your neighbourhood, growing up through asphalt and even penetrating concrete foundations of homes.
It sounds like something out of a B-grade 1950s horror flick, but the knotweed threat is real. And it’s an example of the harm that can happen when we introduce species where they don’t belong.
Like most invasive species, knotweed has spread outside its original East Asian habitat because people found it attractive and easy to grow. It was introduced into North America in the 1800s as an ornamental plant, to control erosion and as fodder for livestock. It is found in six provinces and 39 states.
It is a major problem in Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania. The World Conservation Union lists it as one of the world’s worst invasive species. When it gets established, it eliminates all other plants in its territory. That causes economic losses, as well as destroying natural habitat.
The Capital Region Invasive Species Partnership wants to ensure nasty knotweed doesn’t take over the Island. People who suspect they have the plant are asked to report it to the Coastal Invasive Species Committee, which is part of the capital region partnership, by calling 250-857-2472 or emailing [email protected].
It’s an impressive plant with bamboo-like stems, arching branches and spear-shaped green leaves of up to 12 centimetres. Its flowers appear as creamy white clusters at the tips of the stems in late summer.
And just in case it has sneaked in under an assumed name, you should know it is also called fleeceflower, Himalayan fleece vine, monkeyweed, monkey fungus, Hancock’s curse, elephant ears, pea shooters, donkey rhubarb (although it is not a rhubarb), sally rhubarb, Japanese bamboo, American bamboo and Mexican bamboo (although it is not a bamboo).
While knotweed is not as big a problem on the Island as it is in the U.K., it’s important to find out where it is and to eradicate it as soon as possible.
Cutting it down or digging it up won’t do the trick — tiny pieces of the plant left in the soil, tossed in the compost or allowed to drift down a stream will sprout and begin a new colony. The partnership is providing a free service this summer in which professionals inject herbicide into the stem of the plant.
“There’s a cost to doing nothing,” says Rachelle McElroy, executive director of the Coastal Invasive Species Committee. “If we don’t know it’s there, by the time we become aware of it, it’s too late.”
While many nurseries and garden centres are aware of the problems with invasive species, Canada has no law against selling such plants. Perhaps that should change.
“We don’t want it to become like Scotch broom,” McElroy said, referring to the yellow-blossomed shrub that has infested thousands of hectares on the Island, damaging native ecosystems.
Broom was brought to the Island in the mid-1800s and encouraged by settlers who wanted to “Europeanize” the landscape. Gardening and landscaping are integral to the Island quality of life, but there’s a lesson from broom and knotweed — be careful what you plant. We enjoy many flowers, shrubs, trees and vegetables that are not native to this region, and they enrich our lives, but we should be on guard for those plants that spread too easily and have no natural enemies.
Nature’s a lavish spender here, but our ideal growing conditions mean aggressive foreign plants can too easily harm our island paradise. We need to be vigilant.
With apologies to a 1970s margarine commercial:
“It’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature.”
| Fallopia japonica |
The Bay of Fundy, which has the highest tides in the world, is mainly in which country? | AYURVEDA « New Drug Approvals « Page 2
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What is resveratrol?
When talk about resveratrol, we have to mention red wine since resveratrol is first popularly known in red wine. In fact, resveratrol was actually first isolated in 1940 from white hellebore roots by the Japanese scientist Michio Takaoka. Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy. However, the most popular source of resveratrol is from Japanese knotweed extract (Latin name:Polygonum cuspidatum)
Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene) is a polyphenolic phytoalexin. It is a stilbenoid, a derivate of stilbene, and is produced in plants with the help of the enzyme stilbene synthase.
Resveratrol exists as two geometric isomers: “cis-” (“Z”) and “trans-” (“E”). The ”trans-” form can undergo isomerisation to the “cis-” form when exposed to ultraviolet irradiation. Trans-resveratrol in the powder form was found to be stable under “accelerated stability” conditions of 75% humidity and 40 degrees C in the presence of air. Resveratrol content also stayed stable in the skins of grapes and pomace taken after fermentation and stored for a long period.
Sources of resveratrol
The resveratrol in red wine comes from the skin of grapes used to make wine. Because red wine is fermented with grape skins longer than is white wine, red wine contains more resveratrol. Simply eating grapes, or drinking grape juice, has been suggested as one way to get resveratrol without drinking alcohol. Red and purple grape juices may have some of the same heart-healthy benefits of red wine.
Other foods that contain some resveratrol include peanuts, blueberries and cranberries. It’s not yet known how beneficial eating grapes or other foods might be compared with drinking red wine when it comes to promoting heart health. The amount of resveratrol in food and red wine can vary widely.
Benefits of taking reveratrol supplements
Numerous studies have been conducted regarding various purported resveratrol benefits. Studies have primarily been conducted on laboratory animals, and while human search is very promising, is still in its earliest stages. Current research into resveratrol benefits points to resveratrol having amazing anti-aging properties, hence dubbed “The Fountain of Youth.” Many other key benefits such as cardiovascular effects, anti-cancer, estrogen regulating effects are mentioned here.
1.Resveratrol and its anti-aging benefits
The study by Harvard Medical School researchers shows that resveratrol stimulates production of SIRT1, a serum that blocks diseases by speeding up the cell’s energy production centers known as mitochondria.
Resveratrol affects the activity of enzymes called sirtuins. Sirtuins control several biological pathways and are known to be involved in the aging process. Resveratrol is only one of many natural and synthetic sirtuin-activating compounds (STACs) now known. Certain metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease, tend to strike as we age. In animal studies, severely restricting calories can help prevent some of these diseases. Over a decade ago, researchers found that resveratrol can mimic calorie restriction in some ways and extend the lifespans of yeast, worms, flies and fish.
2.Resveratrol and cardiovascular benefits
Resveratrol is famous for its Cardioprotective effects.According to Wikipedia, moderate drinking of red wine has long been known to reduce the risk of heart disease. This is best known as “the French paradox”.
Studies suggest resveratrol in red wine may play an important role in this phenomenon. It achieves the effects by the following functions: (1) inhibition of vascular cell adhesion molecule expression;(2) inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation;(3) stimulation of endolethelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity;(4) inhibition of platelet aggregation;and (5) inhibition of LDL peroxidation.
The cardioprotective effects of resveratrol also are theorized to be a form of preconditioning—the best method of cardioprotection, rather than direct therapy.Study into the cardioprotective effects of resveratrol is based on the research of Dipak K. Das, however, who has been found guilty of scientific fraud and many of his publications related to resveratrol have been retracted. A 2011 study concludes, “Our data demonstrate that both melatonin and resveratrol, as found in red wine, protect the heart in an experimental model of myocardial infarction via theSAFE pathway.”
Resveratrol, a polyphenol in red wine, induces nitric oxide (NO) synthase, the enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of NO, in cultured pulmonary artery endothelial cells, suggesting that Resveratrol could afford cardioprotection by affecting the expression of nitric oxide synthase.
3.Reveratrol and anti-cancer benefits
Experts already claim it can help you beat cancer – from brain tumours to breast, colon, prostate cancers and many more. Resveratrol is being studied to see how it affects the initiation, promotion, and progression of cancer. With regard to tumor initiation, it has been shown to act as an antioxidant by inhibiting free radical formation and as an anti-mutagen in rat models. Studies related to progression have found that resveratrol induced human promyelocytic leukemia cell differentiation, inhibited enzymes that promote tumor growth, and exerted antitumor effects in neuroblastomas. Noting that in animal studies, resveratrol was effective against tumors of the skin, breast, gastrointestinal tract, lung, and prostate gland. Memorial Sloan-Kettering, the American pillar of cancer treatment, conducted research on theinflammatory effects on cells leading to cancer. It is widely known that an enzyme, COX-2, lies behind the stimulation of localised hormones (eicosanoids) causing inflammation, the precursor to cancer. In the research Resveratrol completely turned off the COX-2 driver. MD Anderson´s studies have shown this same anti-inflammatory benefit too. Plus, after conversion in the liver to a sulphated form the compound can attack several of the steps in the cancer process even killing cancer cells.
4. The Benefits of Resveratrol Weight Loss
Resveratrol is actually a very popular nutrient that has been shown on Dr. Oz, Oprah, Barbara Walters, and a number of other national television shows. It is quickly becoming one of the country’s best natural supplements.
How does Resveratrol help you lose weight? Resveratrol on its own will not be effective at helping you to lose weight, but you have to use it in conjunction with exercise and a proper diet if you really want to obtain the maximum benefits from the supplement.
However, the vitamin, when in concentrated form, has been proven to help speed up the metabolism. This speeding up of the metabolism causes the body to metabolize and process to food consumed faster, which causes the calories in the food to be used more effectively. When the body metabolizes food faster, there is less risk of excess calories being stored in the body in the form of fat.
However, in order to ensure that Resveratrol actually works, you need to take sufficient amounts of the vitamin. The supplement is effective because it is a concentrated form of the helpful vitamin, and taking the supplement is the best way to ensure that Resveratrol works effectively in helping you shed those excess pounds.
Another way Resveratrol helps you to lose weight is through reducing the amounts of estrogen that your body produces. Estrogen increases body fat and decreases muscle mass, so reducing the amounts of estrogen produced by your body will help you lose weight and build muscle. Taking Resveratrol can be a good way to ensure that your body doesn’t produce the amounts of estrogen that will keep it from building muscle.
Side Effects of taking resveratrol supplements
Because there have been very few studies conducted on resveratrol in humans, doctors still can’t confirm what adverse effects these supplements might have on people over the long term. So far, studies have not discovered any severe side effects, even when resveratrol is taken in large doses. However, resveratrol supplements might interact with blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen, increasing the risk for bleeding.
Like other supplements, resveratrol isn’t regulated by the FDA, so it’s difficult for consumers to know exactly what they’re getting when they buy a bottle, or whether the product is actually effective.
Dosage of resveratrol supplements
There also isn’t any specific dosage recommendation, and dosages can vary from supplement to supplement. The dosages in most resveratrol supplements are typically far lower than the amounts that have been shown beneficial in research studies. Most supplements contain 250 to 500 milligrams of resveratrol. To get the equivalent dose used in some animal studies, people would have to consume 2 grams of resveratrol (2,000 milligrams) or more a day.
Fallopia japonica, commonly known as Japanese knotweed, is a large, herbaceous perennial plant of the family Polygonaceae , native to Eastern Asia in Japan , China and Korea . In North America and Europe the species is very successful and has been classified as an invasive species in several countries. Japanese knotweed has hollow stems with distinct raised nodes that give it the appearance of bamboo , though it is not closely related. While stems may reach a maximum height of 3–4 m each growing season, it is typical to see much smaller plants in places where they sprout through cracks in the pavement or are repeatedly cut down. The leaves are broad oval with a truncated base, 7–14 cm long and 5–12 cm broad, [1] with an entire margin. The flowers are small, cream or white, produced in erect racemes 6–15 cm long in late summer and early autumn.
Closely related species include giant knotweed ( Fallopia sachalinensis , syn. Polygonum sachalinense) and Russian vine ( Fallopia baldschuanica , syn. Polygonum aubertii, Polygonum baldschuanicum).
Other English names for Japanese knotweed include fleeceflower, Himalayan fleece vine, monkeyweed, monkey fungus, Hancock’s curse, elephant ears, pea shooters, donkey rhubarb (although it is not a rhubarb ), sally rhubarb, Japanese bamboo, American bamboo, and Mexican bamboo (though it is not a bamboo ). In Chinese medicine , it is known as Huzhang ( Chinese : 虎杖; pinyin : Hǔzhàng), which translates to “tiger stick.” There are also regional names, and it is sometimes confused with sorrel . In Japanese , the name is itadori (虎杖, イタドリ ? ). [2]
Old stems remain in place as new growth appears
A hedgerow made up of roses and Japanese knotweed in Caersws , Wales in 2010
Erect inflorescence
Invasive species
It is listed by the World Conservation Union as one of the world’s worst invasive species . [3]
The invasive root system and strong growth can damage concrete foundations, buildings, flood defences, roads, paving, retaining walls and architectural sites. It can also reduce the capacity of channels in flood defences to carry water. [4]
It is a frequent colonizer of temperate riparian ecosystems , roadsides and waste places. It forms thick, dense colonies that completely crowd out any other herbaceous species and is now considered one of the worst invasive exotics in parts of the eastern United States. The success of the species has been partially attributed to its tolerance of a very wide range of soil types, pH and salinity. Its rhizomes can survive temperatures of −35 °C (−31 °F) and can extend 7 metres (23 ft) horizontally and 3 metres (9.8 ft) deep, making removal by excavation extremely difficult.
The plant is also resilient to cutting, vigorously resprouting from the roots. The most effective method of control is by herbicide application close to the flowering stage in late summer or autumn. In some cases it is possible to eradicate Japanese knotweed in one growing season using only herbicides. Trials in the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) of British Columbia using sea water sprayed on the foliage have demonstrated promising results, which may prove to be a viable option for eradication where concerns over herbicide application are too great.[ citation needed ]
Two biological pest control agents that show promise in the control of the plant are the psyllid Aphalara itadori [5] and a leaf spot fungus from genus Mycosphaerella . [6]
New Zealand
It is classed as an unwanted organism in New Zealand and is established in some parts of the country. [7]
United Kingdom
In the UK, Japanese Knotweed is established in the wild in many parts of the country and creates problems due to the impact on biodiversity, flooding management and damage to property. It is an offence under section 14(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to “plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild” any plant listed in Schedule nine, Part II to the Act, which includes Japanese knotweed. It is also classed as “controlled waste” in Britain under part 2 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 . This requires disposal at licensed landfill sites. The species is expensive to remove; Defra ‘s Review of Non-native Species Policy states that a national eradication programme would be prohibitively expensive at £1.56 billion. [8]
The decision was taken on 9 March 2010 in the UK to release into the wild a Japanese psyllid insect, Aphalara itadori . [9] Its diet is highly specific to Japanese knotweed and shows good potential for its control. [10] [11]
In Scotland, the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 came into force in July 2012 that superseded the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This act states that is an offence to spread intentionally or unintentionally Japanese knotweed (or other non-native invasive species).
North America
The weed can be found in 39 of the 50 United States [12] and in six provinces in Canada . It is listed as an invasive weed in Maine , Ohio , Vermont , Virginia , West Virginia , New York , Alaska , Pennsylvania , Michigan , Oregon and Washington state . [13]
Uses
A variegated variety of Japanese Knotweed, used as a landscape plant
Japanese knotweed flowers are valued by some beekeepers as an important source of nectar for honeybees, at a time of year when little else is flowering. Japanese knotweed yields a monofloral honey , usually called bamboo honey by northeastern U.S. beekeepers , like a mild-flavored version of buckwheat honey (a related plant also in the Polygonaceae).
The young stems are edible as a spring vegetable , with a flavor similar to extremely sour rhubarb . In some locations, semi-cultivating Japanese knotweed for food has been used as a means of controlling knotweed populations that invade sensitive wetland areas and drive out the native vegetation. [14] It is eaten in Japan as sansai or wild foraged vegetable.
Similarly to rhubarb, knotweed contains oxalic acid , which when eaten may aggravate conditions such as rheumatism , arthritis , gout , kidney stones or hyperacidity. [15]
Both Japanese knotweed and giant knotweed are important concentrated sources of resveratrol and its glucoside piceid , [16] replacing grape byproducts. Many large supplement sources of resveratrol now use Japanese knotweed and use its scientific name in the supplement labels. The plant is useful because of its year-round growth and robustness in different climates. [17]
This antique locomotive at Beekbergen , Netherlands is overgrown by knotweed. A few years before, it was free of knotweed
Control
Japanese knotweed has a large underground network of roots (rhizomes). To eradicate the plant the roots need to be killed. All above-ground portions of the plant need to be controlled repeatedly for several years in order to weaken and kill the entire patch. Picking the right herbicide is essential, as it must travel through the plant and into the root system below. Glyphosate is the best active ingredient in herbicide for use on Japanese knotweed as it is ’systemic’; it penetrates through the whole plant and travels to the roots.
Digging up the rhizomes is a common solution where the land is to be developed, as this is quicker than the use of herbicides, but safe disposal of the plant material without spreading it is difficult; knotweed is classed as controlled waste in the UK, and disposal is regulated by law.Digging up the roots is also very labor-intensive and not always efficient. The roots can go to up to 10 feet (3 meters) deep, and leaving only a few inches of root behind will result in the plant quickly growing back.
Covering the affected patch of ground with a non-translucent material can be an effective follow-up strategy. However, the trimmed stems of the plant can be razor sharp and are able to pierce through most materials. Covering with non-flexible materials such as concrete slabs has to be done meticulously and without leaving even the smallest splits. The slightest opening can be enough for the plant to grow back.
More ecologically-friendly means are being tested as an alternative to chemical treatments. Soil steam sterilization [18] involves injecting steam into contaminated soil in order to kill subterranean plant parts. Research has also been carried out on Mycosphaerella leafspot fungus, which devastates knotweed in its native Japan. This research has been relatively slow due to the complex life cycle of the fungus. [19]
Research has been carried out by not-for-profit inter-governmental organisation CABI in the UK. Following earlier studies imported Japanese knotweed psyllid insects ( Aphalara itadori ), whose only food source is Japanese knotweed, were released at a number of sites in Britain in a study running from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2014. In 2012, results suggested that establishment and population growth were likely, after the insects overwintered successfully. [20] [21]
Detail of the stalk
Controversy
In the United Kingdom, Japanese Knotweed has received a lot of attention in the press as a result of very restrictive lending policies by banks and other mortgage companies. Several lenders have refused mortgage applications on the basis of the plant being discovered in the garden or neighbouring garden. [22] The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors published a report in 2012 in response to lenders refusing to lend “despite [knotweed] being treatable and rarely causing severe damage to the property.” [23]
There is a real lack of information and understanding of what Japanese Knotweed is and the actual damage it can cause. Without actual advice and guidance, surveyors have been unsure of how to assess the risk of Japanese Knotweed, which can result in inconsistent reporting of the plant in mortgage valuations. RICS hopes that this advice will provide the industry with the tools it needs to measure the risk effectively, and provide banks with the information they require to identify who and how much to lend to at a time when it is essential to keep the housing market moving.
—Philip Santo, RICS Residential Professional Group [23]
In response to this guidance, several lenders have relaxed their criteria in relation to discovery of the plant. As recently as 2012, the policy at the Woolwich (part of Barclays plc ) was “if Japanese Knotweed is found on or near the property then a case will be declined due to the invasive nature of the plant.” [24] [25] Their criteria have since been relaxed to a category-based system depending on whether the plant is discovered on a neighbouring property (categories 1 and 2) or the property itself (categories 3 and 4) incorporating proximity to the property curtilage and the main buildings. Even in a worst-case scenario (category 4), where the plant is “within 7 metres of the main building, habitable spaces, conservatory and/or garage and any permanent outbuilding, either within the curtilage of the property or on neighbouring land; and/or is causing serious damage to permanent outbuildings, associated structures, drains, paths, boundary walls and fences” Woolwich lending criteria now specify that this property may be acceptable if “remedial treatment by a Property Care Association (PCA) registered firm has been satisfactorily completed. Treatment must be covered by a minimum 10-year insurance-backed guarantee, which is property specific and transferable to subsequent owners and any mortgagee in possession.” [26] Santander have relaxed their attitude in a similar fashion (citation needed).
Property Care Association chief executive Steve Hodgson, whose trade body has set up a task force to deal with the issue, said: “japanese knotweed is not “house cancer” and could be dealt with in the same way qualified contractors dealt with faulty wiring or damp.” [27]
Japan
The plant is known as itadori (イタドリ, 虎杖 ? ). The kanji expression is from the Chinese meaning “tiger staff”, but as to the Japanese appellation, one straightforward interpretation is that it comes from “remove pain” (alluding to its painkilling use), [28] [29] though there are other etymological explanations offered.
It grows widely throughout Japan and is foraged as a wild edible vegetable ( sansai ), though not in sufficient quantities to be included in statistics. [30] They are called by such regional names as: tonkiba ( Yamagata ), [30] itazuiko ( Nagano , Mie ), [30] itazura ( Gifu , Toyama , Nara , Wakayama , Kagawa ), [30] gonpachi ( Shizuoka , Nara, Mie, Wakayama), [30] sashi ( Akita , Yamagata), [30] jajappo ( Shimane , Tottori , Okayama), [30] sukanpo (many areas).
Young leaves and shoots, which look like asparagus, are used. They are extremely sour; the fibrous outer skin must be peeled, soaked in water for half a day raw or after parboiling, before being cooked.
Places in Shikoku such as central parts of Kagawa Prefecture [31] pickle the peeled young shoots by weighting them down in salt mixed with 10% nigari (magnesium chloride). Kochi also rub these cleaned shoots with coarse salt-nigari blend. It is said (though no authority is cited) that the magnesium of the nigari binds with the oxalic acid thus mitigating its hazard. [32]
A novel use for a related species known as oh-itadori ( Polygonum sachalinense ) in Hokkaido is feeding it to larvae of sea urchins in aquaculture . [33]
See also
Persicaria capitata for another plant species called Japanese knotweed.
References
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Licorice Inhibits 92% of Breast Cancer Cells & Slows Growth by 83% in Vivo:
Isoliquiritigenin
Isoliquiritigenin, a natural licorice compound, inhibited 92% of human breast cancer cells (both ER+ and triple-negative) in vitro after 48 hours of treatment in this new study. When given to mice, it resulted in breast tumors 83% smaller than untreated mice after 25 days.
Researchers discovered this licorice compound was not only cytotoxic to the breast cancer cells but also profoundly reduced the key angiogenesis factor VEGF by up to 85%, thus disabling the cancer from connecting new blood supplies to feed the tumors. Licorice is a powerful herb which has already shown strong activity against prostate cancer, colon cancer, cervical cancer, leukemia and others in lab studies.
Although used as a candy in the West, licorice root has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for treating asthma, allergies, stomach ache, insomnia, inflammation, viral infection and many other conditions. Licorice is also a proven adrenal booster, which makes it a great alternative to caffeine in fighting fatigue and boosting energy levels.
Bottom line: this super-herb could be a great addition to a healthy diet centered on organic vegetables, fruit and whole foods. And if you want to limit your sugar intake, it’s simple to make as a tea. read all this at
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Parker and Barrow were the surnames of which US outlaw duo? | Bonnie Elizabeth Barrow (Parker) (1910 - 1934) - Genealogy
Bonnie Elizabeth Barrow
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Rowena, Runnels County, Texas, United States
Death:
in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, United States
Cause of death:
Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, United States
Immediate Family:
Oct 1 1910 - Rowena, Runnels, Texas, United States
Death:
May 23 1934 - Bienville Parish, Louisiana, United States
Parents:
Charles Robert Parker, Emma Eugenia Parker (born Krause)
Spouses:
Clyde Chestnut Barrow, Roy Glen Thornton
Siblings:
Oct 1 1910 - Rowena, Runnels, Texas, USA
Death:
May 23 1934 - Gibsland, Bienville, Louisiana, USA
Parents:
Oct 1 1910 - Rowena, Runnels County, Texas, USA
Death:
May 23 1934 - Gibsland, Bienville Parish, Louisiana, USA
Parents:
Australian Newspapers
Text:
"...-day at the funeral of Clyde Barrow anil Bonnie Parker. Barrow is the notorious Texas bandit, and Bonnie Purker, Ids woman companion...
Publication:
May 25 1934 - Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Page:
Oct 1 1910 - Rowena, Runnels, Texas, USA
Death:
May 23 1934 - Bienville, Dallas, Texas, USA
Husband:
Australian Newspapers
Text:
... 1May 24. WJILD scenes occurred today at Sthe funeral of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. Barrow, the notorious Texas bandit, and Bonnie P...
Publication:
May 25 1934 - Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Page:
Oct 1 1910 - Rowena, Runnels, Texas, USA
Death:
May 23 1934 - Gibsland, Bienville, Louisiana, USA
Husband:
Oct 1 1910 - Rowena, Texas, USA
Death:
May 23 1934 - Bienvielle Parish, Louisiana, USA
Husband:
Oct 1 1910 - Rowena, Runnels, Texas, USA
Death:
May 23 1934 - State Highway 154,Gibsland,Bienville Parish, Louisiana,USA
Husband:
Oct 1 1910 - Rowena, Runnels, Texas, USA
Death:
May 23 1934 - Bienville Parrish, Dallas, Texas, USA
Parents:
<Private> Parker, Emma Parker (born Krouse)
Husband:
Oct 1 1910 - Rowena, Runnels, Texas, USA
Death:
May 23 1934 - Bienvielle Parish, Louisiana, USA
Parents:
Charley Jt Parker, Emma Parker (born Krause)
Husband:
sister
About Bonnie Elizabeth Barrow
Bonnie and Clyde, lovers and criminals who traveled the Central United States during the Great Depression were not considered as romantic back then as they are today. Their gang was responsible for at least nine police officer and several civilian deaths. It is unsure how the couple met but it is thought that it was love at a first sight. When Bonnie and Clyde met (probably in 1930), the latter already had a criminal record but that obviously did not bother Bonnie. She decided to join him in his criminal undertakings and stayed with him until the very end. They were ambushed by the police in Bienville Parish, Louisiana in 1934 and killed. The couple wanted to be buried together but Bonnie’s family did not allow it.
Bonnie Parker (October 1, 1910 – May 23, 1934) and Clyde Barrow (March 24, 1909 – May 23, 1934) were well-known outlaws, robbers and criminals who traveled the Central United States with their gang during the Great Depression. Their exploits captured the attention of the American public during the "public enemy era" between 1931 and 1934. Though known today for his dozen-or-so bank robberies, Barrow in fact preferred to rob small stores or rural gas stations. The gang is believed to have killed at least nine police officers and committed several civilian murders. The couple themselves were eventually ambushed and killed in Louisiana by law officers. Their reputation was cemented in American pop folklore by Arthur Penn's 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie_and_Clyde
Legendary Outlaw. She was the middle child and oldest daughter of Henry and Emma Parker. After the death of her father in 1914, her mother moved the family to the West Dallas area called “Cement City.” In her youth, she was known for being kind, an Honor Student and a writer of poetry (and other creative writing endeavors). In 1926, She married high-school sweetheart Roy Thornton. Despite the rocky and sometimes abusive marriage and Roy’s imprisonment in 1929, she remained married to him until she died. To support herself, she worked as a waitress at Marco’s café and became friends with Ted Hinton (who would ironically take part in gunning her down). In 1930, she met Clyde Barrow when she was unemployed and helping out a mutual friend. When he was arrested shortly after, she smuggled a gun into the prison in order to help him escape. When he was rearrested, and released two years later, she decided to join him as an outlaw. After their notorious crime sprees, they were eventually stopped when Law Enforcement Officials ambushed their car and killed both of them in a hail of bullets not too far away from their Louisiana hideout. Before her death, she sent the reporters her infamous “Story (or Ballard) of Bonnie and Clyde.” (bio by: Jip)
Cause of death: Shot to death with Clyde Barrow by officers in an ambush near Sailes, Bienville Parish, Louisiana
Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy : Jan 20 2016, 2:19:46 UTC
Legendary Outlaw. She was the middle child and oldest daughter of Henry and Emma Parker. After the death of her father in 1914, her mother moved the family to the West Dallas area called “Cement City.” In her youth, she was known for being kind, an Honor Student and a writer of poetry (and other creative writing endeavors). In 1926, She married high-school sweetheart Roy Thornton. Despite the rocky and sometimes abusive marriage and Roy’s imprisonment in 1929, she remained married to him until she died. To support herself, she worked as a waitress at Marco’s café and became friends with Ted Hinton (who would ironically take part in gunning her down). In 1930, she met Clyde Barrow when she was unemployed and helping out a mutual friend. When he was arrested shortly after, she smuggled a gun into the prison in order to help him escape. When he was rearrested, and released two years later, she decided to join him as an outlaw. After their notorious crime sprees, they were eventually stopped when Law Enforcement Officials ambushed their car and killed both of them in a hail of bullets not too far away from their Louisiana hideout. Before her death, she sent the reporters her infamous “Story (or Ballard) of Bonnie and Clyde.” (bio by: [fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=46559925" target="_blank Jip)] Cause of death: Shot to death with Clyde Barrow by officers in an ambush near Sailes, Bienville Parish, Louisiana Maintained by: Find A Grave Record added: Jan 01, 2001
Find A Grave Memorial# 791
| Bonnie and Clyde |
The Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research centre, is in which US city? | Bonnie and Clyde guns sell for $504,000 - U.S. News
U.S. News
Bonnie and Clyde guns sell for $504,000
By U.S. News
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RR Auction / Reuters
Two pistols, shown in this RR Auction photograph, found on the bodies of famed Depression-era outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow after they were killed by a posse in 1934 have sold at auction for a total of $504,000at an auction in Nashua, New Hampshire on Sunday.
By Jason McLure, Reuters
LITTLETON, N.H. - Two pistols found on the bodies of famed Depression-era outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow after they were killed by a posse in 1934 sold at auction Sunday for $504,000.
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A snub-nosed .38 special found attached to the inside of Parker's thigh with white medical tape fetched $264,000 at an auction in Nashua, New Hampshire.
She taped the gun to her thigh, because, according to a document obtained by the auction house , "In those days, no gentleman officer would search a woman where she had it taped and there were very few women police officers."
The auction house had initially valued the piece between $150,000 and $200,000.
A Colt .45 -- valued between $150,000 and $200,000 -- recovered from the waistband of Barrow's pants -- fetched $240,000. According to a YouTube produced by the auction house, the gun was plucked from the bandit's body by Frank Hamer, the relentless posse leader who tracked Bonnie and Clyde.
The guns owned by Parker, who died at age 23, and Barrow, who was 25, were purchased by a Texas collector who wished to remain anonymous.
"They're still iconic and their love story kind of resonates," said Bobby Livingston, vice president of RR Auction, the company that conducted the sale. "We have a romanticized vision of Bonnie and Clyde."
The hunt for the outlaw lovers captured the nation's imagination during the depths of the Great Depression. The duo were believed to have committed 13 murders and numerous bank robberies, kidnappings and car thefts during a cross-country crime spree from 1932 to 1934. Their fame was heightened by their practice of leaving glamorous photos of themselves at crime scenes, including one of Parker smoking a cigar.
A popular 1967 movie, "Bonnie and Clyde," a somewhat romanticized account of the couple's career starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, was critically acclaimed for its frank presentation of sex and violence.
Among other crimes, the two are thought to have killed police officers in Missouri, Texas and Oklahoma. They were also suspected of staging a prison break in Waldo, Texas, that left two prison guards dead in 1934.
A posse of Texas Rangers and Louisiana police killed the two in an early morning ambush in northern Louisiana in May of that year. The posse then recovered the items from the couple's bullet-ridden car. In those days, the auction house video stated, the posse could keep the items. They weren't kept for investigation as they would be now.
The guns auctioned off came from the estate of memorabilia collector Robert Davis, who had purchased them in 1986 for about $50,000 each, Livingston said.
A gold pocket watch found on Barrow's body sold for $36,000. Other items included a 1921 Morgan silver dollar taken from Barrow's jacket fetched $32,400, and one of Parker's silk stockings, taken from the couple's car after their death, which went for $11,400.
NBC's Isolde Raftery contributed to this report.
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Who directed and starred in the 2000 film ‘Pollock’, about the artist Jackson Pollock? | Pollock (2000) - IMDb
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A film about the life and career of the American painter, Jackson Pollock.
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Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations. See more awards »
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At the end of the 1940's, abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) is featured in Life magazine. Flashback to 1941, he's living with his brother in a tiny apartment in New York City, drinking too much, and exhibiting an occasional painting in group shows. That's when he meets artist Lee Krasner, who puts her career on hold to be his companion, lover, champion, wife, and, in essence, caretaker. To get him away from booze, insecurity, and the stress of city life, they move to the Hamptons where nature and sobriety help Pollock achieve a breakthrough in style: a critic praises, then Life magazine calls. But so do old demons: the end is nasty, brutish, and short. Written by <[email protected]>
A True Portrait of Life and Art.
Genres:
Rated R for language and brief sexuality | See all certifications »
Parents Guide:
23 March 2001 (USA) See more »
Also Known As:
Pollock, o asymvivastos See more »
Filming Locations:
$44,244 (USA) (15 December 2000)
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Trivia
Second film that Marcia Gay Harden and Jeffrey Tambor appear in together. The first being Meet Joe Black (1998) See more »
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Camera shadow on Jackson's face as he starts the mural. See more »
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Performed by The Port of Harlem Jazzmen
Courtesy of Blue Note Records
By Arrangement with EMI Capitol Music Special Markets
Art versus Life...and Life Magazine
26 December 2003 | by ThurstonHunger
(Palo Alto, CA, USA) – See all my reviews
I think it is very hard in general to make a "based on a true story" sort of film, that alone can clamp a pretty heavy anchor to your ankles. Moreso when that true story is one that means a lot to you as Ed Harris has said about Jackson Pollock's biography.
Based upon those precepts, I feel Harris succeeded, however I cannot say this film is an unqualified success. It is sprawling, but unlike Pollock...for cinema circulation, Harris could not stretch his canvas so wide. He gets over two hours here...but I suspect he could have filled six easily.
Based upon early buzz when this came out, including the snippet shown at the Oscars for Marcia Gay Harden, I had trepidation that this would be reduced to a shout and spittle film; that the rage and angst of Pollock and Krasner would be the story. Certainly this is one aspect presented, but not the sole one.
Interestingly to me, it seemed that the more halcyon Pollock's life was, the better his exploration of his art. I went in expecting that alcohol-oiled turmoil would be presented as the key to complicated creation. An artist must suffer and so on.
This shows that while I was familiar with Pollock, I was not that familiar. I could recognize his later chaotic, laced and dripped paintings...but I did not know anything about his personal life.
But in the course of two hours, I did enjoy...
1) Seeing a progression in Pollock's paintings. I had not seen many of his earlier works that had more blocks to them, that were more easily seen as assemblages of images. The way these were filmed, in the act of creation was well done here. Same is true for the latter works.
2) The importance of Pollock's family. I loved seeing his Mother come to the openings. I did not know that two other brothers also painted; Sande alone seems to understand Jackson's talent and torment. Their relationship could have made a film of its own.
3) Jeffrey Tambor's portrayal of Clem, a critic/king-maker of sorts. Us posters here, run the risk of being posers as well. And I think the best of us realize how subjective our comments are, a function of when we watch films, and who we are with, or how we are feeling as much as the films themselves.
4) Following on that notion, to me one thread of "Pollock" is how the circle of critics destroys artists with either persecution or praise. It is not a revelation, that much art is highly personal, both for the purveyor, but painfully so for the artists. Not a revelation, but still worth repeating...
When we see Pollock "drunk" on his ascent, reading from an Italian magazine during a family reunion, that really got to me. Maybe that was more dangerous than alcohol. Even if that critical acceptance is not essential, eating is. Another thread alluded to in this film, how to "work" and to live as an artist.
That scene also drove home the obsessive nature of being an artist, how it is hard at the same time to be a brother, or uncle, husband or perhaps impossible to be a father. Thus that obsession helps to contrast Sande and Jackson, and certainly sets up the power of Marcia Gay Harden's performance. Krasner too is an artist, who has had some success. She retains her name, and her dreams, but fully embraces Pollock, and Pollock's artwork. Her support of him, while aware of her limits, was presented without martyring her. She was not a saint wandering into Pollock's hell.
5) Talking to an artist about his/her obsession is problematic. They are already communicating in their chosen medium, and presumably they are communicating that way as it is easier than using words. I thought the interview with Life magazine in this film, and Pollock's notion of viewing his art as one views a field of flowers helped me. Maybe that was obvious to others, I think that way in music/sound...but in art too often I am hunting for images, for mirrors to our world.
The radio interview that Pollock conducted, halting and awkward could have underscored the travails of talking about art, or it seemed like he was trying to read from a manifesto of sorts (perhaps in real life one exists). Finally, the documentary film is painted as an undoing of Pollock. Fascinating as we ourselves are watching a film about Pollock. It's as if Ed Harris the actor in character could be talking to Ed Harris the film auteur.
The documentary film was to Pollock, what a zoo can be to a wild animal. The habitat corrupts the inhabitant. How Pollock puts on his shoes, when he's done painting, all control is lost...the private process made public, is made impure.
No, that's not the point to this film. If you are looking for a film with one tidy point, go elsewhere. But for an abridged but admirable biopic on Jackson Pollock, with many tangled and tantalizing threads...this is one to rent. And now a book for me to read. Rarely do I watch the deleted scenes and wish they had been in the film, as I did in this case.
There was a great shot early in the film where Pollock is pacing before the mural commissioned by Peggy Guggenheim. From the plot, we know he's worried about looms before him, and we get eerie shots of his shadow projected on the empty canvas to reinforce that. Harris too may have felt this was an ominous undertaking, I hope he pleased himself as he did me.
7/10
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| Ed Harris |
Comic book artist Bob Kane created which superhero in 1939? | Ed Harris - Film Actor - Biography.com
Film Actor
Actor Ed Harris played John Glenn in The Right Stuff, fought a water monster in The Abyss, and was a tormented artist in Pollack.
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Synopsis
Born November 28, 1950, Ed Harris's first major film role was in 1980's Borderline, opposite Charles Bronson. His breakthrough came in 1983 when he played John Glenn in The Right Stuff. Harris has starred in a range of films including The Abyss, Glengarry Glen Ross, Apollo 13 and Pollack, for which he won an Oscar nomination. He also received an Obie Award in 1983 for his stage work.
Acting Debut
Actor Ed Harris was born on November 28, 1950, in Tenafly, New Jersey. Harris' first acting role came at the age of eight, when he appeared in The Third Miracle, a made-for-television movie. After studying acting at Oklahoma University and the California Institute of the Arts, he compiled an impressive list of stage credits, including roles in productions of The Grapes of Wrath and A Streetcar Named Desire, and also appeared in several television programs and movies.
Harris' first major film role was as a nemesis of action-star Charles Bronson in Borderline (1980). His breakthrough performance came three years later, when he was cast as astronaut John Glenn in The Right Stuff (1983). Although a box-office bust, Harris, with his clear eyes and rugged good looks, was perfectly suited to play the "moral Marine."
Winning critical success for the performance, he went on to win supporting roles in several hit movies, Places in the Heart (1984), starring Sally Field, and Swing Shift (1985), and lead roles in several poorly received films, including Code Name: Emerald and Sweet Dreams (both 1985).
Career Highlights
In 1989, Harris received top billing in James Cameron's The Abyss, lending his distinctive humanity to the underwater sci-fi adventure. In 1992, he joined the assemble cast of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross. Co-starring with actors Jack Lemmon, Kevin Spacey, Alec Baldwin, Alan Arkin and Al Pacino, Harris gave a forceful performance in the largely overlooked film.
In 1993, he appeared opposite Tom Cruise in The Firm, and in 1995, returned to the U.S. space program as head of mission control in Ron Howard's Apollo 13, starring Tom Hanks. Harris was honored with Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for his supporting role in Apollo 13, and won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor.
In 1996, Harris costarred with big-screen heavyweights Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery in the action-thriller The Rock. The following year, he teamed with Academy Award-winning actors Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman in the disappointing suspense film Absolute Power (1997).
Stage Work
While establishing himself in Hollywood, Harris continued his earlier work in the theater, making his New York stage debut in Sam Shepard's Fool for Love in 1983, for which he earned an Obie Award for Outstanding Actor. In the fall of 1996, he returned to the New York stage for a three-month run opposite Daniel Massey in Ronald Harwood's highly acclaimed drama Taking Sides.
Harris earned his second Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as the megalomaniacal "Cristof" in Peter Weir's well received drama The Truman Show (1998), starring Jim Carrey. That same year, he costarred opposite Julia Roberts (as his fiance) and Susan Sarandon (as his ex-wife and the mother of his two children) in the emotional Stepmom.
'Pollock' and Other Projects
In 2000, Harris produced, directed and starred in Pollock, an ambitious biopic of the celebrated but tormented artist Jackson Pollock. Though the film made little noise at the box office, Harris' strong performance won critical praise and his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. His costar, Marcia Gay Harden, also received a nomination for her supporting role as the artist Lee Krasner, Pollock's long-suffering wife.
In the spring of 2001, Harris costarred in the World War II-era thriller Enemy at the Gates, alongside Joseph Fiennes and Jude Law. He continued to work steadily in films over the coming years, appearing in such projects as A Beautiful Mind (2001), The Hours (2003) and A History of Violence (2005). Harris even received an Academy Award nomination for his supporting role in The Hours.
More recently, Harris has worked on several high-profile television projects. He received an Emmy Award nomination for his portrayal of John McCain in the 2012 political miniseries Game Change. Harris also plays a villain in the upcoming HBO reboot of the classic sci-fi western Westworld and stars in the farming drama The One Percent, which is set to air on the Starz cable network.
Harris is married to Amy Madigan, an actress whom he met on the set of a Los Angeles stage production in 1981. The couple has one daughter, Lily Dolores. Madigan also appeared in Pollock, playing the art patron Peggy Guggenheim.
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How many times did Stanley Baldwin become British Prime Minister? | BBC - History - Stanley Baldwin
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Stanley Baldwin © Baldwin was British prime minister three times in the 1920s and 1930s .
Stanley Baldwin was born on 3 August 1867 in Bewdley, Worcestershire, the only son of a wealthy industrialist and member of parliament. The author Rudyard Kipling was Baldwin's cousin on his mother's side of the family.
After graduating from Cambridge University, Baldwin joined the family iron-mongering business. He became Conservative MP for Bewdley in 1908, a seat his father had held. Following various ministerial appointments, in 1922 he was appointed chancellor of the exchequer. The following year he became prime minister when ill health forced Andrew Bonar Law to retire. He soon called a general election to seek approval for the government's plans to introduce protective tariffs, but failed to gain a majority. Ramsay MacDonald's first Labour government came to power, backed by Liberal support.
It was short-lived. By November 1924, the Conservatives were back in power with a landslide majority and Baldwin as prime minister. In the General Strike of 1926, Baldwin proclaimed a state of emergency and refused to negotiate further until the strike was over. The following year he passed the Trade Disputes Act, which declared general strikes to be revolutionary and illegal.
The Conservatives lost the general election of 1929 and Labour came back to power. Baldwin considered leaving politics, and spent much of the next two years fighting elements within his own party. But in 1931 he returned to government as a member of Ramsay MacDonald's National Coalition and in June 1935 he became prime minister again when MacDonald resigned.
This term of office was dominated by rising tension in Europe and the abdication crisis. Baldwin believed that Edward VIII's wish to marry the divorcee Wallis Simpson was unacceptable. The king was given the choice of renouncing her or abdicating, and chose to abdicate in December 1936. Baldwin resisted calls for re-armament and took a conciliatory approach towards Nazi Germany.
Baldwin retired in May 1937 and was made Earl Baldwin of Bewdley. He died on 14 September 1947.
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Which planet has the strongest gravity in our solar system? | Stanley Baldwin - 必应
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Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC, JP, FRS (3 August 1867 – 14 December 1947) was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars. Three times Prime Minister, he is the only premier to have served under three monarchs (George V, Edward VIII and George VI). Baldwin first entered the House of Commons in 1908 as the Member of Parliament for Bewdley. His father Alfred Baldwin had held the seat since 1892, but died in office in 1908, and the younger Baldwin was first selected as a candidate by the local Conservative as ... (展开) sociation, and then acclaimed, holding the seat until his political retirement in 1937. He held government office in the coalition ministry of David Lloyd George. In 1922, Baldwin was one of the prime movers in the withdrawal of Conservative support from Lloyd George; he subsequently became Chancellor of the Exchequer in Andrew Bonar Law's Conservative ministry. Upon Bonar Law's resignation due to health reasons in May 1923, Baldwin became Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader. He called an election on the issue of tariffs and lost the Conservatives' majority, after which Ramsay MacDonald formed a minority Labour government. After winning the 1924 General Election Baldwin formed his second government, which saw important tenures of office by Sir Austen Chamberlain (Foreign Secretary), Winston Churchill (at the Exchequer) and Neville Chamberlain (Health). That government also saw the General Strike in 1926 and the 1927 Trades Disputes Act to curb the powers of trade unions, although Baldwin was supportive of Labour politicians forming minority governments at Westminster. Baldwin narrowly lost the 1929 General Election. and his continued leadership of the party was subject to extensive criticism by the press barons Lord Rothermere and Lord Beaverbrook. In 1931, Labour Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald formed a National Government, most of whose ministers were Conservatives and which won an enormous majority at the 1931 General Election. As Lord President of the Council, and one of four Conservatives among the small ten-member Cabinet, Baldwin took over many of the Prime Minister's duties due to MacDonald's failing health. This government saw an Act delivering increased self-government for India, a measure opposed by Churchill and by many rank-and-file Conservatives. The Statute of Westminster 1931 gave Dominion status to Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, while establishing the first step towards the Commonwealth of Nations. As party leader, Baldwin made many striking innovations, such as clever use of radio and film, that made him highly visible to the public and strengthened Conservative appeal. In 1935, Baldwin replaced MacDonald as Prime Minister of the National Government, and won the 1935 General Election with another large majority. During this time, he oversaw the beginning of the re-armament process of the British military, as well as the very difficult abdication of King Edward VIII. Baldwin's third government saw a number of crises in foreign affairs, including the public uproar over the Hoare-Laval Pact, Hitler's re-occupation of the Rhineland and the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. Baldwin retired in 1937 and was succeeded by Neville Chamberlain. At that time, he was regarded as a popular and successful prime minister, but for the final decade of his life, and for many years afterwards, he was vilified for having presided over high unemployment in the 1930s and as one of the "Guilty Men" who had tried to appease Adolf Hitler and who had – supposedly – not rearmed sufficiently to prepare for the Second World War. By 2004, however, historians generally painted a positive portrait of his governments. Stuart Ball says, Baldwin is now seen as having done more than most and perhaps as much as was possible in the context, but the fact remains that it was not enough to deter the aggressors or ensure their defeat. Less equivocal was his rediscovery as a moderate and inclusive Conservative for the modern age, part of a 'one nation tradition'. This more positive outlook on Baldwin's time as Prime Minister is reflected in evaluations by scholars, where he generally ranked in the upper half of British Prime Ministers.
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC, JP, FRS (3 August 1867 – 14 December 1947) was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Baldwin
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Stanley Baldwin (1867-1947) is one of the most significant modern British politicians, but also one of the most controversial and puzzling. As Conservative leader and three times prime minister, Baldwin ...
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Stanley Baldwin had a double inheritance. His father’s family were wealthy industrialists and he helped his father create what was, from 1902, one of Britain’s ...
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Who plays a lounge singer who has to hide out in a convent after witnessing a gangland killing in the 1992 film ‘Sister Act’? | Sister Act: Broadway musical retains the fun of the film, but not the music | Theater | St. Louis News and Events | Riverfront Times
Sister Act: Broadway musical retains the fun of the film, but not the music
Sister Act: Broadway musical retains the fun of the film, but not the music
Sister Act
Performed through December 1 at the Fox Theatre, 527 North Grand Boulevard.
Tickets $25 to $80.
Call 314-534-1678 or visit www.fabulousfox.com .
Midway through Act One of Sister Act, the ingratiating musical that is currently on view at the Fox Theatre, a shy police officer named Eddie Souther (Chester Gregory, reprising the role he created on Broadway) imagines what it might be like if he were as cool as Tony Manero, the disco-dancing dynamo portrayed by John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. In the batting of an eyelash, Eddie's basic blue uniform vanishes, and fantasy becomes reality. Or perhaps reality becomes fantasy. Whatever is going on, it occurs with surprising dexterity and is very clever indeed. Eddie's "how'd they do that?" costume change is as effective as anything you're going see (or hear) all night long. Thanks to unexpected moments like this one, the show charms. If you can't have a good time at Sister Act, you're not trying.
Chances are that you already know the plot. The popular 1992 movie upon which this musical is based has grossed in the neighborhood of $230 million worldwide. In the film Whoopi Goldberg portrays Deloris Van Cartier, a Reno lounge singer who must hide out in a San Francisco convent disguised as a nun after witnessing a gangland murder. As Sister Mary Clarence, Deloris takes over the feeble choir and lives are impacted, including her own. This stage version has changed the locale to 1970s Philadelphia, but the general arc of the story is the same.
Deloris is portrayed with assurance, aplomb and a killer smile by Ta'Rea Campbell. As the conservative Mother Superior who resists Deloris' willful ways, Hollis Resnik is masterful. From the moment Resnik first enters twirling the sleeves of her habit as if they were a pair of maracas, this actress commands the stage. Her number in Act Two, "Haven't Got a Prayer," could be renamed "A Life in the Theater," because Resnik's performance is the culmination of a lifetime of having honed the tricks of her trade: timing, simplicity, focus. Although the strict Mother Superior is an entertaining foil to the free-spirited Deloris, during those rare occasions when Campbell and Resnik support each other, their combined energy provides a power surge that suffuses the stage with a nigh-holy glow.
But here's the thing. Although the original Sister Act benefited from the chemistry of the irrepressible Whoopi and the brittle Maggie Smith as Mother Superior (not to mention a string of acerbic one-liners hurled by St. Louis' own Mary Wickes), this otherwise formulaic movie was made special by the way it redeployed already-familiar pop songs like "My Guy" and "I Will Follow Him" into songs of faith. Alas, none of the songs from the film are included in this stage adaptation. Those popular standards have been replaced. In their stead we hear a new score from composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater (who has concocted some clever rhymes indeed). But because the Menken-Slater tunes are unfamiliar to us, that original concept of reinvigorating popular song — which was the axis upon which the movie turned — has been lost.
Instead we are treated to rousing, shake-the-rafters choral numbers that entertained Broadway audiences for a year and a half and which surely will delight Fox Theatre audience during the current St. Louis run. But we cannot respond as we responded to the musical numbers in the movie, simply because these songs are not already part of our fiber. Anyone who attends this stage adaptation of Sister Act should have a high time, because the easygoing fun is contagious, and the laughs are bountiful. But it's a different kind of fun than you had with Whoopi, Maggie and the singing nuns at St. Katherine's. Here we get more choreography but less soul.
| Whoopi Goldberg |
Who wrote the 1991 novel ‘Gridlock’? | Sister Act/Sister Act 2 - Read expert reviews at epinions.com
Sister Act/Sister Act 2
A two-pack containing both of Whoopi Goldberg's SISTER ACT films, in which a sassy Vegas showgirl finds herself stuck in the middle of a convent in order to stay hidden from mob hitmen. See individual titles for more information.
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The 1972 film ‘Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex (But Were Afraid To Ask)’ was directed by and featured who? | Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972) - IMDb
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Seven segments related to one another only in that they all purport to be based on sections of the book by David Reuben. The segments range from "Do Aphrodisiacs Work?" in which a court ... See full summary »
Director:
Woody Allen
Writers:
David Reuben (from the book "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask" by) (as Dr. David Reuben), Woody Allen (written for the screen by)
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2017 Golden Globes Nominees Back After 20 Years
Golden Globes are feeling nostalgic! Find out which Golden Globe winners from more than 20 years ago snagged nominations yet again for their performances this past year. Don't miss our live coverage of the Golden Globes beginning at 4 p.m. PST on Jan. 8 in our Golden Globes section.
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When a bumbling New Yorker is dumped by his activist girlfriend, he travels to a tiny Latin American nation and becomes involved in its latest rebellion.
Director: Woody Allen
A nerdish store owner is revived out of cryostasis into a future world to fight an oppressive government.
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A wacky inventor and his wife invite two other couples for a weekend party at a romantic summer house in the 1900s countryside.
Director: Woody Allen
"Documentary" about a man who can look and act like whoever he's around, and meets various famous people.
Director: Woody Allen
While attending a retrospective of his work, a filmmaker recalls his life and his loves: the inspirations for his films.
Director: Woody Allen
Three sisters find their lives spinning out of control in the wake of their parents' sudden, unexpected divorce.
Director: Woody Allen
In his attempts to reconcile a lounge singer with his mistress, a hapless talent agent is mistaken as her lover by a jealous gangster.
Director: Woody Allen
In New Jersey in 1935, a movie character walks off the screen and into the real world.
Director: Woody Allen
A nostalgic look at radio's golden age focusing on one ordinary family and the various performers in the medium.
Director: Woody Allen
In Woody Allen 's directorial debut, he took the Japanese action film Key of Keys (1965) and re-dubbed it, changing the plot to make it revolve around a secret egg salad recipe.
Directors: Woody Allen, Senkichi Taniguchi
Stars: Woody Allen, The Lovin' Spoonful, Frank Buxton
Edit
Storyline
Seven segments related to one another only in that they all purport to be based on sections of the book by David Reuben. The segments range from "Do Aphrodisiacs Work?" in which a court jester gives an aphrodisiac to the Queen and is, in the end, beheaded to "What Happens During Ejaculation?" in which we watch 'control central' during a successful seduction. Written by Scott R. Vaughn <[email protected]>
You haven't seen anything until you've seen everything See more »
Genres:
31 January 1973 (West Germany) See more »
Also Known As:
Are Transvestites Homosexuals? See more »
Filming Locations:
Did You Know?
Trivia
According to the book " Woody Allen " by John Baxter, Gene Wilder once said of the making of this movie: "It was like walking on a Bergman set: people talking in whispers, serious looks on Woody's face. He communicates through silence". See more »
Goofs
In the "transvestite" segment, the host tells Sam the bathroom is "upstairs, first door on the left." But the bathroom door, and all the other upstairs doors, are on the right. See more »
Quotes
The Queen : Didst I feel aright or didst I feel that thy two hands did upon my royal body cop a feel?
Opening and closing credits shown over footage of rabbits. See more »
Connections
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
RCA Records
Played and Sung offscreen during the opening and closing credits by Irving Aaronson and His Commanders (uncredited)
(Macau,China) – See all my reviews
`Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex' is a landmark, and of course a great exercise in comedy. Dividing the movie in 7 different segments (with some not including himself in the leading role) was the best Woody Allen could do, and this movie works better than his previous attempt (Bananas) and his posterior `Sleeper'.
In a way, it's less ambitious and targets all audiences. All short films are hilarious, in a crescent order. My favorite is the last, which satirizes the humanly body functions during intercourse. A must see, for all generations of movie likers. Rate: 5/5
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| Woody Allen |
What is a castrated man (or castrati) called who is placed in charge of a harem? | Every Thing You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972) Cast and Crew, Trivia, Quotes, Photos, News and Videos - FamousFix
Photo Credit: bakerboy
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) is a 1972 comedy film directed by Woody Allen . It consists of a series of short sequences loosely inspired by Dr. David Reuben 's book of the same name . Wikipedia
Contents
From this profile you will find 10 photos , 26 quotes , 21 lists , and key facts about Every Thing You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask!
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In males, posthetomy is the removal of what? | Circumcision - AskIslamPedia - Online Islamic Encyclopedia
Circumcision - AskIslamPedia - Online Islamic Encyclopedia
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CIRCUMCISION
Circumcision or posthetomy, is the operative removal of all or part of the prepuce of the penis. By extension to the female the term is also used for clitoridectomy. [1]
Medical definition
Surgery that removes the foreskin (the loose tissue) covering the glans of the penis. Circumcision may be performed for religious, cultural reasons or health reasons. Newborn circumcision diminishes the risk for cancer of the penis and lowers the risk for cancer of the cervix in sexual partners. It also decreases the risk of urinary tract infections and lowers the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV.
The Latin "circum-" means around (or about). Circumcision is, literally, a cutting around. Circumcision dates back to prehistoric times. It is one of the oldest surgical operations known to have been performed by ancient people. [2]
Islamic circumcision is defined as cutting the foreskin covering the male organ only. [3]
Qur’an
“Ibraaheem was circumcised when he was eighty years old,” and Allah سبحانه و تعالى says (interpretation of the meaning): “… it is the religion of your father Ibraaheem…” Qur’an.Surah Al-Hajj 22:78
Hadith
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Five things are part of the fitrah: circumcision, removing the pubic hair, trimming the moustache, cutting the nails, and plucking the armpit hair.” Sahih Al-Bukhari 5891, Sahih Muslim 257.
Circumcision is a Sunnah (action following the example of the Prophet ﷺ ) for men, and an honoring act for women. Musnad Ahmad Vol 5 pg 75 [4] [5]
The Health and Religious benefits of Circumcision
The Muslim obeys the command of Allah سبحانه و تعالى . This is the meaning of Islam, which is submission to Allah سبحانه و تعالىand obedience to His command, whether the wisdom behind it is clear to him or not, because the One Who is issuing the command – Allah سبحانه و تعالى, may He be exalted – is the Creator, the All-Knowing, the All-Aware, who created mankind and knows what is good for them and what is not good for them. Circumcision is one of the rulings of sharee’ah which the Muslim carries out willingly, in submission to and out of love for Allah سبحانه و تعالى, and seeking reward with Him. He is certain that Allah سبحانه و تعالىdoes not command anything unless there is a wisdom behind it and it is good for His slaves, whether people know that or not. Since your question referred to the health benefits of circumcision, we will, after looking at the shar’i (religious) benefits, will answer your question about the health benefits, in order to increase the believers in faith in the ruling, and so that non-Muslims may see one aspect of the greatness of this sharee’ah (Islamic law) which came to bring benefits and ward off harm.
Dr. Muhammad ‘Ali al-Baar (a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in the UK and a consultant to the Islamic Medicine department of the King Fahd Centre for Medical Research in the King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah) says in his book al-Khitaan (Circumcision):
“Circumcision of newborn boys (i.e., within the first month of life) brings numerous health benefits, including:
1 – Protection against local infection in the penis, which may result from the presence of the foreskin, causing tightening of the foreskin, which may lead to retention of urine or infections of the glans (tip) of the penis – which require circumcision in order to treat these problems. In chronic cases, the child may be exposed to numerous diseases in the future, the most serious of which is cancer of the penis.
2 – Infections of the urethra. Many studies have proven that uncircumcised boys are more exposed to infection of the urethra. In some studies the rate was 39 times more among uncircumcised boys. In other studies the rate was ten times more. Other studies showed that 95% of children who suffered from infections of the urethra were uncircumcised, whereas the rate among circumcised children did not exceed 5%.
In children, infection of the urethra is serious in some cases. In the study by Wisewell on 88 children who suffered infections of the urethra, in 36 % of them, the same bacteria was found in the blood also. Three of them contracted meningitis, and two suffered renal failure. Two others died as a result of the spread of the micro-organisms throughout the body.
3 – Protection against cancer of the penis: the studies agree that cancer of the penis is almost non-existent among circumcised men, whereas the rate among uncircumcised men is not insignificant. In the US the rate of penile cancer among circumcised men is zero, whilst among uncircumcised men it is 2.2 in every 100,000 of the uncircumcised population. As most of the inhabitants of the US are circumcised, the cases of this cancer there are between 750 and 1000 per year. If the population were not circumcised, the number of cases would reach 3000. In countries where boys are not circumcised, such as China, Uganda and Puerto Rico, penile cancer represents between 12-22 % of all cancers found in men; this is a very high percentage.
4 – Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Researchers found that the STDs which are transmitted via sexual contact (usually because of fornication/adultery and homosexuality) spread more among those who are not circumcised, especially herpes, soft chancres, syphilis, candida, gonorrhea and genital warts.
There are numerous modern studies which confirm that circumcision reduces the possibility of contracting AIDS when compared to their uncircumcised counterparts. But that does not rule out the possibility of a circumcised man contracting AIDS as the result of sexual contact with a person who has AIDS. Circumcision is not a protection against it, and there is no real way of protecting oneself against the many sexually transmitted diseases apart from avoiding fornication/adultery, promiscuity, homosexuality and other repugnant practices. (From this we can see the wisdom of Islamic sharee’ah in forbidding fornication/adultery and homosexuality).
5 – Protection of wives against cervical cancer. Researchers have noted that the wives of circumcised men have less risk of getting cervical cancer than the wives of uncircumcised men. From al-Khitaan, p. 76, by Dr. Muhammad al-Baar. Professor Wisewell, published in the American Family Doctor Magazine, issue no. 41, 1991 CE. [6] [7]
Circumcision Benefits
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says the benefits of circumcision outweigh the risks. Circumcision might have various health benefits, including:
Easier hygiene. Circumcision makes it simpler to wash the penis. Washing beneath the foreskin of an uncircumcised penis is generally easy, however.
Decreased risk of urinary tract infections. The overall risk of urinary tract infections in males is low, but these infections are more common in uncircumcised males. Severe infections early in life can lead to kidney problems later on.
Decreased risk of sexually transmitted infections. Circumcised men might have a lower risk of certain sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Still, safe sexual practices remain essential.
Prevention of penile problems. Occasionally, the foreskin on an uncircumcised penis can be difficult or impossible to retract (phimosis). This can lead to inflammation of the foreskin or head of the penis.
Decreased risk of penile cancer. Although cancer of the penis is rare, it's less common in circumcised men. In addition, cervical cancer is less common in the female sexual partners of circumcised men.
Better sexual function on average. [8] [9]
| Foreskin |
Who wrote the 18th Century novels ‘Justine, or the Misfortunes of Virtue’ and ‘Philosophy in the Bedroom’? | Langerhans cells in the foreskin and HIV transmission:
contrary findings, one conclusion
Langerhans cells, along with other classes of dendritic cells, are universally found in all skin,. There is minimal variation between parts of the body in their content of Langerhans cells. They are found in all genital tissue including the glans, foreskin, shaft, scrotum, clitoris, clitoral hood, labia, and vagina.
While Szabo and Short argue that the foreskin has MORE Langerhans cells than ordinary skin, Gerald Weiss argues that it has FEWER Langerhans cells.
Predictibly, both conclude from this contradictory data that circumcision will protect men against HIV and AIDS.
How does male circumcision protect against HIV infection?
Robert Szabo
Roger V Short
, professor b.
a Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Wellington Road, Melbourne 3168, Australia, b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Royal Women's Hospital, 132 Grattan Street, Melbourne 3053, Australia
Correspondence to: R V Short
...
Summary points
...
The inner surface of the foreskin contains Langerhans' cells with HIV receptors; these cells are likely to be the primary point of viral entry into the penis of an uncircumcised man
Male circumcision should be seriously considered as an additional means of preventing HIV in all countries with a high prevalence of infection
Methods
To compile the information for this review a Medline search was done using the terms circumcision, HIV, Langerhans' cells, penis, foreskin, and prepuce, and extensive email correspondence with other researchers was also undertaken. Histological observations were carried out on samples of penile tissue obtained from 13 perfusion fixed cadavers of men aged 60-96 years, seven of whom had been circumcised.
The pathogenesis of sexually acquired HIV infection
Between 75% and 85% of cases of HIV infection worldwide have probably occurred during sexual activity. 7 Most cases of primary HIV infection are thought to involve HIV binding initially to the CD4 and CCR5 receptors found on antigen presenting cells - which include macrophages, Langerhans' cells, and dendritic cells - in the genital and rectal mucosa.
...The most widely accepted model for the sexual transmission of HIV is based on infection of the genital tract of rhesus macaques with simian immunodeficiency virus. 8 9 After female macaques are inoculated intravaginally with simian immunodeficiency virus, the virus targets the Langerhans' cells located in the vaginal mucosa. Once infected, these cells fuse with adjacent CD4 lymphocytes and migrate to deeper tissues. Within two days of infection, the virus can be detected in the internal iliac lymph nodes and shortly thereafter in systemic lymph nodes. This ultimately leads to a fatal infection.
Similarly, infection in male macaques occurs when simian immunodeficiency virus is inoculated into the penile urethra or onto the foreskin; the same sequence of cellular events involving the infection of Langerhans' cells is then likely to occur. 9 Infected Langerhans' cells have also been detected in the penile mucosa of male rhesus macaques that have chronic simian immunodeficiency virus infection. 9 In humans, histological studies have identified antigen presenting cells in the mucosa of the inner foreskin and urethra. 10 Therefore it seems likely that antigen presenting cells at these mucosal sites are the primary target for HIV in men.
...[Detail of infection mechanism omitted]
How HIV enters the penis
...
... A keratinised, stratified squamous epithelium covers the penile shaft and outer surface of the foreskin. This provides a protective barrier against HIV infection. In contrast, the inner mucosal surface of the foreskin is not keratinised 15 and is rich in Langerhans' cells, 10 making it particularly susceptible to the virus. This is particularly important because during heterosexual intercourse the foreskin is pulled back down the shaft of the penis, and the whole inner surface of the foreskin is exposed to vaginal secretions, providing a large area where HIV transmission could take place.
...
Conclusions
Of the estimated 50 million people infected with HIV worldwide, about half are men, most of whom have become infected through their penises. The inner surface of the foreskin, which is rich in HIV receptors, and the frenulum, a common site for trauma and other sexually transmitted infections, must be regarded as the most probable sites for viral entry in primary HIV infection in men. Although condoms must remain the first choice for preventing the sexual transmission of HIV, they are often not used consistently or correctly, they may break during use, and there may be strong cultural and aesthetic objections to using them. Cultural and religious attitudes towards male circumcision are even more deeply held, but in the light of the evidence presented here circumcising males seems highly desirable, especially in countries with a high prevalence of HIV infection. Although neonatal circumcision is easy to perform, and has a low incidence of complications, 16 it would be 15-20 years before a programme of circumcision had any effect on HIV transmission rates. Circumcision at puberty, as practised by many Muslim communities, would be the most immediately effective intervention for reducing HIV transmission since it would be done before young men are likely to become sexually active.
It may also be time to re-think the definition of "safe sex." ...
...
Acknowledgments
We thank Professor John Mills for helpful comments on an early draft of the manuscript and Professor Daine Alcorn and the staff of the Department of Anatomy, University of Melbourne, for supplying and processing the specimens from human cadavers.
Contributors: RS reviewed all the relevant literature, carried out the histological examination of the specimens, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. RVS initiated the study and participated in redrafting of the paper. Both authors will act as guarantors.
Morris B. In favour of circumcision. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press, 1999. [Damned by the critics. The level of Morris's scholarship may be seen on this site.]
(Accepted 11 May 2000)
Israel Journal of Medical Sciences, Vol 29 No 1, January 1993
The Distribution and Density of Langerhans Cells in the Human Prepuce: Site of a Diminished Immune Response?
by Gerald N. Weiss, Melinda Sanders and Kent. C. Westbrook
The possible role of the human prepuce in sexually transmitted disease and neoplasia led us to evaluate one component of the body's epithelial immune system, the intraepithelial Langerhans cell. The study was prompted by a report stating that Langerhans cells harbor the human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1) [1] , and a subsequent African controlled case study indicating that uncircumcised men were more likely to be seropositive for HIV-1 than the circumcised [2] . The Langerhans cell is an epithelial component of the immune system...
The epidermal Langerhans cells (ELC) play a role in the recognition and processing of antigens in order to present them to either lymphocytes and/or macrophages. They may represent the first contact of viral antigens with the cellular immune system of the skin and squamous mucosa as found in the human prepuce.
It has been shown experimentally in the mouse that skin deficient in ELC (induced by ultraviolet exposure) is unable to mount hypersensitivity reactions to 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene [3] . Those authors speculate that the ELC form a "network" that renders cutaneously applied antigens immunogenic. The absence of such a network renders the host unresponsive. We undertook a study of the count of ELC in the neonatal prepuce that could act as a baseline for comparing the cell population in the circumcised and uncircumcised male.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Unfixed foreskins were obtained from all neonates undergoing circumcision at the University Hospital of Arkansas between 7 November 1988 and 6 January 1989. [Details of staining and processing of samples omitted.]
RESULTS
The prepuce can be divided morphologically into an outer and inner surface. The inner surface is characterized by the absence of keratinization and skin appendages, thickening of the epithelium, special sebaceous glands (Tyson's) at its junction with the corona, a relative decrease in melanocytes, and is recognized as a squamous mucosal surface. The transition between outer and inner surfaces was sharply demarcated in 22 cases. The sections stained with OKT6 also showed an abrupt transition. The outer surface of the prepuce exhibited a relative abundance of ELC. The inner surface showed virtually no such cells. The external surface exhibited a mean ELC count of 174 +/- 15 cells/sq. mm and the internal surface exhibited a mean cell count of 8.0 +/- 2.4 cells/sq. mm (P <0.001). Fig. 1 graphically illustrates the data from these findings.
DISCUSSION
Our study shows a scarcity of ELC on the inner aspect of the neonatal prepuce. The outer surface exhibited cell counts comparable to those seen in a study of human skin [4] . A search of the literature failed to reveal a comparative study of ELC at the outer and inner surfaces of the human prepuce. This lack of ELC at the inner surface may result in a squamous mucosa with reduced immunological responsiveness to cutaneous antigens.
Considering the role of prophylaxis in disease, this investigation favors the re-emphasis of the medical value of neonatal circumcision. The American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Circumcision [5] , and Wiswell [6] , a prominent neonatologist formerly opposed to circumcision, have recently revised their thinking on this issue. [The AAP does not recommend neonatal circumcision.] Wiswell now speaks of the many potential advantages to the neonate and reports that circumcision prevents urinary tract infections, penile cancer, sexually transmitted diseases and perhaps AIDS. [Wiswell spent years desperately looking for a reason to support circumcision.] He also notes that "To date, no studies have supported the assertion that good hygiene averts the potential complications of the uncircumcised state." Careful removal of the prepuce by trained practitioners can be done with no mortality and a complication rate not exceeding 0.1% [7] . ["Can" covers a multitude of sins.] A mundane consideration is that it is economically more feasible to circumcise early in life. ["Economically more feasible?" Or more profitable, because the babies never refuse?]
The discovery of the scarcity of ELC at the neonatal inner prepuce may be indicative of this site's vulnerability to infection and neoplasia [8] . Although the role of circumcision remains controversial, our study when coupled with recent scientific and epidemiological data suggests a pressing need for neonatal posthetomy [circumcision] as a prophylactic surgical procedure.
REFERENCES
1. Kolanta G. Where is the AIDS virus harbored? Science 1986;232:1197.
2. Sirnonsen JN, Cameron DW, Galinya MN, et al. Human immunodeficiency virus infection among men with sexually transmitted diseases. N Engl J Med 1988;319:274-278.
3. Streilein JW, Toews GT, Gilliam JN, et al. Tolerance or hypersensitivity to 2,4-dintro-l fluorobenzene: the role of Langerhans cell density within epidermis. J Invest Dermatol 1980;74:319-321.
4. Berman B, Chen VL, France DS, et al. Anatomic mapping of epidermal Langerhans cell densities in adults. Br J Dermatol 1983;109:553-558.
5. American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Circumcision. Report of the Task Force on Circumcision. Pediatrics 1989;84:388-391.
6. Wiswell T. Routine neonatal circumcision: a reappraisal. Am Fam Physician 1990,41:859-863.
7. Shulman J, Ben-Hur N, Newman Z. Surgical complications of circumcision. Am J Dis Child 1978;107:149-154.
8. Bonilla-Musoles F, Castells A, Simon C, et al. Importance of Langerhans cells in the immune origin of carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol 1987;VIII(1): 44-60.
POST PRESENTATION COMMENTS
It is an epidemiological fact that cancer of the penis and infection of the foreskin area are more common in the uncircumcised than the circumcised. [The first is not a fact. The second? Well, d'uh.] For over a century, the medical literature has been replete with these findings related to neoplasia, STD and circumcision. Recognition of preputial cellular deficiency of Langerhans cells at the mucosal surface allows for a better understanding of cellular immune reactions at this site. This knowledge of penile vulnerability in the neonate reinforces the need for early posthetomy [circumcision] as a prophylactic measure. ...
Gerald N. Weiss, M.D.
Diplomate American Board of Surgery
Fellow American College of Surgeons
Fellow International College of Surgeons
| i don't know |
Basorexia is a strong desire to do what to a person? | Basorexia | definition of basorexia by Medical dictionary
Basorexia | definition of basorexia by Medical dictionary
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/basorexia
basorexia
Sexuoeroticism linked to kissing.
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| Kiss |
‘The Temple of Venus’ is a sex museum in which European city? | basorexia
basorexia
Defined in the Lecher's Lexicon (1967) as ' a strong craving or hunger for kissing '.
Basorexia
(Noun) and overwhelming desire to neck or kiss someone
basorexia
(Noun) an overwhelming desire to kiss
Usage: She has a bad case of basorexia.
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| i don't know |
Pygophilia is the sexual arousal by fondling or kissing which part of the body? | Glossary for Phobias and philias - RightDiagnosis.com
Glossary for Phobias and philias
Abasiophilia : A sexual preference to people who are crippled or lame or people who need some sort of orthopedic appliance such as a leg braces, wheelchairs and spine braces.
Ablutophilia : A sexual attraction to bathing, showering or any other way of washing oneself.
Acarophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of mites, ticks, small insects and worms.
Achluophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of the night or darkness.
Acomoclitic : Acomoclitic refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving hairless genitals.
Acousticophilia : Acousticophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving certain sounds.
Acousticophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of noise.
Acrophilia : Acrophilia refers to sexual urges or fantasies involving heights or high altitudes.
Acrotomophilia : A sexual preference for amputees.
Actirasty : Actirasty refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving the sun's rays.
Aelurophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of cats.
Aerophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of fresh air, breezes and flying.
Agalmatophilia : A sexual attraction to statues, mannequins or dolls.
Agonophilia : Agonophilia refers to an unusual level of sexual excitement derived from foreplay consisting of struggling, wrestling and rape imitation
Agoraphilia : Agoraphilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving sex in pulic places.
Agoraphobia : Fear of unfamiliar surroundings
Agrexophilia : Agrexo refers to an unusual level of excitement that comes from knowing that other people are aware of their sexual activities.
Agyrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of crossing roads. It includes a fear of being attacked on the street or being unable to defend oneself while crossing the road.
Aichmophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of pointy objects or needles.
Aischrolgia : Aischrolgia refers to sexual urges or arousal associated with the use of obscene language.
Albutophilia : Albutophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving water.
Alektorophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of chickens.
Algolagnia : Sexual enjoyment from pain .
Algophilia : Algophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies associated with feeling pain.
Algophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of pain
Allopellia : Allopellia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving watching other people perform sexual acts.
Allorgasmia : Allorgasmia refers to the inability to orgasm without fantasizing about a more erotic sexual partner.
Altocalciphilia : Altocalciphilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving high heels.
Amathophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of dust.
Amaurophilia : Amaurophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving engaging in sex where the partner is unable to see them.
Amaxophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of riding in a vehicle or being in one.
Amelotasis : Amelotasis refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving people with missing limbs.
Amomaxia : Amomaxia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving having sex in a parked car.
Amputee fetishism : A fetish is sexual pleasure or gratification associated with a particular object or body part. Most people with a fetish don't seek help and are able to function fully despite their fetish. It is only when the fetish impairs a persons ability to function on a personal or social level that it can be a problem. Amputee fetishism is characterized by the association of sexual pleasure or gratification with amputees.
Amychophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of being scratched or clawed.
Anaclitism : Anaclitism refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving objects or activities normally associated with childhood. Toilet training, playing with children's toys such as dolls and breast sucking are subjects that may be associated with anaclitism.
Anasteemaphilia : Anasteemaphilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving a sexual partner who is either much shorter or much taller.
Andromimetophilia : A sexual preference for male-to-female transsexuals.
Androphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of men
Anginophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of angina, choking or narrowness of the throat.
Anglophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of England or the English.
Animal Hoarding : A condition where a person has more pets than they can properly house and look after. These people believe they are able to care adequately for all of the pets and are often very attached to the animals.
Ankylophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of stiff or immobile joints.
Antholagnia : Antholagnia refers to sexual arousal resulting from smelling flowers.
Anthophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of flowers.
Anthropophagolagnia : Anthropophagolagnia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving raping and then cannibalizing the victim.
Anthropophagy : Anthropophagy refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving cannibalism.
Anthropophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of people and groups of people.
Antlophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of floods.
Apeirophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of infinity.
Apiophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of bees.
Apotemnophilia : Sexual enjoyment gained from being or becoming and amputee or even been seen as an amputee.
Aquaphilia : Sexual arousal from water, especially such things as bathtubs and swimming pools.
Arachibutyrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.
Arachnephilia : Arachnephilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving playing with spiders.
Arachnephobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of spiders.
Aretifism : A sexual preference for people with no footwear.
Asphyxiaphilia : Asphyxiaphilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving a lack of oxygen or asphyxiation.
Asphyxiophilia : Sexual arousal from self-strangulation.
Asthenolagnia : Asthenolagnia refers to sexual arousal resulting from being humiliated or weakness.
Asthenophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of weakness or fainting.
Astraphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of lightning and thunder.
Astrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of stars and celestial space.
Ataxiophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of muscular incoordination (ataxia). This disorder is not to be confused with ataxophobia which is a fear of disorder or untidiness.
Ataxophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of disorder or untidiness. This disorder is not to be confused with ataxiophobia which is a fear of muscular incoordination (ataxia).
Atelophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of imperfection.
Atephobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of ruin.
Aulophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of flutes.
Aurophobia : An exaggerated or irrational dislike of gold.
Auroraphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of Auroral lights.
Autagonistophilia : Sexual arousal associated with being on stage.
Autassassinophilia : Sexual arousal from planning one's own murder.
Autogynephilia : A male's sexual arousal upon imagining himself as a female.
Automasochism : Automasochism refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving inflicting injuries or pain upon oneself.
Automysophilia : Automysophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving being dirty or defiled.
Automysophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of being dirty.
Autonepiophilia : Sexual arousal from wearing nappies.
Autophagy : Autophagy refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving eating one's own flesh.
Autophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of being egotistical or being by oneself.
Avlinolagnia : Avlinolagnia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving the stomach.
Axillism : Axillism refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving using the armpit for sex.
Bacillophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of missiles.
Bacteriophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of bacteria.
Barophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of gravity.
Bathmophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of walking.
Bathophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of depths. This can include a fear of lakes or long hallways.
Batophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of passing high buildings.
Batrachophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of frogs or toads.
Belonephobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of pins and needles.
Belonphilia : Belonphilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving the use of needles.
Bestialsadism : Bestialsadism refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving delivering cruelty to animals.
Biastophilia : Biastophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving performing sex acts with an unwilling partner.
Bibliokleptomania : A disorder where a person compulsively steals books.
Bibliomania : A type of obsessive-compulsive disorder where the patient compulsively collects books. The books bought are generally not even looked but are simply bought and hoarded. Multiple copies of the same book are often bought. The quantity of books collected usually far exceeds and useful purpose.
Bibliophagy : A disorder where a person compulsively eats books.
Bibliophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of books.
Bibliotaphy : A disorder where a person compulsively buries books.
Biiest : Biiest refers to females who have sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving female feet.
Blastolagnia : Blastolagnia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving young women especially teenagers.
Blennophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of slime.
Bogyphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of demons and goblins.
Borna disease : An infectious neurological disease that affects warm-blooded animals. There is disagreement as to whether the virus may be the underlying cause of some cases of mental illness in humans.
Bromidrosiphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of having unpleasant body odor.
Brontophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of thunder and thunderstorms.
Cainophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of novelty.
Cancerophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of cancer.
Cancerphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of cancer.
Capnolagnia : Capnolagnia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving watching other people smoking.
Carcinomatophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of cancer.
Carcinomophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of cancer.
Carcinophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of cancer.
Cardiophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of heart disease.
Catheterophilia : Catheterophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving using a catheter.
Cathisophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of sitting down.
Catoptrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of mirrors.
Celtophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of Celts.
Cenophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of a void or open spaces.
Ceraunophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of thunder and lightning.
Chaetophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of hair.
Cheimatophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of cold.
Cherophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of gaiety.
Chinophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of snow.
Cholerophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of cholera.
Choreophilia : Choreophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving dancing.
Chremastistophilia : Sexual arousal from being robbed or held.
Chrematistophilia : Chrematistophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving being robbed or having to pay for sex.
Chrematophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of wealth.
Chrometophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of money.
Chromophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of colors.
Chronophilia : Sexual preferences involving partners of differing ages. For example, pedophilia involves a sexual preference for children.
Chronophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of time. Prisoners often develop a fear of time passing.
Cibophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of food.
Claustrophilia : Claustrophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving confinement in small spaces. Sexual arousal may be associated with lying in a coffin or some sort of box or even a wearing a straightjacket.
Claustrophobia : Fear of confined or enclosed spaces
Cleptophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of thieves or of being robbed by thieves.
Clinophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of going to bed.
Cnidophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of insect stings.
Coitophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of sexual intercourse.
Cometophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of comets.
Coprophilia : Coprophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving faeces.
Coprophobiaphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of feces or excrement.
Coulrophobia : An exaggerated or abnormal fear of clowns. Children are most often affected but teenagers and adults can occasionally be affected as well.
Cremnophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of precipices.
Cryophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of extreme cold, frost or ice.
Crystallophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of glass or crystals.
Cymophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of waves.
Cynophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of dogs.
Cypridophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of venereal disease.
Dacryphilia : Dacryphilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving seeing tears in the eyes of their sexual partner.
Defecolagbia : Defecolagbia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving defecating. Sexual arousal occurs during defecation.
Deipnophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of dining and dinner conversation.
Demonophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of demons or spirits.
Demophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of crowds.
Dermatillomania : A form of obsessive compulsive disorder where a person compulsively picks at their own skin. Sufferers can feel the pain they inflict on themselves but the feelings of gratification and stress relief prevent them from stopping. The severity and extent of damage to the skin is variable. Stress and anxiety can trigger the compulsive skin picking.
Dermatophagia : A form of obsessive compulsive disorder where a person compulsively bites their own skin, especially around the nails. Sufferers can feel the pain they inflict on themselves but the feelings of gratification and stress relief prevent them from stopping. The severity and extent of damage to the skin is variable. Stress and anxiety can trigger the compulsive skin biting.
Dermatophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of skin disease.
Dextrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of objects on the right side of the body.
Diaperism : Sexual arousal from wearing nappies.
Dikephobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of justice.
Dinophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of whirlpools.
Diplopiaphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of double vision.
Dippoldism : Dippoldism refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving reprimanding or beating children.
Dipsophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of drinking.
Doleros : Doleros refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving pain.
Domatophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of being inside a house.
Doraphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of contact with animal fur or skin.
Dysmorphophilia : Dysmorphophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving deformities in other people.
Dysmorphophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of deformity. It usually relates to deformities in other people.
Ecclesiophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of church.
Ecophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of home surroundings.
Ecouteurism : Ecouteurism refers to intentionally listening to other people having sex without them being aware of it or consenting to it.
Eisoptrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of mirrors.
Electrophilia : Electrophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving an electrical stimulus.
Electrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of electricity or receiving an electric shock.
Eleutherophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of freedom.
Elurophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of cats.
Emetophilia : Emetophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving vomit or vomiting.
Emetophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of vomiting.
Endytophilia : Endytophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving having sex with a partner who is dressed rather than undressed.
Enetophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of pins or needles.
Entomophilia : Entomophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving insects.
Entomophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of insects.
Eosophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of the dawn.
Ephebophilia : A sexual preference for children in mid- to late adolescence.
Eproctophilia : Eproctophiliarefers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving flatulence.
Ereuthophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of blushing.
Ergasiophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of or aversion to work. The word is sometimes used to describe a surgeon's fear of operating.
Ergophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of work.
Erotic lactation : Sexual attraction to human milk or women who are lactating.
Erotographomania : Erotographomania refers to a strong urge to write love poetry or love letters.
Erotophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of sexual feelings. The condition is characterized by feelings of guilt and fear about sex. Sufferers dislkike talking about sex, are less likely to engage in sexual relations and have a very negative view of sexually explicit material. This term is used mostly in the field of psychology.
Erotophonophilia : A murder associated with lust. Usually the perpetrator has a sexual obsession with the victim. Often mutilation of sexual organs or other acts of a sexual nature are involved.
Erythrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of blushing.
Euphophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of good news.
Febriphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of fever.
Fetishism : A syndrome characterised by recurrent sexual urges for and fantasies of using fetishes
Flatuphilia : Flatuphilia refers to sexual arousal that results from other passing wind.
Food play : Sexual arousal associated with food. It may involve eating food from another person's body
Formicophilia : Formicophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving ants or insects.
Frigophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of cold.
Galeophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of sharks.
Gametophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of marriage.
Gamophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of marriage.
Gastrophilia : Sexual arousal gained from passing gas in someone's face or having gas passed on their face.
Geniophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of chins.
Genophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of sex.
Genuphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of knees.
Gephyrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of crossing a bridge.
Gerascophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of growing old.
Gerontophilia : Gerontophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving relatively old people.
Geumophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of tastes or flavors.
Glossophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of speaking in public or speech anxiety.
Gomphipothic : Gomphipothic refers to sexual arousal resulting from seeing teeth.
Graphophobia : An exaggerated or irrational dislike of writing.
Gynelophilous : Gynelophilous refers to sexual arousal from seeing or touching pubic hair.
Gynemimetophilia : Gynemimetophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving males who impersonate females.
Gynephobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or hatred of women.
Gynophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or hatred of women.
Hadeophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of hell.
Hagiophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of saints and holy things.
Hamaphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of the sight of blood.
Hamartophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of error or sin.
Hamaxophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of being in a vehicle or riding in one.
Hand Fetishism : Fetishism is a form of paraphilia which is a condition involving intense sexual urges and fantasies usually involving a particular object. Fetishism involves a strong association between sexual pleasure or gratification and a particular object or body part is involved. Fetishism is only a problem when the person is distressed by their particular fetish or if they are unable to perform sexually unless the object of their fetish is present in some way. In hand fetishism, sexual pleasure is gained from hands or specific parts of hands.
Haphophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of touch.
Haptophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of touch.
Harmatophilia : Harmatophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving breaking rules or making mistakes.
Harpaxophilia : Harpaxophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving being robbed.
Harpaxophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of robbers.
Hebephilia : Hebephilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving teenagers.
Hedonophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of pleasure.
Heliophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of sunlight or increased sensitivity to sunlight.
Helminthophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of being infested with worms.
Hematophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of the sight of blood.
Herpetophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of reptiles.
Heterophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or aversion to heterosexuals.
Hierophilia : Hierophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving sacred or religious objects.
Hierophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of sacred objects or priests.
Hippophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of horses.
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of long words.
Hodophilia : Hodophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving travelling to new or strange places.
Hodophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of travel.
Homeovestism : Sexual arousal gained from wearing clothes which are appropriate to their gender e.g. females wearing dresses or males wearing shorts.
Homichlophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of fog.
Homilophilia : Homilophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving listening to or giving a speech or sermon.
Homilophobia : An exaggerated or irrational hatred of sermons.
Homophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of homosexuality which is affection between people of the same sex.
Hybristophilia : Sexual attraction to people who have committed crimes, especially violent and cruel crimes.
Hydrophophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of rabies.
Hygrophilia : Hygrophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving fluid body secretions such as saliva and tears.
Hygrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of liquids, particularly wine and water.
Hylephobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of forests or wood.
Hypengyophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of responsibility.
Hyphephilia : Hyphephilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving the feel and smell of animal skin, fur or leather.
Hypnophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of sleep or being hypnotized.
Iatrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of going to the doctor.
Ichthyophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of fish.
Idrophrodisia : Idrophrodisia refers to sexual arousal associated with sweating.
Ignophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of not knowing.
Infantophilia : A sexual preference for children under three years old.
Iophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of poisons.
Isopterophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of termites.
Jactitation : Jactitation refers to sexual arousal or excitement derived from discussing their own sexual exploits.
Judeophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of Jews.
Kakorrhaphiophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of failure or defeat.
Katagelophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of being ridiculed or disliked.
Katoptoronophilia : Sexual arousal gained from having sex in front of mirrors.
Kenophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of open spaces or voids.
Keraunophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of thunder and lightning.
Kinetophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of movement or motion .
Kleptolagnia : Kleptolagnia refers to sexual arousal resulting from thieving.
Kleptophilia : Sexual arousal gained from stealing things.
Kleptophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of thieves or having things stolen by thieves.
Klismaphilia : Klismaphilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving having an enema.
Knismolagnia : Knismolagnia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving tickling.
Knoiophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of dust.
Kopophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of fatigue or exhaustion.
Kynophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of rabies.
Lachanophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of vegetables.
Lactaphilia : Lactaphilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving lactating breasts.
Lagnonector : Lagnonector refers to someone who kills another person so they can have sex with the corpse.
Laliophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of talking.
Lantronudia : Lantronudia refers to sexual arousal that occurs when the person exposes themselves to doctors.
Lepraphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of leprosy.
Leptosadism : Leptosadism refers to mild sadism which is sexual arousal associated with causing pain to another person.
Levophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of objects on the left side of the body.
Limnophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of lakes.
Linonophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of string.
Logophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of words.
Lunaphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of the moon.
Lygerastia : Lygerastia refers to the inability to become sexually aroused unless it is dark.
Lyssophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of becoming insane.
Macrophilia : A sexual attraction to giant people or oversized body parts such as breasts and genitals.
Maieusiophilia : Maieusiophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving the presence of pregnant women.
Masochism : An abnormal desire to be humiliated or physically hurt in some way.
Mastix : Mastix refers to a female sadist. A sadist is someone who gains sexual gratification from inflicting pain on others.
Mastofact : Mastofact refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving breasts.
Mazoperosis : Mazoperosis refers to the mutilation of breasts - often for sexual gratification.
Mazophilia : Sexual arousal gained from women's breasts.
Mechanophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of machinery.
Megalomania : A delusional state where a person believes that they are superior to others. They may believe themselves to be a god, a famous person or a gifted athlete. They may feel they have great social, political or other powers. It is generally considered a symptom of other manic or paranoid disorders.
Melcryptovestimentaphilia : Melcryptovestimentaphilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving black female underwear.
Melolagnia : Melolagnia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving music.
Menophilist : Menophilist refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving menstruating women.
Merinthophilia : Merinthophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving being tied up.
Merinthophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of being bound.
Metallophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of metals.
Meteorophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of meteors or meteorites.
Microphilia : A sexual attraction to very small people or small body parts.
Microphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of microorganisms.
Misogynism : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of females.
Misogyny : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of women.
Misophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of dirt or being contaminated by dirt or germs.
Mixoscopy : Mixoscopy refers to watching a sex act without the people involved being aware.
Molysomophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of infection.
Monopathophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of sickness.
Monophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of being alone. Sufferers may also fear being away from a particular place or person who makes them feel safe. An underlying anxiety disorder is generally involved.
Moriaphilia : Moriaphilia refers to sexual urges or arousal resulting from telling sex-related jokes.
Musicophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of music.
Musophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of mice and rats.
Mysophilia : Mysophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving touching soiled underwear or foul smells.
Mythophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of making false or incorrect statements.
Myxophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of slime.
Nacrochlesis : Nacrochlesis refers to engaging in a sex act with a corpse.
Nanophilia : Nanophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving short people.
Naphephilia : Naphephilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving either touching other people or being touched.
Narratophilia : Narratophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving delivering sex-related narrations (poems, jokes, stories).
Nasophilia : Nasophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving other people's noses - either kissing, sucking or touching it.
Navel Fetishism : Sexual attraction to navels - either their own or someone else's.
Necrophilia : Necrophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving corpses.
Necrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of death or corpses.
Necrosadism : Necrosadism refers to mutilating a corpse to achieve sexual gratification.
Necrozoophilia : Sexual arousal gained from killing animals.
Negrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of African Americans.
Neophilia : Sexual arousal gained from new things.
Neophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of new things.
Nephophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of clouds.
Nepiophilia : Nepiophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving infants of the opposite sex.
Noctiphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of the night.
Nosolagnia : Nosolagnia refers to sexual urges or arousal resulting from the knowledge that one's partner has a terminal illness.
Nosophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of contracting a disease.
Nudophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of nudity.
Nychtophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of darkness or the night.
Nyctophilia : Sexual arousal gained from the dark or nighttime.
Nymphophilia : Nymphophilia refers to sexual urges or arousal resulting from loving a female teenager.
Ochlophilia : Ochlophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving crowds or larger groups of people.
Ochlophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of crowds.
Ochophophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of vehicles.
Oculolinctus : Oculolinctus refers to achieving sexual gratification from licking a person's eyeballs..
Oculophilia : Oculophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving eyeballs.
Odaxelagnia : Sexual arousal gained from biting a partner or being bitten.
Odontophilia : Odontophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving teeth.
Odontophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of teeth. The fear is usually associated with animal's teeth.
Odynophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of pain.
Oecophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of home surroundings.
Oenophobia : An exaggerated or irrational dislike or hatred of wine.
Oikophobia : An exaggerated or irrational dislike or fear of home surroundings.
Oinophobia : An exaggerated or irrational dislike or hatred of wine.
Olfactophilia : Sexual arousal gained from body smells or odors.
Olfactophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of smells.
Ombrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of rain or being rained on.
Ommetaphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of eyes.
Ondinisme : Ondinisme refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving urine.
Onomatophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of a certain name or words due to their supposed importance.
Onychophagia : A form of obsessive compulsive disorder where a person compulsively bites their nails. Sufferers can feel the pain they inflict on themselves but the feelings of gratification and stress relief prevent them from stopping. The severity and extent of damage to the skin is variable. Stress and anxiety can trigger the nail biting. The condition is most common in children with nearly half of teenagers biting their nails.
Ophibiophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of snakes.
Ophidophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of snakes.
Ornithophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of birds.
Osmophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of odors.
Osphresiophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of odors.
Ozolagnia : Ozolagnia refers to sexual urges or arousal involving odours.
Paedophilia : A sexual preference for prepubescent children.
Panphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of everything or a generalized state of anxiety or fear not related to any one particular thing.
Papaphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of the pope or papacy.
Paralipophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of neglecting some duty or responsibility.
Paraphilias : A psychiatric disorder that is characterised by sexual urges and inappropriate sexual behaviour
Paraphilic infantilism : Sexual arousal gained from acting or dressing as a baby or from being treated as a baby.
Paraphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of sexual perversion.
Parasitophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of parasites.
Paraskavedekatriaphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of Friday the 13th.
Parthenophiliaphilia : A sexual preference for virgins.
Parthenophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of or aversion to young girls.
Partialism : A sexual attraction to a specific part of the body other than the genitals.
Pathophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of disease.
Pecattiphilia : Pecattiphilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving stealing or sinning.
Peccatiphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of sinning.
Pediculophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of lice.
Pediophilia : Pediophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving dolls.
Pediophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of children.
Pedophilia : A sexual preference for children.
Peiodeiktophilia : Sexual arousal in males gained from exposing their penis.
Peladophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of baldness.
Peniaphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of poverty.
Pentheraphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of mother-in-law.
Phagophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of eating.
Phalacrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of becoming bald.
Phallophilia : Phallophi refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving unusually large erect penis.
Phanmophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of specters or phantoms.
Pharmacophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of drugs.
Phasmophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of ghosts.
Phenogophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of daylight.
Phenophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of noise.
Philemanmania : Philemanmania refers to an abnormal urge to kiss.
Philosophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of philosophers or philosophy.
Phobias : Irrational fear of a particular situation, action, or item.
Phobophilia : Phobophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving fear.
Phobophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of fear.
Phonemophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of thinking.
Phonophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of noise.
Photalgiophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of eye pain caused by light.
Photophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of light.
Pictophilia : Sexual arousal gained from pornographic pictures or art.
Plushophilia : Sexual interest in stuffed toys or people dressed as animals.
Pneumatophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of spirits.
Pnigophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of choking or smothering.
Podophilia : podophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving feet.
Pogonophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of beards.
Poinephobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of punishment.
Politicophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of politicians.
Polyiterophilia : Polyiterophilia refers to sexual gratification being achieved only through group sex.
Polyphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of lots of things.
Ponophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of fatigue or exhaustion. It primarily relates to fear of fatigue associated with working too hard.
Posteriophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of falling behind.
Potamophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of rivers.
Potophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of drinks.
Psychophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of the mind.
Psychrotentiginous : Psychrotentiginous refers to sexual urges or arousal involving cold water.
Pteronophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of feathers.
Pygophilia : Pygophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving another person's buttocks.
Pyrexiophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of fever.
Pyrolagnia : Pyrolagnia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving watching fire.
Pyrophilia : Pyrophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving fire.
Pyrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of fire.
Raptophilia : Raptophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving rape.
Rectophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of the rectum.
Rhabdophilia : Rhabdophilia refers to sexual urges, preferences or fantasies involving being beaten or flogged.
Rhabdophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of being punished severely. The term can also be used to describe a fear of being beaten with a rod of a fear of magic and the paranormal.
Rhypophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of filth.
Russophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of Russians.
Sadism : Sexual arousal gained from causing pain to another person.
Salirophilia : A sexual arousal gained from in some way dirtying or messing up a partner. The partner is usually attractive and the sexual gratification arises from actions such as covering them in filth, messing their hair or tearing their clothing. Generally no violence is involved.
Scatophilia : Sexual arousal gained from feces.
Sciophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of shadows.
Scoleciphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of worms.
Scopophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of being looked at, stared at or being seen.
Scotophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of the dark.
Selachophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of sharks.
Selaphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of flashes of light.
Siderdromophilia : Siderdromophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving watching or riding trains.
Siderodromophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of trains.
Siderophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of the stars.
Sinophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of China.
Sitophilia : Sitophilia refers to sexual arousal or gratification achieved through the use of food.
Sitophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of food.
Smoking Fetishism : Fetishism is a form of paraphilia which is a condition involving intense sexual urges and fantasies usually involving a particular object. Fetishism involves a strong association between sexual pleasure or gratification and a particular object or body part is involved. Fetishism is only a problem when the person is distressed by their particular fetish or if they are unable to perform sexually unless the object of their fetish is present in some way. In smoking fetishism, sexual pleasure is gained from smoking or watching someone smoke.
Solophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of sunlight or abnormal sensitivity to sunlight.
Somnophilia : A sexual preference for unconscious or sleeping people.
Specrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of specters or phantoms.
Spectrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of mirrors.
Spermatophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of germs.
Spermophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of germs.
Stasiphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of standing or walking. Sufferers believe that they are unable to stand or walk.
Sthenolagnia : Sthenolagnia refers to sexual arousal resulting from seeing muscles or a display of strength.
Stigmatophilia : Stigmatophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving body art and adornments such as piercings and tattoos.
Stygiophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of hell.
Sychrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of ice or frost.
Symmetrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of symmetry.
Symphorophilia : Sexual arousal gained from disasters.
Tabophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of a wasting sickness.
Tachophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of speed.
Tantalolagnia : Tantalolagnia refers to sexual urges or arousal associated with teasing.
Taphephilia : Taphephilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving being buried alive.
Taphephobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of being buried alive or of cemeteries.
Tapinophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of small things.
Taurophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of bulls.
Technophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of modern technology.
Telephone scatologiaphilia : Sexual arousal gained from making rude phone calls to strangers.
Telephonophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of the telephone.
Teratophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of monsters and deformed people or of giving birth to a malformed infant.
Thaasophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of boredom or being idle.
Thalassophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of the sea.
Thalpotentiginy : Thalpotentiginy refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving heat.
Thanatophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of death.
Theatrophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of theatres.
Theophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of God.
Thermophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of heat.
Thixophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of touch.
Timophilia : Timophilia refers to sexual urges, arousal or fantasies involving wealth or power.
Tocophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of childbirth.
Tomophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of surgical operations.
Topophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of certain places.
Toxicophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of being poisoned.
Transvestic fetishism : Sexual arousal gained from wearing clothes from the opposite gender e.g. males wearing dresses.
Traumatophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of war or physical injury.
Tremophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of trembling.
Trichophilia : Trichophilia refers to sexual urges or arousal involving hair.
Trichophobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of hair.
Tripsolagnia : Tripsolagnia refers to sexual urges or arousal associated with having one's hair shampooed by someone else.
Tripsolagnophilia : Tripsolagnophilia refers to sexual arousal associated with having a massage.
Triskaidekaphobia : An exaggerated or irrational fear of the number 13.
| Buttocks |
In the human body, a Hottentot Apron (or Sinus Pudoris) is a term used for an elongated what? | Sexual arousal in men - Live Well - NHS Choices
Sexual arousal in men
When a man gets an erection, his body goes through four stages of sexual response: arousal, plateau, orgasm and resolution.
Stage 1: sexual excitement or arousal
A man gets an erection with physical or psychological stimulation, or both. This causes more blood to flow into three spongy areas called corpora that run along the length of his penis.
The skin is loose and mobile, allowing his penis to grow. His scrotum – the bag of skin holding the testicles – becomes tighter, so his testicles are drawn up towards the body.
Stage 2: sexual plateau
The head (glans) of his penis gets wider, and the blood vessels in and around the penis fill with blood. This causes the colour to deepen and his testicles to grow up to 50% larger.
His testicles continue to rise, and a warm feeling around the area between the testicles and anus (perineum) develops.
His heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, breathing becomes quicker, and his thighs and buttocks tighten. He's getting close to orgasm.
Stage 3: orgasm and ejaculation
A series of contractions force semen into the urethra, the tube along which urine and semen come out of the penis.
These contractions occur in the pelvic floor muscles, in the tube that carries sperm from the testicles to the penis (vas deferens).
They also occur in the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland, which both add fluid to the sperm. This mix of sperm (5%) and fluid (95%) is called semen.
These contractions are part of orgasm , and the man reaches a point where he can't stop ejaculation happening.
Contractions of the prostate gland and the pelvic floor muscles then lead to ejaculation, when semen is forced out of the penis.
Stage 4: resolution phase of sex
The man now has a recovery phase, when the penis and testicles shrink back to their normal size. He is breathing heavily and fast, his heart is beating rapidly, and he might be sweating.
There's a period of time after ejaculation when another orgasm isn't possible. This varies between men, from a few minutes to a few hours, or even days. The time generally gets longer as men get older.
If a man gets aroused but doesn't ejaculate, this resolution stage can take longer, and his testicles and pelvis might ache.
| i don't know |
What is the name of the female friend of children’s television puppet Andy Pandy? | Andy Pandy - Childrens TV | Jedi's Paradise
Andy Pandy Andy Pandy is a 50’s children’s TV puppet show, which surprised me as I though it had been made in the 70's. I was wrong. The first show was produced on 20th June 1950 in Black and White. It was a show that was created especially for pre-school children. It appeared in the BBC's 'Watch With Mother' schedule every Tuesday. Andy Pandy was a clown puppet and he initially performed alone, but eventually he was joined by two friends - Teddy and Looby Lou. Andy Pandy was so popular, that he became one of the most repeated Children's TV programmes in television history. Andy Pandy was the first of several successful television characters created by Freda Lingstrom, who was Head of the Children's' Television Department of the BBC between 1951 and 1956. Maria Bird composed the music and also wrote the scripts for the programme with Freda. The first puppeteer for the programme was Audry Atterbury, who was later joined by Molly Gibson. Andy Pandy, Teddy and Looby Lou were all silent stars. The programmes were narrated by Vera Mckechnie and the songs were sung by Gladys Whitred. A total of 26 episodes were made, each lasting 15 minutes. The characters were all puppets and the crew details can be found here. In the 1970's, Andy Pandy was remade in colour in the Abbey Road Studios. It seems that TV Companies have been looking to the past for inspiration, because Cosgrove Hall Productions has resurrected Andy Pandy. They have made a number of new programmes to thrill children all over again (lets just hope they see some of the originals too). In 1998 Andy Pandy puppets appeared in a 'Watch with Mother Exhibition' at Dudley in the West Midlands. Each episode began with - “Andy Pandy is coming to play, la, la-la, la, la-la, Andy Pandy's here today, la, la-la, la-la. and ended with - Time to stop play, just for today, Andy and Teddy must now go away. Time to stop play, just for today Andy is waving goodbye.., goodbye.., goodbye.” Andy Pandy Characters Andy Pandy Andy Pandy is a little boy dressed as a clown. He lives in a house in the country with his friend Teddy. Both like to play and dance along to the songs that Gladys Whitred sings. Teddy Teddy is the friend of Andy Pandy and likes to play and be silly. Looby Lou Looby Lou is a lifeless rag doll who lives in a toy chest. But unknown to Andy and Teddy, Looby Lou comes to life when they're not in the room.
Andy Pandy Images (click to enlarge)
Andy Pandy T-Shirts - NONE
Andy Pandy DVDs Region 2 (Europe) - NONE Region 1 (USA) - NONE
Andy Pandy Episodes Series 1 (1950) Black and White 1. Tea Party 2. Presents 3. Music 4. Hand Bells 5. A.B.C. 6. Bricks 7. Playing School 8. Play Shops 9. Leaning House 10. Pram 11. Farm 12. Garden 13. Wall and Tortoise 14. Turtles 15. Boats 16. Paddling Pool 17. Horse and Fish 18. Bird and Butterfly 19. Rabbits 20. Kittens 21. Kings and Queens 22. Jack in the Box 23. ???? 24. ???? 25. ???? 26. ???? Series 2 (1970) Colour 1. Andy Pandy's House 2. Hobby Horses 3. Scooters 4. The Trampoline 5. Jack-In-A-Box 6. A Wall And A Hedgehog 7. Cleaning The House 8. Tricycles 9. Looby Loo Has A Cold 10. The Jeep 11. Tea Party 12. The Red Engine 13. Sailing Boats
Andy Pandy Video Intro
| Hokey cokey |
In 2000, British television chef Jamie Oliver became the face of which supermarket chain? | CBBC: Little Kids | Character Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Yoho Ahoy: Grog's Musical Chairs
Balamory: Nessie's Story
Tikkabilla: The Sun and the Wind
CBeebies Fairytales: Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Elves and the Shoemaker, Nian, The Elephant and the Mouse and A Midsummer Night's Dream
Sarah and Duck: The Balloon Race
Peter Rabbit: The Unguarded Garden and Three up a Tree
In the Night Garden: Makka Pakka's Musical Stones
Andy Pandy's Birthday Cake
Tree Fu Tom's Big Ranch Rodeo and The Missing Spell Stone
Melody: Little Red Riding Hood
Topsy and Tim: Helping Dad
Swashbuckle: A Band of Naughty Pirates and Pirate of the Year Awards
CBeebies Stargazing: The Eclipse Party
Tee and Mo: Who did the Footprints?
Tweenies: 1002 Arabian Nights
1st December (Swashbuckle, Dennis the Menace and Shaun the Sheep)
2nd December (Topsy and Tim, Strange Hill High and Basil Brush)
3rd December (Something Special, I Can Cook and The Magic Roundabout)
4th December (Baby Jake, Andy Pandy and Morph)
5th December (Show Me Show Me, Tikkabilla and Let's Play)
6th December (Sarah and Duck, Bodger & Badger and Numberjacks)
7th December (Andy's Wild Adventures, Driver Dan's Story Train and Oakie Doke)
8th December (Nina and the Neurons, Mr Benn and Yoho Ahoy)
9th December (Postman Pat, Get Squiggling and Tweenies)
10th December (Charlie and Lola, Crystal Tipps and Alistair and Play School)
11th December (Tee and Mo, Fingermouse and Horrible Histories)
12th December (Timmy Time, Willo the Wisp and Fimbles)
13th December (Tree Fu Tom, Fireman Sam and Boogie Beebies)
14th December (Grandpa in my Pocket, The Herbs and You and Me)
15th December (Justin's House, Bob the Builder and Hector’s House)
16th December (Mr Bloom's Nursery, Alphablocks and Greenclaws)
17th December (Octonauts, In the Night Garden and The Woodentops)
18th December (Mike the Knight, Camberwick Green and Mr Blooby)
19th December (Old Jack's Boat, Roly Mo and Playdays)
20th December (Teletubbies, Rag, Tag and Bobtail and Tilly and Friends)
21st December (Mister Maker, Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men and Roobarb and Custard)
22nd December (Gigglebiz, The Story Makers and Otis the Aardvark)
23rd December (Peter Rabbit, ZingZillas and Melody)
24th December (Romuald the Reindeer, Pingu and Bagpuss)
25th December (All Shows)
1st December (The Numtums, Muffin the Mule and Camberwick Green)
2nd December (Mike the Knight, Mr Blobby and Fingermouse)
3rd December (Gigglebiz, Basil Brush and Greenclaws)
4th December (Tee and Mo, Fireman Sam and Ivor the Engine)
5th December (Fly-High and Huggy, Melody and Boogie Beebies)
6th December (Swashbuckle, Play School and Show Me Show Me)
7th December (Justin's House, The Wombles and Charlie and Lola)
8th December (Boj, Tweenies and Bodger & Badger)
9th December (Something Special, Oakie Doke and Willo the Wisp)
10th December (Nina and the Neurons, Andy Pandy and Crystal Tipps and Alistair)
11th December (Peter Rabbit, Fimbles and Morph)
12th December (Bing, Roobarb and Custard and Playdays)
13th December (Grandpa in my Pocket, In the Night Garden and Rag, Tag and Bobtail)
14th December (Driver Dan's Story Train, Get Well Soon and Let's Play)
15th December (Tree Fu Tom, Dennis the Menace and Roly Mo)
16th December (Sarah and Duck, You and Me and Tikkabilla)
17th December (Octonauts, ZingZillas and Alphablocks)
18th December (Topsy and Tim, Postman Pat and Andy's Wild Adventures)
19th December (The Furchester Hotel, I Can Cook and Rastamouse)
20th December (Kate and Mim-Mim, Shaun the Sheep and Bob the Builder)
21st December (Katie Morag, Mr Bloom's Nursery and Horrible Histories)
22nd December (Teletubbies, Yoho Ahoy and The Story Makers)
23rd December (Old Jack's Boat, Tilly and Friends and Bagpuss)
24th December (Otis the Aardvark, The Magic Roundabout and Strange Hill High)
25th December (All Shows)
1st December (Go Jetters, Shaun the Sheep and Horrible Histories)
2nd December (Twirlywoos, Let's Play and The Shiny Show)
3rd December (Hey Duggee, Tilly and Friends and Mr Bloom's Nursery)
4th December (Teletubbies, Crystal Tipps and Alistair and Dennis the Menace)
5th December (Bing, Melody and Same Smile)
6th December (Clangers, I Can Cook and Get Well Soon)
7th December (Tree Fu Tom, Boogie Beebies and ZingZillas)
8th December (Peter Rabbit, Basil Brush and You and Me)
9th December (Something Special, Greenclaws and Tweenies)
10th December (Footy Pups, Rastamouse and Mr Blobby)
11th December (Charlie and Lola, Strange Hill High and Otis the Aardvark)
12th December (Swashbuckle, Tikkabilla and Roobarb and Custard)
13th December (Katie Morag, Camberwick Green and Oakie Doke)
14th December (My Pet and Me, Driver Dan's Story Train and Play School)
15th December (Octonauts, Morph and Minibeast Adventure with Jess)
16th December (Topsy and Tim, Playdays and The Wombles)
17th December (Sarah and Duck, Andy's Wild Adventures and Fly-High and Huggy)
18th December (CBeebies' Alice in Wonderland, The Story Makers and Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men)
19th December (Postman Pat, Bagpuss and Fimbles)
20th December (Show Me Show Me, Bodger & Badger and Fireman Sam)
21st December (Grandpa in my Pocket, Roly Mo and Tee and Mo)
22nd December (Nelly and Nora, Woolly and Tig and Get Squiggling)
23rd December (Dirtgirlworld, Willo the Wisp and The Numtums)
24th December (In the Night Garden, Fingermouse and Boj)
25th December (The Furchester Hotel, Rag, Tag and Bobtail and Ivor the Engine)
26th December (Invited to Phoebe, Tree Fu Tom, Jelly and Jackson, Shaun the Sheep and Melody)
27th December (Invited to Small and Tiny Clanger, Greenclaws, Roobarb, Basil Brush and Igglepiggle and Upsy Daisy)
28th December (Invited to Gem, Tamba, Nelly and Nora, Mr Tumble and Oakie Doke)
29th December (Invited to Ubercorn, Morph, Sarah and Duck, Rastamouse and Great BigHoo)
30th December (Invited to Topsy and Tim, Otis the Aardvark, Humpty, Boj and Captain Barnacles)
31st December (All Shows)
1st December (Something Special, Otis the Aardvark and Basil Brush)
2nd December (Go Jetters, Tikkabilla and Let's Play)
3rd December (Jamillah and Aladdin, ZingZillas and Dirtgirlworld)
4th December (Andy's Prehistoric Adventures, Strange Hill High and Minibeast Adventure with Jess)
5th December (Bing, Fingermouse and I Can Cook)
6th December (Swashbuckle, Playdays and Bodger & Badger)
7th December (Twirlywoos, Tilly and Friends and The Story Makers)
8th December (Peter Rabbit, Melody and Yoho Ahoy)
9th December (Topsy and Tim, Horrible Histories and Rag, Tag and Bobtail)
10th December (Justin's House, Get Squiggling and Show Me Show Me)
11th December (Footy Pups, Morph and Boogie Beebies)
12th December (My Pet and Me, Roobarb and Custard and Play School)
13th December (Tee and Mo, Andy Pandy and Greenclaws)
14th December (Spot Bots, Binka and The Wombles)
15th December (The Furchester Hotel, Fimbles and Shaun the Sheep)
16th December (CBeebies' The Nutcracker, Woolly and Tig and Crystal Tipps and Alistair)
17th December (Grandpa in my Pocket, Postman Pat and Camberwick Green)
18th December (Old Jack's Boat, Gigglebiz and Bagpuss)
19th December (Tree Fu Tom, Boj and Mr Blobby)
20th December (Octonauts, Roly Mo and The Shiny Show)
21st December (Clangers, Nelly and Nora and Charlie and Lola)
23rd December (Sarah and Duck, Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men and Oakie Doke)
24th December (In the Night Garden, Wallace and Gromit and Willo the Wisp)
25th December (All Shows)
The Furchester: Furchester on Wheels
Clangers: Major's Meteor
In the Night Garden: Makka Pakka's Stone Concert
Andy Pandy: Puppeteer Pandy and Potato Prints
Peter Rabbit: The Tale of the One the Got Away
Oakie Doke and the Oakie Hollows Fete
Bill and Ben: The Rainbow
Mike the Knight: Hidden Garden Games
Octonauts and the Mimic Octopus
Fimbles: Triangle
Yoho Ahoy Fun Time: Art with Crow/Sail with Jones
Q Pootle 5: The Bubble Craters
Topsy and Tim: New Pet
Charlie and Lola: Never Ever Never Step on the Cracks
Noddy and the Fishing Rod
Melody: Flying High
Ruff Ruff Tweet & Dave: A Birthday Party Adventure
Chloe's Closet: Singing at Sea
Chuggington: Koko's Puppy Training
Albert the Fifth Musketeer (part of Ants in your Pants)
The All-New Popeye Show
The Animals of Farthing Wood
Ants in your Pants
Barney (part of Ants in your Pants)
Bod (part of Ants in your Pants)
Bodger and Badger
Brum (part of Ants in your Pants)
The Brollys (part of Ants in your Pants)
Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars
The Busy World of Richard Scarry
Camberwick Green (part of Ants in your Pants)
Cartoon Critters
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show
Charlie Chalk (part of Ants in your Pants)
Christopher Crocodile (part of Ants in your Pants)
ChuckleVision
The Clangers (part of Ants in your Pants)
Crystal Tipps and Alistair (part of Ants in your Pants)
Dino Babies
Enid Blyton's Enchanted Lands (part of Ants in your Pants)
The Family Ness (part of Ants in your Pants)
Fiddley Foodle Bird
Funnybones (part of Ants in your Pants)
The Further Adventures of SuperTed
Gordon the Gopher
The Greedysaurus Gang (part of Ants in your Pants)
Greenclaws
Hairy Jeremy (part of Ants in your Pants)
Happy Families
Henry's Cat (part of Ants in your Pants)
Jim Henson's Animal Show
Joe (part of Ants in your Pants)
Johnson and Friends
Joshua Jones (part of Ants in your Pants)
King Rollo (part of Ants in your Pants)
Little Bear
The Little Polar Bear (part of Ants in your Pants)
The Magic Roundabout (part of Ants in your Pants)
Monster Café
Monty the Dog (part of Ants in your Pants)
Moomin
Mr. Benn (part of Ants in your Pants)
The Mysterious Cities of Gold
The New Yogi Bear Show
Noddy
Alice, Archie, Buster, Frank, George, Josie, Mitzi, Ned, Penny and Sammy
Andy Pandy, Looby Loo and Teddy
Angelmouse, Flying Angelmouse, Angelmouse and his friend Quilly and Little Petal
Animals, Booty and Cutlass
Aquarium, Dot to Dot and Spot the Difference
Baby Pom from Fimbles, Fimbo, The Fimbles and Florrie and Little one
Back-To-Front, Lucy, Princess, Claude, Hi-Fi, Dotty and Sad Sack
Baz, Dylan and Molly
Beebie in the Flowers, Beebie at the Beach and Beebie on the Swing
Ben, Bill, Bill and Ben, Gnome, Rose, Scamper, Slowcoach, Thistle and Weed
Big Ears, Noddy, Noddy's car, PC Plod, Sly and Tessie Bear
Binka, Tango and Suki
Blue Cow, Jackson and Jelly
Bob the Builder, Bob on Wheels, Wendy, Spud, Pilchard and Lofty
Boo, Growling Tiger, Laughing Duck and Sleeping Bear
Brum and Brum in the City
Charlie Chalk, Charlie's house and Lewis T. Duck
Clifford, Emily and Hide and Seek
Crystal Tipps, Alistair and Birdie and Crystal Tipps' Plane
Cush, Lillian, Ruby Rae and Suzanne Magique
Dogsby, Mukka and Tigs
Edie McCredie, Josie Jump, PC Plum and Spencer
El Nombre, Don Fandango and Little Juan
EW, Buzz, Moggy, Nifty, Shelly and Thera
Fizz from Tweenies, Tweenies Dancing and Doodles from Tweenies
Greenclaws, Greenclaws with an Tuba and Owlm
Joshua Jones and Fairport, Ravi and Spanner
Little Hoot, Flea, 99 and Fireflies
Little Red Tractor and Stan, Patch and Stumpy
Lucy, Molly and Giggles and Tickles
Mickey Maker, Digby Mole, Puzzlesnuff and Count Hoot
Nib, Ogi and Bobin
Norman, Fireman Sam and Sarah
Oakie Doke, Oakie Doke on his Scooter and Dave and Denzil
Paddington, Padington with His Suitcase and Paddington with an Umbrella
Pablo & Pumpkin, Pablo, Finbar & Pumpkin and Pablo's family
Pingu, Pingu with his sack and Pingu with his sleigh
Pippin, Pippin's head and Plane
Postman Pat, Postman Pat and Jess and Postman Pat with his bag
Prof, Dixie and Trixie
Spot in the Snow, Spot and his Family and Spot shopping with Sally
Tamba, Justin, Simon, Sarah Jane, Lorna, Beverley and Paul
Teletubbies Dancing, Teletubbies 'Big Hug', Po on her Scooter, Tinky-Winky, Teletubby Bye-Bye, Teletubbies listen to a Voice Trumpet and Po with a Watering Can
Tilly, Tom and Tiny
Tiny, Sporty, Noisy, Scary, Spotty and Stripy
Tubb, Reg, Sploshy, Finbar, Amelia, Terence and Winona
Twinkle, Chloe and House
Fimbles (A Big Fimbly Thank You)
Fireman Sam (Be my Hero)
Greenclaws (Let's grow Fowers)
Joshua Jones (Have a great Adventure)
The Koala Brothers (Call the Koala Brothers!)
Little Red Tractor (Congratulations!)
The Little Animals Activity Center (Let's Make)
Noddy (Goodness me, I forgot your Birthday!)
Oakie Doke (You're my best friend!)
Pablo the Little Red Fox (Let's have an Adventure)
Pingu (Have a fun Birthday)
Postman Pat (You forgot my Present)
The Raggy Dolls (Good thinking Everyone!)
Sergeant Stripes (Have a lovely day!)
The Shiny Show (Give yourself a Shiny!)
Spot (Thanks for my Present)
Starhill Ponies (Scruffy says hello)
Step Inside (Read a story)
Story Makers (Jelly and Jackson say hello)
Teletubbies (Big Hug)
Tikkabilla (Do a little wiggle!)
Tots TV (Bonjour)
64 Zoo Lane (Lucy, Georgina, Nelson, Tickles, Giggles, Boris and Molly)
Andy Pandy (Andy, Teddy, Looby Loo, Missy Hissy, Tiffo, Bilbo and Orbie)
Angelmouse (Angelmouse, Quilly, Elliemum, Baby Ellie, Oswald, Spencer, Little Petal and Hutchskin)
Balamory (Miss Hoolie, Archie, Josie Jump, Edie McCredie, PC Plum, Spencer, Suzie Sweet and Penny Pocket)
Barnaby Bear (Barnaby Bear)
The Beebie Bunnies (Beebie and Bracken Bunny)
Big Cook Little Cook (Ben and Small)
Bill and Ben (Bill, Ben, Weed, Boo, Scamper, Whimsy, Whoops, Slowcoach, Pry, Tad, Thistle and Rose)
Binka (Binka, Suki, Tango and Spit)
Bits and Bobs (Bits, Bobs and Trug)
Bob the Builder (Bob, Scoop, Muck, Dizzy, Lofty, Wendy, Spud, Pilchard and Bird)
Bobinogs (Nib, Ogi and Bobin)
Boo (Boo, Growling Tiger, Laughing Duck and Sleeping Bear)
Brum (Brum)
Charlie Chalk (Charlie Chalk, Captain Mildred, Mary the Hover Fairy, Lewis T. Duck, Arnold the Elephant, Edward, Trader Jones and Bert)
Clifford the Big Red Dog (Clifford, Cleo, T-Bone and Emily Elizabeth)
Come Outside (Auntie Mabel and Pippin)
Crystal Tipps and Alistair (Crystal Tipps, Alistair, Birdie and Butterfly)
El Nombre (El Nombre, Don Fandango, Little Juan and Tanto)
Fab Lab (Prof, Dixie and Trixie)
Fimbles (Fimbo, Florrie, Baby Pom, Rockit, Roly Mo, Bessie and Ribble)
Fireman Sam (Sam, Elvis, Penny Morris, Trevor, Norman, Sarah and James)
Greenclaws (Greenclaws and Owlm)
Joshua Jones (Joshua Jones, Joe Laski, Spanner Wilkins, Fairport, Ravi and Fiona)
The Koala Brothers (Alice, Archie, Buster, Frank, George, Josie, Mitzi, Ned, Penny and Sammy)
The Little Animals Activity Center (Digby Mole, Mickey Maker, Puzzlesnuff, Storybear, Count Hoot and Foxy Dancer)
Little Red Tractor (Little Red Tractor, Stan, Ryan, Amy and Stumpy)
LIttle Robots (Tiny, Sporty, Stripy, Noisy, Spotty and Scary)
Noddy (Noddy, Big-Ears, PC Plod, Bumpy Dog, Mr. Wobbly Man, Tessie Bear, Martha Monkey, Sly and Gobbo)
Oakie Doke (Oakie Doke, Grannie Annie, Lizzie, Root, Hickory, Dave and Denzil)
Pablo the Little Red Fox (Pablo, Pumpkin, Poppy, Baxter, Finbar and Madam Owl)
Paddington Bear (Paddington)
Pingu (Pingu, Pinga, Robby, Papa and Mana)
Postman Pat (Postman Pat, Jess, Ted Glen, PC Selby, Jeff Pringle, Dr. Sylvia Gilbertson, Reverend Timms, Mrs Goggins and Major Forbe)
The Raggy Dolls (Sad Sack, Dotty, Hi-Fi, Lucy, Back-To-Front, Claude, Princess, Ragamuffin, Edward and Rupert the Roo)
Rubbadubbers (Tubb, Reg, Sploshy, Finbar, Amelia, Terence and Winona)
Sergeant Stripes (Sergeant Stripes, Arabella, Fluffy and Hector)
The Shiny Show (Tigs, Mukka and Dogsby)
Spot (Spot, Helen, Steve and Tom)
Starhill Ponies (Molly, Dylan, Scruffy, Baz, Will, Kate, Thomas, Jim Handiman, Ambrose and Mrs Horace Morris)
Step Inside (Mr Mopple, Twinkle, Boris and Chloe)
The Story Makers (Jackson, Jelly and Milton)
Teletubbies (Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, Po and Noo-Noo)
Tots TV (Tilly, Tom, Tiny and Furryboo)
Tikkabilla (Tamba, Justin, Simon, Sarah Jane, Lorna, Beverley and Paul)
Treetown (Tansy, Rosabelle, Cush, Lillian, Ruby Rae and Suzanne Magique)
Tweenies (Bella, Fizz, Jake, Milo, Max, Judy and Doodles)
Wedster (Wedster)
"Yacki Yoggi Song" - Baby Jake
"Theme Tune" - Iconicles
"Theme Tune (Give It Up For Da Easy Crew)" - Rastamouse
"My Name Is" - Abadas
"Theme Tune" - Mike the Knight
"Brum Brum, Get Things Done" - Brum
"Meet The Veggies" - Mr Bloom's Nursery
"Theme Tune" - Gigglebiz
"Theme Tune" - In the Night Garden
"Theme Tune" - Big & Small
"Theme Tune" - Noddy in Toyland
"Theme Tune" - Everything's Rosie
"The Raggy Dolls Rap" - The Raggy Dolls
"I Love Woolly" - Woolly & Tig
"Theme Tune" - Andy's Wild Adventures
"Boom A Boom Whoop Zing Zoo" - Grandpa in my Pocket
"Theme Tune" - The Wotwots
"Hey are you Ready to Play" - Tweenies
"Theme and Hello Song" - Something Special
"Bestest in the Barn" - Charlie and Lola
"Mambo No 5" - Bob the Builder
"Bee (E's Song)" - Alphablocks
"Theme & Shiny Show Song Medley" - The Shiny Show
"Theme Tune" - Cloud Babies
"The Helping Song" - The Koala Brothers
"Follow my Leader" - Teletubbies
"The Dress Up Song" - Chloe's Closet
"Theme Tune" - Tree Fu Tom
"Summer Song" - CBeebies Presenters
"Goodbye Sun, Hello Moon" - CBeebies Presenters
"Winter Song" - CBeebies Presenters
"The Big Fun Time Song" - CBeebies Presenters
"Christmas Song" - CBeebies Presenters
"Abadas Song/Let's Play/I Found the Word/Goodbye Song" - Abadas
"Theme Tune" - The Lingo Show
"Momo's Theme" - Show Me Show Me
"Huzzah for Glendragon" - Mike the Knight
"Theme Tune" - Raa Raa The Noisy Lion
"Theme Tune" - The Octonauts
"Theme Tune" - 64 Zoo Lane
"Special Delivery Service Theme" - Postman Pat
"Theme Tune" - Numtums
"Theme Tune" - Guess with Jess
"Want to Make Somebody Smile Give Them Pie" - Chloe's Closet
"Theme Tune" - Nuzzle and Scratch
"Theme Tune" - The Roly Mo Show
"Every Day with Grandpa" - Grandpa in my Pocket
"Theme Tune" - Tinga Tinga Tales
"What's the Story of Balamory" - Balamory
"The Finale Song" - Mr Bloom's Nursery
"Theme Tune" - Big Barn Farm
"Theme Tune" - Oakie Doke
"I'm a Shape" - Mister Maker
"Time For Yogo" - Waybuloo
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Bhutan is bordered by which two countries? | Bhutan Map / Geography of Bhutan / Map of Bhutan - Worldatlas.com
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The legendary land of Bhutan was first settled in the ninth century by wandering migrants from the Tibet region of China .
Called Druk Yul (Land of the Thunder Dragon) by its people, the strikingly beautiful Kingdom of Bhutan lies in the eastern Himalayas, sandwiched between China and India .
In Bhutan's early years there wasn't a functional government, instead there were small monarchies ruled by a deb (king) scattered across the region. Tibetan-Mongol military forces overran the modest kingdoms by the 11th century, transforming the landscape into a single kingdom influenced by religion.
Pre-modern Bhutan emerged in the 17th century with a theocratic government, founded by expatriate Drupka Monk, Ngawang Namgyal, who sought liberation from the oppressive Gelugpa subsect led by the Dalai Lama in Lhasa.
Under the guidance of Namgyal, Bhutan strengthened as a country, and successfully prevented invasions against Tibetan military forces throughout the 1600s.
Although invaders were kept at bay, civil unrest grew following the death of Namgyal - whose passing was kept a closely guarded secret for 54 years.
Bhutanese forces successfully invaded and occupied the kingdom of Cooch Behar in the 18th century, but were quickly ousted by the British East India Company in 1722. In addition to claiming the Cooch Behar territory, the British East India Company also invaded Bhutan in 1744.
Despite an attempt at a peace treaty between the two forces, small battles ultimately flared into the Duar War in 1864. Unfortunately, Bhutan lost against the British , and the Bengal Duars were ceded to the United Kingdom .
Internal struggles persisted through the late 1800s, leading to the rise of Tongsa governor, Ugyen Wangchuck, who conquered his political enemies and united Bhutan.
In 1907, Wangchuck was elected hereditary king of the country by an assembly of leading Buddhist monks, government officials, and heads of important families. Two years later, Bhutan signed the Treaty of Punakha granting Britain control of the country's foreign affairs, and subsequently became an Indian princely state.
Long influenced by the cultures of the British government and India , Bhutan was granted independence from India in 1949. King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck instituted the new legislature, advocating a more democratic society, and in 1971 Bhutan joined the United Nations.
The transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy was made in 2008 and the first general elections were held.
Today Bhutan's major trading partner is India , however many of its people still live in poverty, with widespread illiteracy a major social problem.
Despite these shortcomings, based Bhutan is rated as one of the happiest countries in Asia .
The small, landlocked country is completely bordered by mountains, making it difficult to navigate as there are few roads and no domestic (in-country) airlines or trains. Bhutan welcomes international travelers via (very pricey) Druk-Air, and the only ground entries into the country are through the towns of Phuntsholing and Samdrup Johghar.
The capital city of Thimphu sits at an altitude of 7,000 feet, on the banks of the Wong Chu river, and remains the site of royal government offices, and serves as a powerful magnet for adventure travelers from around the world.
See Also
| Chindia |
In May 1990, the World Health Organisation removed what from its list of mental disorders? | Bhutan India - Flags, Maps, Economy, History, Climate, Natural Resources, Current Issues, International Agreements, Population, Social Statistics, Political System
<< Back to Bhutan Government
Bhutan is bounded on three sides by India. From east to west, the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh (formerly the North-East Frontier Agency) border Bhutan. In view of the long-standing political disputes and border confrontations between India and China, Bhutan has long been part of India's strategic defense plan (see Strategic Location , this ch.). In the view of some Indian strategists, Bhutan was a weak link in India's defense against China.
The key document guiding relations with India is the Treaty of Friendship Between the Government of India and the Government of Bhutan of 1949. The ten-article treaty, in force in perpetuity, calls for peace between the two countries and assures Indian noninterference in Bhutan's internal affairs in return for Bhutan's agreeing "to be guided by the advice of the Government of India in regard to its external relations" (Article 2). The treaty provides for compensation by India at a higher rate than provided in the 1865 and 1910 British treaties, and it returned Bhutan's Dewangiri territory seized by Britain in the Duar War. It also guarantees free trade between the countries and duty-free transit across India of Bhutan's imports. Furthermore, the treaty assures the rights of citizens of each country and the extradition of criminals seeking refuge in either country.
Events in Tibet have had causal effects on Bhutan-Indian relations. When the Chinese communists took over Tibet in 1951, Bhutan braced itself against a renewed external threat with a modernization program and a new defense posture. In his first visit to Bhutan in 1958, Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru reiterated India's wish that Bhutan remain an independent country, "taking the path of progress according to your will." Following precedent, Bhutan sided with India when the Chinese army occupied Tibet in 1959 and a border dispute emerged between China and India. Nehru declared in the Indian parliament in November 1959 that "any aggression against Bhutan . . . would be regarded as an aggression against India." A de facto alliance developed between Bhutan and India by 1960, and Indian aid increasingly bolstered Bhutan's strategic infrastructure development. In times of crisis between India and China or between Bhutan and China, India was quick to assure Bhutan of military assistance. Concerns were raised by Bhutan, however, during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War when there were doubts about India's ability to protect Bhutan against China (which sided with Pakistan) while fighting a two-front war.
In 1960 the Druk Gyalpo had said that Bhutan was not 100 percent independent because of the 1949 treaty, and until Bhutan emerged into the world of international diplomacy by joining the UN in 1971, Article 2 of the treaty seemed intact. Admission to the UN, however, changed Bhutan's perspective on the world beyond India and Thimphu's traditional dependence on New Delhi. Two years later, Bhutan and Bangladesh exchanged diplomatic recognition, hinting further at Thimphu's independent attitude. A new interpretation of the relationship emerged in 1974 when Bhutan's minister of foreign affairs said that whether or not Bhutan followed India's advice and guidance on foreign policy matters was optional. Bhutan had raised its representation in India to the ambassadorial level in 1971 and in 1978 changed the name of its diplomatic office in New Delhi from the Royal Bhutan Mission to the Royal Bhutan Embassy to further reflect its sovereign status. A new trade agreement between Bhutan and India in 1972 provided an exemption from export duties for goods from Bhutan to third countries.
The Druk Gyalpo's statement in 1979 that the 1949 treaty needed to be "updated" was still another move asserting independence. Members of the National Assembly speaking just before the Druk Gyalpo's "update" announcement made the interpretation that Article 2 only required Bhutan to seek India's advice and guidance on matters of external affairs. Bhutan exerted its independent stance at the Non-Aligned Movement summit conference in Havana, also in 1979, by voting with China and some Southeast Asian countries rather than with India on the issue of allowing Cambodia's Khmer Rouge to be seated at the conference. Bhutan's votes in the UN on such issues as the status of landlocked nations also did not follow India's leads.
Despite a history of good relations between Bhutan and India, bilateral border issues went long unresolved. Indo-Bhutanese borders had been delineated in the Treaty of Peace of 1865 between Bhutan and Britain, but it was not until the period between 1973 and 1984 that a detailed delineation and demarcation was made. Border demarcation talks with India generally resolved disagreements except for several small sectors, including the middle zone between Sarbhang and Geylegphug and the eastern frontier with Arunachal Pradesh.
Data as of September 1991
NOTE: The information regarding Bhutan on this page is re-published from The Library of Congress Country Studies and the CIA World Factbook. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Bhutan India information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Bhutan India should be addressed to the Library of Congress and the CIA.
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Dienstag is German for which day of the week? | Learn About Months, Dates, Seasons, and Days in German
By Hyde Flippo
Updated August 01, 2016.
After studying this lesson, you'll be able to: (1) say the days and months in German, (2) express calendar dates, (3) talk about the seasons and (4) talk about dates and deadlines (Termine) in German.
Luckily, because they are based on Latin, the English and German words for the months are almost identical. The days in many cases are also similar because of a common Germanic heritage. Most of the days bear the names of Teutonic gods in both languages. For example, the Germanic god of war and thunder, Thor, lends his name to both English Thursday and German Donnerstag (thunder = Donner).
The German Days of the Week (Tage der Woche)
Let's start with the days of the week (Tage der Woche). Most of the days in German end in the word (der) Tag, just as the English days end in "day." The German week (and calendar) starts with Monday (Montag) rather than Sunday. Each day is shown with its common two-letter abbreviation.
Tage der Woche
"sun day"
The seven days of the week are masculine (der) since they usually end in -tag (der Tag). The two exceptions, Mittwoch and Sonnabend, are also masculine. Note that there are two words for Saturday. Samstag is used in most of Germany, in Austria, and in German Switzerland. Sonnabend ("Sunday eve") is used in eastern Germany and roughly north of the city of Münster in northern Germany. So, in Hamburg, Rostock, Leipzig or Berlin, it's Sonnabend; in Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich or Vienna "Saturday" is Samstag. Both words for "Saturday" are understood all over the German-speaking world, but you should try to use the one most common in the region you're in. Note the two-letter abbreviation for each of the days (Mo, Di, Mi, etc.). These are used on calendars, schedules and German/Swiss watches that indicate the day and date.
Using Prepositional Phrases With Days of the Week
To say "on Monday" or "on Friday" you use the prepositional phrase am Montag or am Freitag. (The word am is actually a contraction of an and dem, the dative form of der. More about that below.) Here are some commonly used phrases for the days of the week:
Day Phrases
der
EXAMPLES: am Dienstag (on Tuesday, dative), jeden Tag (every day, accusative)
NOTE: The masculine (der) and neuter (das) make the same changes (look the same) in the dative case. Adjectives or numbers used in the dative will have an -en ending: am sechsten April.
Now we want to apply the information in the chart above. When we use the prepositions an (on) and in (in) with days, months or dates, they take the dative case. Days and months are masculine, so we end up with a combination of an or in plus dem, which equals am or im. To say "in May" or "in November" you use the prepositional phrase im Mai or im November. However, some date expressions that do not use prepositions (jeden Dienstag, letzten Mittwoch) are in the accusative case.
The Months (Die Monate)
The months are all masculine gender (der). There are two words used for July. Juli (YOO-LEE) is the standard form, but German-speakers often say Julei (YOO-LYE) to avoid confusion with Juni- in much the same way that zwo is used for zwei.
The Four Seasons (Die vier Jahreszeiten)
The seasons are all masculine gender (except for das Frühjahr, another word for spring). The months for each season above are, of course, for the northern hemisphere where Germany and the other German-speaking countries lie.
When speaking of a season in general ("Autumn is my favorite season."), in German you almost always use the article: "Der Herbst ist meine Lieblingsjahreszeit." The adjectival forms shown below translate as "springlike, springy," "summerlike" or "autumnal, falllike" (sommerliche Temperaturen = "summerlike/summery temperatures"). In some cases, the noun form is used as a prefix, as in die Winterkleidung = "winter clothing" or die Sommermonate = "the summer months." The prepositional phrase im (in dem) is used for all the seasons when you want to say, for instance, "in (the) spring" (im Frühling). This is the same as for the months.
Die Jahreszeiten - The Seasons
im Winter - in the winter
Prepositional Phrases With Dates
To give a date, such as "on July 4th," you use am (as with the days) and the ordinal number (4th, 5th): am vierten Juli, usually written am 4. Juli. The period after the number represents the -ten ending on the number and is the same as the -th, -rd, or -nd ending used for English ordinal numbers.
Note that numbered dates in German (and in all of the European languages) are always written in the order of day, month, year - rather than month, day, year. For example, in German the date 1/6/01 would be written 6.1.01 (which is Epiphany or Three Kings, the 6th of January 2001). This is the logical order, moving from the smallest unit (the day) to the largest (the year). To review the ordinal numbers, see our German Numbers page. Here are some commonly used phrases for the months and calendar dates:
Calendar Date Phrases
| Tuesday |
How many points is a ‘W’ tile worth in the game of Scrabble? | The days of the week - Free Online German Classes
Lesson 5: Talking about time & schedules
Page 5 of 12
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The days of the week
This page will teach you seven new vocabularies namely the days of the week. When you use the weekdays in German to indicate on what day someone is doing something, the very same rules will apply as for using adverbs of time/frequency or the time of day.
Have a look at this table and memorize the German words for the days of the week.
German
der Wochentag
the weekday
All weekdays in German are masculine (der). To say "on Monday/Tuesday etc...", use the preposition "am" plus the weekday in German. For example: "am Montag" or "am Dienstag"
To say "on Mondays/Tuesdays", use "montags, dienstags, etc...". Note the fact that an s is added and that the weekdays are spelled in lower case.
Exercise
Go through the week starting on Monday and finishing on Sunday and say in German, what you do on these days. Make a sentence with the given activity and with 'am' plus Wochentag at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence.
Example:
Am Montag arbeite ich am Computer.
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6) gehen +
Exercise
Tina's family is very organized. She is telling you what everyone does on certain days. Look at her sentences and then change the position of the information of time. Thus, if the information of time is at the beginning of the sentence, put it in the middle and vice versa.
Example:
Montags kocht meine Mutter unser Essen.
Meine Mutter kocht am Montag unser Essen.
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1) Dienstags putzt mein Bruder die Wohnung.
2) Mein Opa arbeitet mittwochs im Garten.
3) Donnerstags mäht mein Onkel seinen Rasen.
4) Freitags macht meine Oma die Wäsche.
5) Mein Cousin geht samstags ins Stadion.
6) Sonntags gehen wir ins Kino.
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In the 2006 film ‘Snakes on a Plane’, the plane takes off from which US state? | Snakes on a Plane (2006) - Plot Summary - IMDb
Snakes on a Plane (2006)
Plot Summary
Showing all 6 plot summaries
While practicing motocross in Hawaii, Sean Jones witnesses the brutal murder of an important American prosecutor by the powerful mobster Eddie Kim. He is protected and persuaded by the FBI agent Neville Flynn to testify against Eddie in Los Angeles. They embark in the red-eye Flight 121 of Pacific Air, occupying the entire first-class. However, Eddie dispatches hundred of different species of snakes airborne with a time operated device in the luggage to release the snakes in the flight with the intent of crashing the plane. Neville and the passengers have to struggle with the snakes to survive.
- Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Nelville Flynn escorts a witness onto a plane headed for Los Angeles. Problem is, an assassin who is bent on killing the witness has released a crate containing about 450 snakes onto the same plane. Nelville finds out and he's bent on doing his job and getting the snakes back where they belong; on land. Or in snake heaven, where they'd be harmless. But can he get the snakes off the plane before it's too late?
- Written by movieguy3
Riding his motorcycle in Hawaii, Sean Jones witnesses the brutal murder of a prosecutor. When the villains come to take out Sean, Agent Nelville Flynn comes to his rescue. In order to protect Sean for the trip back to L.A., Flynn takes over the entire First Class section of Pacific Air Flight 121. Displeased First Class passengers aside, the flight is uneventful until hundreds of angry, poisonous snakes are released into the cabin. Once the snakes begin attacking, it is up to Agent Flynn and Sean to keep the plane in the air and save as many passengers as they can.
- Written by [email protected]
A young man named Sean Jones witnesses vicious and powerful mobster Eddie Kim brutally murder a prosecutor bent on putting the crime mogul behind bars. Soon Kim's men raid Jones' house and attempt to kill him, but are stopped by Nelville Flynn: an experienced FBI agent who convinces Jones to fly to LA to testify against Kim. Aboard the flight are an obnoxious British businessman, a famous hip hop star, an anxious man with severe flight anxiety and his wife, a young woman and her dog, and a ticking crate full of vicious and venomous snakes unleashed by an assassin to bring down the plane along with the witness to Kim's brutal murder. Can the passengers come together to survive or will Kim's plot succeed.
- Written by redcommander27
When Sean Jones witnesses a murder, he is asked to fly from Hawaii to Los Angeles to testify against the notorious gangster Eddie Kim. However, Kim has paid an assassin to release a crate-full of deadly snakes loose when the plane is 30,000 feet in the air. Only FBI agent Neville Flynn can protect Sean and rally the passengers together in hope of landing in L.A. alive.
| Hawaii |
In the book ‘A Bear Called Paddington’ by Michael Bond, what is the name of the Browns’ housekeeper? | Pitt Chronicle: August 23, 2006: SSSSSSSSnakes Alive!
SSSSSSSSnakes Alive!
University Fundraiser David Dalessandro’s Screenwriting
Career Takes Off with Snakes on a Plane
August 23, 2006 Issue
By John Fedele and Bruce Steele
David Dalessandro as a mild-mannered Pitt associate vice chancellor and as a harried-looking filmmaker/screenwriter.
The idea for the most-anticipated movie of 2006 slithered into the mind of Pitt’s David Dalessandro a dozen years ago, after he’d read an article about Indonesian tree snakes crawling amok in Hawaii.
“Hawaii has no snakes native to the islands, so I started to wonder how the snakes got there,” says Dalessandro, associate vice chancellor for university development.
“Between 50,000 and 100,000 people a year die from snakebites worldwide,” notes Dalessandro, a tall man with a salt-and-pepper mustache and the build of a 50-something retired pro football player. “Snake venom can attack victims’ central nervous systems, create fatal blood clots, or cause people’s veins to disintegrate. I realized just how lethal venomous snakes really are.”
But whatever their toxicity, snakes on the ground or in trees didn’t strike Dalessandro, a novice screenwriter, as being threatening enough for movie audiences to sink their teeth into.
Then he thought: What about poisonous snakes aboard a passenger airliner, a claustrophobic environment that can be scary enough even without deadly reptiles on the loose?
Thus began the serpentine process that led to the making of Snakes on a Plane, the high-concept action-horror film starring Samuel L. Jackson, which opened nationally Aug. 18.
“It’s been a surreal experience,” Dalessandro says of the hype for the film and the resulting public attention he’s received. “It’s really taking off.” Dalessandro himself took off last week, accompanied by his wife Judith, for Los Angeles to attend the movie’s premiere.
SoaP, as Internet bloggers nicknamed the movie during its filming, would have been titled Venom had the filmmakers used the title of Dalessandro’s original screenplay, which centered around a Chinese-American gangster named Lim, whose daughter is killed in a fire on a Pacific Air flight. Lim’s father convinces him that, to preserve family honor, he must get revenge on those responsible. (In SoaP, an assassin bribes airport security to sneak a time-release crate of 500 poisonous snakes on board a plane in order to kill a witness in a crime boss’ trial.)
In doing research for his script, Dalessandro phoned USAirways to arrange a tour of the airline’s hangar facilities at the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport. In those pre-9/11 days, USAirways authorities accepted at face value his explanation that he was a screenwriter, and allowed him into the bowels of a 747. A week later, Dalessandro got a phone call from the FBI. By the end of a perfunctory, five-minute conversation, the bureau also accepted Dalessandro’s screenwriting excuse for his tour of the aircraft.
Dalessandro’s Venom script was sent to 30 producers. They all rejected it. Too much like a 1970’s disaster movie, one producer complained. Others said: We already have a snake movie. …We already have an airplane-disaster movie.
Fangs but no fangs, in other words.
With the project in a holding pattern, Dalessandro moved on to other things, including leaving his fundraising job at Marietta College for one at Pitt in 1997.
Then, in 1999, Dalessandro received a call from Craig Berenson, who had read Venom when he worked for John Davis Entertainment. Berensonwho would go on to be SoaP’s producertold Dallessandro that, during a story meeting with Patchwork Productions executives, he had pitched Dalessandro’s script to them. The execs were interested enough to option the screenplay. (An option, Dalessandro explains, is a contract that purchases the rights to a script while the producers assemble the financing or secure the talent to make the movie. The option is usually for a set period of timesay, six monthsafter which the producer can extend the option or let the rights revert back to the author.)
Things were finally flying smoothly on Dalessandro’s snakes/plane project. He was even scheduled to meet in Hollywood with people from Patchwork Productions.
But by the scheduled meeting dateSept. 12, 2001nobody wanted to touch an airplane-disaster film anymore.
Fast forward to 2004, when Dalessandro got another phone call from Berenson. Enough time had passed since 9/11 for public acceptance of a disaster-in-the-air movie, especially one like SoaP that reportedly would include some (forked) tongue-in-cheek elements, and New Line Cinema was interested. More importantly, A-list actor Samuel L. Jackson had fallen in love with the story concept and the film’s working title, Snakes on a Plane. When that title was tentatively changed to Pacific Air Flight 121 last year, Jackson threw a hissy fit, telling an interviewer, “We’re totally changing that back. That’s the only reason I took the job: I read the title.”
While other, established Hollywood writers ended up taking over the SoaP project, the Writer’s Guild determined that enough of Dalesandro’s work remained to warrant a “story by” credit for him, giving Dalessandro Guild status as a professional writer.
“Although seven writers changed my characters and the pacing, the basic premise of the movie and the action aboard the plane remained consistent with my original script,” Dalessandro points out.
Though it’s his first screenplay to make it to the screen (albeit after having shed its original skin), Venom isn’t Dalessandro’s only screenwriting success. His script Rough and Tumble, about an amateur football team in Western Pennsylvania in 1918, was a finalist in the 1998 Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting competition; the nation’s most prestigious screenwriting contest, it’s sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Also, Dalessandro’s Bridge of Sighs, about a Mafia chieftain whose wife plots to kill him, was a 1997 finalist at the eminent Austin Film Festival.
Dalessandro wrote another screenplay, titled Endurance, about Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton. Unfortunately for Dalessandro, Caroline Alexander beat him to the pole with her 2000 film, The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition.
One thing Dalessandro learned from his experience with SoaP is that nobody, not even a producer, can promise a screenwriter anything.
“Everyone who writes a screenplay has this dream that someone in Hollywood will read it, fall in love with it, and put it up on the screen,” Dalessandro says. “But the market for spec [unsolicited] scripts is infinitesimal. Fortunately, there are many ways to get a story to market other than through Hollywood.”
That’s one of the reasons he’s going the independent route to produce and direct The 43rd Annual Stone Lion Writer’s Conference, a “mockumentary” Dalessandro describes as being along the lines of This Is Spinal Tap and Best of Show.
Dalessandro says the idea for Stone Lion came to him two years ago while he was attending the Sewanee Writers Conference. “I thought, ‘These people are right out of Best of Show,” which parodied eccentrics in the world of dog shows.
Dalessandro has shot approximately 25 percent of Stone Lion, taping mainly on weekends using mostly volunteer talent and production crewmembers. He describes it as a “no-to-low budget” production and hopes to complete it in time for next spring’s independent film festival season.
“You have to be willing to live with an idea, to believe in it so much that you commit your time and energy to it,” Dalessandro explains. “Hopefully, the story, whether it’s about snakes on a plane or aspiring novelists, will find an audience.”
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US actor Joseph Yule Jr, born September 1920, is better known by what name? | Mickey Rooney - Biography - IMDb
Mickey Rooney
Biography
Showing all 189 items
Jump to: Overview (5) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (8) | Trade Mark (3) | Trivia (77) | Personal Quotes (35) | Salary (60)
Overview (5)
5' 2" (1.57 m)
Mini Bio (1)
Mickey Rooney was born Joe Yule Jr. on September 23, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York. He first took the stage as a toddler in his parents vaudeville act at 17 months old. He made his first film appearance in 1926. The following year, he played the lead character in the first Mickey McGuire short film. It was in this popular film series that he took the stage name Mickey Rooney. Rooney reached new heights in 1937 with A Family Affair, the film that introduced the country to Andy Hardy, the popular all-American teenager. This beloved character appeared in nearly 20 films and helped make Rooney the top star at the box office in 1939, 1940 and 1941. Rooney also proved himself an excellent dramatic actor as a delinquent in Boys Town (1938) starring Spencer Tracy . In 1938, he was awarded a Juvenile Academy Award.
Teaming up with Judy Garland , Rooney also appeared in a string of musicals, including Babes in Arms (1939) the first teenager to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a leading role, Strike Up the Band (1940), Babes on Broadway (1941), and Girl Crazy (1943). He and Garland immediately became best of friends. "We weren't just a team, we were magic," Rooney once said. During that time he also appeared with Elizabeth Taylor in the now classic National Velvet (1944). Rooney joined the service that same year, where he helped to entertain the troops and worked on the American Armed Forces Network. He returned to Hollywood after 21 months in Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (1946), did a remake of a Robert Taylor film, The Crowd Roars (1932) called Killer McCoy (1947) and portrayed composer Lorenz Hart in Words and Music (1948). He also appeared in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard . Rooney played Hepburn's Japanese neighbor, Mr. Yunioshi. A sign of the times, Rooney played the part for comic relief which he later regretted feeling the role was offensive. He once again showed his incredible range in the dramatic role of a boxing trainer with Anthony Quinn and Jackie Gleason in Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962). In the late 1960s and 1970s Rooney showed audiences and critics alike why he was one of Hollywood's most enduring stars. He gave an impressive performance in Francis Ford Coppola 's 1979 film The Black Stallion (1979), which brought him an Academy Award nomination as Best Actor in a Supporting Role. He also turned to the stage in 1979 in Sugar Babies with Ann Miller , and was nominated for a Tony Award. During that time he also portrayed the Wizard in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with Eartha Kitt at New York's Madison Square Garden, which also had a successful run nationally.
Rooney appeared in four television series': The Mickey Rooney Show (1954) (1954-1955), a comedy sit-com in 1964 with Sammee Tong called Mickey, One of the Boys in 1982 with Dana Carvey and Nathan Lane , and The New Adventures of the Black Stallion (1990) from 1990-1993. In 1981, Rooney won an Emmy Award for his portrayal of a mentally challenged man in Bill (1981). The critical acclaim continued to flow for the veteran performer, with Rooney receiving an honorary Academy Award "in recognition of his 60 years of versatility in a variety of memorable film performances". More recently he has appeared in such films as Night at the Museum (2006) with Ben Stiller and The Muppets (2011) with Amy Adams and Jason Segel .
Rooney's personal life, including his frequent trips to the altar, has proved to be just as epic as his on-screen performances. His first wife was one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, actress Ava Gardner . Mickey permanently separated from his eighth wife Jan in June of 2012. In 2011 Rooney filed elder abuse and fraud charges against stepson Christopher Aber and Aber's wife. At Rooney's request, the Superior Court issued a restraining order against the Aber's demanding they stay 100 yards from Rooney, as well as Mickey's other son Mark Rooney and Mark's wife Charlene. Just prior, Rooney mustered the strength to break his silence and appeared before the Senate in Washington D.C. telling of his own heartbreaking story of abuse in an effort to live a peaceful, full life and help others who may be similarly suffering in silence.
Rooney requested through the Superior Court to permanently reside with his son Mark Rooney , who is a musician and Marks wife Charlene, an artist, in the Hollywood Hills. He legally separated from his eighth wife in June of 2012. Ironically, after eight failed marriages he never looked or felt better and finally found happiness and peace in the single life. Mickey, Mark and Charlene focused on health, happiness and creative endeavors and it showed. Mickey Rooney had once again landed on his feet reminding us that he was a survivor. Rooney died on April 6th 2014. He was taking his afternoon nap and never woke. One week before his death Mark and Charlene surprised him by reunited him with a long lost love, the racetrack. He was ecstatic to be back after decades and ran into his old friends Mel Brooks and Dick Van Patten .
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous
Spouse (8)
( 10 January 1942 - 21 May 1943) (divorced)
Trade Mark (3)
Best known in his youth for playing Andy Hardy with Judy Garland as the female lead or supporting character in three Hardy Family films, as well as pairing up with Garland in a series of cheerfully naive musicals that usually ended with the characters putting on an impromptu musical show. In his senior years, he often played a cheerful old mentor with a youthful spirit.
Short stature
Raspy voice
Trivia (77)
His son Teddy Rooney appeared with him in Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958), portraying--who else?--Andy Hardy Jr.
Son of Scottish-born vaudevillian/actor Joe Yule and Missouri-born Nell Carter. They divorced in 1923, when Mickey was three years old.
Was considered for the role of Archie Bunker on All in the Family (1971).
Father of Tim Rooney and Mickey Rooney Jr. , from his marriage to Betty Jane Rase ( B.J. Baker ).
Father of Jonelle Rooney (born January 11, 1970) from his marriage to Carolyn Hockett. He also adopted Carolyn's son from a previous marriage, Jimmy Rooney (born 1966).
Liza Minnelli wanted Rooney to do the eulogy at the funeral for her mother, Judy Garland in June of 1969, but decided against it because she felt that Rooney might not be able to get through it, given his and Garland's long and close friendship.
Was co-owner for many years of the Mickey Rooney Tabas Hotel in Downingtown, PA.
In his autobiography, he made a passing reference to a brothel called "The T&M Studio," where the ladies were look-alikes for Hollywood starlets. There were rumors of such a brothel, but before Rooney's book no one would ever admit to ever having been there, or even verify its existence. He wrote that Groucho Marx had taken him there (only once), and Groucho appeared to be on a first-name basis with many of the ladies.
Originally came to Hollywood to audition for "Our Gang" (aka The Little Rascals (1955)), unfortunately Mickey's mother declined over a dispute over salary.
Stepfather of Christopher Aber and Mark Rooney .
According to one story, Mickey Mouse was named for Rooney. Walt Disney saw a young Rooney while he was working on the first drawings of what was to become Mickey Mouse. He asked the child actor what he thought of the drawings and also asked what his name was. This later proved to be false.
Was nominated for Broadway's 1980 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for "Sugar Babies."
His third child, Teddy Rooney , was born weighing 7 lb. 3 oz. in April 1950, to Martha Vickers .
With a film career that lasted from 1926 to 2015, he has the longest career in cinema history, surpassing Lillian Gish , whose career lasted from 1912-87, or 75 years. Carla Laemmle 's career lasted from 1925-2015. Rooney's 339 film credits span ten consecutive decades: 1920s-2010s. Laemmle's 17 film credits include a break from 1939 to 2010 (except for a video short in 2001).
Underwent double heart bypass surgery in 2000.
Was #7 on the World Poker Tour Invitational, even though he had never played Texas Hold 'Em poker before.
Is portrayed by Moosie Drier in Rainbow (1978) and by Dwayne Adams in Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001)
Father of Kelly Ann Rooney (born September 13, 1959), Kerry Yule Rooney (born December 30, 1960), Michael Rooney (VI) (born April 2, 1962) and Kimmy Sue Rooney (born September 13, 1963), from his marriage to Carolyn Mitchell .
At age 19 became the first teenager to be Oscar-nominated in a leading role for Babes in Arms (1939).
Former roommate of Blake Edwards .
His first of eight marriages was to Ava Gardner but his marriage to Jan Rooney was longer than those of all his other seven wives combined.
Had 19 grandchildren, including Shannon Rooney and Dominique Rooney by his son Timothy Rooney , and several great-grandchildren among whom Kaitlyn Rooney and Hunter Rooney.
He was most proud of his film The Black Stallion (1979).
Attended the 2006 Twilight Zone Convention at the Hilton Hasbrouck Heights, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, August 12-13, 2006.
As of 2007 he was the only surviving actor to appear in silent films and still continue to act in movies into the 21st century. His film debut was in the movie Not to Be Trusted (1926), in 1926 when he was four years old.
Attended the state funeral of former President Ronald Reagan on (11 June 2004.
His father was a Scottish immigrant. His mother, who was from Missouri, had English ancestry.
In 1938 he was severely reprimanded by MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer for having a torrid affair with Norma Shearer . The affair was causing quite a commotion on the set of her film Marie Antoinette (1938), where the two would hole up in her trailer. Mickey was 18 at the time. Shearer was 38 and her husband, MGM studio exec Irving Thalberg , had recently died. Mayer managed to keep the story from going public and it was not revealed until many years later, when Rooney gave the explicit details in his autobiography.
Has four Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame including a star for Motion Pictures at 1718 Vine St., a star for Television at 6541 Hollywood Blvd., a star for Radio at 6372 Hollywood Blvd. and shared with wife Jan Rooney a star for Live Theater at 6801 Hollywood Blvd.
During World War II he served 22 months in the U.S. Army, five of them with the Third Army of Gen. George S. Patton . He attained the rank of sergeant and won a Bronze Star, among other decorations.
With the death of James Stewart on July 2, 1997, Rooney was the last surviving entertainer of the 46 caricatured in Hollywood Steps Out (1941).
His hobbies included listening to music, football, golfing, dancing, horse racing, painting, getting together with old friends and watching classic movies.
Moved with his mother to Hollywood in 1925, when he was five. This was one year after his parents' separation.
His future The New Adventures of the Black Stallion (1990) co-star, Richard Ian Cox , was a childhood movie hero of his.
Began his career as a contract player for MGM in 1934.
May have been the only actor in history to appear in at least one film in ten consecutive decades.
Ranked first in front of Barbara Stanwyck , Bette Davis , Jane Wyman , Eddie Albert and Ernest Borgnine , in the number of movies; he appeared in over 100 films.
In "The Guinness Book of World Records he holds the record for longest movie career--86 years (1925-2011).
Began performing at the age of 17 months, as part of his parents' routine, wearing a specially tailored tuxedo.
Was an animal rights activist.
Overcame his drug addiction in the 1970s.
On his 85th birthday he and wife Jan Rooney both appeared in the variety show "Let's Put On A Show.".
Attended the funeral of Liza Minnelli 's former stepfather, Sidney Luft , just days before he had his 85th birthday.
Tony Bennett and Regis Philbin were among the people to attend his 90th birthday party.
Alongside Norman Lloyd , William Daniels , Ernest Borgnine , Angela Lansbury , Christopher Lee , Dick Van Dyke , Betty White , Edward Asner , Marla Gibbs , Adam West , William Shatner , Larry Hagman , June Lockhart , Florence Henderson , Shirley Jones and Alan Alda , Rooney was one of the few actors in Hollywood who lived into their 80s and/or 90s without ever either retiring from acting or having stopped getting work.
He reunited with friend and former co star Judy Garland , as her singing and dancing partner, on an episode of The Judy Garland Show (1963). On that show, he displayed his music versatility by performing a drum solo.
Was a pallbearer at Errol Flynn 's funeral along with Raoul Walsh , Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams , Jack Oakie , Mike Romanoff , and Otto Reichow on October 19, 1959, at the Church of the Recessional at Forest Lawn, Glendale, CA.
He chose to permanently reside with stepson Mark Rooney and Mark's wife Charlene Rooney. They moved to the Hollywood Hills in June of 2012 when he permanently and legally separated from his eighth wife.
Mickey's stunt double was Jesse Wayne for 27 years beginning in 1959.
Release of his book, "The Search for Sonny Skies: A Novel". [1995]
Together with his wife he toured the UK, appearing in selected theatres performing songs and telling stories about his career. [September 2007]
Appearing in the UK at the Bristol Hippodrome on stage as Baron Hardup in Cinderella - the pantomime since December 2008 up to January 11 2009. [January 2009]
On Nov. 26, 1999, he underwent surgery in Sydney, Australia, for a perforated colon.
On July 7, 2009, he attended Michael Jackson 's memorial service at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles with son, Mark Rooney , daughter-in-law, Charlene Rooney , and wife Jan Rooney .
Release of his autobiography, "Life is too Short". [1991]
Made personal appearances November 5 and 6 with wife Jan at American Visions Art Galleries -- in Folsom and Granite Bay, California. [November 2010]
http://www.tcmcruise.com/talent/view/id/615 Mickey Rooney continues to work and recently returned from the Turner Classics Cruise featuring Mickey and Debbie Reynolds . Mickey left his home in Westlake Village in June 2012 and has chosen to reside with his stepson/caregiver son Mark Rooney and Mark's wife Charlene. The Westlake Village home was on the market since December 2012 and is currently in escrow. [January 2013]
Sold his modest Westlake home in May 2013.
Was a staunch conservative Republican for many years. In later life, however, he supported the man and not the party. He has been quoted as saying he was proud of President Barack Obama and his policies.
In November of 2013 he attended the memorial service for his longtime friend A.C. Lyles (aka "Mr. Paramount"). Also in attendance were Mickey's son Mark Rooney , Mark's wife Charlene and Arnold Schwarzenegger .
Like Julie London , his parents were vaudeville performers.
On news of his passing, numerous television newscasters nationwide mixed up his name on-air with that of Andrew Rooney (aka Andy Rooney), humorist and writer for CBS, who died 2-1/2 years previously.
His acting career lasted for 89 years, with his first film being released in 1926 and his final one being set for distribution in 2015.
He played George M. Cohan three times, twice in TV specials and touring in the stage musical. "George M!".
Was a compulsive gambler on horse racing.
Surrogate grandson of Richard Ian Cox .
Passed away on April 6, 2014, just four months. before Robin Williams committed suicide. They both starred in the movie: Night at the Museum (2006) and its sequel Night at the Museum 3 (2014).
Was the spokesperson for Garden State Life Insurance Company.
His third son, Teddy Rooney , died on July 2, 2016, at age 66, just two years after the death of his father.
He was known to be a very "social butterfly".
Did not have a successful series until he turned 70.
Interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, CA.
When he passed away in 2014, at the age of 93, he had at least three future projects that he was going to perform in.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s he did a nightclub comedy act with comic Joey Forman .
Personal Quotes (35)
[at 58 years old] I'm in pretty good shape for the shape I'm in.
[asked if he would marry all of his eight wives again] Absolutely. I loved every one of them.
My partners weren't what we call in horse racing parlance "routers". They were sprinters; they went out of the gate, but then they stopped. They couldn't go the distance.
People say, "How can you be married eight times?" But I played the hand dealt me the way I was supposed to. I was friendly with most of my ex-wives. My God, there's a Mickey Rooney's Former Wives Marching Band!
[on his marriages] When I say "I do", the Justice of the Peace replies, "I know, I know". I'm the only man in the world whose marriage license reads, "To Whom it May Concern". But to have been married eight times is not normal. That's only halfway intelligent.
You've got to recognize, there will never be another you. It has nothing to do with ego; it happens to be the truth. There will never be another person the same. There'll never be another you. There'll never be another me . . . And there'll never be another show like this!
The audience and I are friends. They allowed me to grow up with them. I've let them down several times. They've let me down several times. But we're all family.
Love wears off too quickly.
I don't regret anything I've ever done. I only wish I could have done more.
I was a 14-year-old boy for 30 years.
[upon winning his lifetime achievement Oscar, 1983] Tonight, I could even kiss Louis B. Mayer !.
[on his lifelong friend and frequent co-star, Judy Garland ] Judy turned to drugs because she was in pain and because drugs made her feel good. As one of the MGM kids, she'd been treated for most of her life to magical, instant solutions to everything . . . She could never accept herself, so she was always on the run.
I didn't ask to be short. I didn't want to be short. I've tried to pretend that being a short guy didn't matter.
The guys with the power in Hollywood today, the guys with their names above the title, are thieves. They don't make movies, they make deals. Their major function is to cut themselves in for 10% of the gross--off the top, of course--which is why they make movies that cost $50 million.
[ Bill Clinton ] was a Rhodes Scholar. Do you know who the scholars were? Marxists!
I just want to be a professional. I couldn't live without acting.
There may be a little snow on the mountain, but there's a lot of fire in the furnace.
All the muddy waters of my life cleared up when I gave myself to Christ.
I've been through four publics. I've been coming back like a rubber ball for years.
[on his feud with Ernest Borgnine ] All the Oscars in the world can't buy him dignity, class and talent. I don't know why he is famous and why he is a star. Talk about a lucky jerk.
If it's immorally wrong, it's not normal. Jesus Christ said, "The effeminate are an abomination to me". Are you aware of that? I don't watch the [ Ellen DeGeneres ] show. I wish her all kinds of luck. Except that I'm not a fan. But there are a lot of people who aren't fans of Mickey Rooney and you can't please everyone.
[in 2007] I think the family pictures are what people really want to see--and musicals, of course.
I don't get caught between lesbians and gays. If you can't say something nice about someone, just shut your mouth.
I never knew anything about anyone being gay in Hollywood when I was working in the studios. Did you know that? They weren't in closets, they were in safes.
I lost $2 at Santa Anita and I've spent $3 million trying to get it back.
Sure, I love the chicks. I love 'em all. But when you're nuts about too many, how can a guy settle down to one?
Hollywood has unfortunately become a memory. It's nothing but a sign on the side of a hill.
When I was 19 years old I was the #1 star for two years. When I was 40, nobody wanted me. I couldn't get a job.
There was, in fact, a standard studio recipe. Take one young actress, pluck her eyebrows, cap her teeth, shape her hairline, pad as required and throw her into the ring with Andy Hardy. Then wait and see. If the public responded, the starlet became a star.
I was aware, even at age three, that my father had a penchant for going out by himself after a show, then returning at dawn with a nervous grin on his face. I could only guess, from my mother's angry reactions that he was doing something that hurt her very much. She kept talking about my dad's "floozies"--which I took to be another name for "bartender." You see, I thought my dad had a problem with Punch, not with Judy.
When "Sugar Babies" opened, I was the most famous has-been in show business.
[In his autobiography] Had I been brighter, had the ladies been gentler, had the scotch been weaker, had the gods been kinder, this could have been a one-sentence story: Once upon a time, Mickey Rooney lived happily ever after.
[In a 1970 David Frost interview] I have nine kids, seven wives, and the American Bar Association to support. I'm a very quiet person, a fellow who believes in the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, and bacon, lettuce and tomato with a lot of mayonnaise.
[observation as a young man on his most famous role] It's funny how a character can grow on a feller. I depend on [Andy Hardy] all the time. When I'm not sure whether I should do a certain thing, I ask myself, "Would Andy do it?" And if Andy won't do it, I won't.
[2008, on the controversy surrounding his Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) role] Blake Edwards wanted me to do it because he was a comedy director. They hired me to do this overboard, and we had fun doing it . . . Never in all the more than 40 years after we made it--not one complaint. Every place I've gone in the world people say, "God, you were so funny". Asians and Chinese come up to me and say, "Mickey, you were out of this world", [Had I known people would get offended] I wouldn't have done it. Those that didn't like it, I forgive them and God bless America, God bless the universe, God bless Japanese, Chinese, Indians, all of them and let's have peace.
Salary (60)
| Mickey Rooney |
‘If I should die, think only this of me: That there is some corner of a foreign field. That is forever England’ is from which poem by Rupert Brooke | Mickey Rooney - IMDb
IMDb
Actor | Soundtrack | Producer
Mickey Rooney was born Joe Yule Jr. on September 23, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York. He first took the stage as a toddler in his parents vaudeville act at 17 months old. He made his first film appearance in 1926. The following year, he played the lead character in the first Mickey McGuire short film. It was in this popular film series that he took the... See full bio »
Born:
"No Small Parts" IMDb Exclusive: "Westworld" Star Thandie Newton
Actress Thandie Newton has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her performance as Maeve in the HBO's " Westworld ." What other significant parts has she played over the years? Visit IMDb's Golden Globes section for red-carpet photos, videos, and more.
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Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 8 nominations. See more awards »
Known For
1998 Remember WENN (TV Series)
Mr. Hardy
1994 Full House (TV Series)
Mr. Dreghorn
1993 Murder, She Wrote (TV Series)
Matt Cleveland
1992 Jack's Place (TV Series)
Harry Burton
1990 Home for Christmas (TV Movie)
Elmer
1988 The Golden Girls (TV Series)
Rocco
1982 The Love Boat (TV Series)
Angelarum Dominicus
1981 Leave 'em Laughing (TV Movie)
Jack Thum
1981 CBS Library (TV Series)
Narrator - Creole
1979 Donovan's Kid (TV Movie)
Old Bailey
1972 Night Gallery (TV Series)
August Kolodney
1971 Dan August (TV Series)
Kenny O'Malley
1964 Burke's Law (TV Series)
Archie Lido
1964 Arrest and Trial (TV Series)
Hoagy Blair
1963 Kraft Suspense Theatre (TV Series)
Sheriff Williams
1963 The Twilight Zone (TV Series)
Grady
1963 Alcoa Premiere (TV Series)
Babe Simms
1962 Frontier Circus (TV Series)
Arnold
The Nephew (as Mickey McBan)
Hide
2011 Pastor Mike Online (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Episode #1.47 (2011) ... (performer: "Put One Foot in Front of the Other" - uncredited)
2009 Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing (Video documentary) (performer: "Hoe Down", "Strike Up the Band", "How About You?" - uncredited)
2008 Wreck the Halls (Short) (performer: "We're in Charge This Christmas")
2007 A Life in Words and Music (Video short) (performer: "Manhattan", "I Wish I Were in Love Again")
2005 Charlie Jade (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
2000 Wonder Boys (performer: "Good Morning")
1994 That's Entertainment! III (Documentary) (performer: "Good Morning" (1939), "God's Country" (1938), "Mama, Yo Quiero (Mamãe Eu Quero)" (1940), "I Wish I Were in Love Again" (1937), "How About You?" (1941) - uncredited)
1980 The 34th Annual Tony Awards (TV Special) (performer: "I Can't Give You Anything but Love", "When You and I Were Young, Maggie Blues", "On the Sunny Side of the Street")
1978 The Magic of Lassie (performer: "Travelin' Music")
1977 Pete's Dragon (performer: "I Saw a Dragon", "Brazzle Dazzle Day", "Finale: I Saw a Dragon / Brazzle Dazzle Day" - uncredited)
1976 That's Entertainment, Part II (Documentary) (performer: "I Got Rhythm", "Manhattan" (1925) - uncredited)
1974 The Year Without a Santa Claus (TV Movie) (performer: "I Believe in Santa Claus")
1974 That's Entertainment! (performer: "Babes in Arms" (1937), "Hoe Down" (1941), "Do the La Conga" (1939), "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee" (1912), "Babes on Broadway" (1941), "Strike Up the Band" (1927) - uncredited)
1972 Journey Back to Oz (performer: "B-R-A-N-E")
1971 The Manipulator (performer: "Chattanooga Choo Choo" - uncredited)
1970 Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (TV Movie) (performer: "If You Sit on My Lap Today", "Put One Foot in Front of the Other" - uncredited)
1967 The Hollywood Palace (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Episode #4.22 (1967) ... (performer: "Let's Make a Movie")
1965 How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (performer: "Madison Avenue" - uncredited)
1958 Andy Hardy Comes Home (lyrics: "Lazy Summer Night" (1958), "Octavians" (1958)) / (music: "Lazy Summer Night" (1958), "Unkwinit" (1958), "Octavians" (1958)) / (writer: "U Gotta Soda")
1957 Baby Face Nelson ("I'm So In Love With You")
1956 The Bold and the Brave (writer: "The Bold and the Brave")
1956 MGM Parade (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Episode #1.24 (1956) ... (performer: "Our Love Affair" - uncredited)
- Episode #7.1 (1954) ... (performer: "Nicknames" - uncredited)
1953 All Ashore (performer: "You're My Buddy, Buddy Boy", "I Love No One But You", "I'm So Unlucky", "I Sing to the Sky" ("opera bouffe" dream sequence), "I'm Sir Francis the Dragon" ("opera bouffe" dream sequence), "I Lay Down My Arms" ("opera bouffe" dream sequence), "Boy Meets Girl / Catalina")
1952 Sound Off (performer: "Home Sweet Home in the Army", "Blow Your Own Horn", "Bugle Blues", "It's the Beast in Me") / (writer: "Blow Your Own Horn")
1951 The Strip (performer: "A Kiss to Build a Dream On")
1948 Words and Music (performer: "Manhattan", "I Wish I Were in Love Again")
1948 Summer Holiday (performer: "Afraid To Fall In Love", "Omar (And The Princess)", "Our Home Town", "The Stanley Steamer", "The Sweetest Kid I Ever Met" - uncredited)
1946 Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (performer: "Rock-a-Bye Baby" (1886), "Fantasy Overture: Romeo and Juliet", "I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (I Like You Very Much)" - uncredited)
1943 Girl Crazy (performer: "I Got Rhythm" (1930), "Treat Me Rough" (1930), "Could You Use Me?" (1930), "Fascinating Rhythm" (1924) - uncredited)
1943 The Human Comedy (performer: "My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night" (1853), "Happy Birthday to You" (1893), "The Church in the Wildwood" (1857) - uncredited)
1942 A Yank at Eton (performer: "Happy Birthday to You" (1893) - uncredited)
1941 Babes on Broadway (performer: "Babes on Broadway", "How About You?", "Anything Can Happen in New York", "She Is Ma Daisy" (1905), "The Yankee Doodle Boy" (1904), "Mamãe Eu Quero", "Old Folks at Home" (1851), "Alabamy Bound" (1925) - uncredited)
1940 Strike Up the Band ("Our Love Affair" (1939)) / (performer: "Strike up the Band" (1927), "Our Love Affair" (1939), "Do the La Conga" (1939) (uncredited), "The Gay Nineties" (1940) (uncredited), "Nell of New Rochelle" (1939) (uncredited), "Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl" (1909) (uncredited), "Drummer Boy" (1939) (uncredited))
1940 Young Tom Edison (performer: "Sweet Genevieve")
1939 Babes in Arms (performer: "Babes in Arms" (1937), "Good Morning" (1939), "God's Country" (1937), "Toot, Toot, Tootsie (Goo' Bye!)" (1922) (uncredited), "Oh! Susanna" (1846) (uncredited), "Mr. Bones and Mr. Tambo" (1939) (uncredited), "Ida! Sweet as Apple Cider" (1903) (uncredited), "Moonlight Bay" (1912) (uncredited), "I'm Just Wild About Harry" (1921) (uncredited), "My Day" (uncredited))
1939 From the Ends of the Earth (Documentary short) (performer: "Babes in Arms" (1937), "Good Morning" (1939))
1938 Boys Town (performer: "My Mammy" (1921) - uncredited)
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Who was elected Prime Minister of Australia in March 1983? | Paul Keating | prime minister of Australia | Britannica.com
prime minister of Australia
Alternative Title: Paul John Keating
Paul Keating
Paul Keating, in full Paul John Keating (born Jan. 18, 1944, Sydney , N.S.W., Austl.), politician who was leader of the Australian Labor Party and prime minister of Australia from December 1991 to March 1996.
Paul Keating.
Cynthia Johnson/Gamma Liaison
Growing up in working-class Bankstown, a suburb of Sydney, Keating left school at age 14. He became involved in trade union activity and labour politics and was elected in 1969 to the House of Representatives at age 25. Acquiring a reputation for both pointed political invective and party loyalty, he was chosen by Prime Minister Robert Hawke to be federal treasurer in 1983. Keating became a stellar performer, making his mark with a blend of earthy attacks on his opponents and high-level explanations and lectures on the more arcane aspects of economics.
In 1991, while Australia struggled with economic recession, Hawke became embroiled in a leadership battle with Keating for control of the Labor Party and the office of the prime minister. On Dec. 19, 1991, Hawke called for a party vote and lost by a small margin to Keating (56–51). As prime minister, Keating inaugurated financial programs aimed at national recovery. He was reelected prime minister in 1993 as the economy regained strength, but his government was defeated by a coalition of the Liberal Party and the National Party in the elections of March 2, 1996, ending 13 years of rule by the Labor Party. Keating became a successful business consultant after his political career.
Learn More in these related articles:
| Bob Hawke |
Tonitrophobia is the fear of which weather condition? | Malcolm Fraser - brief biography
Brief biography of the Rt. Hon. Malcolm Fraser
Malcolm Fraser was Australia's 22nd Prime Minister, leading the nation from November 1975 to March 1983.
He was an Oxford graduate and a grazier when he won the Victorian seat of Wannon for the Liberal Party in December 1955. Entering politics aged just 25, he was the youngest member of the 22nd parliament. His first ten years were spent as a backbencher in the Menzies Government but when Harold Holt became prime minister in 1966, Mr Fraser was appointed as Minister for the Army. He also served as a minister in the governments of John Gorton and William McMahon.
When the Labor Party won office in December 1972 under the leadership of Gough Whitlam, Mr Fraser sat on the Opposition benches for the first time. Looking to reassert Liberal principles and provide the Liberal Party with a new sense of purpose and direction, he stood for leader in a ballot in March 1975, defeating Billy Snedden to become Leader of the Opposition.
Mr Fraser was appointed as caretaker Prime Minister on 11 November 1975, after Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed the Whitlam Government. The Fraser Coalition government won office a month later with the largest landslide of any federal election.
(John) Malcolm Fraser (1930-)
Photographic Service.
JCPML00036/21.
The Liberal and National Country Party Coalition remained in office, winning strong majorities in both the 1975 and 1977 elections and a third term in 1980, until defeated by Labor under Bob Hawke in 1983.
Prime Minister Fraser was influential in changing Australian relations abroad, both within the Commonwealth and with the countries of East and Southeast Asia. He was an adamant opponent of apartheid and a strong supporter of reform in South Africa. He also played a prominent part in the Commonwealth's efforts to establish an independent Zimbabwe. His government supported strong defence spending and reinforced Australia's diplomatic and trade relations with the countries in our region, viewing defence and foreign policy as key means of forestalling the advance of Communism.
Though economic rationalism was debated during his term of office, the Fraser government pursued more traditional approaches to financial management and fiscal policy.
In the years of the Fraser Government a significant piece of legislation for Indigenous people, the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT) 1976, was passed. The position of Commonwealth Ombudsman was established in 1977 and Australia's first Freedom of Information law was enacted in 1981. The same year, the government passed the Human Rights Commission Act and established the Human Rights Commission.
The Fraser government revitalized Australia's immigration program, bringing migrants from Asian countries, including nearly 56,000 Vietnamese refugees. Over 2000 'boat people' were granted entry. The immigration program focused on resettlement and 'multiculturalism' with the Institute of Multicultural Affairs being set up in 1978.
Mr Fraser resigned from parliament on 31 March 1983 and, within two years, had become a key figure in Australia's international and diplomatic relations.
Notably, he was Co-Chairman of the Commonwealth Committee of Eminent Persons against Apartheid which was formed to encourage a process of dialogue and reform in South Africa in 1985-86 and in 1989 he was appointed Chairman of the United Nations Committee on African Commodity Problems which reported to Secretary-General de Cuellar in June 1990.
In 1987 Mr Fraser formed CARE Australia as part of the international CARE network of humanitarian aid organisations. He was chairman from 1987 until 2002. He was also president of CARE International from 1990 to 1995, and its vice president for the next four years.
In 1996, he was appointed by the Howard government as Special Envoy to lobby in support of Australia's candidacy for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. He visited Zimbabwe and Ghana and attended the Heads of Government Meeting of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in Cameroon.
Mr Fraser led a Commonwealth election observer mission to Pakistan in 1997, to observe the national elections which followed the dismissal of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's government.
In 1999 he was appointed as the government's special envoy to Yugoslavia to seek the release from a Yugoslav prison of two CARE Australia workers, eventually securing their release later that year. Mr Fraser then worked with Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, and Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari to free a third CARE worker still in prison.
In recognition of the legislative record of his government in Indigenous land rights, as well as his personal commitment for all of his public and private life to anti-racism, Aboriginal reconciliation and minority rights, Mr Fraser was awarded Australia's Human Rights Medal in 2000 for his contribution to the advancement of human rights in Australia and internationally. Mr Fraser has been a Member of the InterAction Council for Former Heads of Government since its inauguration in 1983 and is currently its Chairman.
In 2002 Mr Fraser published his book Common Ground - Issues that should bind and not divide us.
Mr Fraser died on the 20th March 2015.
For further information see the National Archives of Australia's Australia's Prime Ministers website at http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/
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The name of which Suzuki motorbike model is Japanese for peregrine falcon? | Suzuki GSX 1300R Hayabusa | ModelSpace
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TOOLBOX AND SCREWDRIVER - Part of your collection will include a specially-designed Suzuki Tool Bag & screwdriver. The perfect partner to assist with your build, included with your 4th delivery.
Key Features of the Suzuki GSX 1300R Hayabusa
Every detail of the engine, frame, suspension and other components is faithfully matched to the original Suzuki motorcycle
A sleek black display base will complement your model. It contains electronic circuitry and controls for the lighting
A sound chip and speaker to give sampled authentic engine sounds from the actual bike
Your Hayabusa has fully functioning miniature lights (including turn indicators) controlled from the display base
Part of your collection will include a specially-designed Suzuki Tool Bag & screwdriver
Model Details
1:4 scale | Made of ABS, HIPS and die-cast metal | High-quality parts | Officially licensed replica | Weighs over 7kg.
Overall Dimensions
Length 535mm | Height 290mm | Width 185mm
Clear step-by-step instructions show how to assemble and finish the parts - every step of the way. Even if you've never tried this type of project before, you'll be able to put your Suzuki GSX 1300R Hayabusa together in easy stages, learning the skills as you go.
Through your building experience, you will have help from our experts with the easy-to-follow step-by-step assembly guide. You can also watch our Official Video Build Diary on Youtube or take a look also at our exclusive Suzuki GSX 1300R Hayabusa Forum and discuss with fellow modelers.
Even as a model-making novice, you can build this unique 1:4 scale model together in easy stages, learning the skills as you go.
Build the Suzuki Hayabusa
| Hayabusa |
In a 1993 episode of ‘The Simpson’s’ television show, entitled ‘Rosebud’, which US rock band were featured providing music and voices for animated versions of themselves? | Posted Mar 19th, 2013 at 3:17pm
Intro
Most motorcycle enthusiasts have no trouble in pronouncing the make and model name, Suzuki Hayabusa, however, few know what the word actually means. Hayabusa is the Japanese word used in reference to the peregrine falcon. Anyone familiar with birds is well aware that this bird of prey is known for its speed. The peregrine falcon often reaches speeds between 180 and 200 mph when thrusting itself into a dive to pursue its prey. Similarly, its Japanese namesake was introduced as the fastest production bike in history, capable of reaching speeds near 200 mph in stock form, right off the showroom floor. Introduced in 1999, the Suzuki Hayabusa offered an immediate lure to sport bike enthusiasts who were demanding the biggest and baddest production motorcycles available.
In 2005, Suzuki continued to offer top-quality, raw speed, and refined performance to riders. The 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa 1300R continued the tradition of the bike's first generation. A slight aesthetic change was noticeable, as Suzuki went away from putting its brand name all over its motorcycles, and instead began stamping them with the Suzuki insignia ""S."" In terms of performance, the 2005 model does fall into the speed restriction category of all sport bikes, as safety and prudence won the battle over speed potential and engine technology. For most riders, the 186 mph electronic limitation will never be reached, and the quickness and speed of the 2005 Hayabusa will be thoroughly enjoyed, in spite of losing ten or so mph.
The 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa sits on the impressive power plant of a 1,299cc liquid cooled inline four cylinder. The DOHC 16 valve, fuel injected delivery system ensures maximum control and throttle response. The forced air induction takes the internal combustion to the next level, presenting a street-legal rocket, when rapidly climbing through the six speed transmission. This sport bike possesses the brains of a modern technology, and the brawn of a heavy weight punch.
Building upon a power platform that is more impressive than what is possessed by many small cars, Suzuki built a true shell around the beefy sport engine. Many of the Hayabusa's critics were those who disliked its full fairing, track-ready look when it was released in 1999. By 2005, those critics had been silenced by the Hayabusa reputation, or possibly with a quick test ride. The multi-point adjustable suspension is well-disguised by the full body fairing, but it lends itself to the solid reputation and tradition of Suzuki—they are supreme machines in the realm of handling and maneuverability.
The cockpit and instrumentation is precisely where it would be expected—right under the nose, just in front of the hands. This allows for quick peeks, without losing sight of the road. Like so many sport bikes, the aesthetics of the cockpit are race- and aircraft-inspired. Any vehicle boasting a speedometer reading over 200mph deserves to be done up right, and Suzuki easily succeeds in this regard.
When it comes down to the bottom line, the 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa 1300R is well worth its price tag, considering its superbike nature. However, this is not a bike merely for the individual who can afford it. To straddle this thing safely, and to enjoy it for years to come, experience is definitely a prerequisite.
New For 2005
The 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa was a carryover of the first generation. A slight change is seen in the offered insignia—Suzuki removed the previous name and replaced it with the stylized ""S+F19""
2005 Suzuki Hayabusa Specs
Model: 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa 1300R
Engine Type: 1,299cc liquid cooled, inline four cylinder
Bore and Stroke: 81.0 x 63.0mm
Compression ratio: 11.0:1
Valve Train: DOHC 16 valve
Induction: Keihin/Denso Fuel Injection
Estimated Fuel Economy: 32 mpg average
Brakes (Front): Dual disc
Suspension (Front): Inverted telescopic fork, coil spring, fully adjustable
Suspension (Rear): Link-type, gas/oil damped, fully adjustable spring preload
Rake: 23.4 degrees
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Which of the elements has the lowest boiling point? | The chemical elements of the periodic table sorted by boiling point
85
For chemistry students and teachers: The tabular chart on the right is arranged by boiling point.
The chemical element with the lowest boiling point is Helium and the element with the highest boiling point is Tungsten.
The unity used for the melting point is Celsius (C). Click here: to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit or Kelvin.
Please note that the elements do not show their natural relation towards each other as in the Periodic system. There you can find the metals, semi-conductor(s), non-metal(s), inert noble gas(ses), Halogens, Lanthanoides, Actinoids (rare earth elements) and transition metals.
| Helium |
The ‘Shining Path’ is another name for the Communist Party of which South American country? | BBC - GCSE Bitesize: The noble gases - trends in physical properties
The noble gases - trends in physical properties
Boiling point
The noble gases all have low boiling points. This is a typical property of non-metals. You can see from the graph that helium, at the top of group 0, has the lowest boiling point in the group. The boiling points then increase as you go down the group.
Boiling points of the Group 0 elements
Density
The density of a substance is a measure of how heavy it is for its size. For example, a small lump of a very dense substance such as gold or lead has a high mass. The particles in gases are spread far apart, so gases have low densities. You can see from the graph that helium, at the top of group 0, has the lowest density in the group. The densities then increase as you go down the group. Radon, at the bottom of the group, is the densest gas known (1 g/dm3 = 0.001 g/cm3).
Densities of the Group 0 elements
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A spleenwort is what type of plant? | Spleenwort Fern for sale online
Spleen Wort Fern
The Spleenwort Fern would make a nice addition to any office of house. This particular fern is native to North America the area east of the Rocky Mountains and South Africa. The plant gets its name from coloring of it’s stems and leaf axis and is grows in the spring. The Spleenwort Fern is also used as a garden plant. In addition the plants grows well in a variety of soil types: sandy peat,subacid garden soil, gritty soil, potting mix (with moist to dry conditions).
Scientific Name: Splendour Platyneuron
USDA Climate: Three to Eight
Tree Height: 6 inches to 1 foot 3 inches
Tree Spread:10 inches to 1 foot 3 inches
Soil Type:Acceptable to a variety of soil type-soil must be well drained
Sun Type:Partial Sun (low to high), the plant will grow in full shade as well.
The Spleenwort Fern is easy to maintain once it reaches it maximum growing height. The small plants is known for it’s inability to attract insects and does not cause major diseases. The evergreen plant is known to grow on rocky wooded ledges, rocky slopes, mossy banks, and wooded areas. If planters want to add a plant with a unique shape then the Splendidly Fern is your plant, the plant is also famous for its irregular or sprawling shape.
Spleenwort Fern will do best in climate zones three through nine and will only grow to be around a foot or so in height. For example, use as a ground cover to fill in shaded areas where other plants and flowers have a hard time or use it to border flowerbeds. It is similar to the Christmas Fern and also does well in indoor gardens or terrarium gardens.
We have a large selection of different fern plants, click here to see them all
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| Fern |
Which Paris airport opened in March 1974? | Spleenwort – VCU Field Botany **Official Site**
June 20, 2014 | gormansd | Leave a comment
Resembles christmas fern but has a blah rachis and lacks orange spores on the back side of the leaves. Found growing in a mostly shaded moist area with lots of humus. Found near theTexas Beach entrance of the North Bank trail.
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Oscar Madison and Felix Unger are better known as which fictional Neil Simon characters? | The Odd Couple (1968) - IMDb
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Two friends try sharing an apartment, but their ideas of housekeeping and lifestyles are as different as night and day.
Director:
Neil Simon (from the play by), Neil Simon (screenplay)
Stars:
From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video
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Title: The Odd Couple (1968)
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Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations. See more awards »
Photos
Oscar and Felix take a road trip to their son and daughter's wedding.
Director: Howard Deutch
A lifelong feud between two neighbors since childhood only gets worse when a new female neighbor moves across the street.
Director: Donald Petrie
A crooked lawyer persuades his brother-in-law to feign a serious injury.
Director: Billy Wilder
A failed gambler, intent on meeting a rich widow, tricks his widowed brother-in-law into boarding a cruise ship as dance hosts.
Director: Martha Coolidge
John and Max resolve to save their beloved bait shop from turning into an Italian restaurant, just as its new female owner catches Max's attention.
Director: Howard Deutch
Two men, a neat freak and a slob separated from their wives, have to live together despite their differences.
Stars: Tony Randall, Jack Klugman, Al Molinaro
An Ohio sales executive accepts a higher position within the company and travels to New York City with his wife for his job interview but things go wrong from the start.
Director: Arthur Hiller
As a tabloid newspaper editor tries to prevent his top reporter from retiring, an escaped death row convict shows up at the office trying to convey his innocence.
Director: Billy Wilder
Edit
Storyline
Felix Ungar has just broken up with his wife. Despondent, he goes to kill himself but is saved by his friend Oscar Madison. With nowhere else to go, Felix is urged by Oscar to move in with him, at least for a while. The only problem is that Felix is neat, tidy, and neurotic, whereas Oscar is slovenly and casual. Written by Murray Chapman <[email protected]>
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Taglines:
Even More Funny On The Screen... Than It Was As A Broadway And City-To-City Stage Smash! See more »
Genres:
16 May 1968 (USA) See more »
Also Known As:
Final appearance of Joe Palma. See more »
Goofs
When searching for Felix in the patrol car, the driver's side mirror disappears in the shot where Vinnie climbs in. See more »
Quotes
See more »
Crazy Credits
When the credits for Cecily and Gwendolyn Pigeon are displayed, they are first in the wrong order (since Oscar also keeps mixing them up) and after a couple of seconds they shift to their correct positions. See more »
Connections
The Best Neil Simon Ever Achieved
12 July 2015 | by garthbarnes-11100
(United States) – See all my reviews
Spoilers Ahead:
I am not a Neil Simon fan. Most of his movies I simply cannot take; they are so staged and contrived. They have such an air of a play about them; a total lack of verisimilitude. Please, watch Seems Like Old Times and tell me what the statistical probability of those occurrences would be: One in a billion? This movie is funny; the scene with Felix clearing his throat with those Moose calls is worth one showing alone. My other favorite is when one of the guys smells the cards,"He washed the cards, I can't believe it, He washed the cards, I'm getting out of here I can't take it anymore." Felix's anal retentive clean freak with Oscar's biggest slob on earth personalities generates lots of laughs. You will not suffer like you did in Barefoot In The Park with personalities around the couple that never have nor ever will live with you in an apartment building. The movie works because of the strength of the acting and the chemistry and comic timing of: Matthau and Lemmon. They work so well together. Walter was always so great with his facial expressions; often, the look he gets on his face is funnier than Simon's dialog.
No movie can be perfect, this is no exception. The pigeon sisters are not funny they are annoying, in the extreme. The scene is painfully bad. It drags on and on; when you read attacks on the movie here, trust me, this is what younger viewers are hating so badly. The scene was always too long and the writing with the two dumbest actresses they could have found lay waste to this part of the otherwise great movie. It is so phony, no women this stupid could possibly have functioned out in the world. The other part of the film, that drags, is after Oscar throws Felix out; this goes on and on pointlessly and without the slightest bit of humor. Simon always had dead spots in his writing; this movie is no exception. I, to be honest, get up during the Pidgeon sisters part, I come back ten minutes later. I usually turn the movie off after Oscar throws Felix out; the movie is over for all intents and purposes all that is left is unfunny resolution and boredom. Despite these flaws, which are minor compared to Biloxi Blues, Goodbye Girl or the dreadful Max Dugan Returns, the bulk of the movie is very hilarious.
The best of all that Neil Simon ever wrote. I agree with some of the above criticism; yet, it has some of the funniest scenes ever seen in a film and the two of them work together so well. A Very Good Comedy
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| The Odd Couple |
In which country is the 1961 Gothic horror film ‘The Pit and the Pendulum’ set? | The Odd Couple - Classic TV Database
The Odd Couple
Added to the database on September 17, 2008
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Cast & Characters | Broadcast History | Theme Song | DVDs | Watch Episodes | Photos | Trivia | Comments
The Odd Couple is a sitcom that aired on ABC from 1970 until 1975 that starred Tony Randall as Felix Unger and Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison, based upon the play of the same name, which was written by Neil Simon. Felix and Oscar are two divorced men. Felix is a neat freak while Oscar is sloppy and casual. They share a Manhattan apartment, and their different lifestyles inevitably lead to conflicts and laughs.
Jack Klugman and Tony Randall give an advanced course in chemistry in the auspicious first season of The Odd Couple, which would only get better as the veteran character actors made themselves at home in their signature roles and the series switched from a laugh track to a live audience. In these first episodes, The Odd Couple hews pretty much to the voice and spirit of Neil Simon's play about mismatched roommates, sloppy sportswriter Oscar Madison and "miserable, picky, irritating" photographer Felix Unger ("That was the point," defends series executive producer and writer Garry Marshall, who provides lively audio introductions for each episode and commentary for the pilot). Playing pivotal roles this first season are Felix and Oscar's poker playing buddies, Murray the cop (Al Molinaro), Vinnie, Roy, and Speed, the fabulous Pigeon sisters (Monica Evans and Carole Shelley reprising their Broadway and film roles), and, of course, Neil Hefti's jaunty, jazzy theme, which was introduced in the 1968 film. As with M*A*S*H, the series would establish its own identity and supplant previous incarnations in the public's consciousness. The Odd Couple was never a ratings smash before it became a syndication staple.
Cast and aharacters
Tony Randell as Felix Unger
Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison
Al Molinaro as Murray Greshner
Garry Walberg as Speed (1970-1974)
Larry Gelman as Vinnie
Archie Hahn as Roger (1973-1974)
Brett Somers as Blanche Madison
Ryan McDonald as Roy (1970-1971)
Joan Hotchkis as Dr. Nancy Cunningham (1970-1972)
Janis Hansen as Gloris Ulger (1971-1975)
First Telecast: September 24, 1970
Last Telecast: Mar 7, 1975
Original Network:
September 1970- January 1971, ABC, Thursday 9:30-10:00pm
Janruary 1971- June 1973, ABC, Friday 9:30-10:00pm
June 1973- January 1974, ABC, Friday 8:30-9:00pm
January 1974- September 1974, ABC, Friday 9:30-10:00pm
September 1974- January 1975, ABC, Thursday 8:00-8:30pm
January 1975- March 1975, ABC, Friday 9:30-10:00pm
Listen to theme song: {mp3}TheOddCouple{/mp3}
Purchase theme song from Amazon.com:
Purchase theme on
The Odd Couple Trivia
The Odd Couple TV show was based upon a hit Broadway play written by Neil Simon. There was also an Odd Couple theatrical movie in 1968 which starred Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon.
In the first season the Odd Couple was produced in the same apartment that was used in the movie. It was shot with just one camera and incorporated a laugh track. That all changed in season two when the filming moved to a studio with the standard three cameras and a live audience providing the laughs.
For the first few episodes, the series title was "Neil Simon's The Odd Couple". Neil was upset about that because it erroneously gave the impression that he was the script writer for the TV series. The title was shortened to "The Odd Couple" but Neil continued to receive credit as the writer of the play. After a couple of seasons, Neil came to like the TV version and even appeared as himself on one episode!
Monty Hall who is perhaps best known as the host of the hit game show, "Let's Make A Deal", appeared on the Odd Couple. While he played himself, his appearance was explained by the writers having him be the old college roommate of Oscar Madison.
Felix's father was an optometrist and one of his patients was Oscar's father. Felix's kids on the show were neame Edna and Leonard. Tony Randall's real-life sister was named Edna and Tony's real first name was Leonard.
Blanche Madison was Oscar's ex-wife and was played by Brett Somers who was Jack Klugman's wife in real life! Unfortunately, real life followed fantasy because Jack and Brett broke up during the Odd Couple's time on the air!
Oscar was a sports writer for the "New York Herald". There had once been a real newspaper titled the "New York Herald-Tribune" but it went out of business several years before the Odd Couple TV show hit the air.
Oscar Madison had a real hate relationship going on with TV sports personality Howard Cosell who played himself on a couple of the Odd Couple episodes. Both Oscar Madison's fictional abrasive personality and Howard Cosell's real-life harsh character made for some very entertaining arguments! Those two episodes substantially increased the show's ratings and Howard Cosell found himself guest-starring on many other TV series!
Tony Randall won an Emmy Award for his role as Felix Unger after the Odd Couple had ended. Perhaps he was experiencing being "typecast" as many actors do after a long-run TV series. As he was accepting the Emmy he said that he wished he had a job!
Typecasting certainly didn't seem to hurt Jack Klugman's career! Within nineteen months after the final episode of the Odd Couple aired, Jack appeared in a TV movie as a medical examiner named "Doctor Quincy". After three more TV movies, the "Quincy, M.E." became its own weekly TV series that aired for another 144 episodes! Jack also starred in a two season series titled, "You Again?" just a few years after Quincy, M.E. ended.
The Odd Couple writers just couldn't get it straight when trying to explain how Felix and Oscar had met. The opening narration stated that they were friends as kids. Then, on several episodes, it was said that they met in the Army! One of the episodes inferred that they had served on a jury together for a sensationalized murder trial! That was a reference to the 1957 film, "12 Angry Men" where Jack Klugman played the role as a juror. So take your pick as to how they met. At least they did remove the reference to meeting as kids from the opening narrative in the third season.
In another goof, on one episode Felix and Oscar's address is mentioned as "74th Street and Central Park West". Then on another episode, it's stated as "1049 Park Avenue"!
There were two actors who made the transition from the 1968 movie to the TV series. Monica Evans and Carole Shelley played the "Pigeon Sisters" in both but only stayed for the first season of the TV show.
The Odd Couple's time slot was changed five times during its five season run. It was fortunate in that it didn't find itself competing with any real hit series on the other networks until its final season when CBS aired "The Waltons" in its slot!
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What is the 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet? | THE GREEK ALPHABET
THE GREEK ALPHABET
It is helpful to have a knowledge of the Greek alphabet and language to appreciate the nuances of meaning in the Greek Septuagint Old Testament and the Greek New Testament of the Bible. Reading the Greek text allows one to capture the full impact of what the Gospel writer is hoping to convey in his narrative. Here are three examples.
Perhaps the best example of this is St. Paul's famous passage on love in his First Letter to the Corinthians. There are four Greek words for love! Which one is St. Paul referring to? στοργή - storge refers to the natural affection parents have for their children; ἔρως - eros is romantic love; φιλία - philia is friendship; and ἀγάπη - agape is unconditional love, the love God has for us. St. Paul employs the word agape!
A second example is the pivotal passage in the Gospel of Luke when Jesus begins his journey to Jerusalem (9:51), the place where he will be taken up. The Greek text fully dramatizes this event by expressing the determination of Jesus, reading "As the day was approaching for his Ascension, he πρόσωπον ἐστήρισεν - set his face on Jerusalem." Thus begins the journey to Jerusalem where he will accomplish his mission by redeeming mankind through the sacrifice of the Cross. The journey also provides an avenue to teach his disciples, those who follow Jesus on the way to Jerusalem. Discipleship in Luke is conveyed by the verb ἀκολουθέω - I follow, a form of which occurs nineteen times throughout the Gospel, such as the key sentence of Luke 9:23, "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and ἀκολουθείτω μοι - let him follow me."
The third example is the word witness in the Acts of the Apostles. Jesus tells the disciples ἔσεσθέ μου μάρτυρες, you shall be my witnesses. St. Luke expresses discipleship in the Acts of the Apostles by the word witness, a form of which (nominative singular μάρτυς and plural μάρτυρες) occurs twenty-four times throughout Acts. The disciples will become the witnesses of the Teachings, Cross, and Resurrection of Jesus, and will carry out his mission as his witnesses to the "ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Our English word martyr is a direct translation of the Greek word for witness. The martyr is the ultimate Christian witness!
The Greek alphabet was derived from the Phoenician alphabet . Phoenicia (now Lebanon) was a peaceful sea-faring nation expert in navigation and trade that developed their alphabet around 1400 BC in an effort to communicate with their diverse trading partners that encircled the Mediterranean Sea. It was the Phoenician alphabet that was widely received and readily adapted in Greece and throughout the Mediterranean, as it was only 22 letters based on sound, as opposed to the myriad of symbols in cuneiform and hieroglyphics prevalent at the time.
The Greek alphabet contains 24 letters. The form of Greek used by writers from Homer (the Iliad and the Odyssey) about 700 BC to Plato (The Republic) in 360 BC, is called Classical Greek. There were three dialects to classical Greek, Doric, Aeolic, and Ionic (of which Attic is a derivation). Alexander the Great, who was tutored by Aristotle, spoke Attic Greek and conquered the East, spreading the Greek language throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond. Thus began the Hellenistic Age. Hebrew Scripture was translated into Greek in Alexandria and became known as the Greek Septuagint.
A common Greek language arose among the people and became known as Koine Greek (κοινή, the word meaning "common"). Greek in the Holy Land was heavily interpenetrated by native Semitic languages, such as Aramaic and Hebrew. This likely explains the variant spellings in the Greek New Testament for words such as Jerusalem (Ἰερουσαλήμ, Ἱεροσόλυμα), Nazareth (Ναζαρὰ, Ναζαρέτ, Ναζαρὲθ), and Nazarene (Ναζαρηνέ, Ναζωραῖος).
No original manuscript by the author of a biblical book has yet been uncovered! Koine Greek was the language used by writers of the Old Testament Greek Septuagint and the Greek New Testament. The original Greek New Testament was written in all capital letters, without spaces, punctuation, accents or diacritical marks.
A major contribution of Greek culture was the addition of vowels to the development of our alphabet. Vowels are formed by unimpeded airflow through the airway when the vowel sound is produced. The seven Greek vowels are α - alpha, ε - epsilon, η - eta, ι - iota, ο - omicron, υ - upsilon, and ω - omega.
Please note that the letter s has two forms σ and ς, the second form ς occurring at the end of a word.
Consonants are formed when airflow is blocked completely (a stop) or partially when a sound is made. The labials are pronounced by impeding the flow of air through closure of the lips and are π - pi, β - beta, and φ - phi. The dentals are actually pronounced by the placing of the tongue on the alveolar ridge behind the teeth and are τ - tau, δ - delta, and θ - theta. The palatals or velars (soft palate) are formed by impeding the flow of air with the tongue moving upwards against the palate, and are κ - kappa, γ - gamma, and χ - chi. The liquids are formed by air flowing through the mouth around the tongue and are λ - lambda and ρ - rho. The nasals are formed with air flowing through the nose and are μ - mu and ν - nu. The sibilants are formed through a narrow channel with the tongue shaped lengthwise, directing air over the edge of the teeth, and are σ - sigma and ζ - zeta. The final two, ξ - xsi and ψ - psi, involve formation of two letters and are called double consonants.
Stops have major implications in the formation of nouns and verbs. A voiced sound is one in which the vocal cords vibrate when the sound is made; you can tell by putting your fingers on the voice box and pronouncing a voiced letter, such as delta. A voiceless sound is one in which the vocal cords do not vibrate. Aspiration is a breath of air that follows the initial part of a sound; for example, by putting your hand in front of your mouth, you can feel a burst of air when saying phi.
Stop
δ
θ
The letter gamma γ is pronounced as a hard g, as in golf, but before another gamma γ, kappa κ, xi ξ, or chi χ, the gamma is pronounced as n, and is called a gamma nasal. For example, ἄγγελος is pronounced angelos, the word for angel.
The letter zeta ζ is pronounced as our z at the beginning of a word, as in zinc, but within a word as dz, as in adze.
Of the seven vowels, two vowels, η - eta, and ω - omega are always long; two vowels, ε - epsilon, and ο - omicron are always short; and three vowels can be either long or short: α - alpha, ι - iota, and υ - upsilon. Long vowels take approximately twice as long to pronounce as short vowels.
When short iota follows the long vowels alpha, eta, and omega (in lower case), the iota is written beneath them as an iota subscript, and appears as ᾳ, ῃ, or ῳ. This may occur in the dative singular (see below); when this is seen, the iota is not pronounced.
Upsilon υ as a capital letter is Υ. Ιn transliteration upsilon is generally represented by y, except when it is part of a diphthong, it is represented as u .
A diphthong is a pair of vowels that make one sound, as we have in English: aisle, neighbor, oil, jaunt, though. The second vowel is always an ι or υ. Diphthongs are considered long. The following image indicates the pronunciation of each Greek vowel and diphthong:
Capital letters today are used only for proper names, the beginning of paragraphs, and the first word of a quotation.
Every Biblical Greek word that begins with a vowel takes a breathing mark, either rough or smooth.
Greek has an h sound, which occurs only at the beginning of some words, and is expressed by the dasia or rough breathing mark ῾. The rough breathing mark is placed above the initial vowel of a word and pronounced before the vowel sound. When a word is capitalized, the rough breathing is written before the initial vowel. Every word that begins with rho or an upsilon takes a rough breathing mark, but the h is generally not pronounced with rho (as in English - rhetoric).
In words that begin with a vowel and lack an h sound, the absence of the h is represented by the psili or smooth breathing mark ᾿. In words that begin with a diphthong, the breathing mark is placed over the second vowel of the diphthong.
VOCABULARY
The following chart contains 50 Greek words from the New Testament. The lexical form of the word is listed, nouns in the nominative singular, verbs in the present indicative first person singular. The biblical examples are often in the lexical form. The fundamental part of a word, which conveys the essential idea of a word and remains after the word has been analyzed into all its component parts, is called a root. A Greek word has as many syllables as it has vowels or diphthongs. Biblical Greek is polytonic, for it has breathing marks, and three accents which were once used for musical pitch but in time indicated stress in a word: acute (oxia) ´, grave (varia) `, and circumflex (perispomeni) ῀. A careful study of the transliteration of the Greek words should give one an appreciation of the pronunciation of the Greek letters and vowels. The words themselves will help you in reading Scripture.
THE GREEK LANGUAGE
Greek is written from left to right as Latin, the Romance and English languages. The Greek language is characterized by a high degree of inflection. Each Greek word actually changes form (inflection) based upon the role that it plays in the sentence. A Greek noun is composed of the stem, which conveys the meaning, and the case ending. The inflection of a noun is called its declension, and nouns are declined. There are three patterns of declension to Greek nouns: stems ending in alpha or eta are in the first declension, those ending in omicron are second declension, and stems ending in a consonant are third declension. Case endings are the way the Greek language designates the function of a noun (nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, vocative), the gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter), and the number (singular or plural). Case marks the relationship of the noun to the verb. Word order in Greek is primarily used for emphasis, balance, contrast, or variety.
For example, when Κύριος, the Greek word for Lord, is the subject (nominative case), as "the Lord blessed the crowd," the word keeps its lexical form as above and is spelled in transliteration as Kyrios. When the Lord is possessive (genitive case), as "the Lord's supper or the Lord's prayer," the word is spelled Κύριου. When the Lord is the indirect object (dative case), as "Philip brought bread to the Lord," it is spelled as Kyrioi; the omicron lengthens to omega, and the iota subscripts in the dative singular, to form Κυρίῳ. When the Lord is the direct object (accusative case), as "the Father sent the Lord," it is spelled Κύριον. When the Lord is addressed (vocative case), as "Lord, Lord, please forgive me," the word is spelled Kύριε, as in the hymnal Kyrie Eleison. The following chart lists the case endings for Κύριος, a second declension noun in the masculine singular. Thus in the following Biblical passage from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans, Lord must be the direct object or in the accusative case.
A Greek verb describes the action or state of being in a sentence, and is primarily composed of the verb root, to which are added various affixes. The addition of prefixes, infixes, and/or suffixes forms each particular stem and personal ending. The verb stem expresses the basic meaning of the verb and indicates tense and mood. The personal endings convey voice, person and number in agreement with its subject. The inflection of a verb is called its conjugation, and verbs are said to be conjugated. Tense expresses aspect or the kind of action, either continuous, undefined, or the completion of an action; tense expresses both aspect and time (present, past, future) in the indicative mood. The Greek verb has seven tenses in the indicative mood: present, future, aorist (see below), perfect, imperfect, pluperfect, and future perfect. Voice is either active, middle, or passive. In the active voice, the person performs the action, as "the teacher taught the students." In the passive voice, the subject is acted upon, as "the students were taught by the teacher." There is also middle voice, in which the subject of the verb does the action, but the action somehow affects the subject, as in self-interest, such as "I defend myself." The mood of a verb may be indicative (the most common), a statement of fact, reality, or actual occurrence; imperative, a command; subjunctive, a contemplated, possible, or probable action; or optative, a wish or hope.
There are three principal parts to an English verb: the present tense, the simple past, and the past participle. Examples are "bless, blessed, blessed," or "sing, sang, sung." The Greek language has six principal parts or tense forms to a verb. The principal parts of a verb are a standard set of related forms from which you can provide the correct stem for each particular verb to express tense, voice, mood, person, and number. All possible forms of a Greek verb, including infinitives and participles, are inflected from a stem derived from one of these six principal parts. Here are the six principal parts of the verb λύω, a regular verb which means "I loose, untie, free, release," or (2) "I destroy," and in which the verb root λυ is consistent throughout:
Principal Part:
I have been loosed
I was loosed
To conjugate a verb, for example, take the first principal part of the verb I have - ἔχω, which serves as the lexical or dictionary form of the verb. The present tense stem is formed by removing the omega, and in combination with the connecting or thematic vowel and the primary active personal endings, one is given the following conjugation of the present active indicative of the verb ἔχω:
Pertinent to the Greek verbal system is the aorist tense. The aorist presents an occurrence in summary. Its very name means ἀ- (without) ὅρος (boundary, limit), an indeterminate or undefined action. The aorist describes an action without specifying its duration. The first three of the four verbs in the following Biblical passage from St. Paul to the Romans are in the aorist tense. The first two, confess and believe, are in the aorist subjunctive second person singular. In the indicative mood, the aorist generally expresses a simple action in past time, as the third verb raised, which is in the aorist indicative third person singular. The fourth verb, in the future passive second person singular, provides reassurance: "you will be saved!" As we learn from the last-minute conversion of the good thief in the Gospel of Luke 23:42-43, the Lord is loving, merciful, and patient - his forgiveness and salvation are available in the event of our conversion until the end!
SCRIPTURE READING
REFERENCES
1 Minto A. Pauline Soteriology. Course Lectures and Texts, Franciscan University, Steubenville, Ohio, 2005.
2 Caneday AB. Biblical Greek I and II. Course Notes, Northwestern College, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2009, 2011.
3 Mounce WD. Basics of Biblical Greek. Grammar and Workbook, Third Edition. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2009.
4 Hansen H and Quinn GM. Greek - An Intensive Course. Attic Greek. Fordham University Press, New York, 1992.
5 Zerwick M and Grosvenor M. Grammatical Analysis of the Greek New Testament. Editrice Pontificio Istituto Biblico, Rome, 1996.
6 Aland B, Aland K, Karavidopoulos J, Martini CM, Metzger B. The Greek New Testament, 4th Revised Edition. United Bible Societies, New York, 1993.
7 Bauer W. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Second Edition (BAGD). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1979.
8 New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament. 4th Corrected Edition, United Bible Society and NRSV. Trans: Brown RK and Comfort PW. Tyndale House, Wheaton, Ill., 1990.
9 Spicq C. Theological Lexicon of the New Testament. 3 volumes, Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, Massachusetts, 1994.
10 Wallace DB. Greek Grammar Beyond The Basics. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1996.
| Psi |
The Mangla Dam is in which Asian country? | Spelling the Greek Alphabet
[ ? ]Word Buff Can Come to YOU!
The Greek Alphabet
I first came across the Greek alphabet at the age of twelve, while attempting a crossword. I didn't realize you were allowed to spell individual letters in crosswords, let alone letters from an obscure alphabet!
As it turns out, a knowledge of the Greek alphabet has not only helped me solve crosswords, but has been pretty handy in Scrabble too! But before I start rambling any further, here is the full set of Greek letters with their traditional spellings...
The Greek letters are not only handy in word games and puzzles, but also very useful for vocabulary building - especially if you like to read about science, which uses this alphabet extensively.
Here are some examples of the Greek letters in action...
ALPHA
Word Trivia...
Being the first letter of the alphabet, alpha is often used to denote the first of anything. In astronomy, for example, alpha is used as an adjective denoting the brightest star in a constellation (most famous, perhaps, is Alpha Centauri).
Scrabble Facts...
The end for Socrates
Notes...
1. As usual, I only include clues that are reasonably closely tied to the topic at hand (the Greek alphabet in this case).
For example, I include the crossword clue "___ particle" (Answer: ALPHA), because this clue reflects the general practice of using letters in the Greek alphabet to name scientific entities. However, I don't include the clue "Letters on tires" (Answer: "PSI"), because PSI refers here to an acronym for "Pounds per Square Inch", rather than to the Greek letter of the same spelling.
2. Because crosswords generally exclude words less than three letters long, I haven't listed any clues for the Greek alphabet letters...
MU
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Who is the speaking voice of Esmeralda in the 1996 Disney film ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’? | The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) - IMDb
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame ( 1996 )
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A deformed bell-ringer must assert his independence from a vicious government minister in order to help his friend, a gypsy dancer.
Directors:
Gary Trousdale , Kirk Wise
Writers:
Tab Murphy (animation story by), Victor Hugo (from the novel "Notre Dame de Paris" by) | 23 more credits »
Stars:
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Title: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 8 wins & 21 nominations. See more awards »
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Storyline
In 15th century Paris, Clopin the puppeteer tells the story of Quasimodo, the misshapen but gentle-souled bell ringer of Notre Dame, who was nearly killed as a baby by Claude Frollo, the Minister of Justice. But Frollo was forced by the Archdeacon of Notre Dame to raise Quasimodo as his own. Now a young man, Quasimodo is hidden from the world by Frollo in the belltower of the cathedral. But during the Festival of Fools, Quasimodo, cheered on by his gargoyle friends Victor, Hugo, and Laverne, decides to take part in the festivities, where he meets the lovely gypsy girl Esmeralda and the handsome soldier Phoebus. The three of them find themselves ranged against Frollo's cruelty and his attempts to destroy the home of the gypsies, the Court of Miracles. And Quasimodo must desperately defend both Esmeralda and the very cathedral of Notre Dame. Written by Kathy Li
21 June 1996 (USA) See more »
Also Known As:
El jorobado de Notre Dame See more »
Box Office
£1,143,349 (UK) (19 July 1996)
Gross:
Laverne's name was at first considered to Marie, after Victor Hugo's middle name. See more »
Goofs
When Quasimodo is seen singing "Out There" on the cathedral's roof we can see a set of copper green statues - the 12 apostles - around the central needle. These statues were not added until the 19th century during a general restoration directed by Viollet-le-Duc, a French architect who had read Victor Hugo's novel and was concerned about the possibility of Notre Dame being demolished, as some authorities of the time had considered. Consequently, it would have been impossible to see those statues at the time the movie is set. See more »
Quotes
Frollo : This is an unholy demon. I'm sending it back to hell, where it belongs.
The Archdeacon : [singing] See, there, the innocent blood you have spilt on the steps of Notre Dame.
Frollo : I am guiltless. She ran, I pursued.
The Archdeacon : [singing] Now you would add this child's blood to your guilt on the steps of Notre Dame!
Frollo : My conscience is clear.
The Archdeacon : [singing] You can lie to yourself and your minions, you can claim that you haven't a qualm, but you never can run from nor hide what you've done from the eyes!
[pointing to statues of saints]
After the final credits, the gargoyle Hugo says, "Good night, everybody!" See more »
Connections
Disney's Miracle of a Movie
4 October 2004 | by gpadillo
(Portland, Maine) – See all my reviews
A risky wedding of wholesome classic animation, to adult and often dark-themed material. The risk paid off and the result is one of the greatest achievements of Disney Studios.
The animation here is first rate and the entire thing is shot like a live-action film with some incredible long shots, great theatrical panning and even at one point, during Quasimodo's song "Out There" a realistic camera flare (I did a double take the first time I saw it!) Hunchback is filled with all sorts of great "tricks" like this. Lighting effects here are nothing short of magnificent often subtle they sometimes change in an instant dramatically altering the mood of the piece. Frodo's demonic song "Hellfire" is perhaps one the most sinister and frightening moments to emerge from Disney and the animators let loose.
The prologue to the movie alone is a minor masterpiece and, like Beauty and the Beast, marvelously prepares us for the whirlwind of a story to take place.
The complaints about the singing and dancing gargoyles Victor, Hugo and Laverne, are simply wrongheaded. I read the Hugo classic too, and know they're not in there. What the complainants fail to realize is these gargoyles live only in Quasimodo's imagination. He invented these companions to ease an otherwise tortured, lonely, friendless life. The culmination of all of this becomes obvious in the spectacular song "A guy like you" which finishes with pigeons flying and hearts and banners and ribbons and Quasimodo being celebrated and then BAM immediately upon the conclusion of the final notes, the room becomes the same dark, dank, splintering tower filled with relics, junk and heartbreak. It's one of the movie's most shattering effects.
While deserved praise goes to the animators and crew, the voice talent here is, in my opinion, Disney's very best. Tom Hulce goes to the very soul of Quasimodo and gives a performance that is as poignant and shattering as anything he has done (Hulce also happened to be the best Hamlet I've ever seen.) Certain lines ("I am a monster, you know") will ring in my ear forever. Hulce has a beautiful voice and renders "Out there" with such abandon and vigor it makes my hair stand on end. In the quiet "Heaven's light" (which sequences into a stunning shot of the bells frantically ringing the opening theme), Hulce brings a fragility to such lines as "no face as hideous as my face, was ever meant for Heaven's light" that only a heart of stone would not be moved. Switching from pathos to rage, Hulce lets us feel the hidden rage and danger that this character also possesses. It is a truly remarkable performance.
Demi Moore, Kevin Kline, Tony Jay, Paul Kandel and the rest of the cast all sound at the top of their game creating wonderful and vivid characters.
Alan Menkin and Stephen Schwartz get to the heart of the matter with score and songs a sound that are as integral a part of the telling of this story as the animation and voices.
Hunchback is a miracle of a movie!
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame (film)
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1996 animated feature produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation.
The film was released in theaters on June 21, 1996 by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirty-fourth animated feature in the Disney animated features canon, the film is based on the basic story of Victor Hugo's novel of the same name, but changes most of its substance. The plot centers on Quasimodo , the main character of Notre Dame; he is the kindhearted deformed bell-ringer, but he struggles to gain acceptance into society. Quasimodo believes he was abandoned by his parents as an infant. He was rescued by the priests of Notre Dame. So he lives there as a bell ringer. When Quasimodo is crowned King of the Fools during Topsy Turvy Day, the hunchback is ordered beaten by the guards as punishment. But Esmerelda, a hot-blooded but compassionate gypsy shows pity on him and helps free him from his punishment. The lovely Esmerelda is the first woman to show kindness to Quasimodo, and he soon falls in love with her.
Contents
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The movie opens in 1482 Paris with Clopin , a gypsy puppeteer, telling a group of children the story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame. The story begins as three gypsies sneak illegally into Paris but are ambushed by a squadron of soldier-like thugs working for Judge Claude Frollo , the Minister of Justice and de facto ruler of Paris. A gypsy woman attempts to flee with her baby, but Frollo catches and kills her just outside Notre Dame, intending to kill her deformed baby (Frollo says to the Archdeacon that the baby is "an unholy demon" and that he is "sending it back to Hell where it belongs"), but the Archdeacon appears and accuses him of murdering an innocent woman. Frollo denies that he is in the wrong saying his conscience is clear, but the Archdeacon declares he can lie to himself all he wants, but he cannot hide his crime from heaven ('the eyes of Notre Dame', the statues of the saints outside the cathedral). Fearing for his soul and to atone for his sin, Frollo reluctantly agrees to raise the deformed child in the Cathedral as his son, naming him Quasimodo .
Twenty years later, Quasimodo has developed into a kind yet isolated young man with three gargoyles as his only company, he is constantly told by Frollo that he is a monster who would be rejected by the uncaring outside world. Despite these warnings, Quasimodo sneaks out of the Cathedral to attend the Feast of Fools, where he is crowned King of Fools but immediately humiliated by the crowd when Frollo's thugs start a riot. Frollo, in the audience, refuses to help Quasimodo, and the crowd only stops when a kind and beautiful gypsy, Esmeralda , frees Quasimodo from his restraints and openly defies Frollo. Frollo orders her arrested, but she escapes by means of illusions, which Frollo calls "witchcraft." Frollo scolds Quasimodo and sends him back inside the Cathedral.
Esmeralda follows Quasimodo to find him, but is herself followed by Phoebus , Frollo's Captain of the Guard. Phoebus, who himself does not approve of Frollo's methods, refuses to arrest her inside the Cathedral saying that she has claimed 'Sanctuary' and thus cannot be arrested as long as she remains in Notre Dame, Frollo finally leaves when the Archdeacon orders him out, but not before warning Esmeralda that his thugs will capture her the minute she leaves the Cathedral. Esmeralda finds Quasimodo in the bell tower and befriends him. As gratitude for helping him in the crowd, Quasimodo helps Esmeralda escape Notre Dame. In return, she leaves him with a map to the gypsy hideout, the Court of Miracles, should he ever choose to leave Notre Dame again. Frollo himself begins to realize his lustful feelings for Esmeralda and wishes to be free of them to escape eternal damnation. He soon learns of Esmeralda's escape, and orders a city-wide manhunt for her, burning down houses in his path. Realizing that Frollo has lost his mind, Phoebus defies Frollo, who orders him executed, but is aided in escape by Esmeralda. After being hit by an arrow, Phoebus falls into the river, but is rescued by Esmeralda, who takes him to Quasimodo for refuge.
Frollo soon returns to the Cathedral, forcing Quasimodo to hide Phoebus. Knowing that Quasimodo helped Esmeralda escape, Frollo bluffs that he knows where the Court of Miracles is and that he intends to attack it at dawn with a battalion. After he leaves, Phoebus requests Quasimodo's help in finding the Court before Frollo. Using the map Esmeralda left, they find it and are almost hung by the gypsies as spies, but are saved when Esmeralda intervenes and clears up the misunderstanding. However, Frollo's army appears and captures them all, with Frollo revealing that he followed Phoebus and Quasimodo.
Frollo then orders Esmeralda burned at the stake after she refuses his proposal of her becoming his mistress. Quasimodo, tied up in the bell tower, initially refuses to help, but when he sees Esmeralda in pain he gives in to his anger and rescues her, yelling "Sanctuary." As Frollo orders his men to attack the cathedral, Phoebus ignites a mutiny among the people of Paris who have had enough of Frollo's tyranny and a battle ensues in the street between the citizenry and Frollo's thug army. Quasimodo places Esmeralda's unconscious body on a bed and pours a cauldron of molten copper onto the streets to ensure nobody gets inside. Frollo, however, manages to break in and force his way past the Archdeacon. Quasimodo, believing Esmeralda to be dead, breaks down beside her body as Frollo comes into the room to kill him with a dagger. Quasimodo, in his fury, fights back and almost kills Frollo but stops when Esmeralda wakes up. Frollo chases them on to the balcony, where he and Quasimodo fight for the final time. The battle ends with both Frollo and Quasimodo falling from the balcony. While Frollo falls to his death, Quasimodo is caught by Phoebus on a lower floor, and the three friends reunite.
As the citizens celebrate their victory over Frollo, Quasimodo reluctantly emerges from the Cathedral to face the populace again, only this time, he is hailed as a hero.
Voice Cast
David Ogden Stiers as The Archdeacon
Production
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Development
The idea to adapt The Hunchback of Notre Dame came from development executive David Stainton in 1993, who was inspired to turn Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame into an animated feature film after reading the Classics Illustrated comic book adaptation then proposed the idea to then-studio chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg. Following Beauty and the Beast, Gary Trousdale had taken the opportunity to take a break from directing, instead spending several months developing storyboards for The Lion King. Following this, Trousdale and Kirk Wise subsequently attempted developing an animated feature based on the Greek myth of Orpheus titled A Song of the Sea, adapting it to make the central character a humpback whale and setting it in the open ocean.
The concept obstinately refused to pull together, but while they were working on the project they were summoned to meet with Katzenberg. "During that time," explained Trousdale, "while we working on it, we got a call from Jeffrey. He said, 'Guys, drop everything – you're working on Hunchback now.'"According to Wise, they believed that it had "a great deal of potential...great memorable characters, a really terrific setting, the potential for fantastic visuals, and a lot of emotion."
Production on The Hunchback of Notre Dame went underway in the summer of 1993.[6] In October 1993, directors Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, art director David Goetz, Roy Conli, Ed Ghertner, Will Finn, Alan Menken, and Stephen Schwartz took a trip to Paris, France for ten days; three days were devoted to exploring Notre Dame including a private tour of rarely glimpsed sites as actual passageways, stairwells, towers, and hidden room within which Hugo set his actions. Also included were visits to the Palace of Justice and an original location of the Court of Miracles.
Writing
Writer Tab Murphy was brought on board to write the screenplay, and it was decided early on that Quasimodo would be the center of the story, as he was in past live-action film adaptations. A love story between Quasimodo and Esmeralda was originally conceived, according to Murphy, but "we decided to make Phoebus more heroic and central to the story. Out of that decision grew the idea of some sort of a triangle between Quasimodo, Esmeralda and Phoebus." Some of the novel's key characters were jettisoned entirely while the gargoyles of Notre Dame were added to the story by Trousdale and Wise, and portrayed as comedic friends and confidantes of Quasimodo as suggested in the novel, which reads "The other statues, the ones of monsters and demons, felt no hatred for Quasimodo…The saints were his friends and blessed him the monsters were his friends, and protected him. Thus he would pour out his heart at length to them."
One of the first changes made to accommodate Disney's request was to turn the villainous Claude Frollo into a judge rather than an archdeacon, thus avoiding religious sensibilities in the finished film. "As we were exploring the characters, especially Frollo, we certainly found a lot of historical parallels to the type of mania he had: the Confederate South, Nazi Germany, take your pick," explained Wise. "Those things influenced our thinking."
Producer Don Hahn evaluated that one inspiration for Frollo was found in Ralph Fiennes's performance as Amon Goeth in Schindler's List, who murders Jews yet desires his Jewish maid. For the opening sequence, Disney story veteran Burny Mattinson constructed an effective sequence that covered much exposition, although studio chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg felt something was missing. Following Stephen Schwartz's suggestion to musicalize the sequence, French animators Paul and Gaëtan Brizzi storyboarded the sequence to Menken and Schwartz's music resulting in "The Bells of Notre Dame".
Lyricist Stephen Schwartz also worked closely with the writing team even suggesting that the audience should be left wondering what the outcome of what Phoebus would do before he douses the torch in water in defiance of Frollo. Another was, unsurprisingly, the film's conclusion. While Frollo's death was retained – and, indeed, made even more horrific – both Quasimodo and Esmerelda were spared their fates and given a happy ending. This revised ending was based in part on Victor Hugo's own libretto to a Hunchback opera, in which he had allowed Captain Phoebus to save Esmerelda from her execution.
Casting
In late 1993, pop singer Cyndi Lauper was the first actor attached to the film during its initial stages. Thinking she was cast as Esmeralda, Lauper was startled to learn she was to voice a gargoyle named Quinn, and was hired one week after one reading with the directors. The development team would later come up with the names of Chaney, Laughton and Quinn – named after the actors who portrayed Quasimodo in previous Hunchback film adaptations. However, Disney's legal department objected to the proposed names of the gargoyles, fearing that the estates of Lon Chaney, Charles Laughton, or Anthony Quinn (who was alive at the time) might file a lawsuit over the use of their names so the names was dropped. Trousdale and Wise then suggested naming the characters Lon, Charles, and Anthony – which resulted in the same legal concern – before instead naming the first two gargoyles after Victor Hugo, and the third as Laverne, which was selected by Kirk Wise as a tribute to Andrews Sisters singer Laverne Andrews.
Now cast as Laverne, Lauper was deemed too youthful for a friend who was to provide Quasimodo wise counsel while at the same time Sam McMurray – best known for his work on The Tracey Ullman Show – was hired for Hugo. Meanwhile, Charles Kimbrough was cast as Victor who at first was unimpressed at an animated adaptation of Hunchback, but later became rather impressed at the level of research that went into the film and how the story ideas transitioned from the novel to the screen. After several recording sessions and test screenings, Lauper and McMurray were called by the directors who regrettably released them from their roles. Jason Alexander , having voiced Abis Mal in The Return of Jafar, was cast as Hugo fulfilling a lifelong desire to be in a Disney film. Laverne was then revisioned into a wiser, mature character with Mary Wickes cast in the role. Following Wickes' death in October 1995, Jane Withers was hired to voice her six remaining lines.
Mandy Patinkin was approached for the title role, but his style of portraying Quasimodo collided with the producers' demands, and Patinkin stated "'I [was] just there at the audition [and I] said, 'I can't do this.'" Tom Hulce was cast as Quasimodo following his first audition for the role, and according to the actor, he noticed during the audition that the Disney executives, producers, and directors were "were staring at the floor. It looked like everyone was at a memorial service" until he noticed the floor was lined with storyboard sketches. According to Wise, the filmmakers "like to audition the voices with our eyes closed, so we see the character's face." Quasimodo was originally portrayed to be more monstrous, older and with more of a speech impediment during the early rehearsals, but Hulce commented that "we experimented, endlessly. At one point I was ready to call in and say 'Things just aren't happening.'". Ultimately, the directors desired to portray Quasimodo with a younger voice different from the previous portrayals since "[Victor] Hugo described Quasimodo as 20". Additionally, Hulce was allowed to do his own singing after being asked to perform a demo recording of "Out There".
Desiring a huskier voice different from the leading Disney heroines, Demi Moore was cast as Esmeralda , and met with Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz on singing. After several singing demos, the actress said "You'd better get someone else,'" according to Schwartz. New York City cabaret singer Heidi Mollenhauer was selected to provide the singing voice. For the role of Phoebus , co-director Kirk Wise explained that "As we're designing the characters, we form a short list of names...to help us find the personality of the character." Subsequently, the filmmakers modeled his portrayal on the personalities of Errol Flynn and John Wayne, and "One of the names on the top of the list all the time was Kevin Kline ." British actor Tony Jay , who declared his role as Frollo as his "bid for immortality", was cast after the directors worked with him in Beauty and the Beast. After watching his portrayal as Uncle Ernie in the musical The Who's Tommy, Broadway actor Paul Kandel was selected to voice Clopin .
Animation
Alongside Pocahontas, storyboard work on The Hunchback of the Notre Dame was among the first to be produced for an animated film on the new Disney Feature Animation building adjacent to the main Disney lot in Burbank, which was dedicated in 1995. However, as the Feature Animation building was occupied with The Lion King and Pocahontas at the time, more animators were hired from Canada and United Kingdom to join the production team for Hunchback, and as the development phase furthered along, most of the entire animation team was moved out into a large warehouse facility on Airway in Glendale, California. As the Disney story artists, layout crew, and animators moved in their new quarters, they decided to name the building "Sanctuary."
Since Who Framed Roger Rabbit, other animators hired by Disney Feature Animation were from Germany, France, Ireland, and additional ones from Canada were involved in providing animation duties at the recently opened satellite studio, Walt Disney Animation Paris, of which about 20 percent of the film was done. Meanwhile, while Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida was prepping their first in-house production then titled The Legend of Mulan, at least seven animators penned about four minutes of screentime, mostly involving Frollo and Quasimodo. Layout, cleanup, and special-effects artists provided additional support.
To achieve large-scale crowd scenes, particularly for the Feast of Fools sequence and the film's climax, computer animation was used to create six types of characters - males and females either average in weight, fat, or thin - which were programmed and assigned 72 specific movements ranging from jumping and clapping. Digital technology also provided a visual sweep that freed Quasimodo to scamper around the cathedral and soar around the plaza to rescue Esmeralda.
Music
The film's soundtrack includes a musical score written by Alan Menken and songs written by Menken and Stephen Schwartz. Songs include " The Bells of Notre Dame " for Clopin, " Out There " for Quasimodo, " Stay in Here " for Frollo, " Topsy Turvy " also for Clopin, " God Help The Outcast " for Esmeralda, " Heaven's Light " also for Quasimodo, " Hell Fire " also for Frollo, " A Guy Like You " for the gargoyles and lastly "The Court of Miracles " for Clopin and the gypsies.
Three songs written for the film were discarded during the storyboarding process and not used: "In a Place of Miracles", "As Long As There's a Moon", and " Someday ", a candidate to replace "God Help the Outcasts". Though not included in the body of the film, "Someday" is heard over the end credits, performed by R&B group All-4-One for the North American release.
Video Games
Edit
In 1996, to tie in with the original theatrical release, The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Topsy Turvy Games was released by Disney Interactive for the PC and the Nintendo Game Boy, which is a collection of mini games based around the Festival of Fools that includes a variation of Balloon Fight.
A world based on The Hunchback of Notre Dame, La Cité des Cloches (The City of Bells), made its debut appearance in the Kingdom Hearts series in Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance. It was the first new Disney world confirmed for the game. All of the main characters except Clopin and the Archdeacon appear. Jason Alexander and Charles Kimbrough were the only actors to reprise their roles from the movie.
Trivia
Edit
This was Tom Hulce 's final film performance before his retirement from films. Hulce was the voice of Quasimodo in this film, and the sequel. Hulce also did Quasimodo's singing voice.
This was also Mary Wickes ' ( Laverne ) last film. She died of cancer on October 10, 1995 before the film was released. Jane Withers provided the remaining dialogue, and provided the voice for Laverne in The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2.
During the song " A Guy Like You ", the gargoyles put a wig on Quasimodo, similar to wig that Tom Hulce wore in the movie Amadeus (1985).
According to the song "Topsy Turvy," the story takes place during and after the 6th of January. However, there is no sign in the atmosphere that it is winter with the exception of the opening sequence.
Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz also worked on the music for Pocahontas.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame was the first Disney animated film to contain a production budget around $100 million dollars at the time, so in theory, it was the most expensive Disney animated film, until Tarzan three years later.
Belle also makes a cameo appearance in the film. During the song Out There , Belle is seen walking through the streets reading her book, which would make some believe that both films take place at the same time. However, this is clearly impossible, based on the fashions, technology and politics seen in Beauty and the Beast, which placed her film in the latter half of the 18th century, pre-revolutionary (pre-1789) France. Glen Keane confirmed that Belle's cameo in the film was not canonical. However, both time periods are similar in the fact that married women were viewed not as equal human beings under God (and the law of today), but as personal property and as obedient, servile slaves to their husbands that (in some extreme cases) can be bought and sold like any purchase (Gaston's behavior towards Belle and all women in his village is a testament to this, and Judge Claude Frollo exudes a similar treatment to Esmeralda in the film as well).
Directors Wise, Trousdale, and Hahn have noted that the three gargoyles might exist only in Quasimodo's imagination and thus may well be split-off pieces of his own identity. However, most of their characteristics, including Hugo's infatuation with the goat Djali, seem unique to their manifestations when present (and there is of course the question of how the gargoyles can be moving around and even helping defend the cathedral if they are not really alive).
Two of the gargoyles are named Victor and Hugo after Victor Hugo. The third gargoyle, Laverne, is named after Laverne Andrews, one of The Andrews Sisters.
According to the audio commentary on the DVD, the gargoyle that resembles a warthog (which can be seen during the climactic battle atop Notre Dame Cathedral) is actually not Pumbaa from The Lion King (1994) but the actual gargoyle that can be seen in that location on the real Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
This was Michael Eisner's (former Disney CEO) favorite film.
The opening scene, in which Clopin sings " The Bells of Notre Dame ," was originally all spoken dialogue. After two revisions, it was decided that it was too dry and boring, and so was turned into a musical number.
Jane Withers, who was hired to complete the role of Laverne following the death of Mary Wickes, had to match Wickes' voice and performance so that audiences wouldn't detect the difference.
GOOFY HOLLER: as the soldiers fall after Quasimodo pulls the rope they were climbing.
This is the 34th full-length animated film from Walt Disney.
The song " Hell Fire " is considered one of the darkest songs written for a Disney film. It was nearly cut from the film.
For the scene where Judge Frollo sings "Hellfire" and sees Esmeralda dancing in the fire before him, the MPAA insisted that the Disney animators make Esmeralda's clothing more well-defined, as she seemed nude.
The last Disney animated film to use harsh language (***, ***, hellfire).
While Quasimodo is singing 'Out There', the camera pans over Paris and zooms in on a street. In this scene, Belle from Beauty and the Beast (1991) is seen walking and reading her book (walks out the bottom of the screen, to the right of the well), Pumbaa from The Lion King (1994) is being carried on a pole by two men (carried out of the bottom of the screen, but left of the well), and another man (in a gray-blue tunic) is shaking out the Carpet from Aladdin (1992).
The film, due to its dark and sexual themes, nearly became the first animated Disney film to receive a PG rating from the MPAA in the US since The Black Cauldron (1985).
Blue and red were used to symbolize good and evil, respectively. Quasimodo's and Esmerelda's disguising cloaks are blue while the firelight Frollo is near as he plots evilly to himself reflects off his face as red.
Directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale cast Tony Jay as Frollo because they loved his voice when they worked with him on Beauty and the Beast (1991), where he voiced Monsieur D'Arque.
According to the commentary of the DVD onto when Kevin Kline did the voice of Phoebus , the directors gave Kline a sword so that he'd portray the role. They also named the horse Achilles because it was funny to hear him say "Achilles, heel."
According to the audio commentary on the DVD, Frollo's horse's name is Snowball.
To stay consistent to the architecture and details of Notre Dame, animators spent several weeks in and around the actual cathedral. They were given office space at the recently-opened Disneyland Paris in the interim.
At one point, the three gargoyles were going to be all male and named Chaney, Laughton, and Quinn - the three actors who have played Quasimodo in other adaptations of the story (Lon Chaney, Charles Laughton, Anthony Quinn).
Quasi's monologue, which begins with "What? What am I supposed to do?" and ends with "And I'm tired of trying to be something I'm not." was recorded in one take.
The Latin chants heard throughout the movie are adapted from actual Gregorian chants, including a portion of the Dies Irae music can be heard in the scene where Frollo kills Quasimodo's mother. It was part of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozarts famous last compositions, Requiem in D Minor. Tom Hulce (Quasimodo) played Mozart in the movie Amadeus (1985).
When supervising animator Michael Surrey (Clopin) heard the song " Court of Miracles " he noted that a portion of it was similar to "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" music used in Fantasia (1940). After this he animated Clopin lifting up his robe to skip towards the lever after Mickey Mouse's movements.
This movie is full of computer animation and CGI backgrounds. All the bells appearing throughout the movie are 3D-rendered. When Quasimodo sings "Out There" and slides down the flying buttress, it appears 3D. During "Topsy Turvy", the confetti and the crowd of hundred people are digital images. While Esmeralda sings " God Help The Outcast ", the reflection of the rose window is computer-rendered. During "Hellfire", the background flames are one example of CGI. When we see the miller's home getting burned, the flames that big and appearing too fast were hard to animate traditionally, so probably the animators used computer generated images for this. When Quasimodo rappels down from Notre Dame to save Esmeralda, we can see hand-drawn animation combined with 3D scenes.
Early on in the movie during "Out There", there is an overhead shot of Notre Dame and the courtyard from a bird's-eye view. During this shot, look closely at one of the buildings in the bottom left corner of the screen - one building has a satellite dish on it.
After the film's initial release a limited edition printing of Victor Hugo's novel was also released. It contained original artwork and an introduction by producer Don Hahn.
The film had its premiere on June 19, 1996 at the Superdome in New Orleans, utilizing six enormous screens, and was preceded by a parade through the French Quarter. The song " Someday " was sung over the credits by the group All-4-One, but the European version replaced them with the British band Eternal.
The multiplane effect was used in several scenes. When Quasimodo sings "Out There", the camera pans over Paris and seems to look three-dimensional. Additionally, the camera pans through the Parisian buildings and we see the Palace of Justice.
This is the only Disney animated film that does not feature any trees.
At the end of the film as the camera zooms out from the Notre Dame cathedral, the pigeons all gather on Laverne again. She shoos them off and asks them if they ever migrate. The fact is, rock doves (the most common breed of pigeon seen in urban areas) do NOT migrate, at least not in the same sense other birds migrate. They may move from one part of a city to another, but for the most part they stay in the same area.
One of two movies released in 1996 in which Demi Moore plays an exotic dancer who catches the eye of, and ultimately brings down, a man in a position of power. The other film is Striptease (1996).
Esmeralda is barefoot for the entire movie.
Supervising animator Andreas Deja really wanted to animate Esmeralda from the beginning of the film's conception, which would've been a stark departure for him - he is best known for animating villains like Gaston in Beauty and the Beast (1991), Jafar in Aladdin (1992), and Scar in The Lion King (1994). When that position went to Tony Fucile, Deja went on to supervise the animation of the titular character in Walt Disney Pictures' next animated film, Hercules (1997).
This film along with other Disney films that were made in the 1990s belong to the era known as Disney Renaissance. A direct-to-video sequel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2 , was released in 2002.
all information on Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame came from http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/The_Hunchback_of_Notre_Dame
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Which American footballer player was nicknamed ‘The Refrigerator’? | William Perry - `The Refrigerator Man` music video - YouTube
William Perry - `The Refrigerator Man` music video
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Uploaded on Jan 24, 2011
The Refrigerator Man by William "The Fridge" Perry
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In the US television show ‘The Simpson’s’, what colour are Bart’s shorts? | ESPN.com - Page2 - The List: Best football nickname of all-time
The List: Best football nickname of all-time
From the Page 2 mailbag
Poll Results
Here's how the Page 2 staff ranked the best football nicknames of all-time:
1. Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch
2. "Broadway Joe" Namath
3. Lester "The Molester" Hayes
4. "Mean Joe" Greene
5. "The Mad Stork" (Ted Hendricks)
6. "The Assassin" (Jack Tatum)
7. "Sweetness" (Walter Payton)
8. Andre "Bad Moon" Rison
9. Lou "The Toe" Groza
10. Eugene "Mercury" Morris
Honorable mention: "Papa Bear" (George Halas), "The Manster" (Randy White), "Prime Time" (Deion Sanders), Dick "Night Train" Lane, "The Juice" (O.J. Simpson) "He Hate Me" (Rod Smart), Sam "The Rifle" Etcheverry, "Joe Cool" (Joe Montana), Elbert "Ickey" Woods, Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, Paul "Bear" Bryant, "Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside" (Felix "Doc" Blanchard and Glenn Davis), "Bronko" Nagurski, "LT" (Lawrence Taylor), "Slingin' Sammy" Baugh.
On Wednesday, Page 2 ran its list of the best nickname of all-time in football. We asked for your take, and you filled our mailbag with plenty of opinions.
After going through more than 1,500 letters, here's a complete rundown of the voting, along with some of the best letters about each nickname:
1. "Sweetness" -- Walter Payton (173 letters)
There has never been a more complete nickname that described the overwhelming and beautiful performance on the gridiron, while at the same time describing the true essence of the man. Walter Payton was the biggest class act that the sports world has ever seen, and he is truly missed.
Grant Bailie
Brandon, Fla.
My choice for the best nickname would have to be the Late Great Walter Payton's nickname, Sweetness. It is the only nickname I have ever heard that describes "the style" of a player. The incredible blend of moves, speed, and deceptive power was incredible. The man was tougher than Emmitt Smith, had more moves than Barry Sanders (without the negative yards), and actually looked for contact if he wasn't faking the defender out of his jock. What other term could describe him besides sweetness? And the most amazing thing is that he died with the same dignity and grace that he played with and lived his entire life with. His death was a loss for all of us, not just sports fans.
Chris
2. "The Refrigerator" -- William Perry (75 letters)
Opponents certainly didn't want the Fridge to fall on them.
He was not only as big as a refrigerator, but he could also clean yours out!
Joe Mayersky
You ever help a buddy move? ...
Joshua Ziegert
Newbury Park, Calif.
Everybody knew the fridge and his immortal words from the Super Bowl Shuffle. "Your lookin' at the fridge and I'm the rookie, I may be large but I no dumb cookie."
Chadwick Cate
Everyone loves to tease the fat kid.
Ryan Brooks
3. "Too Tall"-- Ed Jones (69 letters)
Nobody could create more havoc in the center of the field for quarterbacks and kickers
Andrew
He was an anomaly for his time, standing so much taller than his team mates.
Mark Hanson
Los Altos, Calif.
"Sweetness" described Walter Payton both on and off the field.
The name really fit him, plus it spiced up an otherwise bland name. Ed Jones sounds like a used-car dealer!
Wes Engbrecht
Bismarck, N.D.
4. "White Shoes" -- Billy Johnson (46 letters)
Everybody imitated his patented dance, and for good reason ... an original dance for the end zone from a receiver who was so smooth he never got his shoes dirty.
W.G. Ramirez
Just a classic colorful nickname for a flamboyant personality.
Brian Cesca
Charlotte, NC
5. "Mean" -- Joe Greene (37 letters)
Not only does it describe his demeanor on the field, but the nickname became his name. His name isn't simply Joe Green, it's Mean Joe Greene and everyone I've ever known refers to him by the latter. Sure, Broadway and Crazy Legs are worthy, but only Mean Joe Greene's nickname is inherent.
Rick Ouellette
The nickname strikes fear into each opponent and his play always backed the name up.
Matthew
6. "He Hate Me" -- Rod Smart (36 letters)
Just absolutely hilarious and the only thing that was memorable about the XFL.
Mark Creek
Hagerstown, Maryland
In 20 years, when researchers go through the annals of sports history, only one three-word phrase will forever be linked with the XFL: "He Hate Me." I've got to tell you, this nickname is so good, I didn't know this guy's real name until I looked at the honorable mention list on the editor's picks.
Mike
7. "The Freak" -- Jevon Kearse (35 letters)
Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse has "freaky" ability.
Note: Randy Moss also received votes for 'The Freak'
With speed, quickness, tenacity and a tackle-to-tackle wing span Jevon Kearse goes beyond what the Football Gods had in mind for Man...
Kerry Henderson
His strength, speed, skills and heart are abnormal. He is a freak of nature.
Matt Kern
San Francisco
Both Randy Moss and Jevon Kearse defy reason by just being physically more overwhelming than any normal human should ever be.
Kirit Ganguli
Pittsburgh
8. "The Minister of Defense" -- Reggie White (27 letters)
What else needs to be said? Reggie was simply the most awesome defensive player the game ever saw. And the nickname fits well since he is an ordained Minister. Many NFL QBs were praying to God when they saw Reggie breathing down their necks.
Julian Bremser
Philadelphia
Football is played on Sundays, and Sunday was certainly a holy day of the Lord when Reggie White was on the field. The man's amazing defense kept the sabbath!
Jonathan Averall
The "Minister of Defense" was dominant in the trenches.
9. "Broadway Joe" -- Joe Namath (22 letters)
That was his second home away from football.
Joseph Chiccarella
Mesa, Arizona
Joe Namath was an example for many athletes to follow. He was flashy, charismatic, boisterous and most of all a fierce competitor. He was the perfect reflection of how "New Yorker's" were expected to act at that time. He was definitely a right down "Broadway" kind of guy.
Rick Blankenship
Houston
What better to describe a cold hearted assassin. Who would promise a Super Bowl victory against the mighty Colts. Then do a commercial wearing pantyhose. Then still do a nike commercial some 20 years latter. And then be remixed into one of Slim Shady's songs by the NFL, "Hi my name is Joe".
Erik Betts
Bartlesville, Okla
10. "Diesel" -- John Riggins (18 letters)
The perfect nickname for a player who would tirelessly run the ball thirty to forty times each game while running over not around defenders. At the end of every practice the coaches would run the Riggo Drill, in which Riggins would get the ball on ten consecutive running plays to finish out the day. And with all of the touchdowns he scored, you never saw him spike the ball! You gotta love him and his nickname!
Dave Kidwell
Chesapeake Beach, Md.
Honorable mention:
"Prime Time" Deion Sanders, "Ironhead" Craig Heyward, "The Snake" Kenny Stabler, "Bullet" Bob Hayes, "Galloping Ghost" Red Grange, Andre "Bad Moon"Rison, "The Assassin" Jack Tatum, "Bambi" Lance Allworth, Eric "Sleeping with" Beinenemy, "Night Train" Dick Lane, "Moose" Daryl Johnston,"Tombstone" Rich Jackson, and "The Nigerian Nightmare" Christian Okoye.
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In Greek mythology, what is the name of the son of Daedelus, for whom Dadaelus made wings from feathers and wax so he could escape Crete, but the wax melted when he flew too near to the Sun, and he fell into the sea and drowned? | Daedalus | Greek mythology | Britannica.com
Greek mythology
Daedalus, ( Greek: “Skillfully Wrought”) mythical Greek inventor, architect, and sculptor, who was said to have built, among other things, the paradigmatic Labyrinth for King Minos of Crete .
Daedalus and Icarus, antique bas-relief; in the Villa Albani, Rome.
Alinari/Art Resource, New York
Ancient sources for the legends of Daedalus give varying accounts of his parentage. It is reported that in a fit of envy he murdered his talented nephew and apprentice—named Perdix by some and Talos by Apollodorus—who is said to have created both the first compass (the type used in drafting) and the first saw . Daedalus is said to have thrown the boy from the Acropolis , for which act he was banished from Athens .
Arriving in Crete, where his creative reputation preceded him, Daedalus was welcomed at the court of Minos and his wife, Pasiphae , and he quickly became embroiled in another messy situation. Because Minos had kept a white bull given him by Poseidon (god of the sea) for the purpose of sacrifice , Poseidon had caused Pasiphae to physically desire the bull. She asked Daedalus to fashion a wooden cow in which she could hide and mate with the bull. She thereby became pregnant and bore the Minotaur , a creature with a human body and a bull’s head. Minos too turned to Daedalus, requesting him to build a Labyrinth, from which the Minotaur could not escape.
When Theseus , a prince of Athens, went to Crete as a human sacrifice to the Minotaur, Ariadne (the daughter of Minos and Pasiphae) fell in love with him. Wanting him to live, she asked Daedalus how to master the secret of his Labyrinth. Because Daedalus suggested how Theseus might accomplish an escape—by securing a flaxen thread to the entrance of the Labyrinth and following that thread out again—Theseus was able to kill the Minotaur and escape the Labyrinth. He took Ariadne with him when he left Crete.
Similar Topics
Prometheus
Needless to say, Minos was angry at that turn of events, and he shut Daedalus and his son Icarus in the Labyrinth. Pasiphae, however, released him. Unable to sail away, because Minos controlled the ships, Daedalus fashioned wings of wax and feathers for himself and for Icarus and escaped to Sicily using the wings. Icarus, however, flew too near the Sun, his wings melted, and he fell into the sea and drowned. The island on which his body was washed ashore was later named Icaria. Minos pursued Daedalus to Sicily and was killed there by the daughters of Cocalus, the king of the Sicani , with whom Daedalus was staying.
The Greeks of the historic age attributed to Daedalus buildings and statues the origins of which were lost in the past. Later critics ascribed to him such innovations as representing humans in statues with their feet apart and their eyes open. A phase of early Greek art, Daedalic sculpture , is named for him.
| Icarus |
Scaramanga’s servant Nick Nack is a character in which James Bond film? | Daedalus and Portrait
The Daedalus Myth: Its Role in A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST... James Joyceâs A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a novel of complex themes developed ...
The Daedalus Myth: Its Role in A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST... James Joyce s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a novel of complex themes developed through frequent allusions to classical mythology. The myth of Daedalus and Icarus serves as a structuring element in the novel, uniting the central themes of individual rebellion and discovery, producing a work of literature that illuminates the motivations of an artist, and the development of his individual philosophy. James
Daedalus Myth And Portrait Of The Artist
James Joyceâs A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a novel of complex themes developed through frequent allusions to classical mythology. The myth of Daedalus and Icarus ...
Joyce chose the name Stephen Dedalus to link his hero with the mythical Greek hero, Daedalus. In Greek myth, Daedalus was an architect, inventor, and artisan. By request of King Minos, Daedalus built a labyrinth on Crete to contain a monster called the Minotaur, half bull and half man. Later, for displeasing the king, Daedalus and his son Icarus were both confined in this labyrinth, which was so complex that even its creator could not find his
The Daedalus Myth- Its Role in A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST
James Joyceâs A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a novel of complex themes developed through frequent allusions to classical mythology. The myth of Daedalus and ...
way out. Instead, Daedalus fashioned wings of wax and feathers so that he and his son could escape. When Icarus flew too high -- too near the sun -- in spite of his father s warnings, his wings melted, and he fell into the sea and drowned. His more cautious father flew to safety (World Book 3). By using this myth in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (Portrait of the Artist), Joyce
The Daedalus Myth: Its Role In A Portrait Of The Artist...
James Joyce s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a novel of complex themes developed through frequent allusions to classical mythology. The myth of Daedalus ...
succeeds in giving definitive treatment to an archetype that was well established long before the twentieth century (Beebe 163). The Daedalus myth gives a basic structure to Portrait of the Artist. From the beginning, Stephen, like most young people, is caught in a maze, just as his namesake Daedalus was. The schools are a maze of corridors ;Dublin is a maze of streets. Stephen s mind itself is a convoluted maze filled with dead ends and circular
On "O Daedalus, Fly Away Home"
align="center">John Hatcher In 'O Daedalus, Fly Away Home ;a Georgia slave clings to his remembrances of Africa and recalls a myth of his 'gran' who 'spread his arms and/ ...
reasoning (Hackett 203):Met her today point blank in Grafton Street. The crowd brought us together. We both stopped. She asked me why I never came, said she had heard all sorts of stories about me. This was only to gain time. Asked me, was I writing poems? About whom? I asked her. This confused her more and I felt sorry and mean. Turned off that valve at once and opened the
Hero 3
HEROES In today s world we don t seem to have any heroes. You know this when you fail to see Bill Clinton s name on the top ten admirable ...
spiritual-heroic refrigerating apparatus, invented and patented in all countries by Dante Alighieri. (Joyce 246)Life poses riddles at every turn. Stephen roams the labyrinth searching his mind for answers (Gorman 204). The only way out seems to be to soar above the narrow confines of the prison, as did Daedalus and his son. In Portrait of the Artist, the world presses on Stephen. His own thoughts are melancholy, his proud spirit cannot tolerate the painful burden of
James JoyceâS "A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man"
The Daedalus Myth: Its Role in A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST... James Joyceâs A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a novel of complex themes developed through ...
reality. In the end, he must rise above it (Farrell 206). At first, Stephen does not understand the significance of his unusual name. He comes to realize, by the fourth chapter, that like Daedalus he is caught in a maze:Every part of his day, divided by what he regarded now as the duties of his station in life, circled about its own centre of spiritual energy. His life seemed to have drawn near to eternity ;every thought,
King Minos
TITLE: KING MINOS I. TYPE OF MYTH: Greek II. GODS OR GODDESSES INVOLVED: Zeus and Poseidon III. MONSTERS OR CREATURES INVOLVED: Minotaur IV. HUMANS INVOLVED: King Minos, Pasiphae, Daedalus, Androgos, ...
word and deed, every instance of consciousness could be made to revibrate radiantly in heaven... (Joyce 142)Throughout the novel, Joyce freely exploits the symbolism of the name (Kenner 231). If he wants to be free, Daedalus must fly high above the obstacles in his path. Like the father Daedalus and the son Icarus, Stephen seeks a way out of his restraints. In Stephen s case, these are family, country and religion. In a sense, Portrait of the Artist
The Flight Of Icarus
I find the most fascinating of ancient writings to be Greek mythology. Writings produced by the early Greeks, in my opinion, even rival modern day literature. Hard to believe considering ...
is a search for identity ;Stephen searches for the meaning of his strange name (Litz 70). Like Daedalus, he will fashion his own wings -- of poetry, not of wax -- as a creative artist. But at times Stephen feels like Icarus, the son who, if he does not heed his father s advice, may die for his stubborn pride (Litz 71). At the end of Portrait of the Artist, he seems to be calling on a
Can A Computer Lie?
One of the "characters" in the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey (directed by Stanley Kubrick) is a computer called HAL 9000. In addition to having a highly developed artificial ...
substitute, spiritual parent for support, when he refers to Daedalus as "old father, old artificer."(Joyce 247),(Ellman 16). Even at Stephen s moment of highest decision, he thinks of himself as a direct descendant of his namesake Daedalus (Litz 71). Stephen s past is important only because it serves as the fuel of the present. Everything that Stephen does in his present life feeds off the myth of Daedalus and Icarus, making him what he is (Peake 82).
song of solomon
The Icarus Myth in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon Throughout literature it has been common for authors to use allusions to complement recurrent motifs in their work. ...
When he wins social acceptance by his schoolmates at Clongowes, he does so by acting deliberately in isolation -- much as Daedalus in his many endeavors: "They made a cradle of their locked hands and hoisted him up among them and carried him along till he struggled to get free" (Joyce 52). When he reports Father Dolan to the Rector, he defends his name, the symbol of his identity (Peake 71):It was wrong ;it was unfair and cruel:
Song Of Solomon
The Icarus Myth in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon Throughout literature it has been common for authors to use allusions to complement recurrent motifs in their work. In Toni Morrison's ...
and, as he sat in the refectory, he suffered time after time in memory the same humiliation until he began to wonder whether it might not really be that there was something in his face which made him look like a schemer and he wished he had a little mirror to see. But there could not be ;and it was unjust and cruel and unfair. (Joyce 47)The myth s pattern of flight and fall also gives shape to the
Symbolism In James Joyce & Kafka's Protagonists
So often characters in fiction can be traced back to a symbolic archetype, be it Biblical, mythological or psychological. In Kafka's The Metamorphosis and James Joyce's A Portrait of the ...
novel. Each chapter ends with an attempted flight, leading into a partial failure or fall at the beginning of the next chapter. The last chapter ends with the most ambitious attempt, to fly away from home, religion, and nation to a self-imposed artistic exile (Wells 252): "Welcome, O life! I go to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race."(Joyce
Song Of Solomon
The Icarus Myth in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon Throughout literature it has been common for authors to use allusions to complement recurrent motifs in their work. In Toni Morrison's ...
247). By keeping his audience in doubt as to whether Stephen is Icarus or Daedalus, Joyce attains a control that is sustained through the rhythm of the novel s action, the movements of its language, and the presiding myth of Daedalus and Icarus (Litz 72). Stephen Dedalus is not Joyce s alter-ego, but another paralyzed victim of the Dublin environment (Kenner 229). Stephen s environment is what confines him to a world lacking in creativity and innovation:
Song Of Solomon By Morrison
The Icarus Myth in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon Throughout literature it has been common for authors to use allusions to complement recurrent motifs in their work. In Toni Morrison's ...
"He wandered up and down the dark slimy streets peering into the gloom of lanes and doorways, listening eagerly for any sound. He moaned to himself like some baffled prowling beast." (Joyce 93). Stephen s ultimate rebellion is a classic example of a young person s struggle against the conformity demanded of him by society (Grose 242). The young Stephen possesses a childish faith in his family, his religion, and his country. As he matures, he
Hubris And Prudence
Dante wants two things: immortality in art and in heaven. But he realizes that he might not have the necessary ability to write his Commedia and still go to heaven. ...
comes to feel these institutions are attempting to destroy his independent spirit. He must escape them to find himself (Ellman 15). Stephen alone continually discards the scripts or plans he has been handed. Dutiful son, docile student, repentant priest -- he refuses all of these titles in the name of creativity. Stephen s ancient namesake did much the same, rejecting the classical society of ancient Greece, and opting for a more unconventional life as an artist (Brandabur
'To a Friend Whose Work has Come to Triumph'
To a Friend Whose Work Has Come to Triumph essay In the poem "To a Friend Whose Work Has Come to Triumph", Anne Sexton alludes to the flight of ...
161). Stephen s spiritual struggle is one involving the acceptance or rejection of this ordered other world (Farrell 207). Stephen s rebellion is directed against numerous opponents. One is his father, Simon Dedalus. As Stephen discovers that his father is a drunken, ineffectual failure, much in contrast to the Daedalus of myth, he rejects his authority:Stephen watched the three glasses being raised from the counter as his father and two of his cronies drank to the memory of
An Analysis Of
In the poem "To a Friend Whose Work Has Come to Triumph", Anne Sexton alludes to the flight of Icarus and Daedalus and to "To a Friend Whose Work Has ...
their past. An abyss of fortune or temperament sundered him from them. His mind seemed older than theirs: it shone coldly on their strifes and happiness and regrets like a moon upon a younger earth. No life or youth stirred in him as it had stirred in them. He had known neither the pleasure of companionship with others nor the vigour of rude male health nor filial piety. (Joyce 89)Even though Stephen may envy his
To a Friend Whose Work Has Come to Triumph
In the poem "To a Friend Whose Work Has Come to Triumph", Anne Sexton alludes to the flight of Icarus and Daedalus and to "To a Friend Whose Work ...
father somewhat, he is constantly trying to prevent himself from accepting even the most casual and insignificant suggestions of his companions and his environment (Peake 78). Stephen also rejects the bonds of a religion that restricts his natural impulses. From the beginning, the consciousness of Stephen Dedalus is dominated by the presence of the church and its priests (Adams 235). Catholicism imposes a burden of guilt that weighs him down. He must "admit" and "confess" and "apologize"
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Which British boxer is nicknamed ‘King Khan’? | Draws
0
Amir Khan is a British boxer of Pakistani descent. Catapulted into the nation’s conscious when he became Britain’s youngest-ever Olympic boxing medallist with a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Games aged 17, Khan is the current WBA light-welterweight champion of the world and his stock is rising fast.
Born and raised in Bolton, England, Khan is a practicing Muslim and pillar of his local community where he invested £1m of his own money to building the Gloves Community Centre and boxing gym to keep youths off the street.
Having turned pro in 2005, Khan’s career started swimmingly and he quickly moved to 18-0 before sensationally losing for the first time to Columbian bruiser Breidis Prescott in September 2008. The brutal knockout Khan suffered within 54 seconds of the first round led him to renowned American trainer Freddie Roach and he hasn’t looked back since.
Nicknamed ‘King Khan’, the young fighter’s return to the ring under the tutelage of Roach saw him finally begin living up to his moniker. There was a boxing master class over fading Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera, a title win over hard as nails Andriy Kotelnik and a one-sided beating of contender Paulie Malignaggi to follow.
Now splitting his time between his home in Bolton, training at the Wild Card Gym in LA, and joining up with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao for training in Baguio City, Philippines, Khan has set his sights on cleaning up the light-welterweight division before moving up to welterweight and taking on the likes of Floyd Mayweather .
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| Amir Khan |
In poetry, an alexandrine is a line of verse comprising how many syllables? | Amir Khan Net Worth | Celebrity Net Worth
Amir Khan Net Worth
Amir Khan net worth:
$30 Million
Amir Khan net worth: Amir Khan is a British professional boxer who has a net worth of $30 million dollars. Born in Bolton, England, Amir Khan is a descendant of the Janjua Ranjput, a royal warrior clan in Pakistan, his family's homeland. He graduated from Bolton Community College and is part of an athletic family. He focuses on boxing, but is also an accomplished athlete in cricket, football, and basketball. He began boxing competitively while in elementary school, winning multiple honors by age 11, including Gold at the 2003 Junior Olympics and multiple Junior ABA titles. He went on to represent Britain in the 2004 Summer Olympics and won the Silver medal. In 2008, he began his professional career by defeating Martin Kristjansen for the Commonwealth Lightweight title. After winning a few more bouts he sacked his longtime trainer, Oliver Harrison. He then began training with Jorge Rubio, but the combination was not a good one. Eventually, he began working with Freddie Roach and found his stride again. He has continued to win professional bouts throughout his career. As of this writing he has won 31 of his 34 career bouts. In May 2016, Amir will earn a career-high $10-15 million fighting Saul Alvarez.
Other Boxer's net worths:
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A group of which birds is known as a Muster or a Phalanx? | Group Names for Birds
Group Names for Birds: A Partial List
By Terry Ross
A bevy of quail A bouquet of pheasants [when flushed] A brood of hens A building of rooks A cast of hawks [or falcons] A charm of finches A colony of penguins A company of parrots A congregation of plovers A cover of coots A covey of partridges [or grouse or ptarmigans] A deceit of lapwings A descent of woodpeckers A dissimulation of birds A dole of doves An exaltation of larks A fall of woodcocks A flight of swallows [or doves, goshawks, or cormorants] A gaggle of geese [wild or domesticated] A host of sparrows A kettle of hawks [riding a thermal] A murmuration of starlings A murder of crows A muster of storks A nye of pheasants [on the ground] An ostentation of peacocks A paddling of ducks [on the water] A parliament of owls A party of jays A peep of chickens A pitying of turtledoves A raft of ducks A rafter of turkeys A siege of herons A skein of geese [in flight] A sord of mallards A spring of teal A tidings of magpies A trip of dotterel An unkindness of ravens A watch of nightingales A wedge of swans [or geese, flying in a "V"] A wisp of snipe
Any of these group names may properly be used by birders who wish to display their erudition, although it is probably linguistically inaccurate (and it certainly is bad manners) to upbraid someone who refers to "a bunch of ravens" by saying, "Surely you mean `an unkindness of ravens,' my good fellow." Most of these terms date back at least 500 years. Some of them have been in continuous use since then; others have gone out of fashion and been resurrected in the last century or two; still others only exist on lists.
Most of these terms are listed in James Lipton's An Exaltation of Larks. Lipton's list is substantially based on very old sources. There were manuscript lists of group names in the 15th century, and these lists appeared in some of the first books printed in England. Many of them make their first appearance in John Lydgate's Debate between the Horse, Goose, and Sheep (1440); and Lydgate's terms along with others appear in The Book of Hawking and Hunting (also known as The Book of St. Albans) by Dame Juliana Barnes (1486). Whether Lydgate and Barnes coined any of these terms, or whether they were setting down the terms that were considered proper in their day is not known. Many of the terms did catch on, and the lists they appeared on were frequently reprinted.
The best source I know for investigating the histories of English words is the Oxford English Dictionary. Unfortunately, on the question whether these terms ever were or still are appropriate, the OED is not entirely helpful. To make sense of the matter, I have placed the group names into groups--
GROUP A--The following group names are standard: A bevy of quail A bouquet of pheasants A brood of hens A cast of hawks A charm of finches A covey of partridges A flight of swallows A gaggle of geese A nye of pheasants A siege of herons A skein of geese A trip of dotterel A wisp of snipe GROUP B--These terms are not group names for a particular type of bird, but have been commonly used for many different types: Colony Company Flock Parliament Party GROUP C--These terms are archaic; they were once obsolete, but they have been revived somewhat in the 19th or 20th centuries: A building of rooks A murmuration of starlings A muster of peacocks A peep of chickens A sord of mallards A spring of teal A watch of nightingales GROUP D--These terms are obsolete; they appeared on the old lists, but almost nobody has used them in centuries: A congregation of plovers A dissimulation of birds A dole of doves A fall of woodcock A host of sparrows A paddling of ducks An unkindness of ravens GROUP E--These terms are not in the OED at all as group names for birds: A cover of coots A kettle of hawks A murder of crows An ostentation of peacocks A pitying of turtledoves A rafter of turkeys A tidings of magpies
My categories are imprecise, but they provide some guidance about usage. Have no qualms about using any of the terms in group A; use the terms in group B for any group of birds that seems apt; use the terms in groups C and D only if you don't mind being thought pedantic or literary; avoid the terms in group E unless you know something the OED doesn't.
Alas, the OED itself is not totally reliable: the word "kettle" (as both a noun and a verb) has been used by hawk watchers for many years, and it has often appeared in print; the OED editors obviously are not birders. It may well be that the other terms in group E appear on the 15th-century lists and were simply missed.
Thanks to the following for their suggestions and contributions: Bruce Helmboldt, Stephan L. Moss, Pete Janzen, Macklin Smith, Billie Jo Johnstone, Richard Danca, Gail Mackiernan, Alice Rasa.
Review the correspondence on this matter from BirdChat.
View a list of whimsical group names submitted by chatters.
| Stork |
The Raymond Revue Bar strip club featured in which Beatles film? | Collective Nouns
Collective Nouns
One of the many oddities of the English language is the multitude of different names given to collections or groups, be they beasts, birds, people or things. Many of these collective nouns are beautiful and evocative, even poetic.
A colony of auks (flock, raft)
A colony of avocets
A flock of birds (dissimulation, fleet, flight, parcel, pod, volary, )
A sedge of bitterns (siege)
A chain of bobolinks
A brood of chickens (cletch, clutch, peep)
A chattering of choughs (clattering)
A covert of coots ( commotion, cover, fleet, flock, pod, rasp, swarm)
A flight of cormorants (gulp)
A sedge of cranes (herd, sedge, siege)
A murder of crows ( hover, muster, parcel)
A head of curlews (herd)
A trip of dotterels
A dole of doves ( dule, flight, piteousness, pitying, prettying)
A flush of ducks (badelynge, brace, bunch, dopping, flock, paddling, plump, raft, safe, skein, sord, string, team)
A flight of dunbirds (rush)
A fling of dunlins
A convocation of eagles (aerie)
A cast of falcons
A charm of finches (chirm, trembling, trimming)
A stand of flamingos
A gaggle of geese (flock, plump, skein, team, wedge)
A charm of goldfinches (chattering, drum, troubling)
A dopping of goosanders
A covey of grouse (brace, brood, flight, pack)
A bazaar of guillemots
A mews of hawks (aerie, cast, kettle, mew, moulting, screw, stream)
A brood of hens
A sedge of herons (flight, hedge, rookery, siege)
A charm of hummingbirds (chattering, drum, troubling)
A colony of ibises
A band of jays (party, scold)
A desert of lapwings (deceit)
A parcel of linnets
An exaltation of larks (ascension, bevy, flight)
A congregation of magpies (charm, flock, gulp, murder, tiding, tittering, tribe, )
A sord of mallards (flush, puddling, sute)
A plump of moorhens
A watch of nightingales (match, pray)
A pride of ostriches (flock)
A parliament of owls (stare)
A fling of oxbirds
A company of parrots (flock, pandemonium, psittacosis)
A covey of partridges (bevy, bew, clutch, warren)
A muster of peacocks (ostentation, pride)
A pod of pelicans (scoop)
A colony of penguins (parcel, rookery)
A cadge of peregrines
A nye of pheasants (bouquet, head, nide, warren, )
A flight of pigeons (flock, kit, passel, )
A knob of pintails [small number]
A congregation of plovers (band, flight, leash, stand, wing)
A rush of pochards (flight, knob[small number])
A run of poultry
A bevy of quails (covey, drift)
An unkindness of ravens (aerie, conspiracy)
A crowd of redwings
A parliament of rooks (building, clamour, congregation, shoal, wing)
A hill of ruffs
A dopping of sheldrakes (doading)
A walk of snipes (wisp)
A host of sparrows (meinie, quarrel, tribe, ubiquity)
A murmuration of starlings (chattering, cloud, congregation, clutter)
A mustering of storks (flight, phalanx)
A flight of swallows (gulp)
A herd of swans (bank, bevy, drift, eyrar, game, herd, lamentation, sownder, squadron, team, wedge, whiteness, whiting)
A flock of swifts
A spring of teals (bunch, coil, knob, raft)
A mutation of thrushes
A flock of turkeys (dole, dule, raffle, raft, rafter, posse)
A pitying of turtledoves
A colony of vultures (committee, wake)
A plump of waterfowls (bunch, knob, raft)
A company of widgeons (bunch, coil, flight, knob, trip)
A trip of wildfowls (bunch, knob, lute, plump,scry, skein, sord, sute)
A fall of woodcocks (covey, flight, plump)
A descent of woodpeckers
A cluster of antelopes (herd, tribe)
A shrewdness of apes (troop)
A pace of asses (drove, coffle, herd)
A congress of baboons (flange, troop)
A cete of badgers (colony)
A cloud of bats (colony)
A sloth of bears (sleuth)
A colony of beavers (family, lodge)
A herd of bisons (gang)
A sute of bloodhounds
A herd of boars (singular)
A sounder of (wild) boars [12+]
A herd of bucks (leash)
A gang of buffalos (herd, obstinacy)
A drove of bullocks
A flock of camels (caravan, herd, train)
A herd of caribous
A clowder of cats (glaring, cluster, clutter)
A destruction of (wild) cats (dout, dowt)
A herd of cattle (drift, drove, mob)
A herd of chamois
A rake of colts (rack, rag)
A bury of conies (game)
A flink of cows [12+]
A pack of coyotes (band, rout)
A litter of cubs
A herd of deers (bunch, leash, mob, parcel, rangale)
A pack of dogs (kennel)
A pod of dolphins (flock, school, team)
A herd of donkeys (drove)
A herd of elands
A herd of elephants (parade)
A gang of elks (herd)
A business of ferrets (cast, fesnying)
A skulk of foxes (earth, lead, leash, troop)
A brace of geldings
A journey of giraffes (corps, group, herd, tower)
A herd of gnus (implausibility)
A trip of goats (flock, herd, trip, tribe)
A band of gorillas (whoop)
A leash of greyhounds
A group of guinea pigs
A horde of hamsters
A drove of hares (down, flick, herd, husk, kindle, leash, trace, trip)
A herd of harts
A array of hedgehogs (prickle)
A parcel of hinds
A bloat of hippopotami (crash, herd, pod, school, thunder)
A drift of hogs (drove, parcel)
A stable of horses (drove, harras, herd, remuda, string, stud, team)
A pack of hounds (cry, hunt, kennel, leash, meet, mute, stable, sute)
A clan of hyenas
A mob of kangaroos (troop)
A kindle of kittens (litter)
A fall of lambs
A leap of leopards (lepe)
A kindle of leverets
A pride of lions (flock, sault, sawt, sowse, troop)
A herd of llamas
A richness of martens (richesse)
A mischief of mice (horde, nest, trip)
A labour of moles (company, movement)
A band of mongooses (pack)
A troop of monkeys (cartload, mission, tribe, wilderness)
A herd of moose
A barren of mules (pack, rake, span)
A family of otters (bevy, raft, romp)
A team of oxen (drove, herd, meinie, span, yoke)
A pomp of pekingese
A drove of pigs (drift, flock, herd)
A doylt of (tame) pigs
A sounder of (wild) pigs
A farrow of piglets (litter)
An aurora of polar bears (pack)
A chine of polecats
A string of ponies (herd)
A prickle of porcupines
A school of porpoises (herd, pod)
A coterie of prairie dogs (town)
A litter of pups
A colony of rabbits (bury, drove, flick, kindle, leash, nest, trace, warren, wrack)
A field of racehorses (string)
A nursery of raccoons (gaze)
A colony of rats (horde, mischief, swarm)
A crash of rhinoceroses (herd, stubbornness)
A bevy of roe deers
A colony of seals (harem, herd, pod, rookery, spring)
A flock of sheep (down, drift, drove, fold, herd, meinie, mob, parcel, trip)
A surfeit of skunks
A dray of squirrels (colony)
A pack of stoats (trip)
A drove of swine (herd)
A doylt of (tame) swine (drift, trip)
A sounder of (wild) swine [12+]
An ambush of tigers (streak)
A blessing of unicorns
A huddle of walruses (herd, ugly)
A mob of wallabyies
A sneak of weasels (gang, pack)
A grind of bottle-nosed whales
A school of whales (float, gam, herd, mob, pod, run, shoal, troup)
A destruction of wildcats (dout)
A herd of wildebeests
A pack of wolves (herd, rout)
A mob of wombats
A colony of ants (army, bike, swarm)
A swarm of bees (bike, cast, cluster, drift, erst, game, grist, hive, rabble, stand)
A bike of (wild) bees
A flight of butterflies (kaleidoscope, rabble, swarm)
An army of caterpillars
A swarm of flies (business, cloud, grist, hatch)
A cloud of gnats (horde, rabble, swarm)
A cloud of grasshoppers (cluster, swarm)
A bike of hornets (nest, swarm)
A flight of insects (horde, plague, rabble, swarm)
A flock of lice (colony, infestation)
A plague of locusts (cloud, swarm)
A scourge of mosquitoes (swarm)
A clutter of spiders (cluster)
A colony of termites (swarm)
A colony of wasps (bike, nest)
A company of angel fish
A company of archer fish
A battery of barracudas
A fleet of bass (shoal)
A grind of blackfish
A school of butterfly fish
A school of cod
A swarm of dragonet fish
A troop of dogfish
A shoal of fish (catch, draught, fray, haul, run, school)
A glide of flying fish
A glint of goldfish (troubling)
A glean of herrings (army, shoal)
A shoal of mackerels
A shoal of minnows (steam, stream, swarm)
A pack of perch
A shoal of pilchards (school)
A cluster of porcupine fish
A party of rainbow fish
A shoal of roach
A bind of salmons(draught, leap, run, school, shoal)
A family of sardines
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What is the title of late actor Spencer Tracy’s last film? | Spencer Tracy - Biography - IMDb
Spencer Tracy
Biography
Showing all 95 items
Jump to: Overview (5) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (1) | Trade Mark (5) | Trivia (58) | Personal Quotes (22) | Salary (3)
Overview (5)
5' 9½" (1.77 m)
Mini Bio (1)
Spencer Tracy was born four years after his brother Carroll to truck salesman John Edward and Caroline Brown Tracy. He attended Marquette Academy along with Pat O'Brien and the two left school to enlist in the Navy at the start of World War I. He was still at Norfolk Navy Yard in Virginia at the end of the war. At Ripon College he did well in the lead of "The Truth" and decided on acting as a career. In New York he roomed with O'Brien while they attended the Academy of Dramatic Arts. In 1923 they both got nonspeaking parts as robots in "R.U.R". In stock he supported himself with jobs as bellhop, janitor and salesman. John Ford saw his critically acclaimed performance in the lead role in the play "The Last Mile" and signed him to Up the River (1930) for Fox. Despite appearing in 16 films there over the next 5 years, Tracy never achieved star status there (during his stint the studio had floundered and was absorbed into Darryl F. Zanuck 's 20th Century Pictures). In 1935 he signed with MGM under the aegis of Irving Thalberg and his career flourished. He became the first actor to win back-to-back Oscars for Captains Courageous (1937) and in a project he initially didn't want to star in, Boys Town (1938). He was nominated for San Francisco (1936), Father of the Bride (1950), Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), The Old Man and the Sea (1958), Inherit the Wind (1960), Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967). He had a brief romantic relationship with Loretta Young in the 1930s and a lifelong one with Katharine Hepburn beginning in 1942. His Catholic beliefs precluded ever divorcing his wife Louise, though they lived apart. Tracy suffered from severe alcoholism and diabetes (from the late 1940's), which unfortunately impacted his willingness to accept several tailor-made roles in films that would become big hits. Although his drinking problems were well known, he was inarguably considered one of the best actors in Hollywood among his peers (he had a well deserved reputation for keeping co-stars on their toes for his oddly endearing scene-stealing tricks) and remained in demand. A few weeks after completion of Stanley Kramer 's Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), during which he suffered from lung congestion, he died of a heart attack.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Ed Stephan <[email protected]>
Spouse (1)
( 12 September 1923 - 10 June 1967) (his death) (2 children)
Trade Mark (5)
Often wore a lopsided fedora hat in his films
Blocky shoulders
Relatable characters who must change their way of thinking
Trivia (58)
Sometimes people confuse Spencer Tracy and James Whitmore . The two sometimes look as if they could have been brothers.
Ranked #64 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]
Born at 1:57am-CST
Interred at Forest Lawn, Glendale, California, USA, in the Garden of Everlasting Peace, on the right just after entering.
His Best Actor Oscar for Boys Town (1938) is inscribed with the name "Dick Tracy."
Attended Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin but did not graduate.
Attended no fewer than six high schools: Wauwatosa (WI) High School; St. John's Cathedral School (Milwaukee); St. Mary's (near Topeka, Kansas); Rockhurst High School (Kansas City, Mo.) ; Marquette Academy (Milwaukee); WWI service; Northwestern Military and Naval Academy (Lake Geneva, WI); and West Division High School (Milwaukee), from which he graduated in 1921.
In 1956/57 when his longtime friend Humphrey Bogart was dying of cancer, Tracy and Katharine Hepburn were two of the few people who visited Bogie (and wife Lauren Bacall ) at their home on an almost daily basis. They would sit together at Bogie's bedside for half an hour or so every evening in the months and weeks leading up to his death. After Bogie's death, Bacall requested that Tracy deliver the eulogy at the funeral. He apologetically declined, saying it would simply be too difficult for him. He felt he would be too emotional and wouldn't be able to do it. Bacall understood and director John Huston delivered the eulogy instead.
Tracy was offered the role of The Penguin in the TV series Batman (1966) before Burgess Meredith . He said he would only accept the role if he was allowed to kill Batman.
Died only 17 days after filming of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) had been completed.
Made nine films with Katharine Hepburn , the first of which was Woman of the Year (1942). The last was Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967).
He was voted the 15th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
Had two children from his marriage to Louise Treadwell: Son, John Ten Broeck Tracy (born 26 June 1924, died 15 June 2007) and daughter, Louise Treadwell 'Susie' Tracy (born July 1 1932).
Son John was born deaf; as a result, his wife, Louise, became an activist for deaf education, establishing the John Tracy Clinic at USC.
He is often mentioned alongside Laurence Olivier and Marlon Brando as the greatest movie actor of all time. Unlike the other two, however, Tracy was not already successful and well-known as a stage actor before getting into films.
His father was of Irish descent and his mother was descended from the earliest English settlers in America.
Katharine Hepburn , his frequent screen partner and longtime flame, never watched Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) because it was his last film and watching it with him gone was too painful for her.
He was voted the 19th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Premiere Magazine.
Named the #9 Greatest Actor on The 50 Greatest Screen Legends List by The American Film Institute
When he needed a break, he would often come back to Milwaukee and frequent the local watering holes. However, finding him proved to be an almost impossible challenge for Katharine Hepburn , because there are so many bars in Milwaukee.
His performance as Henry Drummond in Inherit the Wind (1960) is ranked #67 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).
Has three films on the American Film Institute's 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time. They are: Captains Courageous (1937) at #94, Boys Town (1938) at #81 and _Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)_ at #35.
In 1935, MGM bought Tracy's contact from 20th Century-Fox, as Louis B. Mayer respected his talent and thought he would be a good second lead, particularly in support of the studio's #1 male star, Clark Gable . Tracy had never developed into a star in his five years at Fox (which was merged with Darryl F. Zanuck 's 20th Century Pictures), and Fox had cooled on him. After four years of playing second-fiddle to Gable (and inevitably losing the girl to the man they called "The King" of Hollywood), Tracy came into his own as a star in MGM vehicles such as Captains Courageous (1937) and Boys Town (1938), for both of which he won back-to-back Best Actor Oscars. Though he remained friends with Gable, the two never co-starred together after 1940.
Didn't like to rehearse and would read through a scene only once, five days before shooting. He also never liked to shoot a scene more than once, and in most cases he didn't have to.
Tracy's political views are disputed. Some sources state that he was an arch conservative during the 1930s, but his views moderated after he met Katharine Hepburn . Others say that he was always a moderate Democrat. He often said he believed actors had no place in politics.
Advertised Lucky Strike cigarettes.
Was supposed to star in Ten North Frederick (1958), but had to withdraw due to poor health and was replaced by Gary Cooper .
His father, John Tracy, worked as a clerk at a railroad office.
Longtime companion Katharine Hepburn did not attend his funeral out of respect to his family.
He won an Oscar for playing Father Edward Flanagan in Boys Town (1938), making him one of 18 actors to win the Award for playing a real person who was still alive at the evening of the Award ceremony (as of 2015). The other seventeen actors and their respective performances are: Gary Cooper for playing Alvin C. York in Sergeant York (1941), Patty Duke for playing Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker (1962), Jason Robards for playing Ben Bradlee in All the President's Men (1976), Sissy Spacek for playing Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)_, Robert De Niro for playing Jake La Motta in Raging Bull (1980), Jeremy Irons for playing Claus Von Bullow in Reversal of Fortune (1990), Susan Sarandon for playing Sister Helen Prejean in Dead Man Walking (1995), Geoffrey Rush for playing David Helfgott in Shine (1996), Julia Roberts for playing Erin Brockovich in Erin Brockovich (2000), Jim Broadbent for playing John Bayley in Iris (2001), Jennifer Connelly for playing Alicia Nash in A Beautiful Mind (2001), Helen Mirren for playing Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen (2006), Sandra Bullock for playing Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side (2009), Melissa Leo for playing Alice Eklund-Ward in The Fighter (2010), Christian Bale for playing Dickie Eklund in The Fighter (2010), Meryl Streep for playing Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady (2011) and Eddie Redmayne for playing Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything (2014).
His son, John Tracy, died June 15, 2007, at his son's home in Acton, Calif. He was 82. Cause of death, following a long illness, was unknown. His sister, Louise Treadwell "Susie" Tracy, announced his death.
Turned down Cary Grant 's role in The Philadelphia Story (1940) because he was eager to make Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941).
He was sought for Fredric March 's role in The Desperate Hours (1955) opposite Humphrey Bogart , but would not take second billing.
He is featured as a character in the mystery novel, "Dead at the Box Office" by John Dandola, which is set during the World Premiere of Edison, the Man (1940).
Attended the Democratic National Convention in 1944.
Warner Bros. bought the rights to the book "Mute Witness" about a Boston detective who ate a lot of ice cream and never solved a case with Tracy in mind to star. Upon Tracy's death, a chase scene was added to the script, the location changed to San Francisco, and the character - Detective Frank Bullitt - changed to be played by Steve McQueen .
Received a posthumous Best Actor Academy Award nomination for his film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967). His widow Louise attended the ceremony in the event that he would win. However, the award went instead to Rod Steiger for In the Heat of the Night (1967).
As of 2009, he is only one of six performers who won a Golden Globe Award as Best Lead Actor/Actress in a Motion Picture Drama without being nominated for an Oscar for that same role (for The Actress (1953)). The others are Anthony Franciosa in Career (1959), Omar Sharif in Doctor Zhivago (1965), Shirley MacLaine in Madame Sousatzka (1988), Jim Carrey in The Truman Show (1998) and Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road (2008).
He was supposed to appear in Cheyenne Autumn (1964) and The Cincinnati Kid (1965), but suffered a severe heart attack in 1963. Edward G. Robinson replaced him in both movies.
Has a street named after him in Iowa City, Iowa.
Was seriously ill with emphysema as well as diabetes when he made his final film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967).
He was making a cup of coffee on the morning of 10 June 1967 when he suffered a sudden heart attack. Katharine Hepburn found him dead on the kitchen floor.
He has a grandson, Joseph Spencer Tracy.
He appears in four of the American Film Institute's 100 Funniest Movies: Adam's Rib (1949) at #22, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963) at #40, Father of the Bride (1950) at #83 and Woman of the Year (1942) at #90.
Was announced as co star with Paul Newman and Robert Mitchum in the Jerry Wald production of The Enemy Within, based on the book by Attorney General Robert Kennedy, which at 1962/63 was in preparation for Twentieth Century Fox.
Twice earned Best Actor Oscar nominations for playing "foreign" fishermen: as Manuel in Captains Courageous (1937) for which he did win his first Oscar, and then as The Old Man in The Old Man and the Sea (1958), almost 20 years later.
Is one of 8 actors who have received an Oscar nomination for their performance as a priest. The others, in chronological order, are: Charles Bickford for The Song of Bernadette (1943); Bing Crosby for Going My Way (1944) and The Bells of St. Mary's (1945); Barry Fitzgerald for Going My Way (1944); Gregory Peck for The Keys of the Kingdom (1944); Karl Malden for On the Waterfront (1954); Jason Miller for The Exorcist (1973); and Philip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt (2008). Tracy, Crosby and Fitzgerald all won Oscars for their performances.
Director Vincente Minelli quoted the actor as saying, " it was a badge of honor for an actor to be a drunk.".
Katharine Hepburn on Tracy: "He's like an old oak tree, or the summer, or the wind. He belongs to an era when men were men.".
Harold Clurman on Tracy: " He was the universal American: honest, calm, considerate, free of all phoniness. There was in him no petty motive or concealed malice. He was a man.".
He came to Hollywood's attention after eight years on stage with his performance as Killer Mears in "The Last Mile." His subsequent screen tests were not a big success, but after John Ford saw him twice in the role, Fox allowed him to hire the actor for his debut feature film, "Up the River.".
One of the few truly famous actors who lived well into the age of television, but never made an appearance acting on a television program.
Along with Laurence Olivier , he is one of only two actors to receive nine nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actor. He was nominated for San Francisco (1936), Captains Courageous (1937), Boys Town (1938), Father of the Bride (1950), Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), The Old Man and the Sea (1958), _Inherit the Wind (1960), Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967). He won the award for both Captains Courageous (1937) and Boys Town (1938).
His mother was a client of Maria Altmann , who ran a clothing business in Los Angeles.
Shared his birthday with Bette Davis .
He suffered from severe insomnia for his entire life.
Personal Quotes (22)
[on acting] Come to work on time, know your lines and don't bump into the other actors.
]on drinking] Hell, I used to take two-week lunch hours!
I couldn't be a director because I couldn't put up with the actors. I don't have the patience. Why, I'd probably kill the actors. Not to mention some of the beautiful actresses.
[on being asked why he was always billed above long-time companion Katharine Hepburn in their films together] Because this is a movie, you chowderhead, not a lifeboat!
The kids keep telling me I should try this new "Method Acting" but I'm too old, I'm too tired and I'm too talented to care.
[on why he never left his wife for Katharine Hepburn ] I can get a divorce whenever I want to. But my wife and Kate like things just as they are.
This mug of mine is as plain as a barn door. Why should people pay thirty-five cents to look at it?
I'm disappointed in acting as a craft. I want everything to go back to Orson Welles and fake noses and changing your voice. It's become so much about personality.
It is up to us to give ourselves recognition. If we wait for it to come from others, we feel resentful when it doesn't, and when it does, we may well reject it.
Even when my throat is completely tired out from acting, Luckies still get along with it fine.
There were times when my pants were so thin, I could sit on a dime and know if it was heads or tails.
The physical labor actors have to do wouldn't tax an embryo.
Write anything you want about me. Make up something. Hell, I don't care.
Why do actors think they're so God damn important? They're not. Acting is not an important job in the scheme of things. Plumbing is.
Actors have no damn place in politics, period.
[on Jean Harlow ] A square shooter if ever there was one.
[on why actors should avoid political activism] Remember who shot [ Abraham Lincoln ].
[To Ernest Hemingway at dinner in the Stork Club] Sometimes I think life is a terminal illness.
[1962 interview] The only thing an actor has to offer a director and finally an audience is his instinct. That's all.
[on acting] It's never been very demanding. It doesn't require much brainwork. Acting is not the noblest profession in the world, but there are things lower than acting. Not many, mind you - but politicians give you something to look down on from time to time.
[in a 1962 interview] I'm Spencer Tracy with some deference to the character. When a person says he's an actor - he's a personality. The whole idea is to show your personality. There are people who are much better technically, but who cares? Nobody cares.
[on being asked what he looked for in a potential script]. Days off.
Salary (3)
| Guess Who's Coming to Dinner |
The United Nations was created in which US city? | Katharine Hepburn - Theater Actress, Film Actress - Biography.com
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn was a spirited and eccentric actress who appeared in such classic films as 'The African Queen,' 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner' and 'On Golden Pond.'
IN THESE GROUPS
“If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased.”
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn - Mini Biography (TV-PG; 3:30) Katharine Hepburn became an unlikely Hollywood star with her wit, and outspokenness. Her career spanned over 7 decades and included the hits "The Philadelphia Story" and "The African Queen." She won four Academy Awards for Best Actress.
Synopsis
Born on May 12, 1907, in Hartford, Connecticut, Katharine Hepburn became an unlikely Hollywood star in the 1930s with her beauty, wit, and the eccentric strength with which she imbued each character in a career that lasted more than six decades.
Early Life
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was born May 12, 1907, in Hartford, Connecticut, to Katharine Martha Houghton, a suffrage activist, and Dr. Thomas Norval Hepburn, a urologist who sought to educate the public about the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. A liberal-minded family, the Hepburns encouraged young Katharine to speak out, sharpen her mind and engage with the world as fully as possible. The Hepburns' happy family life took a tragic in 1921, however, when Katharine made the horrifying discovery of her older brother, Tom, dead, hanging from the ceiling of his room. The loss of her beloved brother completely debilitated Katharine. For years, she withdrew almost entirely those around her, for a time even adopting Tom's birthday (November 8) as her own.
Fortunately for filmgoers everywhere, Katharine Hepburn overcame this great tragedy of her childhood to become one of the most enduring legends in cinema history. Over the course of more than six decades in Hollywood, she earned twelve Academy Award nominations and won an unprecedented four Best Actress Oscars.
Becoming a Star
While attending the all-women's Bryn Mawr College near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Katharine Hepburn fell in love with acting. After graduating from the school in 1928 with a degree in history, she spent the next several years acting in plays in and around New York, appearing in productions both on and off Broadway. She got her big break into screen acting when an RKO Radio Pictures talent scout spotted her in a Broadway performance and offered her an audition for a role starring opposite John Barrymore in the 1932 film A Bill of Divorcement. Hepburn got the part and never looked back.
A Bill of Divorcement became a hit, and RKO offered Hepburn a lucrative long-term contract to make films for the studio. Hepburn won the first of her four Academy Awards just a year later, for her performance in Morning Glory, opposite Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Adolphe Menjou. Soon after, her performance as Jo in the hit big-screen adaptation of the beloved Louisa May Alcott novel Little Women won her great acclaim, and Hepburn became known throughout the world as a formidable onscreen presence with a fierce intelligence unique among actresses of her stature.
Unconventional Attitude
Over time, though, in spite of Katharine Hepburn's huge acting talent and range, Hollywood began to question her unconventional attitude and strong personality. She refused to play the traditional offscreen role of the Hollywood starlet, choosing not to wear makeup at all times, give interviews or bask in the glow of media attention. When the costume department at RKO stole her slacks (because they found slacks to be uncouth and boyish), Hepburn walked around the studio in her underwear, refusing to put her clothes on until she got her pants back. "If you obey all the rules," she said, "you miss all the fun." A true artist and an unlikely Hollywood star, she continued to flee media attention and fame for most of her life: "Once a crowd chased me for an autograph. 'Beat it,' I said, 'go sit on a tack!' 'We made you,' they said. 'Like hell you did,' I told them."
Big Moves
Though Hepburn made a series of popular comedies in the late 1930s (the most notable being Bringing Up Baby in 1938, opposite Cary Grant ), she also appeared in a handful of flops, and producers began to label her "box-office poison." Sensing trouble, Hepburn ended her contract at RKO and returned to the stage.
Back on Broadway, Hepburn appeared as Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story, winning huge acclaim. Playwright Philip Barry had written the role specifically with Hepburn in mind, and critics and audiences alike went wild over the production. Hepburn bought the motion picture rights to the story and headed back to Hollywood, where she sold them to MGM on the condition that she would star in the film. With this move, she single-handedly regenerated her film career and her mass appeal. The 1940 film, starring Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart alongside Hepburn, earned multiple Academy Award nominations.
Unwed Romance
Hepburn's next life-changing move was the beginning of her enduring onscreen and offscreen relationship with the actor Spencer Tracy . Woman of the Year (1942), the first of nine films the duo would make together, was a huge smash. Tracy and Hepburn shared a palpable, electric chemistry on the screen and off it. The pair fell deeply in love while making their first film together; their relationship lasted 27 years, even though Tracy was already married and refused to divorce his estranged wife. Hepburn and Tracy's unwed romance had its ups and downs, but Hepburn put her career on hold for five years beginning in 1962 to nurse Tracy through the illness that would ultimately take his life in 1967, just days after the pair completed their last film together, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Hepburn won another Oscar for her role in the film but always viewed it more as the Academy's tribute to her lost love.
Legacy
Hepburn's Best Actress Oscar for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner had plenty of company in the trophy case. Over the course of her long and prolific career, she made dozens of films and garnered a stunning twelve Academy Award nominations, winning four. Her credits include many of the most celebrated pictures of all time: The Philadelphia Story (1940), The African Queen (1951), Long Day's Journey Into Night (1962), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), The Lion in Winter (1968), On Golden Pond (1981). She stole the stage from all the leading men of her era, including Spencer Tracy, of course, but also Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, Humphrey Bogart , Charlton Heston and Laurence Olivier , to name a few.
In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked her the top American screen legend of all time.
In the 1990s, Katharine Hepburn developed a progressive neurological disease, but this did not prevent her from keeping up an active lifestyle in her Connecticut hometown and even from acting in select roles. Her last Hollywood film credit came in 1994, more than 60 years after she made her memorable debut in A Bill of Divorcement. Katharine Hepburn died on June 29, 2003, at the age of 96 in the same house in which she had grown up. "Life is hard," she once said. "After all, it kills you."
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Citation Information
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Oenophobia is the hatred or extreme dislike of which drink? | Four Beers for Beer Haters | Sarah Warman - YouTube
Four Beers for Beer Haters | Sarah Warman
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Published on Jun 3, 2014
Think you hate beer? Think again. Professional beer lover Sarah Warman used to hate beer too, and she's back on Drinks Tube with some lesser known beers to turn your beer-related frown upside down. There's sure to be a beer for you out there, whether you love coffee, champagne, cherryade or red wine. Be brave, give them a try and make sure you let us know how you get on!
The beers featured are Mikkeller's Beer Geek Vanilla Shake, The Wild Beer Co's Ninkasi, Kriek Boon and Rodenbach's Grand Cru.
Links from the video:
| Wine |
Vientiane is the capital of which Southeast Asian country? | Alcohol and the Summer Heat
Summer Heat, Drugs and Alcohol
Ah summertime! Sunshine, blue skies, what more could you ask for? A breeze maybe?
It is a very enjoyable time for many people, but there are some things to keep in mind to avoid heat problems and serious illness, especially if the thermometer has been high for several days in a row.
In the summer, the combination of high heat, high humidity and smog can be very dangerous [See Humidity Index at the bottom of the page]. Some people need to be extra careful during this time to make sure they don't run into heat related problems. This may include you. For example, you need to be extra careful if you:
- Drink heavily
- Take medications for mental health problems
- Are older [especially if you are 75 or older with health problems]
- Are overweight,
- Are "bedridden" or have difficulty getting around, or
- Have heart or lung problems.
Why the Concern?
In the summertime, extreme and prolonged exposure to heat can disturb the way your body uses water and minerals, as well as the way your body regulates heat.
This loss of fluids can pose a serious health threat both to older adults living in the city and to older adults in rural areas (particularly those working outside such as farmers, gardeners, boaters). This can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Older adults living in the upper storeys of high apartments can be particularly affected, as can people who don't have access to air conditioning, or who don't have trees around their home to provide shade and reduce the heat.
Medical conditions such as diabetes and heart-related diseases as well as some drugs increase the risk for developing heat stroke. But most of the time the problems can be avoided by taking proper precautions and pacing yourself.
Drugs
There are many types of medication that may increase a person's risk of heat-related illness. Many of these are commonly prescribed to older adults for health problems. These include anti-parkinson drugs, antidepressants, antihistamines, anti-diarrhea pills, some diuretics, and psychiatric drugs. Click here to find out more about heat and these medications.
If you are taking any medication regularly, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you need to be extra careful during hot weather.
Alcohol, Colas and Coffee
Alcohol, cola and coffee all can leave you dehydrated quickly. If at all possible, try to reduce the amount of these favourite beverages, especially during hot weather. Plain or flavoured water is a good substitute.
Most teas have caffeine too (often as much as coffee), and surprisingly, your glass of iced tea may have more caffeine than hot tea. Click here for some caffeine amounts .
Alcohol inhibits a hormone called anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) in your body that controls urination. With ADH inhibited, you'll increase the urge to "relieve yourself". Going more often, in turn leaches out crucial electrolytes like calcium, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus. The more alcohol that you drink, the more likely you are of becoming dehydrated.
Also, alcohol affects people's judgment. The more alcohol you drink, the harder it becomes for you to tell if the heat is getting to you and to tell if you may have a heat related illness. Also, those around you may not recognize the difference between a person who has had "a few too many" and who looks tired and dizzy, and a person with heat exhaustion .
People who have had long time drinking problems are more likely to be in poor health, or have medical problems or be on medications. All of these means they are at greater risk of developing heat stress.
An Ounce of Prevention
Toronto Public Health offers these suggestions for other things you can do to keep from becoming ill during hot periods:
- Drink lots of water and juice, even if you don�t feel thirsty. Try to stay out of the sun, especially in the middle of the day. If you have to be outside, stay in the shade as much as possible.
- If you can get a hat, wear it.
- Wear loose fitting, light clothing.
- Try to take it easy, and rest as much as possible.
- If you have to walk a long way, try to do it in the early morning or evening.
- Try to spend time in cool places with air conditioning like drop-ins and community centres.
- Take a cool shower from time to time. Some drop-ins and recreation centres have public showers.
- Try to spend some time near the lake or waterfront where it is cooler.
- If you sleep outside during the day, try to sleep in the shade. Remember the sun moves, so try to sleep in a spot that will be shady for a few hours.
Some cautions and more suggestions from other health authorities:
- Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills (diuretics), ask her or him how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
- A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat, but if you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage.
- Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library�even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.
What else works? Find good ways of keeping the heat out of your house or apartment. Some people find that closing the blinds of their home in the daytime to keep out the sun helps, and then opening up the blinds at night to let out the heat that builds up during he day.
Can electric fans prevent heat-related illness?
Electric fans can help you feel more comfortable if the temperature is in the 70s or 80s (Fahrenheit) [ that is 21.1 to 26.6 degrees Celsius]. But when the temperature is in the high 90s (e.g. over 36 degrees Celsius), fans will not prevent heat-related illness.
Take a cool shower or bath or go to an air-conditioned place for the afternoon. It is a much better way to cool off. Air conditioning is the strongest protective factor against heat-related illness. Exposure to air conditioning for even a few hours a day will reduce the risk for heat-related illness. Consider visiting a shopping mall or public.
Reduce the Harm
Cutting out or cutting down on alcohol in the summertime are probably the safest bet. Here are some other alternatives that may reduce the risk of heat related illness when drinking in the heat.
Really enjoy your summertime beers?
- If you decide to have beer or other alcoholic beverages, drink lots of water before, during and after.
- Try a lower alcohol or a non-alcohol version of beer. The quality of the non-alcohol beers has really improved over the past 5 years. Some of the brewing companies [especially the imported European] have developed very good tasting non-alcohol (<.05 % alcohol) beers which you can often pick up at your grocery store. Find a variety that you like.
- Or consider the English approach: beer mixed with ginger beer. This also works with the non-alcoholic beers.
Like your wine?
- If you decide to have wine, why not try adding soda water, a little sugar, sliced fruit and ice cubes to it in a tall glass. This is refreshing, increases the amount of fluids you are getting, takes longer to drink, and will have less alcohol in it.
- Or alternate your alcoholic drink with a drink without alcohol in it. Try to limit or avoid the colas though, because the caffeine in them will also tend to dehydrate you.
- There are non-sodium soda waters available in some grocery stores.
Are coolers better?
Well, coolers contain alcohol, so the general caution about the "more you drink, the greater the chance of dehydration and confusion" will still be the same.
Be careful with your home made versions of coolers. A "slip of the hand", and they can easily end up with more alcohol in them. Coolers have double the calories of beer (280 calories vs. 150), and some may have a lot of sugar which affects your body's ability to regulate heat.
No alcohol cocktails ("mocktails") can be a good non-alcoholic alternative for you and your guests who choose not to drink.
Like your colas or iced coffee?
If your favourite summer beverage is a soda pop that has caffeine in it [only colas in Canada have caffeine], or an iced coffee or iced tea, be sure to also drink plenty of water. Like alcohol, caffeine is a diuretic which can lead to dehydration and loss of electrolytes.
Consumer Medicine Information, LOMOTIL. Online at: http://www.pharmacia.com.au/products/Approved%20marketed%20CMIs/Pack%20Inserts%20and%20electronic%20 (e)/lomotil/lomotilcln.pdf
Evans, B. (May 1, 2003) A silent killer strikes the fireground. Online at:
http://firechief.com/ar/firefighting_silent_killer_strikes/
Hett, H. A. & Brechtelsbauer, D.A. (June 1998). "Heat-related illness". Vol. 103 (6), Postgraduate Medicine. Online at: http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/1998/06_98/hett.htm
Kilbourne, E. M., Choi, K., Jones, T.S. & Thacker, T.B. (1982). Risk factors for heatstroke: A case-control study. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), 247 (24): 3332-36. Online at : http://www.ciesin.org/docs/001-608/001-608.html
Warning: Heat Exhaustion & Allergy Sufferers. Online at: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/health/050803_hs_allergies_heat.html
Toronto Public Health. Medications and Heat-Related Illness. Online at : http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/health/pdf/medicationsheat.pdf
Toronto Pubic Health. Summer Safety: Heat, Drugs and Alcohol. Online at: http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/health/pdf/heatdrugsalcohol.pdf
Yale New Haven Health. Medications that increase the risk for a heat-related illness. Online at: http://yalenewhavenhealth.org/library/healthguide/IllnessConditions/topic.asp?hwid=tw3332
York, K. (August, 2000) "Consumers: Take care in the heat." Interface. Online at: http://www.mhmraofharriscounty.org/vol5no1010.html
Zoghby, J.C. (Jul. 22, 1995). Medications can magnify heat dangers: Special warnings given for older people. Mobile Register, Section: 1B, 6B Online at : http://southmed.usouthal.edu/library/news/22jul95.html
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Which British television chef has ‘Kitchen Nightmares’? | Gordon Ramsay to End ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ Series in U.S. and U.K. | Variety
Gordon Ramsay to End ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ Series in U.S. and U.K.
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June 23, 2014 | 12:34PM PT
The next batch of U.K. episodes of “ Kitchen Nightmares ” will be the last for Gordon Ramsay , who announced the end of the British and Yank editions of the show on his website Monday.
“I’ve had a phenomenal 10 years making 123 episodes, 12 seasons, shot across 2 continents, watched by tens of millions of people and sold to over 150 countries. It’s been a blast but it’s time to call it a day,” Ramsay wrote in a post on his personal website.
The cooking reality show premiered in the U.K. in 2004 and the U.S. edition bowed on Fox in 2007, featuring Ramsay’s visits to struggling restaurants. The chef would spend one week using his expertise trying to help the owners rehabilitate the business.
The format allowed Ramsay to show off his restaurateur bona fides as well as his attempts at family and couples’ counseling. Last year, the show hit its peak of pop culture buzz with an episode revolving around an Scottsdale, Ariz. eatery, Amy’s Baking Company, run by an over-the-top couple who produced plenty of Internet-friendly viral vid moments.
Ramsay credited “Kitchen Nightmares” for being “the show that really propelled my TV career.” The show has been a Friday night staple for Fox, with the most recent U.S. episodes airing in April and May. Fox has one more “Revisit” episode of “Kitchen Nightmares” in the can.
But Fox still has plenty of Ramsay on its air, between the competition series “Hell’s Kitchen,” airing now, “Hotel Hell” (bowing July 21) and the “MasterChef” and “MasterChef Junior” franchises.
At present, Ramsay is filming four final episodes of the U.K. “Kitchen Nightmares” for Channel 4.
On his website, Ramsay offered a list of “fun facts” about the show’s decade-long run:
123 restaurants in 99 cities within 2 countries were visited
If you watched all episodes back-to-back it would run for 6,868 minutes
Episodes sold into 150 territories globally
The ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ format was produced locally for 30 territories around the world
Swear count – 10,197
The show brought in $37.3 million in ad revenue during the 2012-13 season – more than any other Friday Fox original series that season
The show was the most viewed TV show across networks during the Friday time slot
Tears – 0.4 gallons
First ever episode was watched by 5.7 million people
2 ulcers and 2.3 litres of Pepto Bismol
234 Zantacs consumed
| Gordon Ramsay |
Luna is the Roman goddess of which celestial body? | Now Trending: Gordon Ramsay abruptly pulls plug on Kitchen Nightmares - The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
Tuesday, Jun. 24, 2014 2:34PM EDT
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Just like the amateur chefs ejected on the TV cooking competitions he oversees, Gordon Ramsay is hanging up his apron on Kitchen Nightmares.
After 12 memorable seasons, the mad Scottish chef has pulled the plug on Nightmares, the highly rated Fox reality series in which he single-handedly attempts to rescue struggling restaurants by overhauling the menus and decor.
As per the original British series Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, each episode in the Fox version invariably features the bombastic chef chewing out the witless proprietor who let his or her eatery fall on hard times in the first place.
But no doubt some people are surprised Ramsay would voluntarily walk away from a TV franchise that appeared to be at the top of its game. The 47-year-old chef went onto his personal website on Monday to abruptly announce the show’s shutdown.
“As filming comes to a close on the latest series of Kitchen Nightmares, I’ve decided to stop making the show,” said Ramsay. “I’ve had a phenomenal 10 years making 123 episodes, 12 seasons shot across 2 continents, watched by tens of millions of people and sold to over 150 countries. It’s been a blast but it’s time to call it a day.”
Ramsay provided no specific reason for his decision in the statement.
Whatever the provocation, Kitchen Nightmares has certainly enjoyed prosperous runs on both British and American television.
The British series routinely pulled a viewing audience in the six-million-viewer range during its five-season run between 2004 and 2009.
On American television, last month’s seventh-season finale of Kitchen Nightmares garnered a respectable 2.5-million viewers for the Fox Network.
But restaurant owners will have to look elsewhere for salvation in the future: Ramsay makes it clear in his note that Kitchen Nightmares has wrapped at the same time he credits the show for making him a household name with North American viewers.
“This was the show that really propelled my TV career,” he writes. “I’m very grateful for the amazing team behind the series and for the support from the viewers for almost a decade!”
Of course it’s germane to the discussion to point out that Ramsay still has four other hourlong series on the Fox schedule.
Currently, the Ramsay-helmed shows Hell’s Kitchen and MasterChef hold down plum positions on Fox’s summer primetime lineup. Slated to return later this year are the Ramsay properties MasterChef Junior and Hotel Hell (which is virtually identical in format to Kitchen Nightmares, except that Ramsay rescues foundering hotels).
In other words, there’s only so much Gordon Ramsay to go around.
LIGHTEN UP
Gary Oldman has come out swinging in defence of Mel Gibson and Alec Baldwin. The English star of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes lashes out against the current politically correct state of Hollywood in an upcoming interview in Playboy magazine. “I just think political correctness is crap,” said Oldman in the interview. “I think it’s like, take a f-ng joke. Get over it.” In the same interview, Oldman expounds on the infamous 2006 anti-Semitic rant by fellow actor Mel Gibson (“I don’t know about Mel. He got drunk and said a few things, but we’ve all said those things”) and Alec Baldwin’s repeated use of homophobic slurs as insults (“I don’t blame him”).
Source: Us
FASHION FREEDOM
Taylor Schilling’s favourite part of playing a convicted felon on Orange is the New Black: All her fashion decisions are solved with an orange jumpsuit. In the current issue of Allure magazine, the 29-year-old actress talks about her non-preparation to assume the pivotal role of Piper, a bisexual woman doing hard time in a women’s correctional facility. “It’s totally liberating,” says Schilling. “There’s freedom in not having to make it about how my jeans fit or what my boobs look like in a top. All I have to do now is play.”
Source: Allure
LOOSE LIPS
Lana Del Rey has learned a valuable lesson about speaking freely to the press. During a recent interview with The Guardian, the singer-songwriter made the comment, “I wish I was dead already,” in reference to joining the gone-too-soon ranks of Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain. Two days later, Cobain’s only daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, went onto Twitter to admonish her with the tweet, “The death of young musicians isn’t something to romanticize.” Cobain followed up with the tweet: “I’ll never know my father because he died young & it becomes a desirable feat because ppl like u think it’s ‘cool,’ ” On Tuesday, she responded to Cobain with her own tweet: “The interviewer was asking me a lot about your dad. I said I liked him because he was talented, not because he died young. … I don’t find that part of music glam either.”
Source: Gawker
SERENITY NOW
What’s the deal with TBS marking the 25th anniversary of Seinfeld with a viewing marathon? The Atlanta-based station has announced a week-long celebration of the sitcom that began as The Seinfeld Chronicles in 1989 and ran nine highly rated seasons until 1998. The marathon, which runs from June 30 to July 5, will include the classic episodes The Puffy Shirt, The Chinese Restaurant and, of course, The Contest in its lineup.
Source: CNN
COVER UP
Bindi Irwin wants teenaged girls to stop showing so much skin. The 15-year-old daughter of late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin recently surprised News Corp Australia with her comments proposing a return to modesty. “I’m a big advocate for young girls dressing their age,” said Irwin. “I mean, for me, I look around at a lot of young girls that are my age and they’re always trying to dress older. Whether it’s revealing clothes or hardly wearing any clothes at all.” In the same chat, Irwin suggested she was actually an old soul trapped in a teen’s body. “I’d be 86,” she said. “I love a cup of tea and a good book and none of that other stuff really interests me.”
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Sheila Mercier played which character in the UK television show ‘Emmerdale (Farm)’? | Sheila Mercier | Emmerdale Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
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Sheila Mercier (born 1st January 1919 ) is an English actress and the elder sister of actor Brian Rix. She was born in Kingston upon Hull, England, United Kingdom.
After education at the French Convent, Hull and Hunmanby Hall, Yorkshire , she trained for the stage at the Stratford-upon-Avon College of Drama. Mercier had a long career on stage prior to her television career. Donald Wolfit had talent spotted her and she toured with Wolfit's own Shakespeare company in 1939. During the Second World War she joined the WAAF division of the Royal Air Force, eventually becoming adjutant. Mercier appeared in supporting roles in a handful of films, and the television series Dial RIX (1963) alongside her husband, Peter Mercier.
She is best known for her role as the matriarch Annie Sugden in the long-running British soap opera Emmerdale. She appeared from the very first episode in 1972 and appeared as a main cast member until 1994 . Aged 89, Mercier appeared in a special programme dedicated to Emmerdale's 5,000th episode, where members of the cast were interviewed. It was transmitted on ITV in May 2008 . She has occasionally returned to the series since her departure. On 9/10 February 2009, aged 90, she made a special guest appearance on Emmerdale as Annie Sugden, attending the funeral of her on-screen son, Jack Sugden (most recently played by the late actor Clive Hornby , who died the year previously). In July 2008 she was a mourner at Hornby's actual funeral.
Her real-life husband, actor Peter Mercier, died in 1993 , after 42 years of marriage. The couple's son, Nigel, is a TV sound engineer and video editor. In 1994 , Mercier's autobiography, Annie's Song: My Life & Emmerdale , written with Anthony Hayward, was published.
| Annie Sugden |
Lake Torrens is in which country? | Beckindale Bugle - Emmerdale Farm In The 1980s: Some Beckindale Cast And Characters - September 1984
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Some Beckindale Cast And Characters - September 1984
Some of the cast and character details from the Hotten Courier, Yorkshire TV's publicity pamphlet for Emmerdale Farm, September 30, 1984. Did you know that Hugh Manning (the Rev Donald Hinton) also starred in the highly successful 1960s series Mrs Thursday? That Arthur Pentelow (Mr Wilks) was a keen birdwatcher, just like his character? That Al Dixon (Walter) hoped his character would never speak? Or that Sheila Mercier (Annie Sugden) is the sister of Brian Rix?
Also from The Courier, Al Dixon, who played the second Woolpack Walter, and contributed so much to the pub's atmosphere, celebrated four years at the bar in 1984, having debuted in September 1980. Mr Dixon suffered a stroke in late 1985, but continued to appear on-screen until Christmas, when he had a small role in the village play, Toad Of Toad Hall. The play sequence, plus another scene with Walter knocking on the door of the Woolpack at opening time, to be admitted by Amos, had been filmed on location in Esholt before the actor fell ill.
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In early 1986, Walter departed from Beckindale to stay with his sister in Worthing. It was hoped that Al Dixon would recover from his stroke and return to the show, but he died not long afterwards.
Posted by Andrew at
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Sir Robert Peel was British Prime Minister for the first time during the reign of which monarch? | Robert Peel
Robert Peel
December 10, 1834 – April 8, 1835
August 30, 1841 – June 29, 1846
Preceded by
December 2, 1834 – April 8, 1835
Preceded by
Political party
Conservative
Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet ( 5 February 1788 – 2 July 1850) was the Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from December 10, 1834 to April 8, 1835, and again from August 30, 1841 to June 29, 1846. He helped create the modern concept of the police force while Home Secretary, oversaw the formation of the Conservative Party out of the shattered Tory Party, and repealed the Corn Laws.
Biography
Peel was born in Bury, Lancashire, England to the industrialist and Member of Parliament Sir Robert Peel. His father was one of the richest textile manufacturers of the early Industrial Revolution . Peel was educated first at Hipperholme Grammar School, then at Harrow School and finally Christ Church, Oxford, where he took a double first in classics and mathematics. He is also believed to have briefly attended Bury Grammar School. While living in Tamworth, he is credited with the development of the Tamworth Pig by breeding Irish stock with some local Tamworth pigs. He has living relatives even today, as far as Australia, and the Peel family living in Victoria.
Early political career
The young Peel entered politics at the young age of 21 as MP for the Irish rotten borough of Cashel City, Tipperary. With a scant twenty-four voters on the rolls, he was elected unopposed. More importantly, his sponsor for the election (besides his father) was Sir Arthur Wellesley , the future Duke of Wellington, with whom Peel's political career would be entwined for the next twenty-five years.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Prime Minister 1828-1830
His maiden speech in the Commons was a sensation, and was famously described by the Speaker as "the best first speech since that of William Pitt ".
For the next decade he occupied a series of relatively minor positions in the Tory governments: Undersecretary for War, Chief Secretary for Ireland , and chairman of the Bullion Committee (charged with stabilizing British finances after the end of the Napoleonic Wars ). He also changed seats twice: first picking up another rotten borough, Chippenham, then becoming MP for Oxford University in 1817.
He later served as MP for Tamworth from 1830 until his death. His home was Drayton Manor. His home Drayton Manor is no longer standing, but it is home to Drayton Manor Theme Park.
Home secretary
Peel was considered one of the rising stars of the Tory party, first entering the cabinet in 1822 as Home Secretary. As Home Secretary, he introduced a number of important reforms of British criminal law: most memorably establishing the Metropolitan Police Force (Metropolitan Police Act 1828). He also changed the Penal code reducing the number of crimes punishable by death. He reformed the gaol system, introducing payment for gaolers and education for the inmates.
Sir Robert Peel
He resigned as Home Secretary after the Prime Minister, Lord Liverpool, became incapacitated and was replaced by George Canning. Canning favoured Catholic Emancipation, while Peel had been one of its most outspoken opponents. Canning himself died less than four months later and, after the brief premiership of Lord Goderich, Peel returned to the post of Home Secretary under the premiership of his long-time ally the Duke of Wellington . During this time he was widely perceived as the number-two in the Tory Party, after Wellington himself.
However, the pressure on the new ministry from advocates of Catholic Emancipation was too great and an Emancipation Bill was passed the next year. Peel felt compelled to resign his seat as MP representing the graduates of Oxford University (many of whom were Anglican clergymen), as he had stood on a platform of opposition to Catholic Emancipation (in 1815 he had, in fact, challenged to a duel the man most associated with emancipation, Daniel O'Connell). Peel instead moved to a rotten borough, Westbury, retaining his Cabinet position. Peel's protege Gladstone later emulated Peel by serving as MP for Oxford University from 1847 to 1865, before himself being defeated for his willingness to disestablish the Irish Church.
Police Reform
It was at this point that he established Metropolitan Police Force for London based at Scotland Yard. The 1,000 constables employed were affectionately nicknamed 'Bobbies' or, somewhat less affectionately, 'Peelers' (both terms are still used today). Although at first unpopular, they proved very successful in cutting crime in London, and by 1835 all cities in the UK were being directed to form their own police forces—see Policing in the United Kingdom. (Actually, the authorities in Stalybridge, Cheshire had set up their own police force some two years earlier and so Peel was aware of this success of "police forces" before he "introduced" them in London . The city of Glasgow , Scotland had also had its own police force since 1800.) Known as the father of modern policing, Robert Peel developed the Peelian Principles which defined the ethical requirements police officers must follow in order to be effective. His most memorable principle was, "the police are the public, and the public are the police."
The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.
The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions.
Police must secure the willing co-operation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.
The degree of co-operation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of physical force.
Police seek and preserve public favour not by catering to public opinion but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.
Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient.
Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.
Police should always direct their action strictly towards their functions and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.
The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.
Whigs in power (1830-1834)
Statue in Parliament Square, London
The lower classes in England at that time, however, were clamoring for reform, and Catholic Emancipation was only one of the ideas in the air. The Tory ministry refused to bend on other issues and were swept out of office in 1830 in favour of the Whigs. The following few years were extremely turbulent, but eventually enough reforms were passed that King William IV felt confident enough invite the Tories again to form a ministry in succession to those of Lord Grey and Lord Melbourne in 1834. Peel was selected as Prime Minister but was in Italy at the time, so Wellington acted as a caretaker for the three weeks until Peel's return.
First term as Prime Minister (1834-1835)
This new Tory Ministry was a minority government, however, and depended on Whig goodwill for its continued existence. As his statement of policy at the general election of January 1835, Peel issued the Tamworth Manifesto. The issuing of this document is often seen as one of the most crucial points at which the Tories became the Conservative Party. In it he pledged that the Conservatives would endorse modest reform, but the Whigs instead formed a compact with Daniel O'Connell's Irish Radical members to repeatedly defeat the government on various bills. Eventually Peel's ministry resigned out of frustration and the Whigs under Lord Melbourne returned to power. The only real achievements of Peel's first administration was a commission to review the governance of the Church of England . This ecclesiastical commission being the forerunner of the Church Commissioners. A further achievement was a rapid gain in seats in the House of Commons which was around 100 seats in the 100 days Peel's Ministry lasted.
Leader of the Opposition (1835-1841)
In May 1839, he was offered another chance to form a government, this time by the new monarch, Queen Victoria . However, this too would have been a minority government and Peel felt he needed a further sign of confidence from his Queen. Lord Melbourne had been Victoria's confidant for several years, and many of the higher posts in Victoria's household were held by the wives and female relatives of Whigs; there was some feeling that Victoria had allowed herself to be too closely associated with the Whig party. Peel therefore asked that some of this coterie be dismissed and replaced with their Conservative counterparts, provoking the so-called Bedchamber Crisis. Victoria refused to change her household, and despite pleadings from the Duke of Wellington, relied on assurances of support from Whig leaders. Peel refused to form a government, and the Whigs returned to power.
Second term as Prime Minister (1841-1846)
Image:Robert-Peel-arms.PNG
Arms of Sir Robert Peel
Factory Act
Peel finally had a chance to head a majority government following the election of July 1841. His promise of modest reform was held to, and the second most famous bill of this ministry, while "reforming" in 21st century eyes, was in fact aimed at the reformers themselves, with their constituency among the new industrial rich. The Factory Act 1844 acted more against these industrialists than it did against the traditional stronghold of the Conservatives, the landed gentry, by restricting the number of hours that children and women could work in a factory, and setting rudimentary safety standards for machinery. Interestingly, this was a continuation of his own father's work as an MP, as the elder Robert Peel was most noted for reform of working conditions during the first part of the 19th century.
In 1843 Peel was the target of a failed assassination attempt; a criminally-insane Scottish woodsman named Daniel M'Naghten stalked him for several days before accidentally killing Peel's personal secretary Edward Drummond instead.
Corn Laws and after
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
Prime Minister 1846-1852, 1865-1866
The most notable act of Peel's second ministry, however, was the one that would bring it down. This time Peel moved against the landholders by repealing the Corn Laws, which supported agricultural revenues by restricting grain imports. This radical break with Conservative protectionism was triggered by the Irish potato famine. At first sceptical of the extent of the problem, Peel reacted slowly to the famine. As realisation dawned, however, he hoped that ending the Corn Laws would free up more food for the Irish. Though he knew repealing the laws would mean the end of his ministry, Peel decided to do so. Yet many historians believe that Peel merely used the Irish Famine as an excuse to repeal the Corn Laws, having been an intellectual convert to free trade since the 1820s. Blake points out that if Peel was convinced that total repeal was necessary to stave off the famine, he should have enacted a bill that brought about immediate temporary repeal, not permanent repeal over a three-year period of gradual tapering-off of duties. His own party failed to support the bill, but it passed with Whig and Radical support on 29 June 1846. A following bill was defeated as a direct consequence, however, and Peel resigned.
Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield
Prime Minister 1868, 1874-1880
As an aside in reference to the Repeal of the Corn Laws, Peel did make some moves to subsidise the purchase of food for the Irish, but this attempt was small and had little tangible effect. To criticise Peel for acting too late in repealing the Corn Laws, or for not giving enough subsidies to the Irish, shows a misunderstanding of the historical context. In the age of laissez-faire, government and their taxes were small, and subsidies or direct economic interference were almost non-existent. That subsidies were actually given was very much out of character for the political times; Peel's successor, Lord John Russell, has received more criticism than Peel has on Irish policy. The repeal of the Corn Laws was more political than humanitarian. Peel's support for free trade could already be seen in his 1842 and 1845 budgets; it can be argued that the repeal of the Corn Laws was the next logical step towards a free-market economy. Whatever the intentions, in the end the repeal of the Corn Laws had little effect on the situation in Ireland.
The historian Boyd Hilton argues that Peel knew from 1844 that he was going to be deposed as Conservative leader—many of his MPs had taken to voting against him and the rupture within the party between liberals and paternalists which had been so damaging in the 1820s, but masked by the issue of reform in the 1830s was brought to the surface over the Corn Laws. Hilton's hypothesis is that Peel wished to actually be deposed on a liberal issue so that he might later lead a Peelite/Whig/Liberal alliance.
Later career and death
He did retain a hard core of supporters however, known as Peelites, and at one point in 1849 was actively courted by the Whig/Radical coalition. He continued to stand on his conservative principles, however, and refused. Nevertheless, he was influential on several important issues, including the furtherance of British free trade with the repeal of the Navigation Acts. Peel was a member of the committee which controlled the House of Commons Library, and on 16 April 1850 was responsible for passing the motion that controlled its scope and collection policy for the rest of the century.
Peel was thrown from his horse while riding up Constitution Hill in London on 29 June 1850, the horse stumbled on top of him and he died three days later on July 2 at the age of 62. His Peelite followers, led by Lord Aberdeen and William Gladstone , went on to fuse with the Whigs as the Liberal Party.
In Memory of Sir Robert Peel
Peel Tower Monument, this tower was built on top of Holcombe Hill in Ramsbottom, Bury. There is also a statue of Sir Robert Peel outside the Robert Peel public house in Bury town centre.
A British steamer named SS Sir Robert Peel, based in Canada , was burned by American forces on May 29, 1838, at the height of American-Canadian tensions over the Caroline Affair.
Sir Robert Peel's governments
| William IV of the United Kingdom |
How many Summer Olympic Games were held during the 1990’s? | Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet
Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet
Are you a RAPper or a RAPscallion?
Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet
Died 07/02/1850 London
Major Acts:
His major acts were when he served his second term in the Victorian Era, the Factory Act and Importation Act.
First Ministry (Under William IV)
12/10/183404/18/1835
First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer &
Leader of the House of Commons--Sir Robert Peel, Bt
Lord Chancellor--The Lord Lyndhurst
Lord President of the Council--The Earl of Rosslyn
Lord Privy Seal--The Lord Wharncliffe
Home Secretary--Henry Goulburn
Foreign Secretary & Leader of the House of Lords--The Duke of Wellington
Secretary of State for War & the Colonies--The Earl of Aberdeen
First Lord of the Admiralty--The Earl de Grey
Master-General of the Ordnance--Sir George Murray
President of the Board of Trade & Master of the Mint--Alexander Baring
President of the Board of Control--The Earl of Ellenborough
Paymaster of the Forces--Sir Edward Knatchbull, Bt
Secretary at War--John Charles Herries
A British Tory and Conservative statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 December 1834 to 8 April 1835, and again from 30 August 1841 to 29 June 1846. While Home Secretary, Peel helped create the modern concept of the police force, leading to officers being known as "bobbies" (in England) and "Peelers" (in Northern Ireland). While Prime Minister after 1841, Peel repealed the Corn Laws and issued the Tamworth Manifesto (1834), leading to the formation of the Conservative Party out of the shattered Tory Party.
“There seem to me to be very few facts, at least ascertainable facts, in politics.”
Prime Minister Date Takes Office Date Leaves Office
Back to Regency Prime Ministers
Early life
Peel was born in Bury, Lancashire, England, to the industrialist and Member of Parliament Sir Robert Peel, 1st Baronet. His father was one of the richest textile manufacturers of the early Industrial Revolution. Peel was educated first at Hipperholme Grammar School, then at Harrow School and finally Christ Church, Oxford, where he took a double first in classics and mathematics. He is also believed to have attended Bury Grammar School. While living in Tamworth, he is credited with the development of the Tamworth Pig by breeding Irish stock with some local Tamworth pigs.
Peel entered politics in 1809 at the young age of 21 as MP for the Irish rotten borough of Cashel, Tipperary. With a scant 24 electors on the rolls, he was elected unopposed. His sponsor for the election (besides his father) was the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Sir Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington, with whom Peel's political career would be entwined for the next 25 years. Peel made his maiden speech at the start of the 1810 session, when he was chosen by the Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval, to second the reply to the king's speech. His speech was a sensation, famously described by the Speaker, Charles Abbot, as "the best first speech since that of William Pitt."
As Chief Secretary in Dublin in 1813, he proposed the setting up of a specialist police force, later called "Peelers". In 1814 the Royal Irish Constabulary was founded under Peel.
For the next decade he occupied a series of relatively minor positions in the Tory governments: Undersecretary for War, Chief Secretary for Ireland, and chairman of the Bullion Committee (charged with stabilizing British finances after the end of the Napoleonic Wars). He also changed constituency twice: first picking up another constituency, Chippenham, then becoming MP for Oxford University in 1817.
He later served as MP for Tamworth from 1830 until his death. His home of Drayton Manor has since been demolished.
Home Secretary
Peel was considered one of the rising stars of the Tory party, first entering the cabinet in 1822 as Home Secretary. As Home Secretary, he introduced a number of important reforms of British criminal law: most memorably establishing the Metropolitan Police Force (Metropolitan Police Act 1829). He also reformed the criminal law, reducing the number of crimes punishable by death, and simplified it by repealing a large number of criminal statutes and consolidating their provisions into what are known as Peel's Acts. He reformed the gaol system, introducing payment for gaolers and education for the inmates.
He resigned as Home Secretary after the Prime Minister, Lord Liverpool, became incapacitated and was replaced by George Canning. Canning favoured Catholic Emancipation, while Peel had been one of its most outspoken opponents (earning the nickname "Orange Peel"). George Canning himself died less than four months later and, after the brief premiership of Lord Goderich, Peel returned to the post of Home Secretary under the premiership of his long-time ally the Duke of Wellington. During this time he was widely perceived as the number-two in the Tory Party, after Wellington himself.
However, the pressure on the new ministry from advocates of Catholic Emancipation was too great and an Emancipation Bill was passed the next year. Peel felt compelled to resign his seat as MP representing the graduates of Oxford University (many of whom were Anglican clergymen), as he had stood on a platform of opposition to Catholic Emancipation (in 1815 he had, in fact, challenged to a duel the man most associated with emancipation, Daniel O'Connell). Peel instead moved to a rotten borough, Westbury, retaining his Cabinet position. Peel's protégé Gladstone later emulated Peel by serving as MP for Oxford University from 1847 to 1865, before himself being defeated for his willingness to disestablish the Irish Church.
Police reform
It was in 1829 that Peel established the Metropolitan Police Force for London based at Scotland Yard. The 1,000 constables employed were affectionately nicknamed 'Bobbies' or, somewhat less affectionately, 'Peelers' (both terms are still used today). Although unpopular at first they proved very successful in cutting crime in London, and by 1857 all cities in the UK were obliged to form their own police forces. Known as the father of modern policing, Peel developed the Peelian Principles which defined the ethical requirements police officers must follow in order to be effective.
Whigs in power (1830–1834)
The Middle and Working Classes in England at that time, however, were clamoring for reform, and Catholic Emancipation was only one of the ideas in the air. The Tory ministry refused to bend on other issues and were swept out of office in 1830 in favor of the Whigs. The following few years were extremely turbulent, but eventually enough reforms were passed that King William IV felt confident enough to invite the Tories to form a ministry again in succession to those of Lord Grey and Lord Melbourne in 1834. Peel was selected as Prime Minister but was in Italy at the time, so Wellington acted as a caretaker for the three weeks until Peel's return.
First term as Prime Minister (1834–1835)
This new Tory Ministry was a minority government, however, and depended on Whig goodwill for its continued existence. As his statement of policy at the general election of January 1835, Peel issued the Tamworth Manifesto. The issuing of this document is often seen as one of the most crucial points at which the Tories became the Conservative Party. In it he pledged that the Conservatives would endorse modest reform, but the Whigs instead formed a compact with Daniel O'Connell's Irish Radical members to repeatedly defeat the government on various bills. Eventually Peel's ministry resigned out of frustration and the Whigs under Lord Melbourne returned to power. The only real achievements of Peel's first administration was a commission to review the governance of the Church of England. This ecclesiastical commission being the forerunner of the Church Commissioners. A further achievement was a rapid gain in seats in the House of Commons which was around 100 seats in the 100 days Peel's Ministry lasted.
Leader of the Opposition (1835–1841)
In May 1839, he was offered another chance to form a government, this time by the new monarch, Queen Victoria. However, this too would have been a minority government and Peel felt he needed a further sign of confidence from his Queen. Lord Melbourne had been Victoria's confidant for several years, and many of the higher posts in Victoria's household were held by the wives and female relatives of Whigs; there was some feeling that Victoria had allowed herself to be too closely associated with the Whig party. Peel therefore asked that some of this entourage be dismissed and replaced with their Conservative counterparts, provoking the so-called Bedchamber Crisis. Victoria refused to change her household, and despite pleadings from the Duke of Wellington, relied on assurances of support from Whig leaders. Peel refused to form a government, and the Whigs returned to power.
Second term as Prime Minister (1841–1846)
Economic and financial reforms
Peel came to office during an economic recession which had seen a slump in world trade and a budget deficit of £7.5 million run up by the whigs. Confidence in Banks and Businesses was low and a trade deficit existed.
To raise revenue Peel's 1842 budget saw the re-introduction of Income Tax, removed previously at the end of the Napoleonic War. The money raised was more than expected and allowed for the removal and reduction of over 1,200 tariffs including the controversial sugar duties. It was also in the 1842 budget that the repeal of the corn laws was first proposed. It was defeated in a Commons vote by a margin of 4:1.
Factory Act
Peel finally had a chance to head a majority government following the election of July 1841. His promise of modest reform was held to, and the second most famous bill of this ministry, while "reforming" in 21st century eyes, was in fact aimed at the reformers themselves, with their constituency among the new industrial rich. The Factory Act 1844 acted more against these industrialists than it did against the traditional stronghold of the Conservatives, the landed gentry, by restricting the number of hours that children and women could work in a factory, and setting rudimentary safety standards for machinery. Interestingly, this was a continuation of his own father's work as an MP, as the elder Robert Peel was most noted for reform of working conditions during the first part of the 19th century. Helping him was Lord Shaftesbury, a British MP who also established the coal mines act. In 1843 Peel was the target of a failed assassination attempt; a criminally-insane Scottish woodsman named Daniel M'Naghten stalked him for several days before accidentally killing Peel's personal secretary Edward Drummond instead.
Corn Laws and after
The most notable act of Peel's second ministry, however, was the one that would bring it down. This time Peel moved against the landholders by repealing the Corn Laws, which supported agricultural revenues by restricting grain imports. This radical break with Conservative protectionism was triggered by the Great Irish Famine (1845–1849). Tory agriculturalists were skeptical of the extent of the problem, and Peel reacted slowly to the famine. As realization dawned, however, he hoped that ending the Corn Laws would free up more food for the Irish.
His own party failed to support the bill, but it passed with Whig and Radical support. On the third reading of Peel's Bill of Repeal (Importation Act 1846) on 15 May, MPs voted 327 votes to 229 (a majority of 98) to repeal the Corn Laws. On 25 June the Duke of Wellington persuaded the House of Lords to pass it. On that same night Peel's Irish Coercion Bill was defeated in the Commons by 292 to 219 by "a combination of Whigs, Radicals, and Tory protectionists". Following this, on 29 June 1846, Peel resigned as Prime Minister.
Though he knew repealing the laws would mean the end of his ministry, Peel decided to do so. It is possible that Peel merely used the Irish Famine as an excuse to repeal the Corn Laws as he had been an intellectual convert to free trade since the 1820s. Blake points out that if Peel were convinced that total repeal was necessary to stave off the famine, he would have enacted a bill that brought about immediate temporary repeal, not permanent repeal over a three-year period of gradual tapering-off of duties.
The historian Boyd Hilton argues Peel knew from 1844 he was going to be deposed as Conservative leader—many of his MPs had taken to voting against him and the rupture within the party between liberals and paternalist which had been so damaging in the 1820s, but masked by the issue of reform in the 1830s was brought to the surface over the Corn Laws. Hilton's hypothesis is that Peel wished to actually be deposed on a liberal issue so that he might later lead a Peelite/Whig/Liberal alliance.
As an aside in reference to the Repeal of the Corn Laws, Peel did make some moves to subsidize the purchase of food for the Irish, but this attempt was small and had little tangible effect. In the age of laissez-faire, government taxes were small, and subsidies or direct economic interference were almost non-existent. That subsidies were actually given was very much out of character for the political times; Peel's successor, Lord John Russell, received more criticism than Peel on Irish policy. The repeal of the Corn Laws was more political than humanitarian. Peel's support for free trade could already be seen in his 1842 and 1845 budgets; in late 1842 Graham wrote to Peel that "the next change in the Corn Laws must be to an open trade" while arguing that the government should not tackle the issue. Speaking to the cabinet in 1844, Peel argued that the choice was maintenance of the 1842 Corn Law or total repeal. Despite all of Peel's efforts, his reform programs had little effect on the situation in Ireland.
Later career and death
He did retain a hard core of supporters however, known as Peelites, and at one point in 1849 was actively courted by the Whig/Radical coalition. He continued to stand on his conservative principles, however, and refused. Nevertheless, he was influential on several important issues, including the furtherance of British free trade with the repeal of the Navigation Acts. Peel was a member of the committee which controlled the House of Commons Library, and on 16 April 1850 was responsible for passing the motion that controlled its scope and collection policy for the rest of the century.
Peel was thrown from his horse while riding up Constitution Hill in London on 29 June 1850, the horse stumbled on top of him and he died three days later on 2 July at the age of 62 due to a clavicular fracture rupturing his subclavian vessels. His Peelite followers, led by Lord Aberdeen and William Gladstone, went on to fuse with the Whigs as the Liberal Party.
Family
Peel married Julia, youngest daughter of General Sir John Floyd, 1st Baronet, in 1820. They had five sons and two daughters. Four of his sons gained distinction in their own right.
His eldest son Sir Robert Peel, 3rd Baronet, served as Chief Secretary for Ireland from 1861 to 1865. His second son Sir Frederick Peel was a politician and railway commissioner. His third son Sir William Peel was a naval commander and recipient of the Victoria Cross. His fifth son Arthur Wellesley Peel was Speaker of the House of Commons and created Viscount Peel in 1895.
His daughter Julia married the 6th Earl of Jersey. Julia, Lady Peel, died in 1859. Some of his direct descendants now reside in South Africa, the Australian states of Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania, and in various parts of the United States and Canada.
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Which city’s airport is the largest in Latin America? | Latin America’s Best and Worst Airports | Latin Trade
Latin America’s Best and Worst Airports
Sntiago Airport, Chile. iSTOCK
Our readers have selected the best airports in Latin America.
Santiago continues to be the most popular airport in Latin America among Latin Trade readers. It received the top spot in comfort/ambience and shops/amenities. The airport received 10.3 million passengers in 2010, according to Airports Council International.
Panama City is right behind, though, thanks to getting most votes in customs/baggage, ease of connection and location/access. Thanks largely to efforts by Panamanian airline Copa, the airport is becoming a major hub for traffic in Latin America. Last year the airport handled 5 million passengers. That compares with only 1.3 million tourist arrivals that year, clearly showing how the airport is being used as a hub.
Mexico City, Latin America’s second-largest passenger airport, moved up to third place (from 4th in our previous reader survey). It received more votes than Santiago in customs/baggage and ease of connection. The airport received 24.1 million passengers in 2010, ranking it second in passenger traffic in Latin America, according to Latin Business Chronicle.
Lima improved dramatically compared with our previous reader survey, jumping from 10th to fourth place. It received the top score in comfort/ambience and second-highest score in ease of connection. Long gone are the days when the airport was considered one of the worst in Latin America.
What about Guarulhos in Sao Paulo, last year’s worst-ranked airport? This year, it actually managed to improve its score slightly (from 2.2 to 2.3) while Caracas saw a decline (from 2.3 to 2.1), leading the latter to have the dubious honor of being ranked as Latin America’s worst airport for business travelers.
Latin America's Best and Worst Airports (Click image to view at full size)
| Mexico City |
Who played Lara Croft in the 2001 film ‘Tomb Raider’? | Aeromexico, The Airline Serving The Largest Number Of Cities From A Hub In Latin America
svenska
Aeromexico, The Airline Serving The Largest Number Of Cities From A Hub In Latin America
-- Aeromexico has become the leader in the number of routes served from a hub in Latin America, with the 79 destinations the airline serves from its primary hub in Mexico City
-- The carrier secured this leadership position thanks to its latest current domestic and international routes, plus the new destinations coming soon
Oct 12, 2015, 18:27 ET from Aeromexico
English
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MEXICO CITY, Oct. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Aeromexico, Mexico's global airline, has become the airline serving the largest number of routes from a hub in Latin America, according to OAG Schedules Analysers, the world's leading provider of aviation industry tools analysts need to identify trends, spot commercial opportunities and monitor competitor activity.
With service to 79 destinations from its Mexico City hub, Aeromexico now ranks above other major airlines worldwide, thanks to the recent addition of nine domestic and international destinations from Mexico City, including Medellin in Colombia, Panama City, Toronto in Canada and Boston, Sacramento and Ontario in the United States. This growth also includes Aeromexico's new service to Querétaro and Cozumel added in October, and Vancouver, which the carrier will begin to serve next December, to close the year with 80 destinations in its route network.
Aeromexico thus confirms its commitment to providing more and better network connectivity from Mexico City, consolidating its global leadership by offering connections to more than 80 domestic and international destinations including 46 cities in Mexico, 16 in the United States, 15 in Latin America, three in Canada, three in Europe and two in Asia.
About Grupo Aeromexico
Grupo Aeromexico, S.A.B. de C.V. is a holding company whose subsidiaries provide commercial aviation services in Mexico and promote passenger loyalty programs. Aeromexico, Mexico's global airline, operates more than 600 daily flights from its main hub in Terminal 2 at the Mexico City International Airport. Its route network includes 80 cities on three continents including 46 cities in Mexico, 16 in the United States, 15 in Latin America, three in Canada, three in Europe and two in Asia.
The Group's fleet of more than 130 aircraft is comprised of Boeing 787, 777, 767 and 737 jet airliners and next generation Embraer 145, 170, 175 and 190 models. In 2012, the airline announced the most significant investment strategy in aviation history in Mexico, to purchase 100 Boeing aircraft including 90 MAX 737 airliners and ten 787-9 Dreamliners.
As a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, Aeromexico offers customers more than 1,000 destinations in 178 countries served by the 20 SkyTeam airline partners rewarding passengers with benefits including access to 516 premium airport lounges around the world. Aeromexico also offers travel options through its code share partners Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Avianca, LAN, TACA and TAM with extensive connectivity in countries like the United States, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia and Peru. www.aeromexico.com www.skyteam.com http://disfrutaam.tumblr.com/
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Ginocchio is Italian for which part of the body? | The human body | Italian Language Blog
Italian Language Blog
The human body Posted by Serena on Mar 17, 2009 in Italian Language
Today we are going to study anatomy: il corpo umano (the human body)! The human body in fact presents an incredible array of irregular words in the Italian language, which can be very confusing for a non-Italian speaker when constructing sentences. This is not a comprehensive list of the parts of the body however as I want to concentrate mainly on those that cause the most confusion.
OK, let’s start with the limbs, in particular the hands and arms:
La mano, le mani (the hand, the hands). Having the typical masculine ending of o and i ‘hand’ looks like a masculine word, but is in fact feminine, therefore we say la mano destra (the right hand), and Giovanni ha le mani piccole (Giovanni has small hands).
Attached to the hand there are le dita. Firstly we have il primo dito, (the first finger) which is called il pollice (the thumb), followed by il secondo dito, or l’indice (the second finger, or the index), then il terzo dito, or il medio (the third finger, or the middle finger), il quarto dito, or l’anulare (the fourth finger, or the ring finger), and last but not least il quinto dito, or il mignolo (the fifth finger, or the little finger). Two or more fingers are le dita (the fingers, feminine plural): Laura ha le dita lunghe (Laura has long fingers). However just to confuse matters il dito (the finger) is masculine singular!
la mano of course is attached to il braccio (the arm, masculine singular) but, as with ‘the fingers’, in the plural form ‘arms’ becomes feminine: le braccia e.g. Mario si e’ rotto il braccio sinistro (Mario broke his left arm), but Giovanni ha le braccia corte (Giovanni has short arms).
Now we move up to la testa (the head, which is regular i.e. le teste, the heads, if you happen to have more than one!), on the side of which we will find l’orecchio (the ear, masculine singular; the feminine form orecchia is a regional variation). Once again this word changes gender in the plural: le orecchie (the ears; the regular masculine form gli orecchi is less used): Pinocchio ha le orecchie lunghe come l’asino (Pinocchio has long ears like a donkey).
At the front of la testa is la faccia (the face, plural le facce). On la faccia we find l’occhio (the eye, plural gli occhi) surrounded by le ciglia (the eyelashes, feminine plural): Giulia ha le ciglia folte (Giulia has thick eyelashes), which in the singular form becomes masculine, il ciglio (the eyelash): ahi! mi e’ andato un ciglio nell’occhio (Ah! I’ve got an eyelash in my eye).
Above each eye there is il sopracciglio (eyebrow, literally ‘over the eyelashes’, masculine singular) which, guess what, becomes feminine in the plural, le sopracciglia. The English word ‘supercilious’ comes from the same root, and implies the notion of raising the eyebrows to express haughtiness or contempt.
Below il naso (the nose) there is la bocca (the mouth, a regular feminine word), which is formed by il labbro superiore (the upper lip, masculine singular), il labbro inferiore (the lower lip), or le labbra (the lips, feminine plural): Mario ha il labbro inferiore pronunciato (Mario has a prominent lower lip), and Laura ha le labbra rosse (Laura has red lips).
Finally, down to the legs and we have il ginocchio (the knee, masculine singular), which can take both forms in the plural, i ginocchi (masculine plural) and le ginocchia (feminine plural). Moving inside the body we find le ossa (the bones, feminine plural) or l’osso (the bone, masculine singular): Mario si e’ rotto l’osso del braccio sinistro (Mario has broken the bone of his left arm), but mi sono rotta le ossa del polso sinistro (I’ve broken the bones of my left wrist). The masculine form ossi is used to describe animal bones: ho dato gli ossi delle bistecche al cane (I gave the bones from the stakes to the dog). As a kid I used to confuse the two words and whenever I had the flu I used to complain: mi fanno male gli ossi (my bones are hurting), to which my mother would reply: sei una persona o un animale? (are you a person or an animal?).
| Knee |
Who became British Prime Minister in October 1809? | ginocchio translation English | Italian dictionary | Reverso
Devo solo far rientrare il ginocchio.
I'm just going to have to pop the knee back in.
Distorsione del ginocchio, trauma cranico.
Dislocation of the knee, injury to the head.
Le ho sparato sotto il ginocchio.
I shot her above the kneecap.
Stai lontana dal suo ginocchio, Tonya Harding.
Step away from the kneecap, Tonya Harding.
È un ginocchio progettato specificatamente per persone povere.
This is a knee that's been designed specifically for poor people.
Immagina un ginocchio, ma senza cartilagine.
Picture a knee but without any cartilage, bone on bone.
See how “ginocchio” is translated from Italian to English with more examples in context
Add your entry in the Collaborative Dictionary.
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Lutraphobia is the fear of which animal? | lutraphobia - definition and meaning
lutraphobia
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Examples
Some of the phobias are amusing: Cacophobia, for example, is the fear of ugliness, and lutraphobia is the fear of otters.
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jmjarmstrong commented on the word lutraphobia
JM is considering taking up lutraphobia to fully round out his personality.
January 9, 2010
reesetee commented on the word lutraphobia
*moves to the next town over from this page*
January 19, 2009
chained_bear commented on the word lutraphobia
*crosses street from this page*
January 19, 2009
avivamagnolia commented on the word lutraphobia
Squidly lutraphobia - The fear of otters
Killing some break-time at work and found this:
Quote from this video:
"Consider the true cost of living with Lutraphobia.
If you are living with lutraphobia, what is the real cost to your health, your career or school, and to your family life? Avoiding the issue indefinitely would mean resigning yourself to living in fear, missing out on priceless life experiences big and small, living a life that is just a shadow of what it will be when the problem is gone. For anyone earning a living, the financial toll of this phobia is incalculable. Living with fear means you can never concentrate fully and give your best. Lost opportunities. Poor performance or grades. Promotions that pass you by. lutraphobia will likely cost you tens, even hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of your lifetime, let alone the cost to your health and quality of life. Now Lutraphobia can be gone for less than the price of a round-trip airline ticket."
Who knew an otter could be responsible for that kind of damage? :-|
URL for post: http://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/showthread.php?t=497755
January 17, 2009
avivamagnolia commented on the word lutraphobia
Lutraphobia - An abnormal, persistent fear of otters
January 17, 2009
pterodactyl commented on the word lutraphobia
"A geometry implies the heterogeneity of locus, namely that there is a locus of the Otter. Regarding this locus of the Otter, of one sex as Otter, as absolute Otter, what does the most recent development in topology allow us to posit?"
--Jacques Lecan
dontcry commented on the word lutraphobia
*crosses street*
chained_bear commented on the word lutraphobia
Yes! Like otters do!
skipvia commented on the word lutraphobia
Actually, all we know is that that squirrel didn't have rabies. They may have been lulling you into a false sense of complacency...waiting...and watching...
January 15, 2009
sionnach commented on the word lutraphobia
Squirrels are vicious little buggers - don't let anyone tell you different. They're just rats with bushy tails. Once, when I lived in Chapel Hill, I was feeding peanuts to one of the squirrels outside my office window and the little ratfiend bit my finger!!
After a whole unsuccessful Keystone Kops interlude (Animal Control Unit on the phone: Try to contain the animal), involving a trail of peanuts and makeshift cardboard box "trap", I repaired to Student Health Services, to see if I would need rabies shots. Dr Vukosohn, the hippy doctor, wasn't clear on whether or not squirrels carried rabies. So his solution was to take a poll of the center staff and random students in the waiting area. Based on the 6 to 4 response favoring the view that squirrels didn't carry rabies, he decided not to order the shots.
The worst part was when I phoned my mom (who was an M.D.) back in Ireland for reassurance, she just exploded into hysterical laughter and the best I could get from her was "well; rabies has an incubation period of up to six months, so if you're still alive next year, we'll know that squirrels don't carry it".
I survived. (No shots)
sionnach commented on the word lutraphobia
fluviolutraphobia is presumably the word for 'fear of river otters. Or possibly lutrapotamophobia .
Watch out! There's a rabid lutrapotamus on the loose!
January 15, 2009
trivet commented on the word lutraphobia
*wonders about the probability of encountering an otter on the way home from work*
January 15, 2009
reesetee commented on the word lutraphobia
Why do I feel as though it's best not to ask that question?
Maybe I have riverorseaotterquestionsonWordiephobia.
*crosses street to avoid otters*
January 15, 2009
chained_bear commented on the word lutraphobia
I wonder if there's a separate word for a deep-seated fear of river (rather than sea) otters...
January 15, 2009
yarb commented on the word lutraphobia
I have more of a problem with river otters than sea otters.
I suppose it becomes an irrational phobia when you'd cross the street to avoid one (I'm talking about squirrels now). I'm not quite at that stage. A really big one, making free with newly-fallen horse-chestnuts, maybe.
January 15, 2009
chained_bear commented on the word lutraphobia
Squirrels may not be pleasant--my mom hates them and thinks of them as rats, for example--but not wanting one near you (or an otter near you, for that matter) is not the same as having a phobia of them. A deep fear of squirrels--just squirrels, not "having squirrels crawl all over one," which is probably fearsome to anyone--is slightly more understandable than a phobia of soft cushy pillows.
Aren't we all vicious little bastards when cornered? Isn't that how we survive? *feels the love for guinea pigs, who instead simply stampede in a circle*
Does your aunt's cousin fear Play-Doh, by any chance?
January 15, 2009
yarb commented on the word lutraphobia
I'm no great fan of otters. I mean, I respect them, but I wouldn't want one near me. Same for squirrels, they're vicious little bastards when cornered, and they carry rabies.
January 15, 2009
chained_bear commented on the word lutraphobia
I know someone who has Playdohaphobia!
And I think I might be developing lutraphobiawordiepageaphobia, myself.
January 15, 2009
reesetee commented on the word lutraphobia
Okay then....
I know someone who has sciurophobia . I also know someone who has peristerophobia .
You just never know.
chained_bear commented on the word lutraphobia
Yeah? well... I know someone who's afraid of...
Of...
Play-doh! Nyah!
Anyway "afraid of" isn't quite the same as a phobia... (though I know you know that, ree-settee.)
January 15, 2009
reesetee commented on the word lutraphobia
I know someone who's afraid of squirrels. I also know someone who's afraid of pigeons.
You just never know.
chained_bear commented on the word lutraphobia
It's like being deathly afraid of squirrels. Or pillows.
*thinking she should not have said that, because someone's bound to argue that their aunt's cousin has lutraphobia*
January 15, 2009
reesetee commented on the word lutraphobia
Maybe one scared you as a child?
Not you you. I mean the you that you mentioned.
January 14, 2009
chained_bear commented on the word lutraphobia
Yeah... how can you fear otters, for heaven's sake? Otters.
I mean, they're otters.
reesetee commented on the word lutraphobia
Wow. That's scary.
chained_bear commented on the word lutraphobia
Fear of otters.
| Otter |
The logo for which Japanese car manufacturer features a rounded rectangle with a winged V-shape in the centre? | 20 Weird Phobias - MainStreet
MainStreet
Jan 15, 2011 7:00 AM EST
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself?
Everyone feels anxious or fearful sometimes, and while those feelings are mostly normal, when a fear is irrational, intense, and persistent, it is considered a phobia. A study by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) found that between 8.7% and 18.1% of Americans suffer from phobias. Only 10% of reported cases become lifelong illnesses in which the physical symptoms that accompany the feelings of anxiety – like rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, and sweating – become so severe that they limit daily activities and interfere with quality of life. While the majority of phobias are relatively commonplace – a fear of crowds (agoraphobia), spiders (arachnophobia), public speaking – many others are decidedly more obscure. You probably haven’t you heard of venustraphobia (fear of beautiful women) or lutraphobia (fear of otters - yes, the animal). We decided to take a look at some of the things that some people are pathologically scared of – most pretty rare conditions and some common ones that you just didn’t know there was a name for. Photo Credit: Kevin Dooley
Deipnophobia
Deipnophobia
With the holidays behind us, it’s safe to talk about this fear of dining or dinner conversation. As a clinical disorder, deipnophobia is a very specific version of a social phobia or social anxiety disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, such phobias are diagnosed when “people become overwhelmingly anxious and excessively self-conscious in everyday social situations” and affect about 15 million American adults. People with this kind of fear might dread and actively avoid any situations that might cause them to engage in dinner conversation. Or, it might just serve as a good excuse to avoid dinner with the in-laws. Photo Credit: The Next Web
Syngenesophobia
Syngenesophobia
Defined as the fear of relatives, this is another social phobia that might be exacerbated during the holidays when getting together with family is pretty much unavoidable. As a common anxiety, it is the source of a whole class of jokes about in-laws (see previous slide) and mythologized in children’s stories about scary stepmothers. But serious sufferers will have an intense, persistent, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by their relatives and may experience blushing, profuse sweating, trembling, nausea, and difficulty speaking when made to confront their fear. Photo Credit: Capture Queen
Zemmiphobia
Zemmiphobia
A fear of animals is fairly common – spiders and snakes are pretty scary, after all – and is one of the most frequent fears among children. There are certainly sensible reasons to avoid and fear dangerous or threatening animals, but zemmiphobia is particularly irrational since it is a fear of the “great mole rat”, a creature that, as far as we know, doesn’t exist (there is a “ greater mole rat ” that lives in Siberia, if that counts). There are several kinds of mole rat and judging by the naked mole rat pictured here, it is not too surprising that some people have an intense fear of them. Photo Credit: Mary Witzig
Pteridophobia
Pteridophobia
A “specific phobia” is one of three general types of phobias recognized by the American Psychiatric Association ’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and defined as “a persistent and irrational fear in the presence of some specific stimulus which commonly elicits avoidance of that stimulus.” Pteridophobia refers to the irrational or obsessive fear of ferns, which is, indeed, very specific. The feeling of anxiety induced by the frond-y, spore-producing plant is not so common, although a fear of plants in general, Botanophobia, has been documented: The actress Christina Ricci admitted in 2003 to British Esquire that she is afraid of houseplants. "They are dirty," she said. "If I have to touch one, after already being repulsed by the fact that there is a plant indoors, then it just freaks me out." Photo Credit: Leithcote
Genuphobia
Genuphobia
The word genuphobia comes from the Latin genu, meaning “knee”. Yes, it refers to an overwhelming, irrational fear of knees. Genuphobes may fear their own knees and/or fear seeing other people's knees. They tend to avoid the beach and other places where knees are prominently displayed, and probably hate summer. Photo Credit: oskar karlin
Aulophobia
Aulophobia
Aulophobia is the abnormal fear of flutes. Whether it is the sound or the physical form of this woodwind instrument that instills panic in the sufferer, the magic is certainly gone for the aulophobic. Photo Credit: Khairil Zhafri
Kyphophobia
Kyphophobia
Kyphophobia is a fear of stooping or becoming stooped or crooked. In our lazier moments, we all might dread having to crouch down to pick up something we dropped on the floor, a mild form of this affliction that true sufferers must deal with regularly. One might suspect origins of this fear lie in negative feelings about aging and becoming stooped. A person who develops kyphophobia may avoid any situation in which they would have to stoop and may view such a position repulsive. This phobia can eventually become difficult to manage and interfere with daily activities – like picking up after oneself, for example. Photo Credit: Eustaquio Santimano
Coulrophobia
Coulrophobia
This is one that might be more common, but perhaps you didn’t know there was a name for it: the fear of clowns. While the clown is meant to entertain and distract, research has shown that children are often quite frightened of painted-on smiling faces. Clown themes are generally avoided in hospitals and schools for this reason. To make matters worse, there are plenty of references in popular culture to creepy clowns and the serial killer John Wayne Gacy, who performed as a party clown when not committing horrendous crimes. Clowns are definitely a mixed bag, and coulrophobes will be happy to know there is a name for their fear. Photo Credit: Spider.Dog
Phagophobia
Phagophobia
Phagophobia, the fear of swallowing, is a serious condition that can lead to malnutrition and weight loss. It may follow a bout of actual dysphagia – the medical term for difficulty swallowing – but even as a psychosomatic condition it can become extremely debilitating. In some cases, the phagophobe eats only soft and liquid foods or might have an almost obsessive need for water while eating. Gulp. Photo Credit: craig Cloutier
Cathisophobia
Cathisophobia
Cathisophobia is the fear of sitting down, and just imagining it is exhausting. Imagine being offered a seat and panicking over the prospect of getting off your poor tired feet. As with many phobias, treatments vary from case to case. Treatment methods include talking cures (psychoanalysis), behavioral therapy, hypnosis, progressive desensitization, and medication. Photo Credit: JoséMa Orsini
Walloonphobia
Walloonphobia
Walloonphobia is not a clinical phobia, but rather a form of prejudice like xenophobia or homophobia. The term refers to the fear, dislike, or discrimination against Walloons – the French-speaking people who live predominantly in the southern half of Belgium known as Wallonia. Walloon culture contrasts with that of the Flemings, who inhabit the northern part of the country and speak Flemish, a language similar to Dutch. And while Walloons have been the object of Walloonphobia (presumably from their Flemish neighbors to the north), there are plenty of famous Walloons in history: Peter Minuit famously purchased the island of Manhattan from Native Americans in 1626 for goods valued at today’s equivalent of some pocket change. Photo Credit: Martin Sillaots
Ephebiphobia
Ephebiphobia
Another typically non-clinical type of phobia that has its roots social and cultural prejudice, ephebiphobia refers to the irrational fear of teenagers or youth. So when the grumpy curmudgeon on your block yells at you when your soccer ball rolls into his yard, you can call him an ephebiphobe and suggest he get treatment for his condition. Photo Credit: Flavio@Flickr
Porphyrophobia
Porphyrophobia
Fear of the color red – the color of blood – might be a more common phobia than porphyrophobia, the fear of the color purple. There are many people who simply don’t like the color, and there are those rare cases of individuals who actually panic at the mere sight of it. Surely they are not Baltimore Ravens fans. Photo Credit: Max Braun
Arachibutyrophobia
Arachibutyrophobia
If you are desperately afraid of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth, you have arachibutyrophobia. Indeed, sufferers can easily avoid confronting their fear and voila, problem solved. The word was used by Charles M. Schulz in a 1982 installment of his "Peanuts" comic strip, and it certainly doesn’t apply to dogs, who entertain tens of thousands of people a day by eating peanut butter. Photo Credit: Dr. Stephen Dann
Blennophobia
Blennophobia
Blennophobia, the fear of slime, does not seem so strange. Granted, it’s not something one regularly has to deal with, but some people are downright freaked out by it. No telling how an individual would develop such an irrational fear. Watching too many sci-fi movies perhaps? An incident involving snails? Photo Credit: Jimee, Jackie, Tom & Asha
Koumpounophobia
Koumpounophobia
Unless you are Amish, you may be at risk for koumpounophobia, the fear of buttons on clothing. Mild to severe feelings of disgust or panic affect sufferers when they touch or, for some, just look at buttons. In 2009, popular author Neil Gaiman released a promotional teaser trailer for the film Coraline, based on his novella of the same name. The trailer featured Gaiman warning koumpounophobes about the content of the film, which features characters with buttons in place of eyes. Photo Credit: Morning theft
Nomophobia
Nomophobia
Nomophobia, an abbreviation of "no-mobile-phone phobia", was coined during a study by the UK Post Office, which commissioned a study to look at anxieties suffered by mobile phone users . The study found that nearly 53% of mobile phone users in Britain tend to be anxious when they "lose their mobile phone, run out of battery or credit, or have no network coverage.” The study compared stress levels induced by the average case of nomophobia to be on par with those of "wedding day jitters" and trips to the dentist. Photo Credit: the Italian voice
Sesquipedalophobia
Sesquipedalophobia
Unsurprisingly, sesquipedalophobia refers to the fear of long words, and it’s more of an ironic joke than an actual reported condition. Even more anxiety producing is the other word for the fear, antidisestablishmentarianismophobia. If you are actually afflicted by this condition, our apologies for freaking you out. Supercalafragilisticexpialidociousophobia. Sorry. Couldn’t resist. Photo Credit: Orderlyschism
Pteronophobia
Pteronophobia
Pteronophobia is the fear of feathers or being tickled by feathers. If you are allergic, don’t worry, your problem is probably not mental. But if you break into a sweat just thinking of downy plumage, you are indeed pteronophobic. Photo Credit: Thomas Tiernan
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In which 1950 film do prisoners of war escape from Stalag Luft III? | Stalag Luft III - The Real Great Escape
Stalag Luft III
Home » Stalag Luft III
Stalag Luft III
Stammlager Luft III, more commonly known as Stalag Luft III was a Luftwaffe-run prisoner-of-war camp during World War II captured allied airmen. It was situated in the German Province of Lower Silesia near the town of Sagan (now Żagań in Poland) about 100 miles south east of Berlin.
Stalag Luft III: the scene of the real Great Escape
The site was selected because it would be difficult to escape by tunnelling. As many people know, though, the camp is best known for its two prisoner escapes that took place by tunnelling – as portrayed in the films The Great Escape (1963) and The Wooden Horse (1950), and the books by former prisoners Paul Brickhill and Eric Williams from which the films were adapted (very loosely, in the case of The Great Escape).
The camp
Although Stalag Luft III was an officers-only camp, it retained the title “Stalag” instead of the usual name Oflag (Offizier Lager) as the Luftwaffe had their own nomenclature. Later extensions to the camp added compounds for non-commissioned officers (NCOs). Captured Fleet Air Arm crew were considered to be airmen by the Luftwaffe and no differentiation was made. On occasions non-airmen were also held prisoner in the camp.
The first camp compound (East) was finished and opened in March 1942. The first prisoners, or “kriegies”, as they called themselves (from the German “Kriegsgefangener” meaning prisoner-of-war), at Stalag Luft III were British RAF and Fleet Air Arm officers imprisoned in April 1942.
The Centre compound was opened in April 1942, originally for British sergeants, but by the end of 1942 replaced by Americans. The North Compound for British airmen, where the Great Escape occurred, opened in March 1943.
A South Compound for US personnel was opened in September 1943 and USAAF prisoners began arriving at the camp in significant numbers the following month and the West Compound was opened in July 1944 for US officers.
Each compound consisted of fifteen single story huts. Each 10 × 12 feet bunkroom slept fifteen men in five triple deck bunks. Eventually the camp grew to around 60 acres in size and came to be home for about 2,500 Royal Air Force officers, about 7,500 U.S. Army Air Forces, and about 900 officers from other Allied air forces.
Escape impossible?
Stalag Luft III had a number of features that made escape extremely difficult.
Construction of escape tunnels, in particular, was discouraged by several factors. The barracks housing the prisoners were raised off the ground to help guards detect any tunneling activity.
Secondly, the camp was constructed on a very sandy subsoil. This subsoil was bright yellow, making it easily detected if put on the surface soil (which was a grey dust) and visible on clothing. The loose, collapsible sand also meant the structural integrity of a tunnel would be very poor.
A final defence against tunnel construction was the use of seismograph microphones around the perimeter of the camp to detect any sounds of digging.
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Who wrote the novel ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles? | Stalag Luft III – The Great Escape Camp | Military History Tours
Military History Tours
Stalag Luft III – The Great Escape Camp
The photo above depicts the end of the famous “Harry” Tunnel which ran from Hut 104 into the woods, just beyond the pathway. The camp was the site of hundreds of escape attempts, some of which resulted in “Home Runs”. The camp today is unspoilt and with so much to see and do it leaves little to the imagination.
Stalag Luft III, known to many as “The Great Escape” Camp was the vast PoW Camp for Allied Airmen cut out of a thick forest in Upper Silesia, then in the East of Germany, now located in Poland. 100 miles (160 km) southeast of Berlin. The site was selected because it would be difficult to escape by tunneling. The camp is best known for two famous prisoner escapes that took place there by tunneling, which were depicted in the films The Great Escape (1963) and The Wooden Horse (1950), and the books by former prisoners Paul Brickhill and Eric Williams from which these films were adapted.
The camp was very secure. Despite being an officers-only camp, it was referred to as a Stalag camp rather than Oflag (Offizier Lager) as the Luftwaffe had their own nomenclature. Later camp expansions added compounds for non-commissioned officers. Captured Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy) crew were considered to be Air Force by the Luftwaffe and no differentiation was made. At times non-airmen were interned.
The first compound (East Compound) of the camp was completed and opened on 21 March 1942. The first prisoners, or “kriegies”, as they called themselves (from “Kriegsgefangene”), to be housed at Stalag Luft III were British RAF and Fleet Air Arm officers, arriving in April 1942. The Centre compound was opened on 11 April 1942, originally for British sergeants, but by the end of 1942 replaced by Americans. The North Compound for British airmen, where the Great Escape occurred, opened on 29 March 1943. A South Compound for Americans was opened in September 1943 and USAAF prisoners began arriving at the camp in significant numbers the following month and the West Compound was opened in July 1944 for U.S. officers. Each compound consisted of fifteen single story huts. Each 10-by-12-foot (3.0 m × 3.7 m) bunkroom slept fifteen men in five triple deck bunks. Eventually the camp grew to approximately 60 acres (24 ha) in size and eventually housed about 2,500 Royal Air Force officers, about 7,500 U.S. Army Air Forces, and about 900 officers from other Allied air forces, for a total of 10,949 inmates, including some support officers.
The prison camp had a number of design features that made escape extremely difficult. The digging of escape tunnels, in particular, was discouraged by several factors. First, the barracks housing the prisoners were raised approximately 60 cm. off the ground to make it easier for guards to detect any tunneling activity. Second, the camp itself had been constructed on land that had a very sandy subsoil. The sand was bright yellow, so it could easily be detected if anyone dumped it on the surface (which consisted of grey dust), or even just had some of it on their clothing. In addition, the loose, collapsible sand meant the structural integrity of a tunnel would be very poor. A third defence against tunneling was the placement of seismograph microphones around the perimeter of the camp, which were expected to detect any sounds of digging just below the surface.
One snowy night in March 1944 saw the culmination of the efforts of hundreds of POWs – the tunnel they had been preparing for many months was finally ready. That events of that night were to become known as “The Great Escape”: an attempt to break 200 prisoners out in one go. As the world knows the story was one of ingenuity, heroism and ultimately tragedy. Fifty Allied airmen were murdered. On this trip we tell their story.
23-25 March 2016, £499 plus £30 a night single room supplement where applicable, Anniversary of the Great Escape
Guests are met in Berlin by the MHT Team, either at 09:30 at Berlin Schonefeld airport or at 11:00 at Berlin’s Central Hauptbahnhof Train station. From here we go into Escapee mode from the off as we head east on the lunchtimen train. The further east we go the darker the scenery becomes before we finally cross the modern day frontier into Poland where of course modern day Zagan is located. Back in WW2 the borders were 100 miles further east and Sagan was in Germany. We arrive at the impressive railway station, as so many of the POWs did, and little has changed since the war. After an initial exploration of the station we transfer to our hotel by taxi (included), a fairly short journey but a little too far to walk after a long day. After we settle into our lovely hotel – a Wehrmacht hospital in WW2 (indeed POWs were treated there) – guests are treated to a talk on Stalag Luft III before dinner.
After breakfast on Day Two guests take taxis to the camp (included) where they will have an opportunity to go down a recreation of the Harry tunnel, climb up a ‘Goon’ tower and go inside a POW recreated by the RAF. We then go into a wonderful little museum (entry included) dedicated to the POWs at Sagan (Napoleonic, WW1 & 2) which mainly contains exhibits from Stalag Luft III and Stalag VIIIC, the camp located next door. Here we will see lots of arteficts dug out of the POW camp ground by the curators of the museum – guests will have a chance to discuss such finds with the curators of this wonderful little museum. We then walk through VIIIC to Stalag Luft III South and West Compounds (American) before entering the North Compound, home of the famous “Tom”, “Dick” and “Harry” tunnel, amongst others. We see many examples of the POW huts, the canteen, sick bay, “cooler”, fire pits and the theatre. Guests will be able to really explore the woods and have a picnic (included by virtue of “Operation MHT Breadroll” ) and have camp life and various escapes – as well as The Great Escape – explained in detail. We then walk from the Harry exit hole through the woods in search of the train station, as the escapers did, before having a detailed look around the station ticket hall. We then make our way along the railway line pathway to the small cemetery where the POWs built a memorial to the 50 murdered airmen. After paying our respects we are collected by taxi and taken back to our hotel late afternoon.
Day Three we travel by taxi to the train station where we follow the initial POW route into the camp’s East Compound, seeing various WW2 objects along the way (eg machine gun posts). In the East Compound we discuss the legendary Wooden Horse Escape that took place on it’s sports field before we walk through the Central Compound to the more leafy Kommandantur area. MHT’s Nick Jackson is a well respected archaeologist and in the Kommandatur area he will explain to guests how to approach such terrain as if it were an archaeological dig, always fascinating. We leave Sagan and return to the Berlin arriving early evening ready for guests to make their way back to the airport if they are flying back that evening or their hotels if they are staying over.
The trip price includes all transport, 2 nights bed & breakfast, all museum entrances, talks and guidance.
Just £100 deposit secures a place. E mail or call us today to book your place.
Stalag Luft III The Great Escape Anniversary Trip Literature to download:
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‘A duck and a flea’ is the Bingo call for which number? | Bingo Number-calling Nicknames
35.. Jump and jive - Flirty wives
36.. Three dozen - Perfect (as in 36-24-36) - Yardstick... he wishes! (USA)
37.. A flea in heaven - More than eleven
38.. Christmas cake
39.. Those famous steps - All the steps - Jack Benny
40.. Two score - Life begins at - Blind 40 - Naughty 40 - Mary (USA)
41.. Life�s begun - Time for fun
42.. That famous street in Manhattan - Whinny the Poo
43.. Down on your knees
44.. Droopy drawers - All the fours - Open two doors - Magnum (USA)
45.. Halfway house - Halfway there - Cowboy's friend - Colt (USA)
46.. Up to tricks
48.. Four dozen
49.. PC (Police Constable) - Copper - Nick nick - Rise and shine
50.. Bulls eye - Bung hole - Blind 50 - Half a century - Snow White's number (five-oh - five-oh..) - Hawaii five O, Hawaii (USA)
51.. I love my mum - Tweak of the thumb - The Highland Div[ision] - President's salute
52.. Weeks in a year - The Lowland Div[ision] - Danny La Rue - Pack 'o cards - Pickup (USA)
53.. Stuck in the tree - The Welsh Div[ision] - The joker
54.. Clean the floor - House of bamboo (famous song)
55.. Snakes alive - All the fives - Double nickels - Give us fives - Bunch of fives
56.. Was she worth it?
57.. Heinz varieties - All the beans (Heinz 57 varieties of canned beans)
58.. Make them wait - Choo choo Thomas
59.. Brighton line (engine 59 or it took 59 mins to go from London to Brighton)
60.. Three score - Blind 60 - Five dozen
61.. Bakers bun
62.. Tickety boo - Turn on the screw
63.. Tickle me - Home ball (USA)
64.. The Beatles number - Red raw
65.. Old age pension - Stop work (retirement age)
66.. Clickety click - All the sixes - Quack quack (USA)
67.. Made in heaven - Argumentative number
68.. Saving grace - Check your weight
69.. The same both ways - Your place or mine? - Any way up - Either way up - Any way round - Meal for two - The French connection - Yum yum - Happy meal (USA)
70.. Three score and ten - Blind 70 - Big O (USA)
71.. Bang on the drum - Lucky one
72.. A crutch and a duck - Six dozen - Par for the course (golf) - Lucky two
73.. Crutch with a flea - Queen B - Under the tree - Lucky three
74.. Candy store - Grandmamma of Bingo - Lucky four
75.. Strive and strive - Big Daddy - Granddaddy of Bingo - Lucky five
76.. Trombones - Seven 'n' six - was she worth it? - Lucky six
77.. Sunset strip - All the sevens - Two little crutches - The double hockey stick - Lucky seven
78.. Heavens gate - Lucky eight
79.. One more time - Lucky nine
80.. Gandhi's breakfast - Blind 80 - Eight and blank - There you go matey
81.. Fat lady and a little wee - Stop and run - Corner shot
82.. Fat lady with a duck - Straight on through
83.. Fat lady with a flea - Time for tea - Ethel's Ear
84.. Seven dozen
87.. Fat lady with a crutch - Torquay in Devon
88.. Two fat ladies - Wobbly wobbly - All the eights
89.. Nearly there - All but one
90.. Top of the shop - Top of the house - Blind 90 - As far as we go - End of the line
Explanations of some nicknames:
1 Kelly's eye: In reference to the one-eyed Australian bushranger gangster Ned Kelly. (Note: apparently this explanation is incorrect. A viewer from Australia sent this message: "Ned Kelly didn't have one eye! He didn't even lose an eye in the shoot out at Glenrowan. And when he was wearing his helmet, you couldn't even see his eyes through the slot." But another Australian viewer sent this explanation: "The reason for "Kellys eye" may have been referring to Ned Kelly's helmet, which had one large slot for his eyes that looked like one eye.")
2 One little duck: The shape looks a bit like a swan.
3 One little flea: Looks a bit like a flea.
7 One little crutch: Looks like a crutch.
8 One fat lady: Resembles the two halves of a large lady.
9 Doctor's orders: A pill known as Number 9 was a laxative given out by army doctors in Britain. Apparently in the second world war in Britain doctors wrote on sick notes a 9 pm curfew, thus if patients were found out of their homes after that time they were violating their sick note. (Provided by a visitor)
The curfew story's not true. In the Great War, however, there was such a thing as a "number nine" pill, that was freely prescribed for virtually everything. (Provided by another visitor)
10 Downing street: UK Prime Minister's address, 10 Downing Street.
12 Royal salute: As in, a 21-gun salute for a Royal birthday or other celebration.
13 Bakers Dozen: Bakers in olden times used to make one extra piece of bread/cookie etc to the dozen ordered by a customer so they could do a taste test before it was sold to the customer, hence the phrase.
17 Dancing queen: From the Abba song of the same name. Over-ripe: Opposite of tender; 14 and 17 straddle 16 which is sweet!
23 Lord's My Shepherd: From Psalm 23.
26 Bed and breakfast: Traditionally the cost of a nights' lodgings was 2 shillings sixpence, or two and six.
26 Half a crown: Equivalent to 2'6d. Or two and six.
39 The famous steps; all the steps: From the 1935 Hitchcock film
59 The Brighton Line: The London-Brighton service was no. 59.
65 Old age pension: 'Pension' age in the UK is at the age of 65.
76 Seven 'n' six - was she worth it?: The price of the marrige licence, seven shillings and six pence.
A marriage license may have been 7/6 (37.5p in new money) once upon a time, but 7/6 was more recently the cost of a "short time" with a lady of negotiable affection.... (Provided by a visitor)
78 Heavens gate: it rhymes: heaven-seven, gate-eight.
80 Gandhi's breakfast: in reference to Ghandi�s famous peace protest, in which he abstained from food - Imagine him sitting crosslegged with a big empty plate in front of him, looking from above. Another suggested explanation: ate (8) nothing (0).
81 Corner shot: Generally used in Military clubs tambola aka housie in India; origin unknown.
83 Ethel's Ear: Fat lady beside ear-shaped three.
(Above explanations are courtesy of visitors' feedback and bbc.co.uk )
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| twenty three |
In January 1990, who became the first modern head of government to give birth whist in office? | Bingo Number Names History And Meanings Part 2: Calls 1 - 45 - Bingo History - Playing Bingo
Part two of Dr Carolyn Downs history of bingo number calls, their importance and their origins.
Author: Carolyn Downs
The Calls - Part 1
This list is by no means conclusive; bingo calls vary between towns, between settings and between callers; similarly, some that appear to be either rhymes or visual puns may have other meanings too, that have not yet been tracked down.
1. Kelly's eye, Buttered Scone, At the Beginning, Nelson’s Column, Little Jimmy.
There is no agreement about the origin of Kelly’s eye, but this is the most common of the calls for number one. A possible origin is the popular music hall song, ‘Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?’ (1907) by C.W. Murphy and Will Letters. The original version included a line about Kelly being from the Isle of Man and was popularised in England by Florrie Forde who recorded the song. William J. McKenna altered the lyrics in 1909 to make the song more suitable for the Irish Americans who frequented the American vaudeville. [ 1 ]
Has anybody here seen Kelly? K E double L Y Has anybody here seen Kelly? Have you seen him smile? Sure his hair is red His eyes are blue And He’s Irish thru and thru Has anybody here seen Kelly? Kelly from the Emerald Isle.[ 2 ]
The lyrics are now associated with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the United States of America and are mentioned in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses as a popular working class song. Valiant comic adopted the term Kelly’s Eye in its first edition, published at the height of the commercial bingo boom in 1962, indicating that press reports of the games popularity amongst the young when it was first commercialised were not necessarily exaggerated. Tim Kelly (the hero) found the good eye (a big diamond which he wore round his neck) and had to find the evil eye and destroy it to save the world; Fleetway comics published Valiant as a companion comic to Hurricane. While an origin for the term Kelly’s Eye, cannot be traced, as dictionaries of slang all give the origin as military, used in bingo. ‘Little Jimmy’ is a later call, and relates to Little Jimmy Osmond who had a string of hits (the first in 1972) popular with middle aged ladies.
2. One Little Duck, Me an' you, Dirty Old Jew, Baby’s Done It, Doctor Who.
‘One Little Duck’ is the first of the visual puns that are a common feature of many calls. The other calls used to represent the number two reflect a clear progression over time. The oldest two are ‘Me an' you’, (cockney) ‘Dirty Old Jew’, (acceptable terminology in pre-World War Two England). ‘Baby’s Done It’ refers back to the euphemism for defecation ‘doing a number two’, while ‘Dr. Who’ cannot have been adopted into the lexicography of the game until after 1963.
3. Goodness me! I’m Free, Debbie McGee, One Little Flea.
While ‘Goodness me!’ appears to have no particular context other than a simple rhyme, ‘I’m Free’ and ‘Debbie McGee’ are both television related, and refer to extremely popular BBC1 programmes. ‘I’m free!’ was the catchphrase of John Inman who played the character Mr. Humphries in the sitcom ‘Are you Being Served?’ the feed line was ‘Are you free Mr. Humphries?’ the series ran from 1972. ‘Debbie McGee’ was the assistant to the television magician Paul Daniels, whose show run from 1979. As with all of the other television related bingo calls, the popularity of the programme with a mass audience seems to be essential for an element from the show to enter into popular use. ‘One Little Flea’ is a visual pun; close inspection of the body of a flea reveals it to have a shape not dissimilar to a figure ‘3’ rotated 180o anti-clockwise.
4. Knock at the Door.
This call may have been adopted because it is part of a popular children’s nursery rhyme, ‘One two, buckle my shoe, three four, knock at the door’.
5. Jack's Alive, Dead Alive, Man Alive.
‘Man Alive’ was the BBC documentary strand that pioneered modern techniques of reportage, first broadcast in 1965. The inclusion of this BBC2 programme suggests that it had a wide popular base, and certainly, its reporters did establish a degree of celebrity not usually accorded to those working on the channel.
6. Tom Mix, Spot Below, Chopsticks.
‘Spot Below’ was a common call in military games, because numbers that could be mis-read had a spot underneath to prevent confusion. The survival of ‘Tom Mix’ as a call (heard on Margate seafront as recently as summer 2003) is surprising. He was one of the original cowboy heroes, starring in silent movies and never really making it in talkies. His career lasted from 1909 to 1935, during which period he made 336 feature films of which only nine were talkies. The films were noted for fast action and daredevil stunts performed by Tom Mix himself.[ 3 ]
7. One Little Crutch, God's in Heaven, Lucky Seven.
‘One Little Crutch’ is another visual pun, and may perhaps date the First World War when there were many injured men using crutches to aid their mobility. All of these calls appear in accounts of games held in the 1950s, and may very well date back to the First World War. Seven has been considered a lucky number since at least the time of Pythagoras, when the number was considered to be the perfect number, 3 and 4, the triangle and the square, while in ancient times there were seven visible planets and seven days of the week. God’s in Heaven is a simple rhyme for seven, but may also link to the popular poem by Robert Browning that was learned in classrooms up and down the Empire, The year's at the spring, And day's at the morn; Morning's at seven; The hill-side's dew-pearl'd; The lark's on the wing; The snail's on the thorn; God's in His heaven-- All's right with the world!
8. One fat lady, Garden Gate, Harry Tate, Gareth Gates.
‘One fat lady’ is a visual pun and garden gate is a simple rhyme that appears in counting and skipping games linked with the number 8. Harry Tate is an interesting call that appears to derive from the music hall in the early twentieth century and have been widely adopted by the military as a slang phrase that could cover a multitude of purposes. Harry Tate (1872-1940) was the stage name of Ronald Hutchison [ 4 ]. First as a solo performer and then as part of a double act with his son he was a top-of-the-bill act with a range of sketches that generated many popular catchphrases. These included ‘Goodbye-ee’, (the source of the popular World War One song) ‘How’s your father?’ and ‘I don’t think!’ The popularity of Harry Tate led to his name being adopted as a nickname for Major-General (Thomas) Herbert Shoubridge (1871-1923), who bore a remarkable facial resemblance to the comedian and the 1916 aircraft the RE8, not generally considered one of the best of those developed by Duxbridge [ 5 ]. However, the military did not stop applying his name to other purposes, including any Royal Naval Mate plus a type of slide rule, sugar (Tate and Lyle) and any chaotic situation that arose (the link with chaotic situations was because Harry Tate’s comic sketches always involved a large element of chaos). In the Second World War the name was adopted by The Royal Naval Patrol Service or Harry Tate's Navy, a unit whose fleet was made up of hundreds of trawlers, whalers, drifters, paddle steamers, yachts, tugs and other sea-going craft, designated ‘Minor War Vessels’ by the Admiralty. It seems likely that the use of Harry Tate as a call in housey-housey dates back to the First World War.
Harry Tate (1872-1940)
University Of Birmingham Centre
for First World War Studies.
Gareth Gates is a recent addition to the canon; he was the runner up in a popular television talent competition in 2002.
9. Doctor's Orders or Doctors Joy.
Doctor’s Joy was the nickname for a purgative pill issued in the Royal Navy.
10. Cock an’ ‘en, Downing Street, Maggie’s Den, Tony’s Den, Uncle Ben’s ‘Cockle Cock and Hen’.
This claimed as cockney rhyming slang for number 10. [ 6 ] Interestingly, ‘John’s Den’ (for John Major), never took off, while the various prime ministers before Margaret Thatcher were not honoured by a bingo call, the address had a greater impact on mass consciousness than the incumbent before 1979. Uncle Ben’s is a brand of long-grain rice
11. Legs Eleven, Legs - they're lovely.
The reference to legs in this call is another visual pun. Popular artist Jack Vettriano, himself brought up in a seaside resort, used the phrase as a title for one of his pictures – featuring a pair of elegant female legs. The Valiant did not restrict its adoption of popular bingo phrases into the ‘Kelly’s Eye’ strip, the comic also included ‘Legge's Eleven’, about a football team of social outcasts. [ 7 ] From here on, the double numbers, with the exceptions listed, are called with ‘and’ between the tens and digits.
12. One and two, a dozen, Monkey’s Cousin.
This is cockney rhyming slang, and rhymes with dozen
13. Unlucky For Some or Lucky For Some.
This number is considered unlucky in most Western cultures, although in Italy it is thought to be a lucky number. [ 8 ] In Christianity the number is considered significant as a portent of the crucifixion, since there were thirteen present at the Last Supper.
14. Valentine’s Day.
Again an age related call.
20. Blind twenty, Getting Plenty.
The prefix ‘blind’ is used for the numbers 10-90 and is possibly a visual reference to zero looking like a single eye.
21. Coming of Age 21. Key of the Door, Royal Salute. ‘Bank Bang Bang'.
Until 1 January 1970 the age of majority in Great Britain was twenty-one ‘Royal Salute’ and ‘Bank bang-bang’, are naval calls referring to a twenty-one-gun salute.
22. PC Parker, All the Twos, Dinkie Doo, Ducks on a Pond.
Two Little Ducks PC Parker is another call (like ‘Sweet Sixteen’ and ‘Tom Mix’) that is still in use and is datable to the very early development of the British game. It refers to a very popular music hall character (c1910) created by Charles Austin (died 1944). The constable’s number may have been 22, but this is not clear. The character was immortalised by the cartoonist Will Spurrier for the magazine 'Funny Cuts'. [ 11 ]
A popular aspect of the British seaside holiday was the end-of-the-pier concert party. ‘Dinkie Doo’ was a generic name for such concert parties, and was immortalised in the Ealing Comedy, starring George Formby ‘Let George Do It’ (1940). The film was the first Ealing comedy set in wartime Europe. George Formby was cast as a member of the Dinkie Doo Concert Party, and in typical Ealing style ended up in Norway acting as a British spy. [ 12 ]
23. Thee and Me, The Lords my Shepherd, A Duck with a Flea.
The inclusion of ‘The Lords my Shepherd’ (Psalm 23) in lists of calls is surprising, although it may have originated in the Catholic social clubs that did so much to popularise bingo in the 1950s. ‘A Duck with a Flea’ is a visual call.
24. Two Dozen, Pompey Whore. [ 13 ]
Despite listening to a number of games called at various ex-services club I have not heard the call ‘Pompey Whore’. However, it is claimed as a call on a website listing military calls and would relate to the navel town of Portsmouth, nicknamed Pompey by generations of sailors. That the call is not heard in ex-services clubs does not mean it was not used on naval vessels, simply that it is not considered suitable for use in mixed company.
25. Duck and Dive.
This phrase may originally have come from boxing, as it is used in accounts of boxing matches reported in the early nineteenth century.[ 14 ] However, the phrase has come to mean slippery or sneaky behaviour of any type in popular idiom.
26. Bed and Breakfast, Half a Crown, Pick and Mix.
All of the calls still in use for 26 refer back to pre-decimal coinage. The most common call still used is ‘Bed and Breakfast’ and seems to be the cost of a night in a guesthouse in old money, ‘Pick and Mix’ refers to the pre-decimal cost of half a pound of sweets from Woolworth’s.
27. Little Duck with a Crutch
Another visual pun.
28. The Old Brags, In a State, Over Weight.
‘The Old Brags’ is a nickname for the British regiment of 1/28th Foot The North Gloucestershire Regiment (later the 28 / 61st Gloucestershire Regiment) The nickname was in honour of Colonel Philip Bragg, who commanded the 28th Foot from 1734 to his death in 1759. ‘Overweight’ is a visual pun referring to the numeral ‘8’ also referred to as ‘Fat Lady’.
29. Rise and Shine, You’re Doing Fine, In Your Prime.
‘Rise and Shine’ is idiomatic use of language, with the phrase often used facetiously in the armed forces to encourage the troops to get out of bed. ‘In Your Prime’ is a reference to age, while ‘You’re Doing Fine’ is a simple rhyme.
30. Blind Thirty, Burlington Bertie, Speed Limit, Dirty Gertie, Flirty Thirty, Blind 3.
One of the oldest of this collection; and a surviving call that can still be heard in seaside arcades is ‘Burlington Bertie’. This is another popular music hall number first published in 1900 (music and lyrics by Harry B Norris) and made famous by Vesta Tilley. Ella Shields, also a male impersonator, sang a parody, ‘Burlington Bertie from Bow’, with words and tune by William Hargreaves, published in 1914, this was also vary popular. ‘Speed Limit’, the thirty mph speed limit is perhaps older than many people think, as it was established in built-up areas in 1935. ‘Dirty Gertie’, may be taken from the 1946 film of that name, although it may just have been an attractive rhyme. [ 15 ]
31. Get up and Run.
This may be linked to the services; Sergeants might well have shouted it at squaddies, but it may just be a simple rhyming phrase that has been adopted.
32. Buckle my Shoe. Jimmy Choo.
See children’s song at ‘4’, this has been updated with the call ‘Jimmy Choo’, an upmarket shoe designer made famous in Britain by the tabloid press as a result of his association with Princess Diana.
33. All the Threes, Three Feathers, Gertie Lee, Dirty Knees, ‘Sherwood Forest’, Two Little Fleas, Blind Thirty.
‘Three Feathers’ indicates the Prince of Wales, and although it may derive from the current Prince of Wales, it seems more likely to refer back to the period (1911-1936) when Edward VIII was Prince of Wales.. ‘Sherwood Forest’ is an interesting play on words; ‘all the threes’ could be pronounced ‘all the trees’ especially by callers with an Irish accent, and there are a lot of trees in Sherwood Forest. ‘Two Little Fleas’ is a visual reference to the shape of the insects.
34. Ask for More.
This is a rhyming phrase and perhaps refers to the Lionel Bart musical ‘Oliver’ that popularised the Dickens novel ‘Oliver Twist’ when it was first produced in 1963.
35. Jump and Jive.
The Jive was popularised in the 1940s, as a European version of the US Jitterbug.
36. Three Dozen
Self-explanatory.
37. More than Eleven.
The origins of this call have eluded efforts to track them down, so it is categorised as a simple rhyme with the caveat that the actual origin is as yet unknown.
38. Christmas Cake.
Again a simple rhyme.
39. Steps, Those Famous Steps, All the steps.
The John Buchan book (1914) was a best seller in the Edwardian period, but is unlikely to be the inspiration for the bingo call. The Hitchcock film (1935) of the book was a huge success and is a more likely inspiration. The call may have been kept in the public imagination as it was re-made in 1959 and 1978.
40. Blind forty, Life Begins, Life begins at Forty, Naughty Forty, Two Score.
These calls are all age related, with forty being considered a milestone birthday in Britain. Eric Partridge gives the origin of the phrase ‘Life begins at 40’ to the book by W.B. Pitkin (1932) and the title of the self-help book is said to have become a catch-phrase in America within a year of the book’s publication.[ 16 ] The book was considered a ‘publishing phenomenon and generated popular songs and films with the same title. [ 17 ]
41. Time for Fun, Life’s Begun.
These link back to the call for forty.
42. Famous Street in Manhattan, Winnie the Pooh.
42nd Street was a hit movie in 1933, later becoming hugely popular as a musical. The two calls commonly used are almost certainly post 1960. Interestingly, the Douglas Adams Restaurant at the End of the Universe (part 2 of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), which features the number 42, does not appear in any calls. This is probably because whilst it is very well known amongst the chattering classes and of no relevance at all to those who play bingo. ‘Winnie the Pooh’ first appeared in the House at Pooh Corner in 1928, but the mass popularisation of the character really dates to the Disney adaptations, the first of which was released in 1966.
43. Down on your Knees.
Most likely just a simple rhyme, as there does not seem to be a religion or cleaning-related link here.
44. All the fours, Droopy Drawers, Open Two Doors. Aldershot Ladies, Diana Dors.
These calls offer a flavour of the various types of calls associated with the game. ‘Aldershot Ladies’ is another call claimed to be of military origin, and relies on the use of whores, which rhymes with four being replaced by the euphemism ‘ladies’.[ 18 ] Diana Dors rhymes with ‘All the Fours’, but in addition, Diana Dors was a regular on the cash bingo circuit, opening new clubs and calling celebrity games to attract large audiences. She was reputedly paid £300 cash for appearances in bingo halls.[ 19 ] ‘Open Two Doors’ is a visual pun while ‘Droopy Drawers’ is probably a simple rhyme.
45. Halfway house, Halfway There.
Bingo uses the numbers one to ninety.
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Which is the fourth planet from the Sun? | Mars Facts: Life, Water and Robots on the Red Planet
Mars Facts: Life, Water and Robots on the Red Planet
By Charles Q. Choi, Space.com Contributor |
November 4, 2014 09:00pm ET
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NASA's Hubble Space Telescope snapped this shot of Mars on Aug. 26, 2003, when the Red Planet was 34.7 million miles from Earth. The picture was taken just 11 hours before Mars made its closest approach to us in 60,000 years.
Credit: NASA/ESA
Mars is the fourth planet from the sun. Befitting the red planet's bloody color, the Romans named it after their god of war. The Romans copied the ancient Greeks, who also named the planet after their god of war, Ares. Other civilizations also typically gave the planet names based on its color — for example, the Egyptians named it "Her Desher," meaning "the red one," while ancient Chinese astronomers dubbed it "the fire star."
Physical characteristics
Regolith
The bright rust color Mars is known for is due to iron-rich minerals in its regolith — the loose dust and rock covering its surface. The soil of Earth is a kind of regolith, albeit one loaded with organic content. According to NASA, the iron minerals oxidize, or rust, causing the soil to look red.
Geology
The cold, thin atmosphere means liquid water currently cannot exist on the Martian surface for any length of time. This means that although this desert planet is just half the diameter of Earth, it has the same amount of dry land.
The red planet is home to both the highest mountain and the deepest, longest valley in the solar system. Olympus Mons is roughly 17 miles (27 kilometers) high, about three times as tall as Mount Everest, while the Valles Marineris system of valleys — named after the Mariner 9 probe that discovered it in 1971 — can go as deep as 6 miles (10 km) and runs east-west for roughly 2,500 miles (4,000 km), about one-fifth of the distance around Mars and close to the width of Australia or the distance from Philadelphia to San Diego.
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Mars has the largest volcanoes in the solar system, including Olympus Mons, which is about 370 miles (600 km) in diameter, wide enough to cover the entire state of New Mexico. It is a shield volcano, with slopes that rise gradually like those of Hawaiian volcanoes, and was created by eruptions of lavas that flowed for long distances before solidifying. Mars also has many other kinds of volcanic landforms, from small, steep-sided cones to enormous plains coated in hardened lava. Some minor eruptions might still occur on the planet.
Scientists think the Valles Marineris formed mostly by rifting of the crust as it got stretched. Individual canyons within the system are as much as 60 miles (100 km) wide. They merge in the central part of the Valles Marineris in a region as much as 370 miles (600 km) wide. Large channels emerging from the ends of some canyons and layered sediments within suggest the canyons might once have been filled with liquid water.
Channels, valleys, and gullies are found all over Mars, and suggest that liquid water might have flowed across the planet's surface in recent times. Some channels can be 60 miles (100 km) wide and 1,200 miles (2,000 km) long. Water may still lie in cracks and pores in underground rock .
Many regions of Mars are flat, low-lying plains. The lowest of the northern plains are among the flattest, smoothest places in the solar system, potentially created by water that once flowed across the Martian surface. The northern hemisphere mostly lies at a lower elevation than the southern hemisphere, suggesting the crust may be thinner in the north than in the south. This difference between the north and south might be due to a very large impact shortly after the birth of Mars.
The number of craters on Mars varies dramatically from place to place, depending on how old the surface is. Much of the surface of the southern hemisphere is extremely old, and so has many craters — including the planet's largest, 1,400-mile-wide (2,300 km) Hellas Planitia — while that of northern hemisphere is younger and so has fewer craters. Some volcanoes have few craters, which suggests they erupted recently, with the resulting lava covering up any old craters. Some craters have unusual-looking deposits of debris around them resembling solidified mudflows, potentially indicating that impactor hit underground water or ice.
Polar caps
Vast deposits of what appear to be finely layered stacks of water ice and dust extend from the poles to latitudes of about 80 degrees in both hemispheres. These were probably deposited by the atmosphere over long spans of time. On top of much of these layered deposits in both hemispheres are caps of water ice that remain frozen all year round. Additional seasonal caps of frost appear in the wintertime. These are made of solid carbon dioxide, also known as "dry ice," which has condensed from carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere, and in the deepest part of the winter, this frost can extend from the poles to latitudes as low as 45 degrees, or halfway to the equator. The dry ice layer appears to have a fluffy texture, like freshly fallen snow, according to the report in the Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets.
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Climate
Mars is much colder than Earth, in large part due to its greater distance from the sun. The average temperature is about minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 60 degrees Celsius), although they can vary from minus 195 F (minus 125 C) near the poles during the winter to as much as 70 F (20 C) at midday near the equator.
The carbon-dioxide-rich atmosphere of Mars is also roughly 100 times less dense than Earth's on average, but it is nevertheless thick enough to support weather, clouds and winds. The density of the atmosphere varies seasonally, as winter forces carbon dioxide to freeze out of the Martian air.
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter found the first definitive detections of carbon-dioxide snow clouds , making Mars the only body in the solar system known to host the unusual winter weather. The red planet also causes water-ice snow to fall from the clouds.
The dust storms of the Mars are the largest in the solar system, capable of blanketing the entire red planet and lasting for months. One theory as to why dust storms can grow so big on Mars starts with airborne dust particles absorbing sunlight, warming the Martian atmosphere in their vicinity. Warm pockets of air flow toward colder regions, generating winds. Strong winds lift more dust off the ground, which in turn heats the atmosphere, raising more wind and kicking up more dust.
Orbital characteristics
The axis of Mars, like Earth's, is tilted with relation to the sun. This means that like Earth, the amount of sunlight falling on certain parts of the planet can vary widely during the year, giving Mars seasons.
However, the seasons that Mars experiences are more extreme than Earth's because the red planet's elliptical, oval-shaped orbit around the sun is more elongated than that of any of the other major planets. When Mars is closest to the sun, its southern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, giving it a short, very hot summer, while the northern hemisphere experiences a short, cold winter. When Mars is farthest from the sun, the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, giving it a long, mild summer, while the southern hemisphere experiences a long, cold winter.
Composition & structure
Atmospheric composition (by volume):
95.32 percent carbon dioxide, 2.7 percent nitrogen, 1.6 percent argon, 0.13 percent oxygen, 0.08 percent carbon monoxide, minor amounts of water, nitrogen oxide, neon, hydrogen-deuterium-oxygen, krypton, xenon
Magnetic field: Mars currently has no global magnetic field, but there are regions of its crust that can be at least 10 times more strongly magnetized than anything measured on Earth, remnants of an ancient global magnetic field.
Chemical composition: Mars likely has a solid core composed of iron, nickel, and sulfur. The mantle of Mars is probably similar to Earth's in that it is composed mostly of peridotite, which is made up primarily of silicon, oxygen, iron and magnesium. The crust is probably largely made of the volcanic rock basalt, which is also common in the crusts of the Earth and the moon, although some crustal rocks, especially in the northern hemisphere, may be a form of andesite, a volcanic rock that contains more silica than basalt does.
Internal structure: Scientists think that on average, the Martian core is about 1,800 and 2,400 miles in diameter (3,000 and 4,000 km), its mantle is about 900 to 1,200 miles (5,400 to 7,200 km) wide and its crust is about 30 miles (50 km) thick.
Orbit & rotation
Average distance from the sun : 141,633,260 miles (227,936,640 km). By comparison: 1.524 times that of Earth
Perihelion (closest): 128,400,000 miles (206,600,000 km). By comparison: 1.404 times that of Earth
Aphelion (farthest): 154,900,000 miles (249,200,000 km). By comparison: 1.638 times that of Earth
The moons of Mars
The two moons of Mars , Phobos and Deimos, were discovered by American astronomer Asaph Hall over the course of a week in 1877. Hall had almost given up his search for a moon of Mars, but his wife, Angelina, urged him on — he discovered Deimos the next night, and Phobos six days after that. He named the moons after the sons of the Greek war god Ares — Phobos means "fear," while Deimos means "rout."
Both Phobos and Deimos are apparently made of carbon-rich rock mixed with ice and are covered in dust and loose rocks. They are tiny next to Earth's moon, and are irregularly shaped, since they lack enough gravity to pull themselves into a more circular form. The widest Phobos gets is about 17 miles (27 km), and the widest Deimos gets is roughly nine miles (15 km).
Both moons are pockmarked with craters from meteor impacts. The surface of Phobos also possesses an intricate pattern of grooves, which may be cracks that formed after the impact created the moon's largest crater — a hole about 6 miles (10 km) wide, or nearly half the width of Phobos. They always show the same face to Mars, just as our moon does to Earth.
It remains uncertain how Phobos and Deimos were born. They may have been asteroids captured by Mars' gravitational pull, or they may have been formed in orbit around Mars the same time the planet came into existence. Ultraviolet light reflected from Phobos provides strong evidence for its capture origin, according to astronomers at the University of Padova in Italy.
Phobos is gradually spiraling toward Mars, drawing about 6 feet (1.8 meters) closer to the red planet each century. Within 50 million years, Phobos will either smash into Mars or break up and form a ring of debris around the planet.
Both moons are potential targets for exploration. One NASA plan envisions bombarding Phobos with small, spiky spherical rovers called hedgehogs.
The planet Mars is the fourth planet from the sun and named after the Roman God of War and is also called the Red Planet. See what makes Mars tick with this Space.com infographic looking inside the Red Planet .
Credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com
Research & exploration
The first person to watch Mars with a telescope was Galileo Galilei , and in the century after him, astronomers discovered its polar ice caps. In the 19th and 20th centuries, researchers believed they saw a network of long, straight canals on Mars, hinting at civilization, although later these often proved to be mistaken interpretations of dark regions they saw.
Robot spacecraft began observing Mars in the 1960s, with the United States launching Mariner 4 there in 1964 and Mariners 6 and 7 in 1969. They revealed Mars to be a barren world, without any signs of the life or civilizations people had imagined there. In 1971, Mariner 9 orbited Mars, mapping about 80 percent of the planet and discovering its volcanoes and canyons.
NASA's Viking 1 lander touched down onto the surface of Mars in 1976, the first successful landing onto the Red Planet. It took the first close-up pictures of the Martian surface but found no strong evidence for life .
The next two craft to successfully reach Mars were the Mars Pathfinder, a lander, and Mars Global Surveyor , an orbiter, both launched in 1996. A small robot onboard Pathfinder named Sojourner — the first wheeled rover to explore the surface of another planet — ventured over the planet's surface analyzing rocks.
In 2001, the United States launched the Mars Odyssey probe, which discovered vast amount of water ice beneath the Martian surface, mostly in the upper three feet (one meter). It remains uncertain whether more water lies underneath, since the probe cannot see water any deeper.
In 2003, the closest Mars had passed to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, NASA launched two rovers, nicknamed Spirit and Opportunity , which explored different regions of the Martian surface, and both found signs that water once flowed on the planet's surface. In 2008, NASA sent another mission, Phoenix, to land in the northern plains of Mars and search for water,
Two orbiters — NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and ESA's Mars Express — are keeping Mars Odyssey company over the planet. In 2011, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission, with its rover named Mars Curiosity , began to investigate Martian rocks to determine the geologic processes that created them and find out more about the present and past habitability of Mars. Among its findings is the first meteorite on the surface of the red planet.
In September 2014, India’s Mars Orbiter Mission reached the red planet, making it the fourth nation to successfully enter orbit around Mars.
Robots aren’t the only ones looking to buy a ticket to Mars. A workshop group of government, academic, and industry scientists have found that a NASA-led manned mission to Mars should be possible by the 2030s. But NASA isn’t the only one with Martian astronaut hopefuls.. The Mars One colony project is looking to send private citizens on a one-way trip to the red planet.
Possibility of life
Mars could have once harbored life. Some conjecture that life might still exist there even today. A number of researchers have even speculated that life on Earth may have seeded Mars, or that life on Mars seeded Earth.
The most public scientific claim for life on Mars came in 1996. Geologist David McKay at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and his colleagues focused on rocks blasted off the surface of Mars by cosmic impacts that landed on Earth. Within they found complex organic molecules, grains of a mineral called magnetite that can form within some kinds of bacteria, and tiny structures that resembled fossilized microbes. However, these claims have proven controversial, and there is no consensus as to whether they are signs of life.
Mars may have possessed oceans on its surface in the past, providing an environment for life to develop. Although the red planet is a cold desert today, researchers suggest that liquid water may be present underground, providing a potential refuge for any life that might still exist there. The rover Curiosity has found evidence for a lake that could have once supported life on the red planet, after previously establishing that the planet had the key ingredients present for life to evolve.
Enthusiasm and excitement on Earth over the possibility of life on the red planet are revealed by the flurry of excitement that greets interesting objects spotted by orbiters and landers. While the Face on Mars garnered attention for the past four decades after it was first spotted by Viking 1, rovers today show close-ups of objects — such as a weathered Martian rock claimed to be a ‘thigh bone’ and a likely shiny rock that raised furor on the internet as a UFO light .
Additional resources
Read about and see pictures of more than 40 missions to Mars .
Follow the rover Curiosity as it makes its way across the Martian terrain.
Learn more about Mars at NASA's Solar System Exploration website.
Related:
| Mars |
A sika is what type of animal? | Fourth planet from the Sun – F3
QIC: Chum Bucket
The PAX: Chum Bucket
PAX of 1 for this morning’s offering of The Punisher. No matter, it went down like this:
Mosey to the sideyard for Seal Jacks x 20, Imperial Walkers x 20, Four Count Leg Kicks x 10 each side, Arm Lifts x 20
Jog around front for, along the width of the school gym, High Knees down and back x 2, Butt Kickers down and back x 2, Half sprint down and back x 2. Down and Bear Crawl down, Crab Walk back, Bunny Hop down, and Duck Walk back.
Head to the bus loop for Curb Crawl variant. Bear Crawl across for 1 Incline Merkin, flip, and 1 Decline Merkin. Back across for 2 of each and continue until 5 of each completed.
Jog around the bus loop around the back of the school for Jenny – 86 Alabama Prom Dates, 75 Merkins, 30 Step Behinds, and 9 Burpees followed by a quick loop around the trees and back. Another round with 86 Leg Circles (like Box Cutters but circles), 75 Carolina Dry Docks, 30 Four Count Squats, and 9 Burpees.
Stroll to the outdoor pavilion for Lindsays – 30 Dips and 10 Two Count Flutter Kicks then 25 and 15 and adjusting by 5 until 10 and 30 are done.
Mosey around western perimeter of AO and back to the ShovelFlag.
‘Skin:
What is the singular for PAX?
Spoiler Alert-
Some comparisons with The Martian – the novel and movie (collectively, the “story”).
An astronaut is left for dead on Mars when a mission is cut short by a storm. The astronaut awakes to find his mission mates have left him behind and he needs to improvise to survive.
OK, the only parallel is YHC was solo this morning. The Punisher AO, in fact, offers the following advantages over Mars: 1) Oxygen – while scarce on Mars is plentiful at Linwood Holton Elementary; 2) Water – the “mission” this morning wasn’t long enough to require water, but last night’s rain left it all over the ground – again plentiful; and, 3) Proximity – the AO is about 20 minutes from anywhere in Richmond while a manned-mission to Mars takes years to arrive.
After some discussions with several F3 brothers, we’ll keep The Punisher at 5:30 AM on Monday mornings with the expectation that the workout numbers will grow again in the Fall once vacations end.
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What is the name of the body of water that separates the Isle of Wight and mainland England? | About the Isle of Wight
About the Isle of Wight
About the Isle of Wight
About the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is an island county, located in the English Channel, approximately 3 miles off the UK South Coast. With approximately 57 miles of coastline, a variety of interesting towns and villages and an incredibly diverse range of landscapes, the Isle of Wight is often referred to as 'England in Miniature'.
With over half its land mass designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and with a naturally mild climate, the Isle of Wight has been a popular holiday destination since Victorian times. The stretch of water between the mainland and the Isle of Wight is known as the Solent; a vitally important commercial waterway, as well as being a scenic playground for watersports enthusiasts and host to the annual world-famous Cowes Week sailing regatta.
The Isle of Wight is steeped in history and for a brief spell was as an independent kingdom in the 15th century. It was home to the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Queen Victoria built Osborne House, her much loved summer residence at East Cowes. It is also one of the richest locations for dinosaur fossils in Europe and home to many of the UK's last surviving Red Squirrels. The Island also has its own unique species of snail and butterfly.
The Island's maritime and industrial history encompasses boat building, sail making, the manufacture of flying boats, the world's first hovercraft and the testing and development of Britain's space rockets .
The Isle of Wight is home to Cowes Week , Bestival and the legendary Isle of Wight Festival , which in 1970, was one of the largest rock music events ever held. The Isle of Wight also hosts the UK's largest Walking Festival and even has a Garlic Festival where you can taste garlic ice cream, lovely.
See what the locals say...
Some famous faces give their thoughts on living on the Isle of Wight.
| Solent |
Who played Great Train Robber Buster Edwards in the 1988 film ‘Buster’? | h2g2 - The Needles and Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, UK - Edited Entry
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Needles you cannot thread — One of the Wonders of the Isle of Wight 1
One of the Isle of Wight's most iconic landmarks is the Needles, the three chalk stacks off the Island's westernmost point. These mark where the English Channel meets the Solent, the stretch of water that separates the mainland from the Isle of Wight. The Needles have caused the loss of many a ship, and today are guarded by an iconic lighthouse . The westernmost point of the Island, close to the Needles, is a triangle of chalk cliffs known as the Needles headland. South of the Needles is Scratchells Bay with High Down above, while to the north is the famed multi-coloured Alum Bay and the location of the Needles Pleasure Park, with Headon Warren beyond.
This area , now mainly owned by the National Trust as well as the site of a small theme park , has been the site of a Stone Age settlement, the cause of many lost ships, a heavily-fortified military outpost, the birthplace of radio, the first place flown to in a rain storm, the testing-place of Britain's space programme, the inspiration for poets and artists including Alfred Lord Tennyson, WH Auden and JMW Turner, as well as a James Bond novel and even had its own species of moth, the Isle of Wight Wave moth, sadly believed to be extinct since 1931.
Official Recognition
The Needles are part of the Isle of Wight's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Tennyson Heritage Coast . The area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for natural and geological reasons and contains three Grade II-listed buildings and four Scheduled Ancient Monuments .
The Needles
The Needles themselves are three chalk stacks out to sea off the Island. The easternmost is close to shore, then there is a wide gap, west of which are two more chalk stacks, the westernmost having, at its end, the Needles Lighthouse, just north of which is the smaller Goose Rock. The first stack was connected to the Island by an arch until 1815, when the dome of the arch fell, cutting the stack off from the Island. Between the first and second stacks stood the tall, narrow Needle Rock that gave the Needles their name. This was 120 feet (36.5m) high and also known as 'Lot's Wife', but collapsed in 1764, the impact reportedly heard as far away as Southampton and Portsmouth.
The Needles are perhaps the most breathtaking example of the Wight-Purbeck ridge. This is a spine of chalk that stretches from Culver Cliff on the Island's east coast across the middle of the Island to the Freshwater cliffs and the Needles on the west coast. It then continues underwater beneath the Solent to Swanage, Dorset and the chalk cliffs of the region of the Isle of Purbeck 2 . The underwater stacks are known as the Needles bridge. The chalk then reaches the similar, but smaller, Old Harry Rocks in Dorset 3 and the Pinnacles, rocks off the chalk cliffs located between Dorset's Old Harry Rocks and Ballard Down.
'Threading the Needles' is an expression meaning passing between the Needles rocks, normally between the first and second stacks. Despite the expression, it is possible; indeed a hovercraft threaded the Needles in honour of Prince Charles' visit. It is extremely unwise as the number of shipwrecks in the area attests.
Between Easter and October visitors can take a short boat trip around the Needles from Alum Bay, weather depending. This is heartily recommended.
Artistic Influence
Prominent romantic landscape artist JMW Turner (1775-1851) painted the Needles several times, particularly in his 1795 Fishermen at Sea , his first oil painting displayed at the Royal Academy in 1796 and now displayed in the Tate Gallery. Romantic painter John Martin (1789-1854) painted Scratchell's Bay in 1839.
Shipwrecks
Several ships have been wrecked off the Needles over the centuries, 20 of which have been identified. Recognising their importance, in 1976 the water around the Needles became the fifth site in Britain classified under the Protection of Wreck Act , one of only 46 historic protected wreck sites in English waters.
Their remains are protected and displayed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology locally in the Fort Victoria Underwater Archaeology Centre , Isle of Wight Shipwreck Centre in Arreton and Southampton's SeaCity Museum and overseas including Amsterdam.
Campen
On 12 October, 1627 a Dutch East India Company convoy of seven ships, including the Campen on her maiden voyage, were heading to the East Indies when a gale struck, forcing the ships into the shelter of the Solent. Five made it safely around the Needles. One, the Vliegende Draecke survived threading the Needles' gap between the stacks and Needle rock and, although her hull was holed, beached safely off Alum Bay. The Campen smashed against the middle stack and sank, and although her crew survived, most of her cargo, silver intended to be traded for Asian spices, was lost with the ship. The first shipwreck to be reported in an English newspaper, the Duke of Buckingham arranged for much of the ship to be salvaged by Jacob 'The Diver' Johnson in an early diving bell. Assisted by local merchant, Robert Newland, five cannon, 6,660kg of lead, and 2,635 coins were recovered.
The Campen and a further 8,000 silver coins were located in June 1979 by the Needles Underwater Archaeology Group, with some relics now on display in Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum .
HMS Assurance
HMS Assurance was lost off the Needles on 24 April, 1753. She was a 5th rate Frigate 4 built in 1747 in Bursledon, near Southampton, Hampshire. She was on a voyage carrying home Edward Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica and fourth son of the late Bishop of Winchester, along with his family and personal fortune of £60,000.
In order to navigate the difficult Needles Passage, the ship's Master, David Patterson sailed closer and closer to the outermost Needle, hoping to avoid the Shingles. Trelawney enquired how close to the rock they would be, getting the reply So close that the fly of the ensign might touch the rock. Unsurprisingly, the 100-foot frigate crashed into the rock, and was a complete loss. The crew, and all but £4,000, was saved but Patterson was sentenced to three months in the Marshalsea, a London debtors' prison.
HMS Pommone
In 1811 the six-year-old 1,076 ton HMS Pommone sank. The British Ambassador to Persia, in a hurry with vital intelligence regarding the war with France, decided to take a short cut to save time and ended up sinking the ship, although the crew, passengers, her guns and some horses that were a present for George III from the Shah of Persia were all rescued. The wreck of the Pommone lies on the remains of the Assurance; the two wrecks were discovered in 1969 by local diver Derek Williams.
Irex
On 25 January, 1890 the Irex , the largest sailing ship ever to be a total wreck on the Island, was lost on the Needles. On Christmas Eve 1889 the 2,347 ton Irex began her maiden voyage. Her steel hull was 302 feet long, her masts 220 feet high, and she had a crew of 34 plus two stowaways. She was caught in a hurricane, and driven towards the Needles. As the Irex, thrown off course by the storm, approached the Needles, Captain Hutton mistook the warning light from the Needles lighthouse for a pilot boat's light, and guided his ship towards it. By the time he had realised his mistake it was too late. The Atlantic waves carried the steel hull onto the chalk bed, smashing the hull, which flooded. Captain Hutton gave the order to abandon ship and, with the First Mate, began to release one of the lifeboats. A giant wave broke over the ship, killing them both instantly. The Boatswain, meanwhile, was attempting to rescue the ship's log, but another wave swamped the cabin and he too was drowned.
At 9am the Irex was spotted by men at the Needles Battery , who informed the Totland lifeboat, the Charles Luckombe. Another ship, Hampshire, had by this time seen the Irex and was coming to her aid, although the storm prevented them from approaching the Irex. As the lifeboat came near, a wave almost smashed it under the bow of the Hampshire. The crew of the lifeboat felt it was impossible for them to rescue the crew under these conditions, and was towed back to station by the Hampshire.
When it was realised that the lifeboat had failed, the rescue efforts turned to the rocket apparatus 5 that had by now arrived at the Needles Old Battery. At 1:15pm the coastguard fired the rocket, against the gale, at the wreck which was 300 yards out. The shot somehow found the wreck, but was caught in the rigging. The crew had no choice but to climb the rigging in order to free the rope. One lost his grip and fell to his death. The rest of the crew managed to free the rope, a process which took two hours.
At 3pm the chair was ready to take men off the wreck to the fort above. By 12:30am all but one of the surviving crew had been brought ashore. The only remaining member onboard the Irex was a lad called Jones who was too scared to make the journey, yet Coastguard Machin and a seaman named Isaac Rose descended to the ship and carried him ashore. The Coastguard and men at the Needles Old Battery rescued 29 out of the 36 people aboard. On the wreck is a plaque to the five men and two boys who died.
Varvassi
The last large shipwreck at the Needles took place on 5 January, 1947. The 3,874 ton Varvassi , a 32-year-old Greek steamer, drifted onto the Needles Bridge when her engines broke in initially foggy, later gale conditions. She came to rest 100 yards from the lighthouse. The 37 crew onboard were rescued by the Yarmouth lifeboat but the ship was wrecked and remains a hazard in the area, although her cargo of timber, tangerines and wine was much more welcome for Islanders still undergoing rationing.
Other Wrecks
In 1691 the galleon St Anthony was lost in Scratchells Bay. In 1705 the fifth rate HMS Looe was lost off the Needles. In 1773 the Conway sunk here, followed by the Philicay Racket in 1774, the Roberts in 1781, Apthorp in 1785, La Maria in 1786, the Coastguard vessel Swan 6 and the Countess Hoberton in 1793. On 12 December, 1799 HMS Guernsey Lily was lost in the Needles Channel.
In 1811 the Pilgrim sank here, with the Tjsemboelvert in 1852 and the Steam Yacht Dream in 1868. Thereafter the Isle of Wight Sunday Schools Committee raised funds for a lifeboat to be stationed at nearby Totland Bay, with a Coastguard team at Freshwater Bay. Despite this, in 1891 the Gudrun sank on the Shingles, her six crew all drowned. In 1894 the Ganymedes was wrecked. In 1898 a German three-masted schooner Ernst was wrecked and destroyed on the Shingles. On 23 July, 1909 the 9,060 ton German liner Derfflinger ran into the Shingle Bank off the Needles. She was trapped for two days before tugs pulled her free.
Of course it is not only ships that have been wrecked off the Needles. On 8 August, 1940 160 German aircraft launched an attack on Coastal Convoy CW9, with the area of the Needles in the thick of the dogfighting between the RAF and Luftwaffe. Two German and one British aircraft crashed. Three days later 176 aircraft attacked Dorset, with a Messerschmitt and a Hurricane crashing, another German plane crashing on 25 August, two German bombers and two Spitfires crashing in the area in September, two German fighters, including Major Helmut Wick and five Spitfires in November. In 1941 four Heinkels, a Mosquito and, in 1942, a Bristol Beaufighter came down in the area.
The Lighthouse
The waters around the Needles are treacherous, as only a narrow navigable channel 1,830 metres wide separates the Shingles bank and the chalk Needles rocks. Through this gap the tide leaving the Solent reaches speeds of five knots, while Atlantic storms up the English Channel can exceed 100 mph with waves reaching 40 feet up the lighthouse.
The first lighthouse was first built in 1786 on the Needles headland. This had 13 lamps generating a light directed by 13 concave copper-plated reflectors. Despite this, ships kept sinking near the Needles, as the light, 462 feet above sea level, was frequently enshrouded in fog. Here it stood until 1859, when the wooden structure was removed and rebuilt in Totland. It was eventually demolished in 1985.
In 1857 the outermost Needles stack was partly dynamited to form a platform, on which the 109-foot new lighthouse was built, completed in 1859. It was designed to withstand hurricane force winds and 20-foot high waves, although 40-foot high waves have been reported and spray often reaches the top. Manned by three men and visible up to 17 miles, it has a unique pattern of a two-second flash followed by two seconds eclipse followed by 14 seconds of light then two seconds of darkness, before the pattern repeats. The light is also colour-coded to mark safe and dangerous channels. Potentially separated from the Island for weeks at a time, only one lighthouse keeper quit, after an argument with his fellow keepers over cricket. In September 1993 an electric cable was laid in December 1994 from the Old Battery, along a trench, threaded through the last Needle and into the lighthouse, allowing the lighthouse to be fully automated. The Needles lighthouse was then abandoned, having been one of the last three manned lighthouses in the British Isles. Today the lighthouse is a Grade II listed building .
The Needles Headland
Towering above the Needles stacks is the Needles headland, a narrow peninsula of perpendicular chalk cliffs that stretch from the Needles to Alum Bay and Headon Warren and High Down to the East. The cliffs have been hollowed by the sea to form caves, three of which are called Lord Holm's Parlour, Lord Holm's Kitchen and Lord Holm's Cellar after Sir Robert Holmes, Governor of the Island and Captain of nearby Yarmouth Castle between 1667-92, who is believed to have entertained guests in the caves.
Scratchells Bay to the south of the Needles is the most inaccessible beach on the Isle of Wight. The only access is a treacherous voyage by sea or a 400-foot drop from above. When in 1736, John Baldwyn of the nearby Hampshire port of Lymington learned that his wife had sworn to dance on his grave, in his will he asked to be buried at sea in Scratchells Bay.
The cliffs are surprisingly popular with birds, and so in the 18th and 19th centuries cliffsmen earned their living by descending the cliffs, collecting eggs and feathers as well as rock samphire, an edible plant that grows on the cliffs. A far more lucrative trade was smuggling, and so three armed coastguard garrisons were set up in the area, with gun fights between smugglers and coastguard taking place in the area in 1817 and 1834. On the whole it was a peaceful part of Britain, popular with Alfred Lord Tennyson who lived nearby in Farringford House and after whom Tennyson Down is named.
There is a Bowl Barrow on the Down, dating from the Bronze Age, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
In 1975 the National Trust bought the headland. This was part of its Project Neptune campaign to purchase and preserve the nation's coastline. In 1977 it purchased the neighbouring Headon Warren and in 1985 the Needles Coastguard Station. The National Trust now owns 15 sites on the Isle of Wight, 28% of the Island's coastline and 10% of the Island overall. The area is popular with walkers, including those attempting the Isle of Wight Coastal Path .
Aviation History
On 16 July, 1910 aviator Robert Loraine 7 became the first man to fly in a rain storm and the first man to land an aeroplane on the Isle of Wight, having flown through a heavy rain storm at the Bournemouth Aviation Meeting and getting lost. It took him half an hour to return to Bournemouth in his Farman biplane.
The Forts
The first records of the area's defence are invasion beacons on High Down and Headon Warren dating from 1324, with a Royal Navy heliograph signalling station on the Headland established during the Napoleonic Wars. The first proposal to build a fort at the Needles occurred in 1855 and the first fort, the Grade II-listed Old Battery was constructed in the early 1860s, with tunnels down to sea level constructed in 1885. A further battery, Hatherwood Battery, was built at Headon Warren between 1865-69 to defend Alum Bay and prevent an enemy from landing troops there. In 1893-95 the Needles Old Battery was felt to be too small to be equipped with the latest, larger guns and was replaced with a neighbouring battery, the Grade II-listed New Needles Battery . The Needles Old Battery's guns were considered obsolete and chucked off the cliff in 1902. They were recovered by the National Trust and put on display in 1983 in a ceremony presided over by Prince Charles.
In 1913 Britain's first anti-aircraft gun was tested at the Needles Old Battery, shooting at kites towed by a destroyer.
Visiting the Old Battery also provides you with an excellent view of the Needles. A short walk from the parade ground down some steps and along a tunnel leads to the battery's searchlight position in the cliff, right over the stacks.
Radar Station
During the Second World War, the Needles Batteries were still in use, armed with 9.2-inch (233 cm) guns for use against enemy ships, anti-aircraft weapons and searchlights. Despite this, the Needles Batteries were unable to work effectively at night. This changed when on 29 July, 1941 the Triple Service CD/CHL Radar became operational at New Needles. Initially manned by the army, by February 1942 it was in the care of the RAF. In January 1944, the Old Needles Battery also had Radar, manned by the Royal Artillery to defend the Needles Passage at night.
Although Radar dramatically increased both batteries effectiveness against enemy aircraft and ships, but it also brought an increased danger of attack. Deep trenches were dug, 700 land mines laid across the beauty spot and barbed wire was strewn everywhere. Fortunately the greatest danger faced by the men at the Needles was not an invasion, but the weather. Twice men were blown off the cliff to their deaths on the rocks below.
On 5 June, 1944, the batteries watched part of the D-Day Invasion force pass the Needles on its way to the Normandy beaches.
Rocket Station
Between 1955-71 the Needles Headland was used by Saunders-Roe as their rocket engine testing site. On 28 October, 1971 a British Black Arrow rocket from the Isle of Wight put the British Prospero satellite into a Polar orbit, making the United Kingdom one of only five countries in the world to have launched their own satellite with their own technology 8 . This was the world's most reliable space programme as there had not been a single failure. However in 1971, not foreseeing the demand there would be for satellite technology, considering the imminent explosion in demand for international telecommunications satellites and satellites for other uses, the Government decided to abandon the space programme. Forty years after Britain ended its space programme, NASA would abandon its iconic space shuttle.
Moonraker
In 1955, the same year that the Black Knight rocket programme began at High Down's cliff top location overlooking the white cliffs of the Needles, Ian Fleming's James Bond novel Moonraker was published. It featured a missile based on a cliff-top location overlooking white cliffs. Many believe that the Needles rocket base was the inspiration behind the story.
Alum Bay
The pearly blue of the chalk is beyond description by words, probably out of the power even of the pencil... the tints of the cliffs are so bright and so varied, that they have not the aspect of anything natural. Deep purplish red, dusky blue, bright ochreous yellow, grey, nearly approaching to white, and absolute black, succeed each other, as sharply defined as the stripes in silk.
– Sir Henry Englefield, 1812.
North of the Needles Headland is the beach of Alum Bay. The bay itself is now best know for being one of the Island's première tourist attractions and the location of the Needles Pleasure Park at the top of the cliff. The Alum Bay cliffs themselves, next to Alum Bay Chine 9 , are known for their sand of 21 different shades and colours. This is also the spot where Marconi created the telecommunications revolution.
Alum Bay is named after the aluminium-potassium sulphates once found on the cliff. Approximately 20 million years ago in the location of the Isle of Wight, the ocean's bedrock was buckled, so that the seabed's layers were moved from horizontal to vertical. This was the geological upheaval known as the Alpine orogeny, most famous for forming the Alps.
In effect by walking north from The Needles, a short distance passes layers made over 70 million years; chalk formed in the Cretaceous, Eocene rocks at Alum Bay and Oligocene clay at Headon Warren. Alum Bay has provided a large number of fossils of squid, cuttlefish, snails and fossilised fruits and plants. These are largely ignored in favour of the sand.
Alum Bay Sand
Made of quartz, mica and felspar, the presence of other minerals such as haematite (red), limonite (yellow/brown) and glauconite (green) turns the sand into a wide variety of colours, with different quantities and combinations, and even different-sized sand grains, giving the sand in the cliff many hues with are visible in vertical stripes. Although it was common in Victorian times for tourists to climb the cliff to collect the sand they want, for safety and conservation purposes this is now discouraged and instead visitors are requested to purchase sand that has fallen through natural erosion and been collected.
History of Alum Bay
The oldest evidence of settlement is the Bronze Age Bowl Barrow which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The bay was largely ignored until the Island's Governor, Sir Richard Worsley, obtained a licence to gather 'a certain Oure of Alum' for the pottery and glass trade in 1561, although the alum works itself was located in the more hospitable Parkhurst Forest. When this was exhausted, between 1790-1908 white sand from Hatherwood Point was collected to be exported to London, Bristol and Worcester as it had a reputation for being the finest sand in the kingdom for glass and porcelain manufacture, used even by Josiah Wedgwood.
Alum Bay has been a tourist attraction since the 1790s, painted by JMW Turner in 1795. The Alum Bay Hotel opened early in the 19th Century. Although in 1830 steam ferries regularly travelled to nearby Yarmouth, the railway did not connect Yarmouth and Freshwater with the rest of the Island until 1890. A Newport-Freshwater stagecoach service began in 1860, however there was no easy way to get to Alum Bay itself by land until the completion of the Alum Bay New Road in 1873, enabling transport from Totland Bay and Yarmouth.
In 1860 the Needles Hotel opened. Popular with royalty, as from 1846 Queen Victoria lived on the Island at Osborne House in East Cowes , it was soon known as the Royal Needles Hotel.
The easiest approach to Alum Bay in calm weather was by sea, to which end in 1869 the Alum Bay Pier Act was passed by Parliament. The first pier was a simple wooden structure that could not keep up with its unforeseen popularity with constant steamers calling, and so a second Pier Act was passed in 1887, with a replacement 370-foot long pier opening in August 1887. This was run by Alfred Isaacs, a descendant of one of the first lighthouse keepers, who with his family owned land nearby. Several paddle steamers would call at Alum Bay in the summer. There were a range of bathing machines and small boats available for visitors to hire, as well as a café on the pier and a golf course constructed nearby. From the top of the cliff to the beach below, a path comprising 232 steps was constructed.
Sadly in 1909 the Royal Needles Hotel was burned to the ground, and with the Great War and the following depression, the tourist trade went into decline. The stables of the Royal Needles Hotel was converted into a restaurant by Frank Cotton. In 1924 he sold the Royal Needles Hotel's land and restaurant to the Needles Hotel Company, rivals to the Isaacs family, who owned the pier, much of the rest of the Alum Bay area and The Hut café. In 1925 the pier was closed, and in the winter of 1927 broke in two. While the Isaacs were recovering from this financial catastrophe, the Company outbid the Isaacs and bought the beach and cliffs south of the pier, although the Isaacs owned the well that was Alum Bay's water supply.
The Second World War disrupted the tourist trade when the Needles headland was used as a military training area, and many of the buildings were damaged. However tourism began again in 1946 and in 1950, on the death of Sam Isaacs, the Isaacs family sold their land to the Needles Hotel Company, with Jim Isaacs as its Managing Director until his death in 1968. The presence of the rocket site in the 1950s was a boom to the area as it improved the road.
In 1971 construction began on a chairlift to take visitors from the clifftop to the beach. Opened in April 1973, it travels 250 metres across and 51 metres down to the site of the pier. It is capable of carrying 2,000 passengers an hour, 1,000 each way. Other attractions include the Coloured Sand Shop, Alum Bay Glass, crazy golf and even a couple of rides in addition to restaurant and bar. The area also includes a replica invasion beacon and the Marconi memorial.
On Saturday 14 July, 2012 the Olympic torch arrived at the Needles Pleasure Park and enjoyed a ride on the chairlift to Alum Bay below before returning to the top of the cliff.
Alum Bay and Marconi
Guglielmo Marconi was the inventor of the radio. In the early 1880s, a time when all telegraph transmissions needed wires connected to Morse Code printers, he experimented with sending messages by wireless. Founding his own company in June 1896, the following year he set up a transmitter in the Royal Needles Hotel, located on the cliffs overlooking Alum Bay. A 168-foot high mast was constructed at the top of the cliff and Marconi successfully transmitted messages to a tug anchored in the bay using what he called 'the world's first permanent wireless station'. The following year he transmitted from Alum Bay to Bournemouth and Poole, and even from Osborne House to the Royal Yacht, with the furthest transmission that year 40 miles away. In 1898 he sent the first radio message to be paid for, from Lord Kelvin, and in 1899 he contacted Alum Bay from 70 miles away at sea. He also experimented with his receiving relay modifying the Branly's coherer which allowed the automatic printing of the Morse signal by pen onto a paper tape. On 15 November, 1899, while sailing home from America, he used news received by wireless from Alum Bay to compile and compose the first newspaper published at sea, The Transatlantic Times.
Success was not to last. In 1900 the manager of the Royal Needles Hotel raised Marconi's rent by £1 a week. Marconi chose to leave, sending his last transmission on 26 May, 1900. After being based temporarily at Knowles Farm, Niton on the Island, he moved to the Lizard, Cornwall. In early 1898 Marconi described his time on the Island with the words:
The best results we have obtained were on the small tugboat... in very tempestuous weather in the month of November around the Isle of Wight where we had at times about two feet of water in the cabin, and ourselves and all the instruments were practically drenched with sea water. Many of the sailors and engineers of the tug seemed very anxious about their personal safety on that particular occasion.
Headon Warren
The northern side of Alum Chine lies Headon Warren. This is a clay cliff and sand heath hill that reaches 397 feet above sea level. The Warren is the site of two Scheduled Ancient Monuments, two Bowl Barrows as well as a more impressive Round Barrow . The area is also a prize fossil hunting area, with 42 species of early mammals including primates discovered here, as well as fish and shells.
The bottom of the cliff leads to Hatherwood Point, a rocky cliff edge. Still a quiet, desolate spot, the most prominent building are the remains of Hatherwood Battery, which are slowly but surely sliding down the clay cliff into the sea beyond.
It is known that the area was settled in the Stone and Bronze Ages, with the Barrows or tumuli evidence of this, and it is believed that Henry III ordered the top barrow to be excavated to see whether it contained treasure in 1237. In 1977 Headon Warren, including Hatherwood Battery, were purchased by the National Trust as part of the Neptune Project.
Animal and Plant Life
As its name suggests, Headon Warren and the Needles Headland are overrun with rabbits. Indeed, records dating back to 1225 list professional rabbit catchers in the area, and the local Coneymen exported coneys 10 to London. The reason for the Island's rabbit trade was that foxes are not native to the Island and only introduced in the 19th Century, and so the rabbits, themselves introduced shortly after the Norman Conquest, were able to breed unhindered. In fact it was a popular boast in the Tudor period that the Island had No hooded priests, no lawyers, no wolves and no foxes 11 .
As well as ferrets, the coneymen used the traditional fisherman's method of catching the coneys. They would take a king crab, attach a candle to its back and light it, force the crab deep into the rabbit hole with a long stick and have nets around all the other burrow exits ready to catch the fleeing rabbits. The crab was then retrieved using a string attached to one of its legs. Another mammal found in the area is the red squirrel, an endangered species in Britain with the Isle of Wight one of the last bastions of red squirrels as the south of England has instead been overrun by greys.
The heathland of Headon Warren supports a large number of rare plants, and is one of the two acid heath sites on the Island. Plants found in the area include heather, two types of gorse, grassland, yellowort, autumn gentian and rare early gentian – almost exclusive to the Island – the rare ox tongue broom rape – found only in two other places in Britain – centaureas and orchids. It is also native to mining bee colonies and rare butterflies. Sadly the Isle of Wight Wave moth, the Island's unique moth that once frequented this area, has not been seen since 1931 and is now believed to be extinct.
The waters of the Needles and Shingles are popular with bass, squid, Dover sole, conger eels, thornback ray and turbot, together with sharks, pout, skate, rays, cuttlefish, pollock, mackerel, bream, tope, codling, whitling and dogfish. At least twice a whale has washed ashore near the Needles; one was briefly grounded in 1814. In 1842 a 75-foot fin whale was bought by Charles Dabell and taken to Blackgang Chine, where it became the star attraction in what is Britain's first theme park; the skeleton is still on display today. The area is also popular with many birds, including guillemots, cormorants, herring gulls, shag, kittiwakes, stonechats, rock pipits, scoters and the Dartford warbler. Sadly the area is no longer home to puffins.
1 The number of wonders depends on the postcard bought, normally between six and nine. 2 The Isle of Purbeck is not an island, but a peninsula in Dorset. 3 This is the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 4 This refers to the rating system in use at the time for Royal Navy ships. Frigates were designed for speed and maneuverability rather than the sheer firepower of ships of the line – the 1st to 4th rate ships. A 5th rate of this period had between 40 and 50 guns. 5 The rocket was an Island invention designed to send a rope from shore to a ship in danger, so that a chair attached to a rope could carry the men onboard to safety. 6 The Coastguard have been based in the area since at least the 18th Century. The Coastguard was originally a paramilitary force enforcing customs laws, they maintained armed garrisons in Freshwater Bay, Totland Bay and Alum Bay to combat the Island's rife smuggling trade. 7 Best known for inventing the word 'joystick'. He was the first man to fly the Irish Sea in 1911. 8 The other countries are the USA, the former USSR, China and France. 9 A chine is an Isle of Wight and Dorset term for where a river meets the edge of a cliff and gradually, over time, erodes the cliff to form a V-shaped gorge. 10 Rabbits were commonly called coneys, only the young were known as rabbits. 11 The Island today has priests in Quarr Abbey as well as both foxes, which were imported to be hunted, and lawyers.
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In the US television show ‘The Sopranos’, what is Salvatore Bonpensiero’s nickname? | The Sopranos | violinduett
The Sopranos
26 Jul
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. The series also features Tony’s family members and Mafia associates in prominent roles and storylines, most notably his wife Carmela and cousin and protégé Christopher Moltisanti. The many conflicts in his life lead to an on-off professional relationship with psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi.
The series premiered on the premium cable network HBO in the United States on January 10, 1999 and ended its original run of six seasons and 86 episodes on June 10, 2007. The show has also been broadcast on A&E in the United States and internationally. The Sopranos was produced by HBO, Chase Films and Brad Grey Television. It was primarily filmed at Silvercup Studios, New York City and on location in New Jersey. The executive producers throughout the show’s run were Chase, Brad Grey , Robin Green , Mitchell Burgess , Ilene S. Landress, Terence Winter , and Matthew Weiner . Chase also served as showrunner and head writer.
A major commercial and critical success, The Sopranos is the most financially successful series in the history of cable television and is acknowledged as one of the greatest television series of all time and a seminal work of fiction. The series is noted for its high level of quality in every aspect of production and is particularly recognized for its writing, its cinematic style, and the performances of its lead actors. The show is credited with bringing a greater level of artistry to the television medium and paving the way for many successful drama series that followed. It also won a multitude of awards, including twenty-one Emmys and five Golden Globes .
A staple of 2000s American popular culture, The Sopranos has been the subject of much parody, controversy, and analysis, and has spawned books, a video game , high-charting soundtrack albums, and a large amount of assorted merchandise.Several members of the show’s cast and crew that were previously largely unknown to the public have had successful careers after The Sopranos.
David Chase born David DeCesare, 22 August 1945 in Garfield, New Jersey, 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 , aired for 10 episodes in 1988 and 1989. Chase is best known for his second original series, the influential and critically acclaimed HBO drama The Sopranos, which aired for six seasons between 1999 and 2007. A prominent figure in American television, Chase has won seven Emmy Awards .( more… )
IMDB Character Profile: David Chase
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 responsible for the
character’s story arc throughout the show’s six seasons. Bobby Boriello portrayed
Tony Soprano as a child in one episode and Danny Petrillo played the character as a teenager in three episodes. The character is loosely based on real-life New Jersey mobster Vincent “Vinny Ocean” Palermo (born 1944), who is a former caporegime (capo) and de facto street boss of the DeCavalcante crime family of New Jersey. The DeCavalante Family is widely considered to be the model for the Soprano family; some incidents that the DeCavalcantes were involved in have been incorporated into Sopranos scripts.
In the series, Tony begins as a capo in the DiMeo crime family during the first season. Between the first and second seasons, he is promoted to acting boss, a title he retains until the sixth season (his uncle Corrado “Junior” Soprano is the official boss up until early on in season 6, but has little or no actual power). Throughout the series, Tony struggles to balance the conflicting requirements of his “two families”: his actual family—wife Carmela, daughter Meadow, son Anthony “A.J.” Soprano, Jr., and mother Livia — and the criminal organization he heads. He also struggles with depression and is prone to panic attacks. Because of this, he seeks treatment from Dr. Jennifer Melfi in the show’s first episode, and remains in therapy on and off up until the final episode of the series ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Tony 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.
Carmela is Tony Soprano’s high school sweetheart. The couple married at young age. Carmela attended Montclair State University for an unspecified period of time before dropping out. Carmela acts as a homemaker for the Soprano household, and works to create a semblance of legitimacy for her family. Tony trusts Carmela enough to confide in her, to a degree, about some of his Mafia dealings (notably the failed attempt on his life and the death of Richie Aprile). Tony’s work and constant infidelity have put a serious strain on the marriage and cause a period of separation. Carmela is an observant Roman Catholic and has difficulty rationalizing her husband’s profession and the flaws in their marriage ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Carmela Soprano
Season 1 – Trailer
Meadow Mariangela Soprano (born September 13, 1982), played by Jamie-Lynn Sigler , is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos.
Meadow is the first-born child of Tony and Carmela Soprano. She attended Columbia University, performing well in her classes after a poor first-year performance and volunteered regularly at the South Bronx Law Center. Since her graduation, Meadow studied for medical school as she was interested in being a pediatrician, but she had second thoughts and considered a career in the legal profession.
Meadow was often resentful of her lineage, stemming from a string of failed relationships first with Noah Tannenbaum, a fellow student that was African-American and Jewish, who met with Tony’s disapproval, only to leave after his own father seemed concerned with the Soprano family heritage. This was followed by a romance with Jackie Aprile, Jr., the son of Tony’s deceased friend and fellow mobster, Jackie Aprile, Sr.. Jackie Jr. made Meadow happy for a while but cheated on Meadow and became increasingly involved in organized crime. This led Jackie to lead a robbery of a card game in which one man was killed and two other wounded ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Meadow Soprano
Anthony John “A.J.” Soprano, Jr. (b. July 15, 1986), 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. While he is the only son of the Don, it becomes obvious he lacks potential for a career in his father’s organization.
Anthony is the chaotic younger brother of his more accomplished sister, Meadow. As a chronic underachiever with many doubts about life, A.J. is diagnosed as borderline ADD. Additionally, he crashed his mother’s car, smoked marijuana at his own confirmation, got drunk on stolen communion wine, vandalized his school swimming pool, and was finally expelled after cheating on a test. As a result, his parents arrange to send him to militar school, until they discover that he suffers from the same panic attacks that plagued his father and grandfather. Instead, he is sent to another private school. His birthday is July 15 ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: “A.J.” Soprano
Season 2 – Trailer
Livia Soprano (née Pollio), 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. David Chase has stated that the main inspiration for the character was his own mother.
Livia Soprano, the family matriarch, seemingly derives little pleasure from life other than making the people around her miserable, especially her three children, Tony, Barbara and Janice. On her son’s wedding day, she tells her new daughter-in-law Carmela that Tony would eventually be bored with her, and even tries to manipulate her brother-in-law, Junior, into putting out a hit on her own son after he tries to put her in a nursing home by mentioning that Tony is seeing a psychiatrist, and she later tells Junior that Tony looks exactly like her cousin Cakey after he had a lobotomy, saying that his old mother said it was better Cakey have died than go on living like that. It is later discovered that the FBI had bugged Green Grove (Livia’s nursing home), and the recordings of Livia conspiring with Junior were played to Tony. While she was in hospital, she received a visit from Artie Bucco. She then tells him that Tony burned down his restaurant, presumably, in another attempt to have Tony killed. Tony’s plot for revenge is foiled when Livia suffers a stroke (said to be induced by repressed rage) and is taken into a hospital. However, while Tony originally attempts to suffocate her with a pillow, he then quickly changes tactic when he hears his mother had suffered a stroke. He then publicly threatens to kill her, informing her that he had heard her conspiring with Junior, thanks to the FBI tapes, saying, “I’m gonna have a nice, long, happy life, which is more than I can say for you”. However, Tony sees Livia smirking at him, and, when Tony points this out, he has to be restrained by the hospital staff. When she gets out, Tony settles for acting as if she were already dead, attempting to end all contact and financial support. Tony’s hostility toward Livia never diminishes, although he seems to be more accommodating of her toward the end of the second season after arriving at her house to visit Janice ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Livia 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 Sisto. Junior is regarded as arrogant, selfish, and impulsive as a boss. In Mafia jargon, he “ate alone.” Junior was very envious of others who held an advantage or position of superiority over him (especially towards his own family).
He harbored resentment towards his younger brother “Johnny Boy” Soprano when he became “made” before him, as well as his own nephew Tony Soprano for his fast ascendancy as a star of the family in which he had spent his whole life working. Although Junior never directly murders anyone himself on the show, in Season One, he orders the murders of six people, including Christopher Moltisanti’s best friend and partner-in-crime Brendan Filone and the unsuccessful hit on Tony after he believed Tony was conspiring against him. He also ordered a mock execution on Christopher in response to his and Brendan Filone’s second hijacking of his trucks, even though they returned the truck’s contents (expensive Italian suits).
Mikey Palmice, who was also his chauffeur and later consigliere after Junior ascended to boss, performed all of Junior’s hits. In the Season Six premiere “Members Only”, during an episode of dementia, Junior thinks Tony is his old enemy Pussy Malanga, who had at the time been dead for six years and shoots him once in the abdomen. Junior vaguely recalls the shooting, and it is apparent it was not Tony he thought he was shooting but Malanga. His excuses range from he was confused, the gun accidentally went off while he was cleaning it, to maybe he wasn’t acting alone (in reference to the JFK assassination).
The Junior Soprano character may have been loosely based on the real life presumed boss of the Gambino crime family, Peter Gotti, with similarities in look, age, inheritance of the leadership from his nephew, John A. Gotti, and his relationship with long time girlfriend Marjorie Alexander ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: “Junior”
Season 3 – Trailer
Janice 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.
After graduating high school, Janice joined an ashram in Los Angeles, changing her name to “Parvati Wasatch” in 1978. “Parvati” also travelled across Europe and Sri Lanka, married a Québécois, bore him a son Harpo (“Hal”, later revealed to be living on the streets), worked as a furniture mover, and worked at an espresso bar in Seattle (where operating the steamed milk machine supposedly caused her to develop carpal tunnel syndrome, for which she claimed disability benefits) before finally moving back to New Jersey. Her relationship with Tony is often strained, as he still holds her responsible for abandoning the family and leaving him to deal with their abusive mother, Livia, alone.
While in New Jersey, she became engaged to her high school boyfriend, Richie Aprile, then recently released from prison. After becoming engaged, Janice drastically refashioned her appearance from that of an aging hippie (which possibly reflected her regression to her high school persona), to that of an upscale, materialistic, northern New Jersey Italian housewife – which reflected her increasing identification with the Soprano crews’ wives ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Janice Soprano
Christopher 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.
Christopher Moltisanti was born on an unspecified date in 1966 or 1967 to Richard “Dickie” Moltisanti (their surname is Italian for “Many Saints” – David Chase frequently gives Sopranos characters ironic or symbolic names), a soldier in the Soprano crew of the DiMeo Crime Family, and Joanne Blundetto.
Chris was a first cousin once removed to Carmela Soprano and a second cousin to Meadow Soprano and Anthony Soprano, Jr. Tony Soprano affectionately considered Christopher a nephew (they had a cousin in common growing up; see below), and had looked out for him over the years, as Christopher never had a father figure growing up (his actual father, Dickie, was killed when Christopher was very young). Moltisanti was engaged to Adriana La Cerva before her murder.
Moltisanti was very loyal to his uncle — whom he once called “the man I’m going to hell for” — and Soprano trusted him more than anyone else in the organization. Tony often entrusted Christopher with sensitive jobs, including disposing of the bodies of capos Richie Aprile and Ralph Cifaretto. Moltisanti acted as Tony’s mouthpiece, issuing Tony’s orders in order to insulate Tony from potential racketeering charges. Tony was planning on making Moltisanti his successor.
Moltisanti had his share of problems; he was prone to violent and impulsive behavior, and he had been distracted, at times, by lofty pursuits such as screenwriting. Some members of the crime family appeared to be jealous of Christopher’s closeness to his uncle. In particular, his fast ascent had led to friction with fellow mobsters Silvio Dante, Patsy Parisi and Paulie Gualtieri. He also had problems with substance abuse, eventually becoming addicted to heroin and alcohol, and being forced into rehab by his family (particularly his uncle), friends, and his fiancee, Adriana ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Christopher Moltisanti
Season 4 – Trailer
Adriana La Cerva played by Drea de Matteo , is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She was the long-time girlfriend and, later, fiancée of Tony Soprano’s protégé, Christopher Moltisanti.
Adriana was known as a mobster’s dream girl, having grown up around wiseguys all her life by virtue of being the niece of Jackie and Richie Aprile. Growing up she saw and heard plenty, and wasn’t at all repulsed by the Mafia lifestyle. Adriana was initially portrayed as shallow and materialistic, interested in the things that Christopher’s money could buy: expensive cars, shoes, jewelry, drugs, designer clothing and furs. However, as the couple became closer, she always seemed to have Christopher’s best interests (as well as hers) in mind. She was very ambitious and wanted to have a business of her own. She was eventually set up as the manager of Christopher’s Crazy Horse club in Long Branch, New Jersey, which became quite successful ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Adriana La Cerva
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 .
Like most of the primary characters in The Sopranos, Melfi is Italian-American. Her father’s family has roots in Caserta. She is a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine and lives an upscale lifestyle, living in a three-bedroom condominium in Essex Fells, New Jersey and shopping only at gourmet Italian shoppes(as revealed in “Meadowlands”). She is probably the person closest to truly understanding Tony Soprano. Over the years, Tony Soprano has been able to confide in Melfi many
things that he has told no one else, not even his associates or his wife, Carmela. However, Melfi and Soprano have an unusual, on-again, off-again relationship. He inwardly fears Melfi’s prying into his life during their sessions, but he also fears the results of not dealing with the problem. As a result, she watches him go through frequent mood swings during their time together, sometimes acting playful, other times violent — sometimes acting responsive, other times being cold and distant. At times Tony also expresses frustration with the pace of his treatment and berates Melfi with short outbursts, when he feels she is not following his train of thought ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Jennifer Melfi
Season 5 – Trailer
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 tries not to draw much attention to himself. He does very well at maintaining a legitimate business image as the manager and owner of the Bada Bing strip club. Silvio usually keeps his cool in even the worst situations but has been known to unleash his terrible fury and excessive anger when necessary, revealing a temper comparable to his peers.
Silvio is a movie and film connoisseur and has an encyclopedic mind for movie lines. Throughout the series, he is most notably known to quote the famous line from The Godfather Part III: “Just when I thought I was out…they pulled me back in.” Silvio usually gets in character and spouts the line for his friends as they get a really good kick out of his Al Pacino impression. Silvio is one of the most loyal mobsters in the Soprano crime family. He is notorious on the show for executing F.B.I. informants and traitors.
According to The Sopranos, A Family History, Silvio was born in November 1960; his father was Joseph “Beppo” Dante (Calabrian origin), a soldier who was “gunned down” in 1959. Silvio was a childhood friend of Tony and his early criminal activity often involved Tony, Ralph Cifaretto and Jackie Aprile, Sr. His original career plan was to be a professional singer, but this dream never materialized. Despite this, Silvio has maintained a connection to show business through ownership of numerous clubs in North Jersey over the years, and in backing aspiring young starlets who come up through his clubs. Silvio’s support was instrumental in ensuring Tony took over as Capo following his father’s death. Throughout his association with the Soprano crew Silvio formed friendships with Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero and Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Silvio Dante
Peter Paul “Paulie Walnuts” Gualtieri played by Tony Sirico , is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is a caporegime (captain) and later underboss in the Soprano crime family.
According to The Sopranos, A Family History, Peter Paul Gualtieri, son of Gennaro Gualtieri (although Paulie’s biological father was later revealed to be a World War II era soldier named “Russ”), has been a troubled street kid from the age of nine. He dropped out of school after the 9th grade and spent time in and out of juvenile correctional facilities during his early youth. When he was 17 he officially became an enforcer/bodyguard for “Johnny Boy” Soprano, Tony’s father and captain in the DiMeo crime family. His mother, later discovered to be his aunt, worked at a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop during Paulie’s childhood and early adulthood, but has since retired. Paulie’s grandfather, who immigrated to the United States in 1910, is from Ariano Irpino, a municipality in the province of Avellino, in the
Campania region of Italy. Paulie’s grandfather and Tony’s paternal grandparents were from the same province in Italy. Paulie spent four years in the US Army Signal Corps, where he was eventually drummed out through Section 8 (discharged because of psychiatric reasons). Although Paulie did not have a long military career, he still is proud of it, and few of the other Sopranos characters had military experience. Afterwards, he spent more time in and out of prison on various criminal charges. Eventually, he worked his way up through the DiMeo crime family, reaching the rank of Captain, and almost six years after Anthony “Tony” Soprano became Boss of New Jersey, Paulie was promoted to Underboss, and Christopher Moltisanti was put in charge of Paulie’s crew, which earlier was Tony’s crew. Paulie got his nickname “Paulie Walnuts” due to hijacking a truck in the early 1990s which he believed to be filled with television-sets, but only contained walnuts. His surname is taken from real life DeCavalcante crime family mobster Frank Gualtieri, who served under Vincent Palermo ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Paulie Walnuts
Sopranos-Paulies last ever scene?
Ralph “Ralphie” Cifaretto, played by Joe Pantoliano , is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Ralph is not present in Season 1 or 2, as he spends a prolonged amount of time in Miami from spring 1999 to mid-2000, returning following the “disappearance” of Aprile capo Richie Aprile. Ralph first appears on the show as a soldier in the Aprile Crew in the second episode of season 3, Proshai, Livushka but eventually reached the rank of Caporegime of the Aprile Crew in the DiMeo crime family, under the regime of Tony Soprano and Corrado “Junior” Soprano. Cifaretto is characterized as cunning and an excellent earner but also unstable and prone to sudden outbursts of violence, often for no reason and at the worst possible moment ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Ralph “Ralphie” Cifaretto
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. Richie was arguably one of the most ruthless characters on the show; he exhibited character traits similar to
Ralph Cifaretto, including being impulsively violent, callous, irascible, greedy, and narcissistic. He was sadistically violent and remorseless as demonstrated by his paralyzing of Beansie Gaeta. He almost instantly takes on a feeling of jealousy and resentment when he finds out Tony Soprano, someone who is younger and who was at one time subordinate to him, is the new boss of the DiMeo Crime Family after his release from prison. Richie is also embarrassed by his son Richard “Little Ricky” Aprile, Jr’s participation in ballroom dancing contests, which some Mafiosi consider to be a sign of homosexuality. Richie couldn’t raise him well, because he was sent to prison in his teenage years, and in 10 years he was grown up and wasn’t like his father.
Richie Aprile, the older brother of acting DiMeo crime family boss Jackie Aprile, Sr., was a capo in the DiMeo crime family before being sent to prison for ten years. While Richie was in prison, Jackie died and upon his release, Richie came back to a very different family with Tony Soprano as the boss. Richie had known Tony since before he became a made man; Tony himself recalled having to pay for dinners for Richie and others as a newly made man. Tony and Richie had gotten along in the old days; Richie intervened on Tony and Jackie’s behalf when old-school mobster Feech La Manna wanted them killed for robbing his card game. There was no love lost between them upon Richie’s return ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Richard ‘Richie’ Aprile, Sr.
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.
Furio was one of two members of the DiMeo crime family born in Italy (the other being Michele “Feech” LaManna). Tony bargained with the Neapolitan Camorra mob boss Annalisa Zucca for Furio to come to New Jersey to work for him as part of an international car theft operation. This impulse to integrate Furio into his association emerged once he saw Furio beat a young boy for playing with firecrackers and consequently imitating the sound of gun shots. Tony Soprano saw that Furio had absolutely no inhibitions and a merciless wrath embedded by a sincere loyalty to his boss (Furio shields his boss with his own body when the firecrackers are first heard). In order to get Furio a visa, Tony got him a job as a mozzarella maker in the Nuovo Vesuvio Restaurant, enticing Artie Bucco with the idea that Tony will pay Furio’s salary and he does not have to be on Vesuvio’s payroll. Furio did not particularly excel at honest work, mainly because Artie imposed tougher standards on his kitchen workers than restaurants in Italy, such as hair nets and no smoking on duty. Upon his arrival in New Jersey, Furio became one of Tony’s most feared enforcers, intimidating and beating up multiple people who owed Tony money as well as acting as Tony’s driver and bodyguard, to the initial resentment of long time senior Soprano associate Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Furio Giunta
Furio Giunta
Philip “Phil” Leotardo, played by actor Frank Vincent , is a fictional character on the HBOTV series The Sopranos. He was originally a captain within the Lupertazzi Crim Family, but following the death of the original Boss, Carmine Lupertazzi, the imprisonment and death of his successor Johnny Sacramoni and a brief power struggle with would-be boss Faustino “Doc” Santoro, Phil became the Boss of the Family. Phil was married to Patty Leotardo and was a second cousin of Marie Spatafore. Phil bears a resemblance to the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, leading to Tony Soprano and his family often referring to him as “The Shah”. He expressed dislike for the nickname. Phil ultimately becomes the final antagonist of the series ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: “Phil” Leotardo
Gloria Trillo portrayed by actress Annabella Sciorra was Tony Soprano’s girlfriend in Season 3 of The Sopranos. Tony first met Gloria at Dr. Jennifer Melfi’s office, as Gloria was another patient of Dr. Melfi’s. Dr. Melfi accidentally scheduled them for the same time period, and Tony gave Gloria his time slot, which impressed Gloria.
Tony later saw Gloria again at a Mercedes dealership, where Gloria worked as a sales-woman. They went out for a drive in one of the Mercedes cars and that outing ended up in Gloria and Tony beginning their relationship ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Gloria Trillo
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 Lupertazzi crime family.
Operating out of his Construction Company or Social Club, Johnny Sack was a major player in the New York crime family formerly led by Carmine Lupertazzi. Johnny was Carmine’s Underboss for many years, handling political payoffs and bid-rigging for the organization. He ultimately became boss after Carmine’s death. Johnny was also a friend and compatriot of New Jersey Soprano boss Tony Soprano. Johnny Sack worked to maintain the peace with the other families, reasoning that peace between the families meant prosperity for all the families. He was not, however, above stirring up trouble in Iago-like fashion, sowing dissent and suspicion among the ranks of the Soprano crime family. In the last two seasons Sack showed his brutal side and shed much of his earlier pragmatism and aversion to violence, as he ruthlessly eliminated rivals and potential threats to his power ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: John “Johnny Sack” Sacramoni
Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero, played by Vincent Pastore , is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Not to be confused with fellow New Jersey mobster “Little Pussy” Malanga, Big Pussy was one of the men who worked for Tony Soprano and the two were close friends.
The son of Lino Bonpensiero, Salvatore Bonpensiero started out as a cat burglar, and was affectionately known as “Big Pussy” because of this early career (“Pussy” in reference to a “pussy cat” since he was a cat burglar). It is also very likely that he started out solely with the nickname “Pussy,” then he got the nickname “Big Pussy” so as to avoid confusion with another crew member, “Little Pussy” Malanga. The name confusion is referenced in the first episode when Tony’s confidante Herman “Hesh” Rabkin mistakenly believes that Junior plans to whack Big Pussy Bonpensiero. Tony corrected Hesh by saying that Junior planned to whack Little Pussy Malanga; that if Junior was to attempt an attack on Big Pussy that would result in an automatic mob war since “Big Pussy” was highly respected by everyone, even outside the DiMeo crime family and was also both made and a “good earner”. This showed in particular Bonpensiero’s high status in the Soprano crew and his closeness to Tony, referring to him as “my pussy” ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero
Pussy:”Sit on this cocksucker”
Herman “Hesh” Rabkin, played by Jerry Adler , is an advisor and friend to Tony Soprano on the HBO television series, The Sopranos.
The character Hesh Rabkin may be a composite character inspired by music mogul Morris “Mo” Levy , founder of Roulette Records , who had connections to the Mafia and owned a string of racehorses and Gaetano “Corky” Vastola who was a member of the Mafia in New Jersey and worked with Roulette Records ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Herman “Hesh” Rabkin
Vito 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. This was revealed in the show’s fifth season, and became one of the more prominent subplots in the sixth season.
Although Vito Spatafore wasn’t introduced on The Sopranos until the Season 2 episode “The Happy Wanderer” as a nephew to fellow mobster Richie Aprile and later a cousin to Adriana La Cerva and Jackie Aprile, Jr, the actor who plays his role, Joseph R. Gannascoli, appears in the Season 1 episode, “The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti” as pastry shop patron named “Gino”. Vito is inducted into the Aprile crew upon Richie’s release from prison and quickly rises through the ranks to Capo after the deaths of capos Richie Aprile, Gigi Cestone and Ralph Cifaretto. Vito’s character is based on Vito Arena , a homosexual mob associate in the Gambino crime family .( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Vito Spatafore, Sr.
Arthur “Artie” Bucco, Jr., played by John Ventimiglia , is a fictional character on the HBO television series The Sopranos. He is a restaurateur and childhood friend of Tony Soprano. Artie appears throughout the series, from the first episode to the penultimate episode.
Artie is a longtime childhood friend of Tony Soprano; they went to elementary and high school together. He works as the owner and head chef of Nuovo Vesuvio, a local upscale restaurant. He sometimes wishes he could be involved in the work that Tony does but he doesn’t have the “image” or the know-how. His wife, in turn, is frequently concerned about his attraction to “the business,” often warning him about his occasional attempts at involvement, or even when he hints that he may wish to. David Chase has stated that Artie’s character is based on a man named Daniel Somers, who was Chase’s roommate at NYU, who was known to be a self-loathing man, and like Artie, enjoyed basking and wallowing in his own self-pity ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Arthur “Artie” Bucco, Jr.
Tony vs Artie food fight
Michele ”Feech” La Manna played by Robert Loggia , is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos.
An original gangster who was “made” in Italy, Feech came over to America in the 1950s and settled in Northern New Jersey where he became involved with the DiMeo crime family, then under the leadership of boss Ercole ‘Eckley’ DiMeo. Paulie Walnuts calls him “The King of Breadsticks” because he owns a bakery and catering company. A contemporary of Giovanni “Johnny Boy” Soprano and Corrado “Junior” Soprano, Feech had become one of the most respected and feared capos in the DiMeo family by the 1970s. However, his status did not prevent a young Jackie Aprile, Sr. and Tony Soprano from robbing his card game, and thereby solidifying their status as rising stars in the organization. Despite Feech’s anger at having been robbed, Jackie’s older brother, Richie Aprile, then a high-ranking earner and soldier in the family, intervened on Tony and Jackie’s behalf and got Tony and Jackie a pass. They were also helped by the fact that both Tony’s father and uncle were powerful capos under DiMeo ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Michele ”Feech” La Manna
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 a straight, non-criminal, civilian life. However, it doesn’t take long for him to realize that civilian life isn’t what he wants and he turns back to crime, dragging the DiMeo Crime Family into the Lupertazzi Crime Family’s power struggle, which ultimately leads to his death.
Anthony “Tony” Blundetto is introduced in the second episode of season 5, “Rat Pack”. He is cousin to Tony Soprano and Christopher Moltisanti. To distinguish between them, they were called “Tony Uncle Johnny” (Soprano) and “Tony Uncle Al” (Blundetto) when they were kids, after their fathers’ first names. Blundetto, Soprano, and Moltisanti all grew up and played on a farm owned by their uncle, Pat Blundetto. The two Tonys would often bully Moltisanti ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Anthony “Tony” Blundetto
Robert “Bobby Bacala” Baccalieri, Jr., played by Steve R. Schirripa , is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a Capo and later the acting underboss of the DiMeo Crime Family, as well as Tony Soprano’s brother-in-law. He was formerly one of the top aides to Corrado “Junior” Soprano.
His name is derived from real life organized crime figure Robert Bisaccia, also known as Bobby Cabert, who is an alleged member of the Gambino crime family based in New Jersey. Bobby Bacala, unlike many of his fellow wiseguys, was big-hearted and quite shy. He ran Junior Soprano’s old loan shark business. Although not officially a captain, Bobby was a high-ranking soldier who ran Junior Soprano’s interests as acting captain and reported directly to Junior, and later to Tony. Before his death, he was thought to be the heir to the job of boss, if Tony were whacked or arrested. Bobby was the son of Bobby Baccalieri, Sr., a highly respected mobster (whom Tony Soprano referred to as “a real terminator”), who fronted as a barber. Bobby’s father returned from retirement for one last job before his death from lung cancer, which Bobby found quite distressing. Before joining Junior Soprano’s crew Bobby was a head waiter until at least 1986 and was groomed by his father, Bobby Sr. At some point, Bobby became a made man, although without making his bones (committing murder). Bobby was married to Karen Baccalieri until her death and they had two children, Bobby III and Sophia ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Bobby Baccalieri
Bobby Bacala Wise guy moment
, played by Peter Bogdanovich , is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos.
Dr. Jennifer Melfi’s therapist, who tries to convince her numerous times to refer Tony to another colleague. Elliot calls Dr. Melfi “Jen” in their sessions. Elliot also counsels Melfi following her rape.
Elliot has a daughter, Saskia, who is a lesbian and student at Columbia University, which Meadow attended.
Elliot once unknowingly encountered Tony Soprano in the parking garage at Columbia University, while both were visiting their daughters. He followed Tony in his car in the hopes of taking Tony’s parking space when he left but annoyed Tony by driving too closely, describing him later to Melfi in a therapy session as “this Bluto-type guy.” ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Dr. Elliot Kupferberg
, played by actor Robert Funaro , is a fictional character in the HBO television series The Sopranos. His jobs include running a low stakes poker game, a sports betting agency and a ‘No Work’ job at the Esplanade construction site.
Eugene Pontecorvo was introduced on the show as an associate in the Soprano crime family in the episode “Proshai, Livushka”. Eugene subsequently becomes a made man in the following episode “Fortunate Son” along with Christopher Moltisanti. Like Vito Spatafore and Benny Fazio, he is initially introduced as a small character, whose role slowly increases throughout the series. His first act on the show is seen in “Proshai, Livushka” when he and Bobby Zanone assault a garbage sanitation man for threatening to rat out Ralph Cifaretto ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Eugene Pontecorvo
Season 6 – Part 1 – Trailer
Charmaine Bucco, played by Kathrine Narducci , is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the wife of Artie Bucco and a childhood friend of Carmela and Tony Soprano.
Charmaine is an old friend of Carmela Soprano’s and married Tony Soprano’s school friend Artie Bucco. She also dated Tony Soprano in high school, and several allusions to their high school sex life are spread throughout the series, especially one scene in the episode The Test Dream. Artie and Charmaine are also partnered in the restaurant business and own their own restaurant, Vesuvio (inherited from Artie’s father), with Charmaine as manager and Artie as head chef. References have been made to Charmaine’s education – also in The Test Dream, Tony reveals that Charmaine is a licensed notary public. Also, in discussion with Charmaine in relation to a business venture with Tony in the Season Four episode Everybody Hurts, Artie suggests that the business idea would never pass Charmaine’s “incredibly high Wharton School of Business standards” ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Charmaine Bucco
Pasquale “Patsy” Parisi, played by Dan Grimaldi , is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Patsy is the accountant for Tony Soprano’s crew, and is often seen calculating the group’s finances in the Bada Bing or Satriale’s offices. He, like his brother, is also Tony’s cousin on his mother’s side. He also acts as a soldier, performing various enforcement tasks for the family. In addition to that, he also procures fine Italian suits for his friends and associates. Patsy is something of a “dark horse” character; he has very little back-story compared to the other members of the crew, and relatively few lines, but visually he is very frequently present on screen. He shares this characteristic with Carlo Gervasi, another high-up member of Tony’s crew who is frequently seen but about whom little is known to the audience. Patsy has the distinction of being the only mobster in Tony’s group with eyeglasses, giving him a scholarly appearance. He is also never seen smoking cigarettes or cigars, and appears to be in better physical shape for his age than most of the crew — in the episode “Christopher”, he single-handedly climbs up a metal utility pole to take down an effigy of Christopher Columbus during a Native American protest. He has an organization, the North Ward Emergency Merchants Protective Cooperative that is used to extort storeowners along with Burt Gervasi ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Pasquale “Patsy” Parisi
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.
Carmine Lupertazzi was an old school mafioso of Corrado “Junior” Soprano’s generation. He kept a low-profile for most of his criminal career while operating out of his social clubs and restaurants. Carmine was arrested and acquitted of labor racketeering charges in the 1980s. It was around this time that Carmine’s longtime Consigliere, Angelo “Angie” Garepe and longtime Lupertazzi family captain Philip “Phil” Leotardo were convicted of various racketeering charges and sent to prison for 20 years each. During Carmine’s tenure, the New York organization maintained close ties to New Jersey’s DiMeo/Soprano crime family.
Carmine was intelligent, calm, and an opportunist, even in his old age. Despite being a loving father and grandfather, grooming his own son, namesake “Little” Carmine Lupertazzi, by making him a capo in the crime family that bears his name, he remained foremost a ruthless mobster, making threats and ordering murders. He had a sometimes contentious relationship with his Underboss, John “Johnny Sack” Sacramoni: during different episodes in the fourth season, Johnny and Carmine each authorized Tony Soprano to put a “hit” on the other, although in neither case was the killing actually carried out ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Carmine Lupertazzi, Sr.
Carmine “Little Carmine” Lupertazzi, Jr. is a fictional New York mobster in the HBO television series The Sopranos. He is played by actor Ray Abruzzo . Little Carmine is a Capo and the son of Carmine Lupertazzi, the leader of one of New York’s Five Families.
Little Carmine is introduced in 2002 when Tony Soprano visits him in Miami to seek his counsel in regard to settling a dispute with Carmine Sr. While Little Carmine is initially viewed as a pompous blowhard whose constant malapropisms convey his poor intellect, he later becomes a thorn in the side of Carmine’s underboss, Johnny Sack, and ultimately, instrumental to Tony Soprano in his taking down of Phil Leotardo.
In 2004, Carmine Lupertazzi Sr. has a massive stroke and dies a few days later. Little Carmine immediately comes up to New York from Florida for the funeral, and quickly becomes embroiled in a power struggle with Johnny Sack. Since Little Carmine is the son of the former boss, he has some claim, albeit tenuous, to the throne, and this angers Johnny to no end. Even Tony has no faith in Little Carmine’s capacity to run New York, jokingly referring to him as “Brainless the Second.” Despite his inexperience (Johnny describes Little Carmine as an “idiot” who spends his time “fixing wet t-shirt contests” in Miami Beach) Little Carmine finds backers in Carmine Sr.’s recently paroled, former consigliere, Angelo Garepe , and long-time Lupertazzi Capo Rusty Millio . Angelo and Rusty, along with Rusty’s right-hand man Eddie Pietro, pull most of the strings during the war between Johnny and Little Carmine ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Carmine “Little Carmine” Lupertazzi, Jr.
Season 6 – Part 2 – Trailer
Benito “Benny” Fazio, Jr., played by Max Casella , is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Initially an associate of Christopher Moltisanti, Benny began working for the Soprano crime family with Chris under Capo Paulie ‘Walnuts’ Gualtieri and continued to work for Chris after his elevation to Caporegime of the old Soprano crew, He is a Made man, and his rank is “Soldier”. Where Benny lacks in stature he makes up for in tenacity and cunning.
Benny debuted in the third episode of Season 3, with his release from county jail and renewed association with friend Christopher Moltisanti. Benny belongs to the crew run by Paulie Gualtieri and later Moltisanti. He began working for Christopher just after Christopher became a made man in 2001 (Season 3) and they quickly became close comrades. Benny’s star began to rise due to his association with Christopher, as well as the fact that he is the godson of Soprano capo Larry Boy Barese .( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Benito “Benny” Fazio, Jr.
Kelli Lombardo Moltisanti played by Cara Buono is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos.
Kelli was Chris’s girlfriend, she became pregnant and she planned to terminate the pregnancy, blaming herself for the lack of contraception. When she told Chris, he was actually overjoyed that Kelli was pregnant. Christopher bemoaned that his former fianceé Adriana could not have children and immediately suggested they go to Atlantic City and get married. Soon after their marriage, Kelli and Chris make an offer on a new home and move in. They also ate Sunday dinner with the Sopranos and Kelli complimented Tony on his (stolen) wine ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Kelli Lombardo Moltisanti
Paul “Little Paulie” Germani is a fictional character from the highly acclaimed television series The Sopranos. He was played by Carl Capotorto .
Little Paulie Germani is thought to be the nephew (later revealed to actually be a first cousin) and right-hand of Soprano family Capo/Underboss Paulie Gualtieri. Germani is an associate and later soldier in the Moltisanti crew. When his uncle was arrested and imprisoned for a gun charge, Germani was his eyes and ears in New Jersey. He was responsible for repeating the joke that Ralph Cifaretto told the crew about Ginny Sack having a “95 pound mole removed from her ass”. When the older Paulie told Johnny Sack about this he tried to have Ralphie killed. Germani also fed his uncle information about Tony Soprano’s business that was passed on to Johnny Sack, causing problems for Tony. Germani also helped to uphold his uncle’s interests in New Jersey taking part in a sit-down that awarded no-show and no-work jobs to the Gualtieri crew — Germani received a no-work carpenter job at the Esplanade construction site ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Paul “Little Paulie” Germani
Gabriella Dante, played by Maureen Van Zandt is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Gabriella is the wife of longtime Soprano family soldier and consigliere Silvio Dante. They have a daughter, Heather Dante, who played volleyball and soccer with Meadow Soprano. She is close friends with Rosalie Aprile and Carmela Soprano and can often be seen dining out with them, typically at “Nuovo Vesuvio”.( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Gabriella Dante
Rosalie “Ro” Aprile, played by Sharon Angela , is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos.
Rosalie is the widow of Jackie Aprile, Sr, and the mother of Jackie, Jr. and Kelli. She is good friends with mob wives Carmela Soprano and Gabriella Dante, to whom she offers characteristically frank advice.
Rosalie was always frank with her friends that she knew her husband, Jackie, had affairs, but seemed to have made her peace with his infidelity. During her marriage to Jackie, Ro had an affair with a man named Steve from her gym, which remained a source of guilt.
One year after Jackie Sr.’s death, she started a relationship with Ralph Cifaretto. Ralph had been a friend of Jackie’s growing up and later a soldier in Jackie’s crew before he moved to Miami. Their relationship became romantic after Ralph returned from Miami in 2000, following the deaths of both Jackie Sr. and Rosalie’s brother-in-law, Richie Aprile ( more… )
HBO Character Profile: Rosalie “Ro” Aprile
Giacomo Michael Aprile, Jr. (commonly referred to as Jackie, Jr), played by Jason Cerbone , is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. In the episode “…To Save Us All From Satan’s Power”, Cerbone’s younger brother Matt played a younger Jackie Jr. in a flashback sequence.
Jackie Aprile, Jr. was born into North Jersey mafia royalty. His father, Jackie Aprile, Sr., was once the acting boss of the DiMeo crime family, and his uncle Richie Aprile was a capo first under Ercoli “Eckley” DiMeo, and then later under Tony Soprano. However Jackie, Jr. himself was kept away from the family business by Jackie Sr. and his father’s best friend, Tony Soprano. He only began getting involved with the criminal aspects of his family in 2000—season 2 of The Sopranos–after the death of his father and the release of his uncle from prison. Despite attempts to succeed at Rutgers, Jackie, Jr. drifted towards a life of crime as he began helping his uncle Richie run the Aprile crew ( more… )
IMDB Character Profile: Jason Cerbone
“This Thing Of Ours” trailer
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In the US television show ‘The Sopranos’, who shot and killed Richie Aprile? | The Sopranos (Sony PlayStation 2, 2006) | eBay
The Sopranos (Sony PlayStation 2, 2006)
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Based on the television series The Sopranos, this mission-based action-adventure game revolves around protagonist Joey LaRocca, illegitimate son of Salvatore Big Pussy Bonpensiero. Salvatore Bonpensiero was a close confidante of Tony Soprano, Mafia don and the central character of the television series. The Sopranos: Road to Respect video game allows the player to take on the role of Joey. Gameplays in this Sony PlayStation 2 video game are based on the various missions assigned to Joey by the Mafia bosses. The missions Joey is entrusted with include roughing up thugs, assassination, and other under-cover mafia-style operations for the Sopranos. Various firearms and combat styles are depicted in this action-adventure game as Joey goes about accomplishing his missions. Another highlight of The Sopranos: Road to Respect is Joeys verbal response skills which can be set to Neutral, Smooth, and Tough. The player chooses these options in this Sony PlayStation 2 video game to take the missions and the game forward. However, choosing the wrong option will affect the Respect meter, as will a wrong action on Joeys part. The Sopranos: Road to Respect has an OFLC (Australia) rating of MA 15+ and cannot be bought by those under 15 years of age.
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In the US television show ‘The Sopranos’, who plays Adriana La Cerva? | Drea de Matteo - IMDb
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Andrea Donna de Matteo, called Drea (pronounced "dray"), was born on January 19, 1972 in Queens, New York, into an affluent family, the youngest of three children and the only girl. She is the daughter of Donna, a playwright and playwriting teacher at HB Studio in New York, and Albert A. De Matteo, a furniture manufacturer. She is of Italian ... See full bio »
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Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations. See more awards »
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The Sopranos Adriana La Cerva / Adriana / Hostess
(1999-2006)
2015 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV Series)
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[on 'The Sopranos'] The reason I thought Big Pussy was the perfect choice when they killed him off is he didn't understand why he was getting killed off. I kept saying to him, 'Man, it's because you're a great actor and you can handle the material and people are going to feel for you because you're going to know how to play it out. And you're kind of vulnerable'. There was a vulnerability to this... See more »
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Gave birth to her 1st child at age 35, a daughter Alabama Gypsy Rose Jennings on November 28, 2007. Child's father is her boyfriend (now ex-fiancé), Shooter Jennings . See more »
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In the US television show ‘The Sopranos’, what is Uncle Junior Soprano’s first name? | Drea de Matteo On Working On ‘Joey’: ‘I Was Really Unhappy About It’
Drea de Matteo On Working On ‘Joey’: ‘I Was Really Unhappy About It’
Asher Bayot
She might not be a Hollywood A-lister yet, but every fan knows Drea de Matteo is one hell of an actress. Drea is most popular for playing the dynamic Adriana La Cerva, the loyal and ambitious wife of Tony Soprano’s protege, Christopher Moltisanti. Matteo played the role so well that she was able to bag the Emmy for best supporting actress in 2004.
Drea’s role in The Sopranos was so well-played that we often forget the less-than-stellar roles she had in other TV projects. Everyone remember Joey? That horrid little spin-off of its superior predecessor Friends? It was a promising show that ran alongside The Sopranos, which was supposed to follow Joey Tribianni’s life as he leaves New York and starts his acting career in Hollywood. Sadly, due to bad writing and other production factors, Joey got booted after two seasons, and fans of its mother sitcom were actually happy to see it go. Apparently, it was so bad that Matt LeBlanc allegedly refuses to answer anything about the disgraced project. If you want more proof of how bad it was, here is a clip from the show.
And yes, Drea de Matteo had a supporting role in this TV show. Playing Tribianni’s sister Gina, de Matteo thought this role will be her fresh break from drama and a way to introduce herself into comedy. Sadly, things didn’t work out for Drea, comedy-wise, and continued to purse dramatic roles, which turned out really well for her. When asked about her experiences working on Joey in a recent Reddit forum, de Matteo recalled her experiences working alongside Matt and playing a major role in one of the most critically panned TV sitcoms of the last decade.
“If you would have asked me 9 or 10 years ago, i was really unhappy about it. I took the plunge to be on a comedy like that and to take my character of Adriana and sort of turn her into a caricature for comedy’s sake, and there was so much pressure on the show at that time because of FRIENDS having ended and Sopranos having ended, i guess we were the two biggest shows at that time, and now you have the 2 working class Italians in a show together, and the pressure was through the roof, and I had never lived in California before, and my life just felt like it was turned upside down.
“More than anything else, the pressure of telling jokes and comedy, I think I finally understood at that point why a lot of comedians were super depressed or committed suicide because you have to turn it on no matter how you are feeling – my great dane was dying in my dressing room the entire time we were shooting, i was giving him chemo, in Jennifer Aniston’s old dressing room, and here I am supposed to be challenging the comedy of these performances, and then I’m crying over my 200 pound dog shitting all over the place, and then I had to run out there with 500 people in the audience jokes that were being rewritten constantly. Doing all that stuff, I was dying in the inside the whole time, I was like “Jesus christ, I wanted to get away to do comedy” – I was excited to come out there and have some fun at the time…
“So at that time I was unhappy being there, and we were all complaining so much about the quality of the show, and our ratings weren’t high enough, and all these things I’d never paid attention before being on cable tv. But when I look back, Matt and I had so much fucking fun – Andrea and Paolo and the crew, the parties that would happen that would lead us up to the top of the building every friday night, we had so much goddamn fun but at the time we all thought it was a big failure and miserable.
“But because the ratings were so high for FRIENDS, we had 13 million in ratings and that seemed like a failure by comparison. But now, even on episodes where there was 9 million, we felt like were in the toilet, but if you check out ratings now, those numbers are SCORES for a sitcom. The times have changed so much and the pressure is not as great as it was, I think. So looking back on it, if I had it to do all over again, I would have been more happy where I was at, and less concerned about being stereotyped – I was a little too precious as an actor, but I was afraid to never work again, because if you play any kind of NY, NJ accented character, it’s hard to break free from that, so I think I was too nervous, and if I were doing it now, I would have embraced it wholeheartedly and had a blast.
“So I regret having been a squeaky wheel at that time.”
Drea de Matteo currently plays Wendy Case on the hit FX series Sons of Anarchy.
[Image from Gage Skidmore/Flickr]
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In the US television show ‘The Sopranos’, what is the title of the Christopher Moltisanti’s film which premiered in 2007 at a private screening? | The Sopranos: Last Season (Gangsters Inc's: Real Deal Forum)
Title: The Sopranos: Last Season
Description: Reality and fiction
Simen - July 14, 2006 11:38 PM (GMT)
I just cant wait for the 6th seson to come on dvd. (In Norway)
Well its alitle too long between every seson, so if u got any other shows u would recomend kinda like Sopranos, then please do.
Anyway what do you think about the show?
Dobermann - July 22, 2006 09:58 PM (GMT)
Awesome show,very real...
GangstersInc - July 30, 2006 11:34 AM (GMT)
Other shows "like the Sopranos": The Wire. It is also from HBO, it focusses on black organized crime and the detectives trying to catch them. Very good show. Season 2 of The Wire also focusses on Greek organized crime.
I didnt like Sopranos S6 that much. Season 5 was much better. Of course this season 6 was part one of a two part season so I'll wait with my full judgement until I've seen S6 part 2 (or season 7, whatever you wanna call it lol.)
GangstersInc - August 15, 2006 10:28 AM (GMT)
"Sopranos" Bags a Baldwin
by Gina Serpe
Aug 8, 2006, 12:35 PM PT
Daniel Baldwin is getting ready to play a supporting role in one of the world's most famous families. You could say it's a part he's been preparing for his entire life.
The Sopranos is continuing its experiment in authenticity by hiring actors with real-life rap sheets, signing Baldwin up for a recurring role in the final season of the Emmy-winning drama series.
According to the trades, Alec's little bro will play himself in the HBO hit, starring in the gangster horror flick produced by would-be filmmaker Christopher (Michael Imperioli).
In introducing the fictional project to investors in last season's premiere episode, Christopher described the movie as "Saw meets Godfather 2," saying the story centered on "a wiseguy with a big mouth and bigger dreams."
Chistropher subsequently flew to Hollywood and tried to convince Ben Kingsley (appearing as himself) to take the role. But Sir Ben turned it down.
Enter Baldwin.
Production on The Sopranos' final eight-episode run kicked off last month following lengthy, contentious and at times production-threatening negotiations between producers and the cast. Actual shooting is slated to begin in three weeks.
There's no word on how many of the remaining episodes Baldwin will appear in, though he's no stranger to the small-screen grind.
He starred on Homicide: Life on the Street from 1993 to '95, and has since starred in a series of best forgotten flicks. Most recently, the black sheep Baldwin wrapped up production on a pair of independent dramas, Searching for Mickey Fish and Double Tap.
Lately, the actor is better known for the drama taking place off screen.
In April, the trouble-prone Baldwin was busted for cocaine possession after police, responding to a noise complaint, entered his Santa Monica motel room and allegedly found him holding a drug pipe and a "small amount" of coke. He spent the night in jail and was released the next day on $10,000 bail, though prosecutors have since opted not to file any felony charges against him.
Last month, he again ran afoul of the law, when Los Angeles police spotted him weaving in and out of traffic before running a red light and smashing his rented Ford Thunderbird into two parked cars while driving 80 miles per hour in a 30-mph zone.
Police officials are continuing follow-up investigations on the incident, though as the case has yet to be sent to the city attorney's office for review, no charges have been filed.
GangstersInc - August 15, 2006 10:30 AM (GMT)
CONTAINS SPOILERS REGARDING SEASON 6
"Sopranos" Bodyguard Ducks Jail
Aug 14, 2006, 12:00 PM PT
Looks like Tony Soprano's enforcer has no problem singing to prosecutors.
Louis Gross, the 23-year-old actor who played the mob boss' beefy bodyguard Perry Annunziata last season on The Sopranos, will not face jail time for a criminal mischief charge stemming from an April break-in incident.
The small-screen tough was arrested last spring after a woman claimed he broke into her house, smashing a door to allegedly collect some of his belongings there. She called the cops and he was arrested and eventually charged with criminal mischief. At the time, he told reporters, "I don't know nothing. I'm innocent. I'm always innocent."
It appears he was right...sort of. According to the actor's lawyer, Samuel Bernstein, a deal was brokered in a Queens court, and his client will stay out of jail if he keeps his nose clean and avoids arrest for the next six months.
Berstein also claims the whole incident was a "misunderstanding" and that his client was staying at the apartment and accidentally broke the door frame in an effort to get some of his things.
"He didn't steal anything," Bernstein told the Associated Press. "He just got his own stuff, and he's offered to pay for the door."
It remains to be seen if keeping out of trouble is a possibility for Gross, who made his biggest mark last season by getting the snot beat out of him in a chest-thumping move by Tony, who was recovering from a gunshot wound and wanted to show his henchmen that he's still "got it."
In February, the actor set of the alarms in the trendy Michael K. clothing boutique in New York's Soho neighborhood. He was carrying an unpaid-for bag of goodies and was picked up by the cops on robbery charges.
As for The Sopranos, shooting for the last season of the Emmy-winning mob drama begins in two weeks.
omerta - September 15, 2006 03:42 AM (GMT)
The Soprano's is a great show. I would recommend Wiseguy. It's an old show but they show re-runs of it in Australia and it is pretty good.
Hollander - March 10, 2007 11:21 AM (GMT)
�Sopranos� gets its just desserts
By Herald wire services
Saturday, March 10, 2007 - Updated: 12:56 AM EST
Tony Soprano is welcome in the North Jersey town of Bloomfield.
Earlier this week, the town�s mayor and council had denied a permit to film the series� final scene, saying they found the HBO mob drama a disparaging portrait of Italian-Americans.
Township attorney Brian Aloia has decided, however, that the town clerk is required to issue a filming permit and the council doesn�t have a say unless the permit requires a waiver. A waiver wasn�t needed for �The Sopranos� shoot because producers would be filming in a commercial area instead of a residential one after 8 p.m., he said.
HBO was to shoot the scene at an ice cream shop in Bloomfield. The town borders Newark, where fictional mob boss Tony Soprano grew up.
Aloia said the clerk must issue a permit after determining that a shoot fulfills certain legal requirements, such as having adequate insurance.
�She must look at the application in an objective manner,� he said. �She cannot consider, for instance, what�s being filmed or in this case if she likes the show or doesn�t like the show.�
Permits were approved last week. But after complaints, the council voted again on Monday and rejected them.
Bloomfield Mayor Raymond McCarthy, whose wife is Italian, voted against the shoot twice.
�I don�t think �The Sopranos� depicts the life of a typical Italian American in a positive way,� he said, �and I still don�t like the way people see New Jersey based upon �The Sopranos� series.�
The owners of the old-fashioned ice cream parlor selected for the series� final scene, Holsten�s Brookdale Confectionary, said personal feelings shouldn�t stand in the way.
After receiving word yesterday of the town�s reversal, co-owner Ron Stark said he was excited about becoming a pop culture landmark.
�Hopefully this will all work out,� he said.
The show is scheduled to resume April 8.
GangstersInc - March 28, 2007 03:41 PM (GMT)
This was posted on Real Deal:
Check out the new videoclip for the new season.
GangstersInc - April 3, 2007 04:49 PM (GMT)
The end is near for 'The Sopranos'
Tony Soprano looks inward on the concluding episodes of the HBO hit.
By Paul Brownfield, Times Staff Writer
April 3, 2007
"THE SOPRANOS" begins its final run of nine installments this Sunday on HBO with the sound of law enforcement banging at Tony Soprano's door. "Is this it?" Carmela says, sitting up in bed. I took that line as a poke at the audience, mocking the otherworldly hype and expectation about the conclusion of the series, which is to say who gets to live and who gets to die.
Some of what makes "The Sopranos" great is unforeseen magic, inexorably tied to the freedom success on HBO has granted � the way Robert Iler, for instance, who plays AJ Soprano, has gone in real time from chubby kid to the sullen, direction-less twentysomething that perfectly embodies the questionable citizen Tony (James Gandolfini) and Carmela (Edie Falco) have produced.
Perhaps, over the course of its eight years and 86 hours, the show's ultimate sleight-of-hand is the way in which the gruesome acts of violence these guys commit invites our repulsion even as these same crimes are quickly forgiven (and/or forgotten). Part of this, true, involves the romanticizing of the mob in popular culture, but all the buzzing about who will get bumped off as the series wraps up � Paulie? Syl? Christopher? � belies the fact that what makes "The Sopranos" meaningful is the way it observes (grouses about, really) the texture of contemporary life.
"The Sopranos" is a bitter comedy about family, the clash of the old world and the new, of parent and child, the violence and criminal behavior set off by the fact that the very same week Tony sits opposite a therapist whose job is to ask, "So, where are you?"
So where were we?
"The Sopranos" began last season with a plot event � Tony shot by his demented Uncle Junior (Dominic Chianese) � which set in motion a season that was, in retrospect, kind of baroque: A comatose mob boss has a near-death experience in which he's being hounded by Buddhist monks, who mistake him for a salesman of a faulty heating system.
There was also the outing of the gay mob lieutenant Vito, played as a tragedy of identity, and Tony's nephew Christopher's trip to Hollywood to woo Sir Ben Kingsley ("Sir Kingsley!" as Christopher saluted him) for his mob-themed slasher movie "Cleaver."
In the brief flush of action that propels us back into the series' final season, Tony is arrested on a gun charge, a flashback reminding us that he tossed the weapon in question into the snow back in 2004, while fleeing a raid on New York crime boss Johnny Sack's house. The gun arrest (a nuisance charge by the Essex County sheriff's office) turns out to be a palate teaser, for various bills will finally come due now, RICO cases being brought to fruition and the Cosa Nostra gasping into the 21st century without viable successors, white-haired men meting out justice and jockeying for position with other white hairs, the larger "war on terror" making them seem quaint by comparison.
The first two episodes feature ripples of the attrition: Johnny Sack is dying of cancer in prison (given counsel and comfort by an orderly played by director Sydney Pollack, in a pretty hilarious turn as an oncologist who shot his wife), while a wise guy is arrested at the after-party for the "Cleaver" screening, a movie on which Tony is the silent investor and other mobsters are the producers, including Christopher (Michael Imperioli).
This is all a continuation of last season's thematics of a changing world � Tony selling out a property in the old neighborhood to Jamba Juice, his lieutenants unable to shake down a Starbucks-like barista impervious to their muscle.
"My estimate? Historically?" Tony says Sunday of the fate awaiting mob bosses. "Eighty percent of the time it ends in the can like Johnny Sack, or on the embalming table at Cozarelli's."
He says this while sitting in a boat in upstate New York near the Canadian border with his doormat brother-in-law Bobby Bacala (Steven R. Schirripa), on a weekend getaway where Bobby and Tony's voluble sister Janice (Aida Turturro) have invited Tony and Carmela up to celebrate his birthday.
It comes as something of a shock that Tony's only turning 47: He's noticeably slower, weaker and more engrossed in his legacy. There is about this taut, superbly written lake episode (by Diane Frolov, Andrew Schneider, series creator David Chase and Matthew Weiner) an idyllic quiet that slowly becomes unnerving. We're reminded, once again, that we're in the presence of nouveau riche conservatives � the offspring of immigrants relaxing as the Caribbean nanny watches the kid, everyone in agreement that they oughta build a wall around the country to keep the illegals out.
In a mob story, a secluded lake portends bad things; on "The Sopranos," that bad thing turns out to be family members in close proximity to each other over a long boozy night of karaoke and Monopoly. The Janice character arrived on the show at the beginning of Season 2 � a hippie returning from Seattle with a Rolling Stones tongue tattooed on her breast � and since then she's been nothing but a headache.
Janice only performs "acts of Janice," is how Tony described his big sister to his psychiatrist Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) last year, and at the lake the two begin laying into each other, hovering and jabbing until the replayed dynamic inevitably spills over into violence. The ensuing brawl, sumo in nature, upsets the order of things briefly; it reaffirms that Tony is ever-dependent on guile to emerge victorious.
But they are his pyrrhic victories. The years have helped make Tony Soprano a tragic figure � he's aged in his eight TV years like a president, so that the guy you see getting out his SUV at the close of the opening credits is a shadow.
Gandolfini, in his performance, has by increments become more lumbering � slower, softer and wiser, but still, if he can summon the energy, that brute.
Interviewed several years ago on National Public Radio, Chase said that he had an ending for the character in mind.
"The gangster movie is a long American tradition," he said. "But they've all been, except for 'The Godfather' trilogy � it's usually the rise and fall. It's been that way since the beginning. The criminal rises from the gutter, has his moment of glory, and then goes down and pays for his crime in a hail of bullets. That's usually the template.
"As Tony has his rise," Chase added of his protagonist, "he's always having his fall every day. His rise and his fall seem to be happening all the time together." You feel in the two episodes HBO sent out the bitter comedy unable to keep pace with what is mournful and sad � the show's final parlor trick toward absolute empathy with a sociopath examining his inner life.
The full circle arrives, glaringly, in the one place that Tony has been a constant � the therapy room. So that, as the curtain begins to close, you get the scene in which the mob guy, teary-eyed over a betrayal, is going deeper than the therapist.
"Without invalidating your feelings," she says, "is it possible that on some level you're reading into all this?"
"I've been coming here for years," Tony Soprano responds. "I know too much about the subconscious now."
*
When: 9 to 10 p.m. Sunday
Rating: TV-MA (may be unsuitable for children younger than 17)
Hollander - April 7, 2007 10:45 PM (GMT)
CONTAINS SPOILERS REGARDING SEASON 6
Quebec thugs get face-time with Tony Soprano
Last Updated: Thursday, April 5, 2007 | 4:26 PM ET
CBC Arts
TV hit The Sopranos has featured a lot of profanity over the years, but on Sunday, the acclaimed drama's mob-boss protagonist will get a taste of some cursing in another language: joual.
Sunday's episode � the debut instalment of the show's final season � features Quebec actors Philippe Bergeron and Christian Laurin portraying a pair of baddies from La Belle Province seeking to associate with James Gandolfini's now iconic New Jersey mob boss character, Tony Soprano.
Quebec actors Philippe Bergeron, right, and Christian Laurin, centre, will appear with James Gandolfini on Sunday's final season premiere of The Sopranos.
(Craig Blankenhorn/HBO)
The pair put on thick French-Canadian accents to play the two thugs, who by conversing in Quebec's famous slang, joual, end up infuriating Soprano.
French-Canadians 'ripe' to play bad guys
Bergeron says it's time that French-Canadian villains get some face-time on American television.
"We're so ripe for bad guys," said the Montreal-born, Los Angeles-based actor.
"We've seen British bad guys, French, Arabic, Russian, Ukrainian � but we've never seen a French-Canadian," he said, adding that he's "very proud to have my stamp on this character."
Continue Article
The 47-year-old Bergeron, who has worked in Hollywood for the past 20 years, also helped the show's writers shape the dialogue for the two characters.
He was originally enlisted as a sort of consultant, after being recommended by a fellow Qu�b�cois working in a Beverly Hills dental office where a Sopranos producer is a patient.
At first, writer and producer Andrew Schneider was simply seeking some advice from Bergeron in order to give an authentic flavour to the two petty thugs. Eventually though, Bergeron decided to audition and scored the more significant of the two parts himself.
In the past few weeks, the buzz over the final nine episodes of The Sorpanos has risen to a frenzy, as critics and fans eagerly await the final chapter of the Emmy Award-winning tale.
Sunday's final season premiere will be broadcast on the Movie Network in Canada and on HBO in the U.S.
GangstersInc - April 17, 2007 07:27 PM (GMT)
SPOILER BELOW REGARDING LAST SUNDAY'S EPISODE
Another great low key episode :)
Death on 'Sopranos' hits home for actor
By MARISA GUTHRIE
Monday, April 16th 2007, 4:00 AM
Vincent Curatola
Johnny Sack is the first casualty of the endangered wiseguys in the final 'Sopranos' season.
Johnny (Sack) Sacramoni became the first of the capos to fall last night. The incarcerated head of the New York family succumbed to lung cancer in the prison's hospital ward, kicking off "The Sopranos" death watch as the HBO series unspools its final episodes.
There is a morbid poetry to killing Johnny Sack with the coffin nails he couldn't live without.
"That cigarette was a friend to him," says Vincent Curatola, who played Sacramoni.
Nicotine and tobacco was Curatola's crutch as well. The actor, who is 53, smoked for 35 years, kicking the habit nine months ago, just one month before filming on the episode - "Stage Five" - began last summer.
"I have people run up to me in the street and say, 'I love the way you smoke on camera,'" he says. "That cigarette was a character. He should have gotten a contract, that cigarette."
Curatola's mother, who was not a smoker, died of lung cancer when she was only 39. His wife's brother, who did smoke and was an ironworker who spent seven months working at Ground Zero, lost his battle with lung cancer two months before Curatola was due to start work on the episode.
"We had just buried him," he says, "and then that script comes in - I was in shock."
Johnny Sack had been a quietly menacing presence and a dangerous rival for Tony Soprano until he got pinched by the feds last season. Since then, he had become a sad reminder of an increasingly anachronistic culture. But he regained a little of his dignity in the end, taking up the habit again with all its macho panache and regaling his fellow inmates with stories from his life of mayhem.
"He's come full circle," says Curatola. "His life has been a high-wire act. But I never pictured Johnny bleeding out in the street."
Curatola won't say whether or not Tony Soprano or Christopher Moltisanti meet their maker by the business end of a 9 millimeter. But he does allow that series creator David Chase, who wrote and directed the series finale, has most likely filmed more than one ending.
"There's a little camera work in there where David can go this way or that way," he says.
Curatola has already moved on. He has finished work on the movie "Frame of Mind" with Chris Noth, which is set to open this summer. And soon he'll head to Kansas City, Mo., to start work on "Never Submit," playing a Don King-esque boxing promoter. But casting agents keep trying to pull him back in.
"I do refuse a lot of work," he says, "really huge offers for a day or a week of work. I don't want to do that to the character. I don't want Johnny Sack to be the guy in the corner with a pinky ring."
But the indelible character he created through almost a decade on "The Sopranos" was almost for naught since Curatola was more than an hour late for his audition.
"I got out of the cab," he recalls, "and I'm already late but I decided to light a cigarette and now I'm 40 minutes late. But I decided to light another cigarette ..."
When he finally went inside, the casting director was packing up to go.
"She said, 'You're late. I'm leaving.' I said, 'Eh, okay.'"
She didn't leave, of course. And Curatola will always be grateful.
"I pinch myself to this day to think that that cigarette was more important than that appointment. I'd be on MTV in a bunny suit or something."
[email protected]
GangstersInc - April 25, 2007 06:17 PM (GMT)
Another great beautiful episode!! Laughed out loud at Uncle Junior :lol: Several classic lines. Loved seeing the interaction between Tony and Paulie, and Paulie in general haha.
GangstersInc - May 1, 2007 04:23 PM (GMT)
Great to see Hesh again, a great character. A good episode, but not as good as the previous ones.
Hollander - May 7, 2007 10:54 AM (GMT)
Savagery, greed and a life of crime - meet the real Sopranos
By CHARLES LAURENCE - More by this author �
Last updated at 07:47am on 7th May 2007
| Cleaver |
In the US television show ‘The Sopranos’, what is the name of the nursing home in which Tony Soprano’s mother Livia lived? | The Sopranos: Last Season (Gangsters Inc's: Real Deal Forum)
Title: The Sopranos: Last Season
Description: Reality and fiction
Simen - July 14, 2006 11:38 PM (GMT)
I just cant wait for the 6th seson to come on dvd. (In Norway)
Well its alitle too long between every seson, so if u got any other shows u would recomend kinda like Sopranos, then please do.
Anyway what do you think about the show?
Dobermann - July 22, 2006 09:58 PM (GMT)
Awesome show,very real...
GangstersInc - July 30, 2006 11:34 AM (GMT)
Other shows "like the Sopranos": The Wire. It is also from HBO, it focusses on black organized crime and the detectives trying to catch them. Very good show. Season 2 of The Wire also focusses on Greek organized crime.
I didnt like Sopranos S6 that much. Season 5 was much better. Of course this season 6 was part one of a two part season so I'll wait with my full judgement until I've seen S6 part 2 (or season 7, whatever you wanna call it lol.)
GangstersInc - August 15, 2006 10:28 AM (GMT)
"Sopranos" Bags a Baldwin
by Gina Serpe
Aug 8, 2006, 12:35 PM PT
Daniel Baldwin is getting ready to play a supporting role in one of the world's most famous families. You could say it's a part he's been preparing for his entire life.
The Sopranos is continuing its experiment in authenticity by hiring actors with real-life rap sheets, signing Baldwin up for a recurring role in the final season of the Emmy-winning drama series.
According to the trades, Alec's little bro will play himself in the HBO hit, starring in the gangster horror flick produced by would-be filmmaker Christopher (Michael Imperioli).
In introducing the fictional project to investors in last season's premiere episode, Christopher described the movie as "Saw meets Godfather 2," saying the story centered on "a wiseguy with a big mouth and bigger dreams."
Chistropher subsequently flew to Hollywood and tried to convince Ben Kingsley (appearing as himself) to take the role. But Sir Ben turned it down.
Enter Baldwin.
Production on The Sopranos' final eight-episode run kicked off last month following lengthy, contentious and at times production-threatening negotiations between producers and the cast. Actual shooting is slated to begin in three weeks.
There's no word on how many of the remaining episodes Baldwin will appear in, though he's no stranger to the small-screen grind.
He starred on Homicide: Life on the Street from 1993 to '95, and has since starred in a series of best forgotten flicks. Most recently, the black sheep Baldwin wrapped up production on a pair of independent dramas, Searching for Mickey Fish and Double Tap.
Lately, the actor is better known for the drama taking place off screen.
In April, the trouble-prone Baldwin was busted for cocaine possession after police, responding to a noise complaint, entered his Santa Monica motel room and allegedly found him holding a drug pipe and a "small amount" of coke. He spent the night in jail and was released the next day on $10,000 bail, though prosecutors have since opted not to file any felony charges against him.
Last month, he again ran afoul of the law, when Los Angeles police spotted him weaving in and out of traffic before running a red light and smashing his rented Ford Thunderbird into two parked cars while driving 80 miles per hour in a 30-mph zone.
Police officials are continuing follow-up investigations on the incident, though as the case has yet to be sent to the city attorney's office for review, no charges have been filed.
GangstersInc - August 15, 2006 10:30 AM (GMT)
CONTAINS SPOILERS REGARDING SEASON 6
"Sopranos" Bodyguard Ducks Jail
Aug 14, 2006, 12:00 PM PT
Looks like Tony Soprano's enforcer has no problem singing to prosecutors.
Louis Gross, the 23-year-old actor who played the mob boss' beefy bodyguard Perry Annunziata last season on The Sopranos, will not face jail time for a criminal mischief charge stemming from an April break-in incident.
The small-screen tough was arrested last spring after a woman claimed he broke into her house, smashing a door to allegedly collect some of his belongings there. She called the cops and he was arrested and eventually charged with criminal mischief. At the time, he told reporters, "I don't know nothing. I'm innocent. I'm always innocent."
It appears he was right...sort of. According to the actor's lawyer, Samuel Bernstein, a deal was brokered in a Queens court, and his client will stay out of jail if he keeps his nose clean and avoids arrest for the next six months.
Berstein also claims the whole incident was a "misunderstanding" and that his client was staying at the apartment and accidentally broke the door frame in an effort to get some of his things.
"He didn't steal anything," Bernstein told the Associated Press. "He just got his own stuff, and he's offered to pay for the door."
It remains to be seen if keeping out of trouble is a possibility for Gross, who made his biggest mark last season by getting the snot beat out of him in a chest-thumping move by Tony, who was recovering from a gunshot wound and wanted to show his henchmen that he's still "got it."
In February, the actor set of the alarms in the trendy Michael K. clothing boutique in New York's Soho neighborhood. He was carrying an unpaid-for bag of goodies and was picked up by the cops on robbery charges.
As for The Sopranos, shooting for the last season of the Emmy-winning mob drama begins in two weeks.
omerta - September 15, 2006 03:42 AM (GMT)
The Soprano's is a great show. I would recommend Wiseguy. It's an old show but they show re-runs of it in Australia and it is pretty good.
Hollander - March 10, 2007 11:21 AM (GMT)
�Sopranos� gets its just desserts
By Herald wire services
Saturday, March 10, 2007 - Updated: 12:56 AM EST
Tony Soprano is welcome in the North Jersey town of Bloomfield.
Earlier this week, the town�s mayor and council had denied a permit to film the series� final scene, saying they found the HBO mob drama a disparaging portrait of Italian-Americans.
Township attorney Brian Aloia has decided, however, that the town clerk is required to issue a filming permit and the council doesn�t have a say unless the permit requires a waiver. A waiver wasn�t needed for �The Sopranos� shoot because producers would be filming in a commercial area instead of a residential one after 8 p.m., he said.
HBO was to shoot the scene at an ice cream shop in Bloomfield. The town borders Newark, where fictional mob boss Tony Soprano grew up.
Aloia said the clerk must issue a permit after determining that a shoot fulfills certain legal requirements, such as having adequate insurance.
�She must look at the application in an objective manner,� he said. �She cannot consider, for instance, what�s being filmed or in this case if she likes the show or doesn�t like the show.�
Permits were approved last week. But after complaints, the council voted again on Monday and rejected them.
Bloomfield Mayor Raymond McCarthy, whose wife is Italian, voted against the shoot twice.
�I don�t think �The Sopranos� depicts the life of a typical Italian American in a positive way,� he said, �and I still don�t like the way people see New Jersey based upon �The Sopranos� series.�
The owners of the old-fashioned ice cream parlor selected for the series� final scene, Holsten�s Brookdale Confectionary, said personal feelings shouldn�t stand in the way.
After receiving word yesterday of the town�s reversal, co-owner Ron Stark said he was excited about becoming a pop culture landmark.
�Hopefully this will all work out,� he said.
The show is scheduled to resume April 8.
GangstersInc - March 28, 2007 03:41 PM (GMT)
This was posted on Real Deal:
Check out the new videoclip for the new season.
GangstersInc - April 3, 2007 04:49 PM (GMT)
The end is near for 'The Sopranos'
Tony Soprano looks inward on the concluding episodes of the HBO hit.
By Paul Brownfield, Times Staff Writer
April 3, 2007
"THE SOPRANOS" begins its final run of nine installments this Sunday on HBO with the sound of law enforcement banging at Tony Soprano's door. "Is this it?" Carmela says, sitting up in bed. I took that line as a poke at the audience, mocking the otherworldly hype and expectation about the conclusion of the series, which is to say who gets to live and who gets to die.
Some of what makes "The Sopranos" great is unforeseen magic, inexorably tied to the freedom success on HBO has granted � the way Robert Iler, for instance, who plays AJ Soprano, has gone in real time from chubby kid to the sullen, direction-less twentysomething that perfectly embodies the questionable citizen Tony (James Gandolfini) and Carmela (Edie Falco) have produced.
Perhaps, over the course of its eight years and 86 hours, the show's ultimate sleight-of-hand is the way in which the gruesome acts of violence these guys commit invites our repulsion even as these same crimes are quickly forgiven (and/or forgotten). Part of this, true, involves the romanticizing of the mob in popular culture, but all the buzzing about who will get bumped off as the series wraps up � Paulie? Syl? Christopher? � belies the fact that what makes "The Sopranos" meaningful is the way it observes (grouses about, really) the texture of contemporary life.
"The Sopranos" is a bitter comedy about family, the clash of the old world and the new, of parent and child, the violence and criminal behavior set off by the fact that the very same week Tony sits opposite a therapist whose job is to ask, "So, where are you?"
So where were we?
"The Sopranos" began last season with a plot event � Tony shot by his demented Uncle Junior (Dominic Chianese) � which set in motion a season that was, in retrospect, kind of baroque: A comatose mob boss has a near-death experience in which he's being hounded by Buddhist monks, who mistake him for a salesman of a faulty heating system.
There was also the outing of the gay mob lieutenant Vito, played as a tragedy of identity, and Tony's nephew Christopher's trip to Hollywood to woo Sir Ben Kingsley ("Sir Kingsley!" as Christopher saluted him) for his mob-themed slasher movie "Cleaver."
In the brief flush of action that propels us back into the series' final season, Tony is arrested on a gun charge, a flashback reminding us that he tossed the weapon in question into the snow back in 2004, while fleeing a raid on New York crime boss Johnny Sack's house. The gun arrest (a nuisance charge by the Essex County sheriff's office) turns out to be a palate teaser, for various bills will finally come due now, RICO cases being brought to fruition and the Cosa Nostra gasping into the 21st century without viable successors, white-haired men meting out justice and jockeying for position with other white hairs, the larger "war on terror" making them seem quaint by comparison.
The first two episodes feature ripples of the attrition: Johnny Sack is dying of cancer in prison (given counsel and comfort by an orderly played by director Sydney Pollack, in a pretty hilarious turn as an oncologist who shot his wife), while a wise guy is arrested at the after-party for the "Cleaver" screening, a movie on which Tony is the silent investor and other mobsters are the producers, including Christopher (Michael Imperioli).
This is all a continuation of last season's thematics of a changing world � Tony selling out a property in the old neighborhood to Jamba Juice, his lieutenants unable to shake down a Starbucks-like barista impervious to their muscle.
"My estimate? Historically?" Tony says Sunday of the fate awaiting mob bosses. "Eighty percent of the time it ends in the can like Johnny Sack, or on the embalming table at Cozarelli's."
He says this while sitting in a boat in upstate New York near the Canadian border with his doormat brother-in-law Bobby Bacala (Steven R. Schirripa), on a weekend getaway where Bobby and Tony's voluble sister Janice (Aida Turturro) have invited Tony and Carmela up to celebrate his birthday.
It comes as something of a shock that Tony's only turning 47: He's noticeably slower, weaker and more engrossed in his legacy. There is about this taut, superbly written lake episode (by Diane Frolov, Andrew Schneider, series creator David Chase and Matthew Weiner) an idyllic quiet that slowly becomes unnerving. We're reminded, once again, that we're in the presence of nouveau riche conservatives � the offspring of immigrants relaxing as the Caribbean nanny watches the kid, everyone in agreement that they oughta build a wall around the country to keep the illegals out.
In a mob story, a secluded lake portends bad things; on "The Sopranos," that bad thing turns out to be family members in close proximity to each other over a long boozy night of karaoke and Monopoly. The Janice character arrived on the show at the beginning of Season 2 � a hippie returning from Seattle with a Rolling Stones tongue tattooed on her breast � and since then she's been nothing but a headache.
Janice only performs "acts of Janice," is how Tony described his big sister to his psychiatrist Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) last year, and at the lake the two begin laying into each other, hovering and jabbing until the replayed dynamic inevitably spills over into violence. The ensuing brawl, sumo in nature, upsets the order of things briefly; it reaffirms that Tony is ever-dependent on guile to emerge victorious.
But they are his pyrrhic victories. The years have helped make Tony Soprano a tragic figure � he's aged in his eight TV years like a president, so that the guy you see getting out his SUV at the close of the opening credits is a shadow.
Gandolfini, in his performance, has by increments become more lumbering � slower, softer and wiser, but still, if he can summon the energy, that brute.
Interviewed several years ago on National Public Radio, Chase said that he had an ending for the character in mind.
"The gangster movie is a long American tradition," he said. "But they've all been, except for 'The Godfather' trilogy � it's usually the rise and fall. It's been that way since the beginning. The criminal rises from the gutter, has his moment of glory, and then goes down and pays for his crime in a hail of bullets. That's usually the template.
"As Tony has his rise," Chase added of his protagonist, "he's always having his fall every day. His rise and his fall seem to be happening all the time together." You feel in the two episodes HBO sent out the bitter comedy unable to keep pace with what is mournful and sad � the show's final parlor trick toward absolute empathy with a sociopath examining his inner life.
The full circle arrives, glaringly, in the one place that Tony has been a constant � the therapy room. So that, as the curtain begins to close, you get the scene in which the mob guy, teary-eyed over a betrayal, is going deeper than the therapist.
"Without invalidating your feelings," she says, "is it possible that on some level you're reading into all this?"
"I've been coming here for years," Tony Soprano responds. "I know too much about the subconscious now."
*
When: 9 to 10 p.m. Sunday
Rating: TV-MA (may be unsuitable for children younger than 17)
Hollander - April 7, 2007 10:45 PM (GMT)
CONTAINS SPOILERS REGARDING SEASON 6
Quebec thugs get face-time with Tony Soprano
Last Updated: Thursday, April 5, 2007 | 4:26 PM ET
CBC Arts
TV hit The Sopranos has featured a lot of profanity over the years, but on Sunday, the acclaimed drama's mob-boss protagonist will get a taste of some cursing in another language: joual.
Sunday's episode � the debut instalment of the show's final season � features Quebec actors Philippe Bergeron and Christian Laurin portraying a pair of baddies from La Belle Province seeking to associate with James Gandolfini's now iconic New Jersey mob boss character, Tony Soprano.
Quebec actors Philippe Bergeron, right, and Christian Laurin, centre, will appear with James Gandolfini on Sunday's final season premiere of The Sopranos.
(Craig Blankenhorn/HBO)
The pair put on thick French-Canadian accents to play the two thugs, who by conversing in Quebec's famous slang, joual, end up infuriating Soprano.
French-Canadians 'ripe' to play bad guys
Bergeron says it's time that French-Canadian villains get some face-time on American television.
"We're so ripe for bad guys," said the Montreal-born, Los Angeles-based actor.
"We've seen British bad guys, French, Arabic, Russian, Ukrainian � but we've never seen a French-Canadian," he said, adding that he's "very proud to have my stamp on this character."
Continue Article
The 47-year-old Bergeron, who has worked in Hollywood for the past 20 years, also helped the show's writers shape the dialogue for the two characters.
He was originally enlisted as a sort of consultant, after being recommended by a fellow Qu�b�cois working in a Beverly Hills dental office where a Sopranos producer is a patient.
At first, writer and producer Andrew Schneider was simply seeking some advice from Bergeron in order to give an authentic flavour to the two petty thugs. Eventually though, Bergeron decided to audition and scored the more significant of the two parts himself.
In the past few weeks, the buzz over the final nine episodes of The Sorpanos has risen to a frenzy, as critics and fans eagerly await the final chapter of the Emmy Award-winning tale.
Sunday's final season premiere will be broadcast on the Movie Network in Canada and on HBO in the U.S.
GangstersInc - April 17, 2007 07:27 PM (GMT)
SPOILER BELOW REGARDING LAST SUNDAY'S EPISODE
Another great low key episode :)
Death on 'Sopranos' hits home for actor
By MARISA GUTHRIE
Monday, April 16th 2007, 4:00 AM
Vincent Curatola
Johnny Sack is the first casualty of the endangered wiseguys in the final 'Sopranos' season.
Johnny (Sack) Sacramoni became the first of the capos to fall last night. The incarcerated head of the New York family succumbed to lung cancer in the prison's hospital ward, kicking off "The Sopranos" death watch as the HBO series unspools its final episodes.
There is a morbid poetry to killing Johnny Sack with the coffin nails he couldn't live without.
"That cigarette was a friend to him," says Vincent Curatola, who played Sacramoni.
Nicotine and tobacco was Curatola's crutch as well. The actor, who is 53, smoked for 35 years, kicking the habit nine months ago, just one month before filming on the episode - "Stage Five" - began last summer.
"I have people run up to me in the street and say, 'I love the way you smoke on camera,'" he says. "That cigarette was a character. He should have gotten a contract, that cigarette."
Curatola's mother, who was not a smoker, died of lung cancer when she was only 39. His wife's brother, who did smoke and was an ironworker who spent seven months working at Ground Zero, lost his battle with lung cancer two months before Curatola was due to start work on the episode.
"We had just buried him," he says, "and then that script comes in - I was in shock."
Johnny Sack had been a quietly menacing presence and a dangerous rival for Tony Soprano until he got pinched by the feds last season. Since then, he had become a sad reminder of an increasingly anachronistic culture. But he regained a little of his dignity in the end, taking up the habit again with all its macho panache and regaling his fellow inmates with stories from his life of mayhem.
"He's come full circle," says Curatola. "His life has been a high-wire act. But I never pictured Johnny bleeding out in the street."
Curatola won't say whether or not Tony Soprano or Christopher Moltisanti meet their maker by the business end of a 9 millimeter. But he does allow that series creator David Chase, who wrote and directed the series finale, has most likely filmed more than one ending.
"There's a little camera work in there where David can go this way or that way," he says.
Curatola has already moved on. He has finished work on the movie "Frame of Mind" with Chris Noth, which is set to open this summer. And soon he'll head to Kansas City, Mo., to start work on "Never Submit," playing a Don King-esque boxing promoter. But casting agents keep trying to pull him back in.
"I do refuse a lot of work," he says, "really huge offers for a day or a week of work. I don't want to do that to the character. I don't want Johnny Sack to be the guy in the corner with a pinky ring."
But the indelible character he created through almost a decade on "The Sopranos" was almost for naught since Curatola was more than an hour late for his audition.
"I got out of the cab," he recalls, "and I'm already late but I decided to light a cigarette and now I'm 40 minutes late. But I decided to light another cigarette ..."
When he finally went inside, the casting director was packing up to go.
"She said, 'You're late. I'm leaving.' I said, 'Eh, okay.'"
She didn't leave, of course. And Curatola will always be grateful.
"I pinch myself to this day to think that that cigarette was more important than that appointment. I'd be on MTV in a bunny suit or something."
[email protected]
GangstersInc - April 25, 2007 06:17 PM (GMT)
Another great beautiful episode!! Laughed out loud at Uncle Junior :lol: Several classic lines. Loved seeing the interaction between Tony and Paulie, and Paulie in general haha.
GangstersInc - May 1, 2007 04:23 PM (GMT)
Great to see Hesh again, a great character. A good episode, but not as good as the previous ones.
Hollander - May 7, 2007 10:54 AM (GMT)
Savagery, greed and a life of crime - meet the real Sopranos
By CHARLES LAURENCE - More by this author �
Last updated at 07:47am on 7th May 2007
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In the US television show ‘The Sopranos’, what is the first name of Tony and Carmela’s daughter? | The Sopranos (Series) - TV Tropes
The Sopranos
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"I'm in the waste management business. Everybody immediately assumes you're mobbed up. It's a stereotype, and it's offensive."
—Tony Soprano
The Sopranos is a deconstructive Criminal Procedural series centered around North Jersey Mob Boss Tony Soprano, who after a panic attack secretly begins seeing a therapist. Hilarious Reality Ensues as his therapy coincides with him sending his troublesome, sociopathic mother Livia into a nursing home when it becomes apparent that she's no longer able to take care of herself.
The show focuses on Tony's problematic dual families: his biological family — long-suffering wife Carmela, his straight-A student daughter Meadow, underachiever son A.J., and his equally morally bankrupt sister Janice — and the organized crime family he is involved in, who include his bitter uncle Junior, his 'nephew' (actually his wife's cousin) Christopher, and more.
The series ultimately ended with one of the most infamous cases of No Ending ever to air on an American TV show. See the WMG page for various interpretations.
Created by David Chase, the Pilot Episode was shot in 1997, the show premiered on the premium cable network HBO in the United States on January 10, 1999, and ended its original run of six seasons and 86 episodes on June 10, 2007.
The Film-Within-The-Show Cleaver has its own work page.
This show provides examples of:
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A-G
Abusive Parents : Tony is emotionally manipulated and terrorized by his difficult mother throughout his childhood and well into his adult life. One notable incident featured his mother threatening to stick a fork in his eye when he was only ten years old. Tony's father was outwardly friendly, but also a manipulative sociopath who indoctrinated his son into violent crime and the mob. It's implied that the various degrees of emotional manipulation and terror Tony suffered under his parents is what turned him into the violent sociopath that heads the New Jersey crime families. Oddly enough, Tony manages to become a better father to his kids than his parents ever were to him (despite being an aforementioned violent sociopath), and his children turn out relatively nice and normal, even if they have a few issues of their own.
Christopher in Season 1 when he suffers a mock execution . Reversed later in Season 5 when Tony is about to kill him and Chris doesn't back down from an accusation.
Lorraine Calluzzo offers to blow the Leotardo brothers during what turns out to be a mock execution.
Matthew Bevilaqua's last action was to pitifully beg for his life . Tony wasn't moved.
Alas, Poor Yorick : Christopher holds a skull this way when he is relocating the bones of an old murder.
Alas, Poor Villain : In a rare occurrence, Johnny Sack is given a touching and empathic death scene, dying after a long illness and surrounded by his anguished family. The show makes a point about a broken mobster dying of cancer is still a human being, a father and a husband. In-universe, even the mobsters who felt betrayed by the man mourn his loss and honor his memory.
All Girls Want Bad Boys : Played straight for almost all the female characters. Played with Melfi, who feels an unhealthy attraction to Tony but is able to fight it off.
All Psychology Is Freudian : Played with. Tony Soprano cites Sigmund Freud (whom he learned about in his "semester and a half" of college) to explain to Melfi that he understands therapy "as a concept", but the show deals with psychology a lot, and it really isn't here. Often called the most accurate fictional depiction of what actually happens in therapy. Tony however is diagnosed with a compelling Freudian Excuse and Freud is also the Trope Codifier for Oedipus Complex , one of the Freudian Excuses mentioned often by Melfi despite Tony's repulsion.
Aluminum Christmas Trees : In-universe; Christopher thinks the Cuban Missile Crisis was a fictional event made up for the film Thirteen Days .
Amoral Attorney : Neil Mink and Harold Melvoin, traditional and very expensive mob-lawyers who reinforce the genre-savviness of the bosses and their ability to commit crime or get away with it.
And a Diet Coke : Vito orders a Grande Nacho and a Diet Coke at Crazy Horse in "Pie-O-My".
Animal Motifs : Several used as symbolism throughout the series, e.g felines represent Adriana or Chris and migratory ducks the fragile family of Tony. A more concrete example is the parting gift Tony gives to his goomahs, a horseshoe-shaped jewel.
Anti-Hero or Anti-Villain : Tony Soprano, depending on your viewpoint.
Anyone Can Die : Too recent to call it the codifier, but was probably the first series a lot of people thought of when they think of this trope, until another HBO series usurped that title. Many deaths are out of the blue, making wham episodes frequent.
Arcade Sounds : Bobby Baccalieri's son plays a computer full of generic laser blasts, beeps, doots, and other such game noises. The game he's playing is Max Payne ...
Actually, he just watches the game's intro. Funnily enough, Max Payne is about a guy who wipes out the New York mob (among other people).
Arc Words : "Oh, poor you," Livia's sarcastic rejoinder to Tony's complaints. When his mistress also says it, Tony realizes he'd sought her out because she is like his mother. In season 6, Tony in turn says it to his son.
Armor-Piercing Question :
Meadow catches Tony off-guard when she asks him "Are you in the Mafia?". Tony replies there is no Mafia and discloses that he's indeed into some illegal activities such as gambling.
Tony asking "Don't you love me?" to Junior who is going through early stages of dementia and has behaved badly to Tony. Junior is left shaken, speechless, and showing a Single Tear .
"Hey, Pussy... did she even really exist?"
Carmela to Tony after he says he was attracted to the one-legged Russian because he could converse with her: "what about the thousand other fucking pigs you had your dick in over the years, the strippers, the cocktail waitresses. Were you best friends with all of them too?"
Artifact Title : In-universe: the DiMeo Crime Family, of which the Soprano crew is a part, still bears Ercole "Ecky" DiMeo's name, even though he's been in prison for decades, and no one named "DiMeo" has any part in running the family.
Ascended Extra : Many characters start out with minor roles and grow more prominent as the series goes on. Johnny Sack and Vito Spatafore are both barely seen in Seasons 1 and 2, but are major players later on; Bobby Bacala is another notable example. Adriana was promoted to main character and Chris' girlfriend only after the pilot.
Jon Favreau plays a manipulative version of himself who screws Chris out of his ideas.
Janeane Garofalo in a movie directed by Favreau.
Ben Kingsley and Lauren Bacall make a cameo when Christopher is pitching his own movie. The role finally goes to Danny Baldwin.
Invoked in "The Test Dream". Annette Benning is playing Finn's mother in Tony's dinner dream. He recognizes her, and later in Tony's episode-long dream she appears as herself.
Asskicking Equals Authority : While Tony recovers from a severe gunshot wound, he notices that his old lieutenants don't follow his orders as readily as they used to, and he suspects that they now see him as weak. Tony responds by goading his hotheaded, musclebound bodyguard into fighting him. He kicks the everloving shit out of the much younger man in front of his entire crew, to their visible shock, then calmly walks into the bathroom and coughs up blood into the sink. No one questions his orders after that.
Ass Shove : It's mentioned off-handedly that Vito Spatafore was sodomized with a broomstick while they were murdering him.
As the Good Book Says : Despite their dubious morals, the mafia members all appear to be Catholic, which is Truth in Television , and make occasional references to The Bible . Religion is also used as a plot point on occasion; for example, when Christopher recovers from his shooting, he mentions he had a vision of going to hell (or possibly purgatory), and in another episode, Tony tries to persuade A.J. that God exists when he loses faith.
Automobile Opening : Tony driving from New York to his home in New Jersey. His route is deliberately inefficient to provide more interesting visuals (nobody in their right mind would go from Manhattan to North Caldwell by going through surface streets in Kearny and Newark).
Authority Equals Asskicking : All of the capos and bosses in the mob are either capable fighters and killers, or they used to be in their younger days before they rose so high that they no longer need to get their hands dirty.
Authority in Name Only : Corrado Soprano (Junior) is the official boss of the family, but not the one calling the shots. Invoked by Tony in season 1 when he sets up Junior as a fall guy to shield himself. The FBI tries to use it as wedge against them, but Junior denies it.
Junior: My nephew running things? Not that strunz. Not in this life.
Ax-Crazy : Several mobsters shown traits of this, especially Richie, Ralph, Feech, Johnny Boy, and Phil Leotardo.
Badass in a Nice Suit : Zig-zagged. The mobsters like to wear plain sportswear, but they dress up according to their fancy businessmen status when the occasion requires it. Members of the Lupertazzi crew can usually be seen in suits, befitting their more successful and refined nature when compared to the Jersey crew. Carmine Lupertazzi also stated to Tony that "a Don doesn't wear shorts".
Bad Boss : Tony is a successful manager, but he verbally shreds his underlings on a regular basis. He is entitled by the hierarchical level of the Mafia, but crosses the line once and gets called on it when he physically assaults Ralph, as beating another made-man is a violation of Mafia protocol. He later kills Ralph, which is also against the rules. Christopher is another victim of this kind of abuse.
Ironically, while Tony was out of line when he beat the piss out of Ralphie Ciffaretto, he could have had the man killed at any time that he wanted, for any reason. Which is more or less why no one asked any questions about Ralphie's death; that, and no one was sad to see him go. The world of the Mafia, folks.
Tony always loses it when he learns of animals being harmed. Chris and Ralph learn it the hard way when they kill a dog and presumably a horse.
Johnny Sack is usually calm and collected, unless someone makes a remark about his wife.
Tony doesn't take it well when he is reminded on several times that he never had the makings of a varsity athlete.
At one point, Tony thinks Janice is acting way too nice and out of character, so he deliberately invokes Janice's button by asking questions about her strayed son . Janice being Janice, it's malignant and amusing at the same time.
Big Applesauce : The much larger NY families become major players in the final seasons.
Big Bad : Not in the typical Once a Season fashion of many shows; season 2 has Richie Aprile and the final season has Phil Leotardo. Partial examples in Junior in season 1, in tandem with Livia, and Johnny Sack in season 5, as they stay agreeable for the most part and while there is some build-up or major conflict, it gets resolved or defused very quickly before becoming an arc.
Alternatively, the show has three successive Big Bads, each lasting two seasons: Livia Soprano, Ralph Cifaretto, and Phil Leotardo.
Big Fancy House : The Soprano McMansion. It turns out, it's only a modest estate compared to the houses of other rich, legitimate people of the state.
Big Screwed-Up Family : The Sopranos, the two families (the criminal one also called DiMeo sometimes). Tony tries his best to avert it. The mere basis of the show.
Bilingual Bonus : Too many to mention if you know Italian.
Butt Monkey :
Artie Bucco and Georgie, who is often beaten up brutally for... well, no reason at all.
A.J. too, though this is only in the later seasons. He's one of the dumbest characters on the show, but lacks the ruthless spirit that a mobster needs, so he has no real place in the world.
A recurring gardener keeps running afoul of the Mafia, getting his hand stomped by Feech, and then arrested by the FBI when they take down Johnny Sacks.
Calling the Old Man Out : Meadow calls Tony out a number of times on his hypocrisy and line of work. Tony calls her back, pointing out he is the one who puts food on the table and that everything she enjoys is based on that. She gradually becomes less rebellious and more assimilated by the masquerade.
Car Fu : Tony and Richie viciously rely on the pedal to enforce their wills over hirkers.
The Cast Show Off : Dominic Chianese (Junior) is a talented tenor (having released at least two albums of Italian and American songs), and it's his voice we hear when Junior sings Salvatore Cardillo's "Core 'ngrato" ("Ungrateful Heart") at the end of "Army of One."
Tony has "You've gotta be fuckin' kiddin' me" and "End of story".
"Fuhgeddaboutit" and an overuse of OH!
for everybody.
"Always with the drama!", recurringly used by Johnny Boy, Tony, and AJ Soprano.
Silvio's impersonation of Michael Corleone in the first seasons invokes "Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in."
Celebrity Paradox :
In one episode, Tony watches The Fugitive — oddly, he doesn't notice that Ralphie has a minor role in it.
Goodfellas . It's mentioned quite a few times in the series, even though half of the major cast are in it, including but not limited to Michael Imperioli (Christopher), Vincent Pastore (Pussy), Tony Sirico (Paulie), Frank Vincent (Phil), and Lorraine Bracco (Dr. Melfi), who played a major supporting role in the film as the main character's wife.
Similarly, The Godfather Part II is referenced a number of times, in which Dominick Chianese (Uncle Junior) has a supporting role as Johnny Ola.
Christopher mentions Scarface (1983) as a film in the first season. In season 5 Robert Loggia, who played Frank Lopez in the film, appears as Feech La Manna.
Frankie Valli is mentioned several times, is an acquaintance of Tony's and the names of some of his songs are used in a few episode titles. He appears in later seasons playing the New York underboss Rusty Millio.
Chris references Bruce Springsteen in one episode, even though Steven Van Zandt (Silvio) is guitar player in the E Street Band.
Noah Tannenbaum's father, a Hollywood attorney who frequently represents celebrities, claims to have met the actor Tim Daly before. Tim Daly would later go on to play the recurring character J.T. Dolan.
The similarities between Tony's life and Analyze This don't go unnoticed, but no one seems to note that Benny Fazio (Max Casella) has a small role in it.
Tony gives his mother an audio version of Mario Puzo 's Omerta , read by none other than Christopher.
The Chains of Commanding :
Most of Tony's angst derives from his position of boss. He mentions the trope often, argues that his greedy underlings have no idea how hard it is to be a boss, and warns his friend Johnny Sack about it several times.
In season 6 Silvio doesn't last more than a few days as regent because the responsibility quickly takes a toll on his health.
Cell Phones Are Useless : Poor telecommunication service is the source of problems in "Pine Barrens", where Paulie and Chris get lost in a frozen forest . Tony gets gradually more and more agitated and has to give them orders very loudly and full of profanity while his parents-in-law are in his house. Justified to no small degree; if any part of New Jersey would have patchy/poor/nonexistent cell phone coverage in 2001, it would be the Pine Barrens
.
Characterization Marches On / Early Installment Weirdness :
Carmela in the first season is a more of a gun moll than in later seasons. In The Pilot , after hearing a noise in the night, she expertly locks and loads an assault rifle, ready to throw down. In later seasons she's more of a sheltered suburban housewife. A later episode has her again looking for a possible intruder in the house, and she's much less prepared.
In the pilot, shot a year before the dubious greenlight, Tony is already a peerless boss, not a mere capo and provides a voiceover. Some later recasts and several physical changes are noticeable.
Bobby Baccala is hateful, cynical, and outspoken in private towards Tony in his first appearances, in contrast with his Gentle Giant / Extreme Doormat usual behavior.
Chiaroscuro : Used frequently in the lighting setup, to show the moral ambiguity of all the characters.
Chronic Villainy : Played for tragedy in the case of Cousin Tony.
Cliffhanger : Notably averted. Creator David Chase considered them a cheap narrative device and the sequences are never split between episodes. One very rare cliffhanger is used at the end of Season 6 opener — Tony laying on the ground with a bullet wound — and the end of the second to last episode could be interpreted as one.
shows the nearly thirty minutes of Cluster F-Bomb employed throughout the series.
Comedic Sociopathy : While the series on the whole is aimed at creating disgust with the mob's brutality, the violence is often played for laughs. Paulie is particularly a bit of a Comedic Sociopath.
Comically Missing the Point : Christopher is the major offender, seconded by Paulie.
Tony debriefs Paulie and Chris over the phone about a guy they have to deal with:
Tony: "He is an ex-commando! He killed sixteen Chechen rebels single-handed! He was with the Interior Ministry. Guy's like a Russian green beret. He can not come back and tell this story. You understand?"
Paulie: "You're not gonna believe this. He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator.
Chris: "His house looked like shit."
Silvio and Chris get Tony exasperated when he argues about his strong, silent type role model:
Paulie during a dinner, trying to appear cultivated:
Paulie: "That's why dinosaurs don't exist no more."
Goomar: "Wasn't it a meteor?"
Paulie: "They�re all meat-eaters."
Christopher: "METEOR! METEOR!"
Christopher, discussing Johnny Sack's daughter's name:
Christopher: "Allegra? Ain't that a cold medicine?"
Paulie: "It means happiness in Italian."
Christopher: "...What the fuck's that got to do with cold medicine?"
Subverted by Christopher when he punctures through a Young Earth Creationist theory.
Christopher: "What's he saying? There were Dinosaurs back with Adam and Eve?"
Tony: "I guess."
Christopher : "No way. T-Rex in the Garden of Eden? Adam and Eve would be running all the time, scared shitless, but the Bible says it was paradise."
Confess in Confidence :
Discussed early in the show. In theory, everything said during therapy falls under doctor-patient privilege and is out of reach from the law, but there are instances where this doesn't apply so Tony remains cryptic in many conversations, hindering the effectiveness of his treatment and frustrating his doctor.
The doctor-patient privilege is also used to have meetings with Junior in his doctor's office when he's on trial, as the government can't wiretap the doctor's office. The feds get around this by having a female agent pose as a nurse and listen in on Junior's conversations, as well as detail the people present in their meetings.
Junior also uses his lawyer's office for the same purpose, as the same rules apply.
Confessional : Carmela requires it during one of her crises of conscience.
The Consigliere : Silvio Dante has that official role in Tony Soprano's crew/family. On several occasions, we see other mobsters complaining about Tony's decisions behind his back, and Silvio is the one to raise the issue with Tony face-to-face.
Consummate Liar : Lying and deceiving is a second nature to most of the characters. Tony is so adept at it that he can smell most lies a mile away .
Continuity Nod : Many episodes reference very minute details from several seasons ago. Unemphatic Continuity Porn . Some examples:
In an early episode, Tony tells A.J., "There's an old Italian saying: you screw up once, you lose two teeth." Much later on, in season five, Tony has a lengthy dream and during it, he loses two of his teeth.
Pussy Malanga, the enemy that Junior wants dead in the pilot episode, shows up again in Junior's mind in the first episode of the last season.
In the season one finale, in a restaurant, Tony advises his children to "try to remember the times that were good". A.J. brings the phrase back in another restaurant in the series finale, but Tony doesn't remember his own counsel.
Carmine Sr. dismissively calls the Jersey Family "a glorified crew" in Season 4. Phil Leotardo cites his words near the end of the show.
Contrived Clumsiness : Paulie Walnuts drops Valery's universal remote and gives a sarcastic oops after Valery tells him sternly, in his thick Russian accent, that "remote goes on docking station". Unsurprisingly, the conflict escalates from there.
Conversation Casualty : Christopher shoots Emil Kolar in the back of the head after a polite discussion.
Cool Boat : Tony's yacht, The Stugots. Envied and praised by some characters, and a common place for Tony's escapades. The name is a derivative of stu cazzo, the Napolitan term for "these testicles" (or perhaps more fittingly, "deez nuts"), and an insult.
Cool Car : Lots of them, as befits the lavish lifestyle of the mobsters. One of the primary Conspicuous Consumption objects. Examples with plot relevancy include:
The Jersey crew steals high-end vehicles which are later sold to the Camorra in Napoli (yes, like in Italy), which then sells them in Eastern Europe.
Gloria Trillo is a saleswoman for Mercedes.
Johnny Sack buys a striking Maserati during his happy days. The car has to be sold later unofficially to Christopher and is finally impounded.
Cool Horse : Pie-O-My, Ralph Cifaretto's racehorse. Tony grows immensely fond of the horse, referring to it as "our girl," in direct contrast to Ralph, who brusquely instructs the trainer to whip it good. Tony's growing expectation of an increasing share of the winnings creates tension between the two. The poor animal dies in a mysterious fire which ends up ruining a few lives and sending ripples through the entire criminal underworld.
Corrupt Politician : Several examples, most notably State Assemblyman Zellman, who is Tony's equal partner in a major scam.
Could Have Avoided This Plot :
Tony's reflections about the struggle with his uncle.
Tony: "Uncle Junior and I, we had our problems with the business but I never should have razzed him about eating pussy. This whole war could have been averted. Cunnilingus and psychiatry brought us to this.
"
Little Carmine slides from pompous to pragmatist in late seasons and mentions the trope identifying phrase sometimes. Other New York bosses do the opposite.
Country Matters : Regularly. It's generally not treated as a big deal nor used for shock value, with some exceptions.
Season two has a scene where Tony applies the word to Big Pussy's wife, causing Carmela to stop him mid-sentence and shut him up.
Tony insults Melphi with the term when she carefully refuses his advances. He gets called on it when he later apologizes.
Silvio's Pre-Mortem One-Liner delivered to Adriana: "Come on, come on! Fuckin' cunt!"
Paulie refers to the old lady who is mean to his mother as a "malignant cunt."
Crazy Jealous Guy : Christopher could be this way with Adriana.
David Chase is the Italian man who ignores Paulie in "Commendatori". He also appears as an extra in "Luxury Lounge" and is the voice on the phone in "The Test Dream".
Matthew Weiner plays TV-pundit and mafia expert Manny Safier in "Two Tonys" and in "Stage 5".
Criminal Procedural : Organized crime variety. A relatively "blue collar" gangster family overshadowed by New York. The focus is set on how the professional and personal issues tend to overlap and conflict.
Critical Psychoanalysis Failure : In the first few seasons, Dr. Melfi gradually gets distraught by her therapy sessions with Tony Soprano, leading to weight gain, drinking , and needing therapy herself. In season 6, Dr. Melfi learns of a psychological study which discourages the use of traditional psychoanalysis with career criminals, as it too often validates the use of hypocrisy and deception for them; this is apparently a significant factor in her decision to end Tony's therapy.
Cryptic Conversation :
The mobsters actively avoid using incriminating words and have colorful euphemisms and Trouble Entendre for their illegal enterprises.
Tony tells a guy that a job might involve "getting messy, real wet work". The FBI agents listening prick up their ears, only to realize a few seconds later he's asking a plumber to fix his burst water heater.
Parodied in the last season when Johnny Sack's 'civilian' brother-in-law gives a shot at the Spy Speak , but his efforts
comically complicate the conversations.
Cure Your Gays : When Finn asks what is going to happen with Vito, Chris tries to ease his mind by telling him that they'll make Vito pay for some therapy. A classic mix of Blatant Lies with amusingly ignorant comments so prevalent in the show. Vito also tries to discuss it with Tony, to no avail.
Vito: It was the medication I was on. For my blood pressure. It fucked with my head, but I'm over that now. I could probably get a letter from my doctor
Tony: A note from your doctor saying you don't like to suck cock?
Cut Himself Shaving : After the "intervention" for Chris' drug addiction (where he gets the crap beaten out of him), he is taken to the ER. Tony explains to the nurse that he sustained his injuries "slipping off the kitchen counter while spraying for ants". At her skeptical look, Tony elaborates, "Well, he was wearing socks."
Disproportionate Retribution :
Ralphie makes a joke about Ginny Sack's weight. Johnny Sack's reaction? He attempts to place a hit on him.
"Doc" Santoro takes a piece of food off Phil Leotardo's plate during a very private meeting. Phil's reaction? He orders a few hitmen to shoot him and his bodyguard multiple times.
Distracted by the Luxury : One of Carmela's main traits. For Tony, the standard way out of a marital problem is to bury it under gifts or loads of money.
Divorce Is Temporary : The Buccos and The Sopranos. Tony basically bribes his way out.
Does This Remind You of Anything? : Played with in "College", where Carmela's relationship with her priest, Father Phil Intintola, is portrayed in such a way that recalls Tony's relationship with Dr. Melfi. Carmela clearly lusts after him, but the episode ultimately shows her taking the same solace in religion that Tony takes in therapy—complete with a private confession session that recalls a therapy session. Amusingly, Tony even accuses Carmela of having an affair with him after finding out that he spent the night at their house while Tony was away ; barely a minute later, Carmela accuses Tony of doing the same with Dr. Melfi after finding out that she's a woman (a fact that Tony had tried to conceal).
The Don :
Tony, who is nominally the acting boss for Junior and for the now jailed Don, Ercole DiMeo.
Carmine Lupertazzi in New York. He scolds Tony for doing un-Don-like things like wearing shorts, and disregards the Jersey Family as "a glorified crew".
Don't Ask / You Do Not Want To Know : A rare instance where Tony slips some true information about whackings to Carmela, when she asks about the Janice and Richie situation.
Tony He's gone [...] Carmela, after 18 years of marriage, don't make me make you an accessory after the fact. [...] Stop asking. I took care of it.
Don't Explain the Joke :
Johnny Sack describing the joke Ralphie made about his wife. "He said she was having a 90 pound mole removed from her ass. The implication was that her ass is so big she could have a mole that size removed from it."
Paulie has a habit of repeating the setup and punchline to his jokes.
Double Meaning Title : Used occasionally in episode names, e.g. "Rat Pack" refers to Frank Sinatra and co. but also to the multiple FBI moles.
Double Standard : The writers didn't really have any. The characters, on the other hand...
Downer Ending : Nothing upbeat about the finale: even though Phil Leotardo is killed, ending the mob war between New Jersey and New York crews, most of Tony's key guys are either dead or otherwise incapacitated, making the future of the Soprano crime family pretty grim. Even worse, Carlo, one of the last trusted members of the organization, decides to testify against Tony and others. Meanwhile, while AJ finally gets his life back on track, Meadow essentially becomes her mother, with prospects of marrying a mob lawyer. Uncle Junior completely loses himself and is left to die in a mental hospital, and Bobby's kids are stuck with Janice, who starts resembling her and Tony's mother Livia. Tony himself stops visiting Dr. Melfi as she realizes he cannot be saved and abruptly ends Tony's therapy, with no real conclusion. And, finally, the last scene of the series implies Tony might have been killed in front of his family... or not. Everybody loses. Paulie may be the dark horse winner, make of it what you will .
Meadow drops the phone after she's informed of Jackie Jr.'s death.
The same situation happens again when Kelli is told the news about Christopher's death.
Drugs Are Bad :
Chris struggles with heroin and cocaine addictions, and is berated and judged hopeless and unworthy by Tony and the gang. Paulie particularly. They resent more the weak nature of Christopher than the badness of drugs, since the mobsters casually indulge in the habit too and selling them is a regular source of income.
Truth in Television , as Mafia members are supposed to be banned from dealing in drugs. Not due to any moral objections, but because the prison sentences associated with drug trafficking are so severe that those who are caught inevitably turn on their associates and become government informants to save themselves . This is exactly what happens with Pussy, Eugene Pontecorvo, and Carlo (to save his son).
Dude, Where's My Respect? : A major issue for Christopher. He spends the entire show carving a status for himself, yet after deep personal sacrifices and a rank of Captain, he gets and feels disrespected. Near the end of the show, after a long struggle, he seems redeemed and happy; he is a captain, has a new and stable family, and his long-awaited movie project is a reality. Then comes an ugly feud with Paulie, some disrespectful jokes, and a general lack of empathy with Tony, which, when combined, make him snap and relapse into his drug habits, with fatal consequences.
Dysfunction Junction : You'll be hard-pressed to find a single regular character that doesn't suffer from deep psychological issues manifesting as either hysteria or sociopathy. At the very least, the characters will be involved in dysfunctional relationships. An interesting example in a world that averts There Are No Therapists ; it's just that the therapist herself is also dysfunctional.
Epiphany Therapy : Subverted to hell and back; Tony mostly uses what he learns in therapy to be a more efficient mob boss. Dr. Melfi eventually realizes this and terminates the sessions for good.
Erotic Dream : Tony Soprano has had more than a few erotic dreams throughout the series, including one with his psychiatrist Dr. Melfi in her office, and another one with his friend Artie Buco's wife as he's cheering them on. Interestingly, Dr. Melfi also dreams about having sex with her patient at one point.
Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas : Deconstructed. While the values of mafia and home life nominally require the men of the series to show respect and affection towards their mothers, the show also shows how mothers end up receiving the brunt of their sons' scorn. Tony Soprano, while having good reason to resent his mother for his emotionally abusive upbringing, generally idealizes his father at the expense of his mother, blaming her for most of his childhood issues. However, in the Season 5 episode "In Camelot," it's shown that Johnny Soprano was a very neglectful father and husband, failing to visit Livia when she was in the hospital after having had a miscarriage. To a lesser extent, A.J. Soprano is much colder towards his mother than his father during their separation in Season 5.
In the beginning of the series, Tony plays this trope straight. He literally goes berserk when Dr. Melfi diagnoses Livia with borderline personality disorder and reads the symptoms to him. It's zig-zagged many times, as Tony is full of love and hate.
Paulie Walnuts. And how. His love is fickle, though, as seen in "The Fleshy Part of the Thigh": turns out he only loves his mama as long as she really is his biological mama. He gets over it eventually.
Christopher has also a soft spot for his mother, and Phil Leotardo harassing her comes out as one of the nastier Kick the Dog moments for Phil.
Tony and the crew are appropriately horrified and disgusted when Ralph beats a stripper, pregnant with his own child, to death.
Phil Leotardo is disgusted that Tony would screw over his own uncle to become Don.
The gang is downright appalled when they hear about Coach Don Hauser's affair with one of Meadow's high-school friends.
The mobsters all express disapproval at Christopher's drug habits.
Taken up a notch at his intervention. They freak out when it comes out that Chris accidentally sat on and killed Adriana's dog while high.
Richie Aprile, who condones the beating of a woman if, and only if, the man is her husband.
During the uproar within the gang after Vito gets outed, Tony is (or at least tries to be) the lone voice of tolerance, suggesting that perhaps Vito's sexuality is his own business and not sufficient reason to have him whacked.
The gangsters seem themselves as this as well, one even goes so far as to claim that Vito's actions go against their principles and is "a sin". Tony doesn't hesitate to call him out on this.
Everything Is Racist : Sil viewing Anti-Columbus Day protesters as racist against Italians.
Evil Is Petty : The mobsters all do horrible things at various points but still find time to be complete dicks too. Notable examples include:
Tony forces the kind, gentle Bobby to murder someone over something trivial as he feels Bobby offended his pride by beating him in a fight. After Tony was antagonizing Janice and refused to stop when Bobby asked.
Paulie is especially petty. For instance, when Chris is forced to pick up the tab, he pointedly drives up the bill any way he can.
Ralphie Ciferetto is passed over for the promotion to capo in favor of Gigi. Ralphie immediately starts antagonizing Gigi every single opportunity he gets.
"Fat Dom" Gamiello takes rather obnoxious glee at gloating over Vito Spatafore's death to Sil and Carlo. Bad move.
Evil Parents Want Good Kids :
Tony is adamant that A.J. doesn't go into the life like him, partly because he's simply not cut out for it.
Jackie Aprile also felt this way towards his own son, and arranged with Tony to make sure this wouldn't happen before he himself died in the fourth episode. Tony doesn't succeed and Jackie Jr. ends up dead later on, further strengthening his decision to keep A.J. out of it.
Evil Versus Evil / A Lighter Shade of Black : Tony and his friends ain't no saints, but the other mobsters who are against them are much worse.
Exiled to the Couch : Self-exile in "Army of One": In the midst of their fight about sending A.J. to Military School , Carmela starts picking up blankets and pillows; then Tony grabs them, and says, "leave it to me!"
Expy :
Done in-universe. The nasty boss from Cleaver is modeled almost verbatim after Tony, who fails to realize this at first. It becomes a major wedge between him and Chris. Chris, terrified by the implications, strong-arms the nominal writer into taking credit for the character. He claims that he stole the character from another movie , but Tony (who's on the fence about the thing) easily sees past the lie, checks the original movie, and takes serious offense to the whole issue .
Steven van Zandt takes Silvio on the road wholesale for the show Lilyhammer .
Mikey, before executing Brendan Filone:
Mikey: "Hijack, bye, Jack."
Lampshaded by Big Pussy, who requests not to be shot in the face so he can keep his eyes.
Georgie is whacked in the eye by a ball-and-chain-like weapon by Ralphie.
Bobby gets mugged and beaten up by a gang of kids in season 6. They don't kill him, but one of them shoots the pavement next to his face, which causes asphalt to shoot in his eye.
Happens to minor season 6 character Faustino "Doc" Santoro during a power struggle over the next New York boss.
Face�Heel Turn / Hazy Feel Turn : From Phil's point of view, "The Leotardo family has been taking shit from everybody the minute they got off the boat from Italy."
Follow the Leader :
As discussed above, this show opened the door for a lot of shows that tried to show "gritty" depictions of crime families. Most of those shows only copied the shocking violence, and not the great dialogue, wicked sense of humor, complex themes, and excellent acting that made this show a success, which is why they're all gone. The show itself isn't subtle in its attempts to pick up where Goodfellas left off in its demythologizing of the Mafia. A truly impressive amount of the cast of this show had parts of varying significance in that film. In case it wasn't obvious enough, their first choice to play Tony Soprano was Ray Liotta.
An in-universe Real Life emulation. Jackie Jr. learns that Tony and co. had their major breakthrough in the criminal world when they robbed a poker game organized by a big shot mobster, so Jackie decides to follow the example. It ends badly, a made-man is killed, and Jackie gets whacked for it.
Foreshadowing : After Johnny Sack confesses in court his involvement in the mafia and is sent to prison, a disgusted and infuriated Tony tells Silvio:
Tony's friend David Scatino, who tragically gets Trapped by Gambling Debts .
Chris's friend and sponsor J.T Dolan, in a very reminiscent way, but he manages to stay afloat.
Tony himself ends up 'chasing it' after a bad luck streak. Being rich and powerful, he can afford it, but goes through it in a very unpleasant mood and insults his friend and moneylender Hesh with the All Jews Are Cheapskates trope.
Gayngster : Vito Spatafore is a straight deconstruction; the other gangsters find it disgusting, Tony, his only defender, is given a hard time, the guy has to flee and is eventually killed for being gay. Vito essentially commits suicide by returning to the fold despite having found a new life and an attractive boyfriend.
Genius Bruiser : Tony Blundetto's IQ was revealed to be 158. Given his line of work, he almost certainly qualifies for the bruiser aspect as well.
Girls with Moustaches : In one episode, several of the wiseguys are sitting around their no-work jobs, "breaking balls" about each other's girlfriends. One teases another, saying his girl had a moustache so bad it must have been like kissing a fireman.
Go Into the Light : When Tony Soprano is comatose after a shooting, he dreams that he's going to a family reunion. He's greeted in front by his dead cousin, who urges him to hand over his briefcase (despite his protest that "my whole life's in here") and go into the party in the white building they're standing in front of. As he approaches the door, the inside of the house becomes a white blur—but he hears his family calling him to come back, refuses to hand over the briefcase, and wakes up on the hospital bed.
Go-Karting with Bowser : Once the FBI agent tasked to Tony's crew is re-assigned to anti-terrorism, he starts frequenting Satriale's, Tony's hangout, because the sandwiches are so good.
Good Is Not Nice : The FBI are portrayed as manipulative, condescending jerks, but still unambiguously better than the mob .
The Feds do everything they can to ruin Allegra Sacrimoni's wedding day. They succeed by brusquely taking her father into custody, embarrassing them all in front of the entire wedding party.
Gory Discretion Shot : Most of the mob executions are shown in their bloody entirety... except Adriana's.
Gossip Evolution : Tony gets in a car accident with Adriana as a passenger. Rumors circulate into Tony crashing the car while Adriana was giving him a blowjob and go from there; the rumors aren't true, but the two did share a lot of Unresolved Sexual Tension that they most likely would have resolved (if you follow) had they made it to their destination.
Hospital Hottie :
Jack Aprile is pranked with a Hello, Nurse! who turns out to be an stripper/prostitute from the Bing.
Junior is fooled by an attractive nurse who is revealed to be a mole planted by the FBI.
Hot Librarian : Dr. Melfi.
How We Got Here : Done at the beginning of an episode when Tony suffers a panic attack, the action is literally rewinded to the moment he meets Meadow's black-Jewish new boyfriend.
Humiliation Conga : Season six includes a neutral one with Johnny Sack going through hell once he's the big boss; arrested, incarcerated, embargoed, and humiliated in front of his family and friends on the day of his daughter's wedding. He shames himself by breaking the Omertà code of silence to lower his sentence, only to die of cancer not much later.
Hypocrite : If you ask most characters, being a mafioso or abetting family member of one doesn't go in the way of being a good Christian or upstanding citizen.
Hypocritical Humor : The characters' numerous hypocrisies are frequently showcased for laughs and irony:
Many of the mobsters consider themselves to be observant Catholics, and the mobwives, who live on blood-money, are very devout and self-righteous.
There is also season 4's "Christopher", where many characters associate protests against Columbus day as a slight against Italian-Americans and complain how the media portrays them as violent, uneducated mobsters. It becomes humorous when you realize that almost every character on the series falls into at least one of those categories.
Idiot Ball : Loan Shark Tony takes a SUV used by David Scatino's son as collateral from the busted-out Scatino, and then gives it to Meadow, who is a close friend of said son. Not surprisingly, a fight emerges between father and daughter.
"I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight : Tony tries this with Uncle Junior when the latter is in the grips of Alzheimer's, but he's only able to get the slightest bit of recognition when he says a talismanic Mafia phrase: "This thing of ours."
Imagine Spot : Adriana has a particularly sad one in "Long Term Parking".
I'm Not Here to Make Friends : Mentioned often by Tony. "I'm running a fuckin' business, not a popularity contest!" Besides his close family and business associates, he has no real friends ; he manages to alienate Artie, David Scatino, Hesh Rabkin, and Zellman among others.
In-Series Nickname :
"Big Pussy" gets a second one, much to his chagrin, Tony keeps calling him "beached whale".
Phil gets called "The Shah of Iran". He resents it and brings it up when he summarizes the reason why the DiMeo family sucks.
Insistent Terminology : Tony has an issue with a "retiring community" being called a "nursing home" and corrects the term every time. In later seasons when his mother is no longer in one, he does the opposite correction.
Irony : Tony ascended in the Mafia at a young age by some audacious violations of mob protocol, as he was respected for his moxie. Brendan Filone, Jackie Aprile Jr, Dino Zirelli, Carlo Renzi, Matthew Bevilaqua, Sean Gismonte... pretty much the entire cast of young De Meo gangsters aside from Chris... are all killed trying to follow this example.
Livia Soprano. She's always complaining about how everyone's mistreating her and how her son does not appreciate her.
Janice, although in a much sneakier way.
Ivy League for Everyone : Meadow is an undergraduate student at Columbia. Carmela implicitly uses the nefarious power of her surname to grant her admission.
Jammed Seatbelts : How Sean Gismonte ends up getting killed.
Jerkass : The show doesn't shy away from portraying the Mafia as full of people with anti-social behavior or outright sociopathy, and while a lot of guys do qualify, nobody matches up to the level of sheer obnoxiousness that is Ralph Cifaretto, who... well. Just watch the man in action, why don't you.
Joisey : Most of the series takes place in Essex County, and much of the rest is in Hudson County.
Tony was born in the Ironbound neighborhood of Newark; like any true Newarker of his age he calls the neighborhood "Down Neck." Livia's house (later Janice's and then Tony's during his separation) is here, as is Uncle Junior's. Uncle Junior's trial also takes place in Newark, at the federal courthouse. Additionally, "the Esplanade", one of the most important plot points in the series, is an urban redevelopment project in Newark.
The Soprano McMansion is in North Caldwell.
The series makes the occasional foray into Montclair.
Furio's house is in Nutley.
It's not quite clear where Bada Bing and Satriale's Pork Store are supposed to be (there are some indications that Satriale's is supposed to be in or very near Newark, as there's a sign with directions to the PATH right next to it); the place that doubled for Satriale's is in Kearny and the place that doubled for the Bing is in Lodi.
"Pine Barrens" takes the series on a rare trip to South Jersey, going as it does to, um, the Pine Barrens .
A few episodes also take us to Atlantic City.
Jury and Witness Tampering : Corrado Soprano Jr. persuades a juror not to deliver a guilty verdict against him by hiring someone to threaten the safety of the juror's family.
Kavorka Man : Despite being a criminal prone to violent outbursts and not being particularly attractive in terms of appearance (he's middle aged, balding, and noticeably overweight), Tony finds himself in relationships with several women throughout the show in addition to his wife, Carmela. Evil Is Sexy and All Girls Want Bad Boys working in his favor, no doubt.
Georgie gets gratuitously beaten up on a regular basis.
Ralph beating Tracee to death.
Corrado's constant mistreatment of Bobby is precisely written to balance the sympathy/empathy attached to his increasing emasculation and senility.
When Chris is torn apart after ratting on Adriana, Tony gets annoyed by his nephew's plight and brutally beats him instead of giving any kind of humane support.
Phil killing Vito on merely homophobic grounds and extending his scorn to Vito's strayed son.
Paulie and his cronies pointlessly bully Christopher and disrespect his daughter. In turn, the evoked sympathy is lost when Chris kills Dolan, his sponsor and only friend as a consequence of said disrespect.
Tony making contemptuous remarks against Kelli for being too melodramatic during the funeral of her late husband, like "Jackie Kennedy".
Kick the Son of a Bitch : Towards the end of Season 4, Paulie suffocates an elderly woman to death while trying to steal her money. However, she was a snobby bitch who was mean to Paulie's mother for picayune reasons, and Paulie (at first) had no intentions of killing her. No one even rose an eyebrow after she died .
Kill 'em All : The last few episodes "take care of" Christopher, Bobby Bacala, and Phil Leotardo while Silvio is in a coma he may never wake up from, and Tony himself may have been shot in the final scene.
Knee-capping : Paulie threatens a sports teacher who inherits the garbage business with this. Later on, Paulie obliges.
Lampshade Hanging / Leaning on the Fourth Wall : In the season 6 opener, Tony tells Dr. Melfi when they're discussing Vito's secret homosexuality that it bothers him how every other show on TV tends to rub the gay agenda or lifestyle in your nose.
The Last Dance : Baccala Sr. has a pretty awesome/brutal one, while in the terminal stages of lung cancer.
Let Me Tell You a Story : Tony tells Junior the story of how Octavian became Augustus and ruler of The Roman Empire . The aesop about greed and generosity is unclear and it's lost on Junior, so Tony switches to a more mundane story about two bulls mating with as many cows as possible.
Meaningful Funeral : Frequent for violent and natural reasons; big families have a lot of relatives .
Against Tony's opinion, Janice tries to forcefully do one for Livia, but it totally backfires. A stoned Christopher delivers a bizarre eulogy , the relatives don't have anything good to say about the deceased, Carmela and her father explode against Livia, and their rant is shared by others.
Season 3 ends with Jackie Jr.'s wake and half the cast bawling to Uncle Junior's Italian song.
Subverted with Junior, as he doesn't actually care about some deceased individuals and he just wants to attend to any planned funeral to dodge his house arrest for a while.
Li via .
A "soprano" is a woman with a high-pitched singing voice. In times past, choirboys would be castrated before puberty in order to retain their soprano voice. At the beginning of the series, Tony Soprano is a man who's afraid that he's losing hold of his masculinity.
The musical term "soprano" is derived from the Italian word "sopra", which means "above". This could be a reference to Tony's status as the head of the Jersey family.
Military School : One of the contested options for A.J.. in the episode "Army of One"
Mistaken for Cheating : Happens to Adriana in "Irregular Around The Margins". Aggravated by Gossip Evolution .
"Mister Sandman" Sequence : "To Save Us All From Satan's Power." The brief 1995 sequences include multiple references to O.J. Simpson and Valujet, and features Jackie Sr. and Big Pussy prominently smoking in a restaurant. (It also mentions Pussy's wife booking a cruise on the Dawn Princess, which actually set sail two years later, but that's neither here nor there).
Mob War : Avoiding it is a major concern, as blood is expensive , but several times it just happens:
Junior vs Tony in season 1.
In season 5, Johnny Sack vs Little Carmine.
In the last episodes, Phil Leotardo vs Tony Soprano.
Mother Russia Makes You Strong :
One-legged and determined Svetlana remarks that Americans don't know what a real problem is and live an easy existence compared to the average miserable life in Russia/USSR, yet they are wimpy complainers.
Valery, a Mafiya member and former Spetsnaz who boasts in a frozen forest about harsh weather being warm to him, and gets away from Chris and Paulie when he was suppressed and about to be executed. He seemingly gets his throat crushed and his head shot, but manages to escape into the pine barrens. His uncertain fate lead to a WMG that David Chase deliberately HandWaved in the season 5 opener.
Ms. Fanservice : Adriana. If she's not parading around in her undies for Chris, she's bending over a trash can wearing very tight pants. Lampshaded in the third season opener when the FBI agent keeping tabs on her prays to God that he not be reassigned.
Mugging the Monster : Bobby goes to make his pickups from an inner-city Newark "client" late at night, and winds up getting robbed by some street kids. Because he didn't bring any backup, they get away with it, and the rest of Tony's crew mock Bobby for quite some time.
Paulie and Chris kill a waiter who confronts them over a very low tip. They guy has a sudden seizure and Paulie, to resolve the issue, simply shoots the poor bastard on the spot .
Tony and Ralph's mistreatment of Bada Bing's bartender Georgie reaches absurd levels. Compilation
Junor's behavior towards his devoted and kind-hearted assistant Bobby Baccala is unpleasantly harsh.
Noble Bigot : Tony is more tolerant than many of his friends and colleagues, but even he freaks out when he discovers Meadow is dating a half-black, half-Jewish classmate from a wealthy New York family.
He also spews a lot of homophobic slurs after finding out Vito is gay, but when Dr. Melfi points out that he doesn't sound like he means it, he admits that his true feelings are closer to "Who gives a shit?" He even initially tries to find a way to keep Vito in the fold, but the realities of mob culture conspire against him.
, and this
to see portions of the ending, as well as details that pop up in it. As for the actual ending itself: Tony and his family sit and eat in a restaurant, with Tony continually looking up at the door to see who walks in, obviously extremely nervous. Just as another person walks in, the show immediately cuts to black, and after a few seconds the credits roll.
Non-Actor Vehicle : As mentioned above, Steve Van Zandt is primarily a musician. Silvio was his first acting role (it gets somewhat resumed in Lilyhammer ). Van Zandt also served as music consultor for the show and picked songs for the soundtrack from time to time.
The Nothing After Death : The last season in particular. The finale, if one interpretation is to be believed.
Oh Crap! : Many, many times.
Applies frequently when someone knows they are about to die.
Paulie and Chris, when they realize Valery is more than they bargained for and again when they realize they are lost in The Pine Barrens.
David Scatino, when Tony confronts him in his office to collect.
Vito, when he sees Phil Leotardo in his hotel room.
Adriana zones out while Sil drives her across the state to a hospital to see her fiancé�and has an Oh Crap! when the car stops in the middle of the woods, and she realizes what the drive was really for.
Once a Season : The first episode of a mid-season shows Tony walking to the front of his house in his bathrobe to pick up the newspaper. In later seasons he doesn't, but there is a logical explanation for it.
The unlucky barkeep at the Bada Bing will once a season, without fail, be beaten up by another character for no good reason.
One Steve Limit :
Completely averted, repeatedly. A lot of strange nicknames made up for it, though.
Even the nicknames start to overlap, though.. In the pilot, there is some consternation when rumors get around that Uncle Junior wants to kill "Big Pussy" — one of Tony's right hand men, and not "Little Pussy" — one of Junior's.
The two Tonys, Soprano and Blundetto, were referred to as "Tony uncle Johnny" and "Tony uncle Al" as children, later simplified as Tony A. and Tony B.
Also subverted. Tony and his son have the same first name, but the latter is always called A.J. to prevent confusion.
This is actually a three-person case: Tony and A.J. are Anthony John Soprano, Sr., and Anthony John Soprano, Jr., respectively, so the natural choice of nickname for the latter would be "Junior;" however, "Junior" is already Corrado Soprano, Jr., Tony's "Uncle Jun."
The name "Jason" has to take the cake for most common among satellite characters. You have Jason La Penna, Jason Blundetto, Jason Barone, the "two Jasons" Gervasi and Parisi, and Lorraine Calluzo's younger boyfriend Jason.
Tony worries Uncle Jun might be going senile when Jun mentions meeting a long-dead friend earlier that day, and Jun has to angrily clarify that he meant Jr., not Sr.
Overly Long Gag : Paulie's habit of repeating his jokes is a funnier quirk on its own.
Papa Wolf : Never EVER threaten Tony's daughter.
Parents as People : Tony, Silvio, and Artie are understandably outraged that their daughters' soccer coach was having an affair with one of the other girls on the team.
Tony and Carmela were incensed that Meadow, threw a party at Livia's house. To be fair, the house was utterly trashed, and to make matters worse, ecstasy, Ketamine, and alcohol were found at the scene.
One of the factors that triggers a power struggle between Tony and Junior, acting boss and nominal boss respectively.
Tony does this to Ralph, big earner but erratic; he gives a captaincy to Gigi, more docile.
Peer Pressure Makes You Evil : Played with.
Tony deciding against his initial feelings during the Blundetto crisis. His crew is uneasy, but Tony is a bit shielded, as only Silvio manifests the opposition face to face. It's complicated, as violent pressure from New York is a major consideration too.
Tony deciding against his personal criteria during the Vito situation in season 6; his soldiers and captains are openly rebellious about it, and he finally gives the go ahead basically because of peer pressure. A moot dilemma in the end because Phil beats him to the punch.
Averted by A.J., who befriends some gangster wannabes who idolize him for being the son of the big man and make him accessory to some violent extortions, but he is unaffected.
Pet the Dog : Literally. One of Tony's few virtues is a love of animals. It was was used against him via Melfi's fellow shrink friends, who point out that Tony's empathy for animals is also a sign of being a cold-blooded monster, since animals often mean more to such people than humans.
Phony Psychic : Averted (apparently) by the one Paulie visits. Paulie freaks out when the psychic appears to be communicating with some of his victims.
Psychic: Charles Pagano.
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything :
The mobsters all have "legitimate" jobs, which they never show up for, and don't actually work when they do. Getting such "no-show" jobs is an important point during negotiations.
Christopher is the only one seen regularly earning, but then again, he is a rookie while the rest of the characters we mostly see are bosses and spend most of their time hanging around Bada Bing or Satriales. Explained by the hierarchical system; senior mobsters have their own crews and do mostly managerial work or collections, but do perform delicate tasks or street jobs from time to time — Paulie assaults Columbian drug dealers in Season 6.
Subverted during an episode after Tony believes the FBI is about to pinch him for executing one of the mooks who shot Christopher. While he doesn't get pinched, Tony's lawyer suggests he clock in at his trash collection company just to create the mask of "respectable businessman." The job bores Tony to tears and he even develops a rash from the change in routine. So he goes back to hanging out at his restaurant with his crew and everything goes back to normal .
Begets major plot points later: When Meadow uses her dad to get Finn an allegedly "No Work" job at a construction site, he's not comfortable spending time with the mobsters, so he actually works. And being the young go-getter that he is, he shows up early to see Vito and another man having sex in the parking lot. Later, the man who owns Barone Sanitation dies, and his son (unaware of his father's "arrangements") tries to sell, threatening Paulie's legitimate income cover. Paulie viciously attacks him.
Playing Sick : Junior, feigning dementia to avoid criminal prosecution. Invoked and then twisted, as Junior is really going senile.
Police Are Useless : Apparently there is no law enforcement in the state of New Jersey. Tony and his crew are endlessly worrying about the FBI, but there's never a hint of state and local cops investigating them for their various crimes. It's hinted and shown that the Mafia has influence and leverage over the civil servants who can control the local police (e.g. Zellman) and some cops are on the Mafia's payroll; Bobby mentions a local police as one of his sources of information. Season 1 explores this with Vin Makazian, the detective who feeds information to Tony, and yet Tony treats him with contempt and not as a valuable asset.
This makes sense to anyone who knows New Jersey; the state gives local government a lot of power and has a very town-centric mindset; areas that might be one municipality elsewhere often form several in NJ.note Example: Hudson County and Essex County together have a population of about 1.4 million; their land area is roughly equivalent to Queens plus Manhattan (i.e. smaller than NYC) and only a bit larger than Philadelphia, with a population of 1.5 million, and Philly is geographically small (of the top 20 largest cities in the US, only San Francisco has a smaller land area). To put it another way: One of the nation's largest and densest cities is in New Jersey; it's just that it's divided into 34 municipalities in two counties. Consequently, police forces are weakened by division: the areas with the most crime tend to be the poorest and most underfunded (and therefore most likely to be corrupt), while the areas with the cash to fund a good police force tend to be low-crime anyway, with cops mostly focusing on traffic violations and adolescent shenanigans rather than Mob business. More generally, organized crime had, thanks to RICO, really become a main focus for the Feds by the 90s, more or less preempting the local law-enforcement efforts.
Politically Incorrect Villain : Well, pretty much all of the male gangster characters are quite politically incorrect and are (obviously) professional criminals. Phil might count in particular, as he is a more homophobic/generally unpleasant person than Tony (although not necessarily much more evil). Nicely illustrated during a conversation about Vito's strayed son.
Phil: I guess the turd doesn't fall far from the faggot ass.
Tony (quietly disgusted): That's beautifully put, but you are family, right?
An aversion exists with Pasquale "Patsy" Parisi. When it comes out that Vito is gay, while he laughs at some of the jokes, he makes it clear that he is the only person in the family that has no problem with homosexuality.
Porn Stash : When the FBI raids the Sopranos' compound, the main concern of the Soprano children is the discovery of A.J.'s computer, full of porn .
Post Modernism : Very often, almost Once per Episode the show features some classic movies and songs relevant to the plot and references to other fictional works are common. Tony himself is a movie buff with a great VHS and DVD collection and at one point the roots of gangster cinema are discussed, including the The Public Enemy , the film cited by Creator David Chase as one of his major influences building the main characters.
Pragmatic Villainy : Displayed numerous times; the level-headed mobsters know when to avoid high-profile crimes, because being flashy is bad for business. One specific example has Tony berating Richie for selling drugs in the garbage routes, but only because it will draw the attention of the Federal Government, not out of any moral qualms. An issue explored in other works of the genre alluded to in-universe and Truth in Television .
Finn, who put himself on a bus to San Francisco because he discovered Vito was gay.
Also Furio, because of the Unresolved Sexual Tension between him and Carmela.
Also Tony puts Janice on a bus to Seattle, after she shoots her fiance, Richie Aprile. Tony's solace is short-lived; she comes back 'for good' on a plane (that Tony has to pay for) the next season... two episodes later.
Rape as Drama : Melfi is raped in a rather disturbing sequence and later finds out, due to the police screwing up when they arrested the man, that they can't bring charges against them. And then has the misfortune of finding out that her rapist is "Employee of the Month" at a coffee shop she frequents. Angry, full of rage, and realizing that Tony would easily murder the scumbag rapist, with or without her permission if told about it, Melfi decides to keep what happened to her a secret.
Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil : Jesus Rossi, Melfi's rapist, may be one of the least-sympathetic characters in the whole series.
Rasputinian Death : The Russian mobster from "Pine Barrens". After seemingly getting his throat crushed, he turns out to still be alive. After seemingly getting shot in the head, he simply disappears into the Pine Barrens. Paulie even compares him to Rasputin, and we never find out what happened to him or if he even died of his injuries.
Rated M for Manly : Sex, drugs, violence, male bonding, fatherhood, and diatribes about the emasculated state of contemporary Western society abound. The show is a deconstruction and frequently subverts itself, though, by reminding viewers that most of the "manly men" in question are in fact morally bankrupt human beings whose inability to express themselves in any way other than aggression makes both them and their families miserable.
Real Estate Scam : Tony and his associates scheme a very profitable one, whose boundaries cause some friction with New York.
Reality Is Unrealistic : In contrast to typical Hollywood portrayals, the experience of being shot in the head at close range would in fact be very much like "cutting to black" — the bullet would pierce the brain before it could process the sound of the gunshot.
Real Life Writes the Plot :
Nancy Marchand (Livia Soprano) died between seasons. The writers gave her a final scene with Tony, cut from her previous work with him. It was terrible. Most jarring was that Livia's lines are pretty generic with Tony's dialogue made to fit. Not to mention that Tony probably wouldn't have visited his mother or even talked to her at that point.
Tony Sirico (Paulie Gualtieri) underwent back surgery around season 4 and was thrown in a jail to reduce his appearances. His role was fully restored once the actor recovered.
Vito's weight loss was written into the plot due to actor Joseph R. Gannascoli's actual weight loss. It's made surprisingly tragic.
A Real Man Is a Killer : Implied by a spiteful Tony when he assigns Bobby a mission to pop his cherry.
Bobby Baccala and his love of toy trains, though it goes toward characterizing him as something of a Man Child who happens to also be a mobster.
Furio's Eurotrashy silk shirts, due to being a mobster raised in Italy.
Real Song Theme Tune : "Woke Up This Morning (Chosen One Mix)" by Alabama 3. A Thematic Theme Tune almost expository. Lyrics
. Initially, David Chase wanted a different opening music for every episode, but the final theme changed his mind.
Redemption Rejection :
Phil Leotardo. After nearly dying from a heart attack and crying in front of Tony when he gave him advice at the end of Part 1 of season 6, it seemed like he was finally going to change his ways. And then Part 2 came out.
This is one of the reasons why Tony killed Christopher. Despite going to rehab and getting his act together, Christopher still did drugs from time to time , which resulted in the car crash with him and Tony.
Tony takes a gentler approach to life after a near-death experience; this niceness doesn't last long .
Reformed, but Rejected : Chris's sobriety makes him drift apart from his pals, as the Bada Bing and other work places are a source of temptation. The others resent him for this. He carefully explains in an A.A. meeting how his sobriety hinders him professionally. Very sad how his almost unbearable struggle and related problems, combined with some disrespectful jokes Paulie cracks about him and his daughter, make him relapse, eventually leading to his fatal car crash with Tony.
Red Herring Twist : During a food poisoning-induced dream sequence, Tony encounters a talking Red Herring that lays down some pretty hard truths Tony does not want to admit.
Relationship Reveal : Chris tells Tony he doesn't bring around his new girlfriend, Kaisha, to spare her from the racist mafiosi. When he goes off to meet her, we see his real girlfriend is Julianna, who Tony has been unsuccessfully trying to get with for several episodes.
Remember the New Guy :
Ralph is in Miami during the first two seasons before he shows up in Jersey.
Richie Aprile, Tony B, and Phil Leotardo, who were in jail since '83. The Jersey crew avoiding their pinched guys (Paulie in season 4) is internally coherent; the big boss Ecole DiMeo is "a guest of the government" and he is rarely alluded to, if ever, after the first episodes. Lampshaded when Bobby Jr. mentions that he's never heard of Tony B.
Avoided with "Feech" LaManna, released together with Tony B and Phil Leotardo at the beginning of season 5, but who was frequently mentioned and referred to in season 3, with Ralph recounting how "Feech's" card game was hit and inspiring his stepson to attempt to reenact it. The same anecdote is replayed once "Feech" is released.
Resignations Not Accepted : Silvio literally recites this to Eugene Pontecorvo.
Retirony : Detective Barry Haydu is killed just a few hours after his retirement party, and Angelo Garepe is killed because he wouldn't retire.
Revealing Hug : Chris and Tony during Caitlin's baptism. Without any words, their chilling stares powerfully convey a primal fear and a bitter disappointment.
Riddle for the Ages : What makes "Pine Barrens" such a well-known episode. What the hell did happen to that Russian mobster?
Ripped from the Headlines : The dynamics between Tony, Phil, and agent Harris in the last episode are identical to the DeVecchio FBI case. link
.
Rogue Juror : A man is successfully threatened by Bobby to be this in Junior's trial.
Rule of Three : Alluded to by Tony regarding his close encounters with death, after the second one.
Sad Clown :
Tony describes himself as one, in the Stepford Smiler sense; putting on a happy, joking face to his family and friends while keeping his pain locked away. His claims — contested by Dr. Melfi — come across more as self-pitying than anything else, given his behavior throughout the series.
Reversed with Christopher's death; for Tony, a big liability is 'gone' and he is very happy about that, but he has to put on a sad grimace in front of the families. Eventually, he suddenly just goes to Las Vegas to enjoy himsef.
Saw "Star Wars" 27 Times : Gangsta Rap exec Massive Genius expresses (in "A Hit Is a Hit") his admiration for the Cosa Nostra by saying he had watched The Godfather "like 200 times."
Screams Like a Little Girl : Fat Dom's voice noticeably goes up an octave or so after Carlo stabs him with a cooking knife.
Paulie resents Chris for playing the blood relation card too many times, but he is not above enforcing the trope shamelessly; his attitude towards Finn takes a radical turn once he learns he is Meadow's boyfriend
.
Carmela implictly uses the nefarious power of her surname to grant Meadow admission to Columbia.
Tony and his pals were given a free pass after robbing the cards game of Feech LaManna because his father Johnny Boy Soprano was an influential capo.
Screw the Rules, I Make Them! : Only implied. Given the realistic approach of the show , Tony making unilateral life and death decisions is a departure from the Mafia code, as a high-level sit-down is required before the liquidation of a made-man gets approved.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here! : Matush when he hears a gunshot during Jackie Jr.'s card game heist. And then later, Jackie himself, who steals a car and leaves his friend Dino to get slaughtered.
Secret Identity : Tony often conceals his real name to 'civilian' clerks and receptionists. This backfires soundly when he tries to use one of his usual aliases (Mr. Spears) with a new psychiatrist — aware of Tony's identity and line of work — who is Genre Savvy , as he had seen Analyze This . Tony tries to argue that he is Wrong Genre Savvy as "Analyze This" is a comedy, but gets rejected anyway.
Sexy Priest : Father Intintola, who also develops feelings for Carmela and needs to beat a hasty retreat out of town.
Shown Their Work : In true Godfather style, Ralph gives pasta-cooking advice to his stepson Jackie. Writer Michael "Christopher Moltisanti" Imperioli learned it from a chef/fellow castmember, and advised people (on the commentary track) to try it. It works.
Shout-Out : A staple of the show. Loads and loads of them, and then more
. Examples include:
Tony rates The Godfather Part II above the original and is not very fond of Part III. The gang starts to watch the movie after they steal some DVDs.
In the first season, Christopher is Wrong Genre Savvy and thinks any business-related problem is resolved with violence, bazooka in hand and More Dakka à la Scarface (1983) .
Junior comes across an episode of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm and thinks it's a cheap Made-for-TV Movie about his trial. The resemblance is certainly there
.
A playful one when Johnny Sack, on the day of his daughter's wedding, asks Tony for a professional favour. Christopher casually points out that Tony can't refuse, as the whole thing is identical to the one from The Godfather ; Tony corrects him telling it's the other way around, the father of the bride is the one who cannot refuse.
Ralphie is a fanboy of Gladiator who disregards Spartacus — a recommendation from Chris — as unrealistic, and who reenacts one scene on Georgie's head .
Tony is a fanboy of Gary Cooper , "The strong, silent type". Tony seems to blur the lines between reality and fiction with High Noon and the film appears in his dreams. Funnily enough, he also loves its Spiritual Antithesis Rio Bravo , specially the song " My rifle, my pony and me
."
Silvio and Tony have a Friendship Moment in which they mimic boxing moves while Cavalleria Rusticana plays .
Numerous little nods and subtle references here and there to Goodfellas , a film defined by David Chase as "My Koran ". For example, several characters joke about how scared Christopher is when he becomes a "made man", telling him he "watches too many movies"; in Goodfellas, Tommy's induction ceremony is a ruse to kill him.
Tony praises The Art of War , ranks it way above The Prince , and gives practical use to the teachings that Sun-Tzu provides in it. Later on, Paulie tries to emulate Tony and reads it in audiobook form. On one occasion, he tries to boast about it, but can't even say the author's name properly (he utters something like Soon-Tizoong) and gets mocked for being an obnoxious brown-noser.
Distingished Meadow and lazy airhead A.J..
Richie Aprile is covetous and bloodthirsty, while Jackie is benevolent and easygoing.
Game of Thrones has been described by a series producer as ''The Sopranos in Middle-Earth ".
The also duality-themed Mad Men and Boardwalk Empire created by the show's writers Matthew Weiner and Terence Winter have inherited many concepts from The Sopranos.
Staging an Intervention : There's an intervention to stop Chris from taking heroin. It's fairly hypocritical on the part of the mob guys calling Chris out on his addiction, which he doesn't fail to point out. It turns violent when Chris insults his own mother and Paulie beats his face in.
The Starscream : Just about everyone. One of the episodes lampshades this completely.
Stealth Pun : Phil coming out of the closet when he is handling the resolution of Vito's situation.
Stiff Upper Lip :
Ben Kingsley never loses his polite and calm demeanor when he is uncomfortably approached by some mafia men, who are in fact deflected by his suave manners and refrain from further pressure. The mobsters, however, get frustated by it and they violently mug an 81-year-old Lauren Bacall so they don't leave their trip empty-handed.
Kingsley gets to express some restrained disdain and profanity when he finds himself sharing a flight with the gangsters. It's implied he knows they are the ones behind his friend Bacall's incident.
Stock Sound Effect : When Tony gets food poisoning, the noises coming from his bathroom are obvious generic farting sound effects.
The Stoic : This is what Tony would like to be and sometimes laments that Americans - including himself - have gone soft, always whining, complaining, and dominated by their emotions. His role model is Gary Cooper ; the strong, silent type.
Stolen Good, Returned Better : Dr. Melfi is having trouble with her car, and with the mechanics who are fixing it. When Tony learns this during one of his therapy sessions, he has her car stolen, fixed, and returned that night. She's grateful, but not happy about it.
Stranger in a Familiar Land : A lot of the released Mafiosi — including members of "the Class of 2004" — who were in the can for 20 years are jolted by the changes since The '80s , particularly the increasing laxness respecting Mob tradition. Phil Leotardo is a particular example.
Straw Nihilist : Anthony Jr. briefly becomes one in season 2. To his parents' dismay, he suddenly starts espousing a nihilistic worldview, questions the purpose of life, name-checks Nietzsche, and declares that God Is Dead . It pops back up again in season 6 after his girlfriend dumps him.
Succession Crisis : Happens in Jersey after the death of Jack Aprile Sr. and in New York after Carmine Luppertazzi and Johnny Sack pass away. It gets settled by the usual and ancestral methods .
Surrounded by Idiots : Tony, near the end of the show's run, because all of his smart, capable underlings had died, fled, or turned witness.
There Is No Kill Like Overkill :
In retribution for an attempt on Christopher's life, Matthew Bevilaqua is shot over twenty times by Tony and Big Pussy.
Christopher and another mobster shoot Dino Zerilli in the head three times... and then Christopher walks up to his corpse and shoots him in the head two more times. This happens after the Pine Barrens incident, and Chris has valid reasons for making sure a dead body stays dead.
A capo who disrespected Phil Leotardo is whacked by a few hitmen. One of them shoots him in the eye , and then riddles his abdomen with bullets.
Those Two Bad Guys : Christopher and Paulie often fit this trope, especially in the "Pine Barrens" episode.
Too Dumb to Live : Some of the minor characters are positively suicidal. For example:
In season 2, two small players decide to try and kill Christopher in an attempt to please Richie Aprile, who despises him, with the hopes that they'll get promoted. It doesn't work. One of them is killed during the attack, and the other gets hunted down and butchered by Tony.
Then there's also Darwin Award winner Jackie Aprile Jr., who tries the same thing in season 3 by robbing Tony's gang.
Also, in season 6, after Vito gets brutally murdered because it was discovered he's gay, one of the visiting New York guys openly implies in front of Silvio and Carlo that they had gay sex with him. Hilarity ensues.
Tragic Hero / Tragic Villain : Tony does try to be a good person for his family and friends. The fact he's a a sociopath does kind of hinder that, though.
Tragic Keepsake : Tony actively defies it with an artistic picture of Pie-O-My. He gets rid of it because it brings painful memories and gets very angry when he discovers that Paulie rescued it from the garbage and restored it. The picture is finally disposed of for good.
Trouble Entendre : In the first episode, Tony is about to tell Melfi what he did to a guy who owed him money, when she interrupts by telling him that knowing the details of his crimes would put her in a very precarious legal situation. So Tony tells her that he took the guy out to coffee. The scene then cuts to a flashback of Tony running the guy over and beating him up. Tony slips some feeble truth in the story, as he was finishing a coffee in the meantime.
Tropaholics Anonymous : Christopher occassionaly goes to a meeting on account of his drug addiction.
Truth in Television : Junior's gradual descent into senile dementia was realistically done, including accurate depictions of the victim's good and bad days, and the eventual separation from reality.
The depiction of Tony's depression is also excruciatingly realistic, with his condition rising and falling continuously even after he starts therapy and medication.
Turn Coat : A disgruntled Paulie tries to defect to New York, so he starts feeding sensitive information to a cajoling Johnny Sack. Paulie discovers he has been duped when he learns that the New York big boss practically doesn't know who he is.
TV Never Lies : Adriana gets the idea from a TV legal show she's watching that married people can't testify against their spouses , and decides to marry Chris to gain this protection. But a real lawyer tells her it doesn't work that way , mentioning retroactivity and precedents where the Department of Justice circumvented the privilege.
Two-Person Pool Party : Tony and Carmela in the episode "Marco Polo".
Ugly Guy, Hot Wife : Almost every single male character is married or in a relationship with insanely hot women, while usually also cheating on them with other even hotter women. Subverted with Johnny Sack: due to his high rank in the New York crew, it's assumed that like all the others, he has a hot wife with affairs on the side. In season 4, however, we see that his wife is a rather large woman who he loves deeply and does not cheat on.
Undignified Death : Gigi Cestone, who suffers a heart attack while constipated on the Bada Bing toilet and surrounded by porn magazines.
Unfortunate Names : Phil Leotardo openly complains that his legal family name used to be "Leonardo," like the painter. But an Ellis Island bureaucrat goofed it up, and now he's saddled with a name for a ballet outfit.
The Unfair Sex : Averted. The two female characters who appear on the show are as ruthless as the male gangsters. There's also Evil Matriarch Livia and immoral Janice. The wives on the show are depicted as hypocritical for claiming to be religious while living off blood money.
The Unreveal : So did Ralphie really kill Pie-Oh-My? What happened to the Russian? Did Hadyu really kill Christopher's father? Was the psychic really communicating with Paulie's victims? And what about that ending?
The Unseen : Janice's son Harpo, who is mentioned repeatedly but never appears.
Vader Breath : Tony snorts heavily when he gets particularly agitated.
Verbal Tic : Paulie's he-he. Tony gets annoyed by it and asks Paulie if he has ever been checked for Tourette's Syndrome .
Villainous Breakdown : Tony's panic attacks are triggered by repressed phobias, thoughts, and feelings and some unpleasant situations. He also can't go an episode without breaking down in anger or throwing a temper tantrum.
Villain Protagonist : Tony himself isn't one of the show's best protagonists. He is a thug who kills other mobsters, being a womanizer and adulterer who cheats on his wife behind her back, has a gambling addiction in the form of horse races, not a nice mafia boss to work for, and not to mention , being an asshole who frequently curses .
Villains Out Shopping : Omnipresent, since the show focuses on both the personal and professional lives of the mobsters.
Tony grabs a pillow and is going to smother his mother, but he gets interrupted. Melfi makes a Call Back to it much later, but Tony is in denial.
Paulie smothers an old woman with a pillow when she surprises him breaking and entering.
Wager Slave : What David Scatino becomes to Tony when he "busts him out."
Wake Up Makeup : Averted, Tony frequently rocks some impressive bed-head.
We Used to Be Friends : Tony bitterly comments this regarding Johnny Sack as the New York boss gets more ruthless and less pragmatic and amiable. Still, Tony is very sad when Johnny passes away and still loves him despite some of his final actions.
"Well Done, Son!" Guy :
Tony is this to Christopher, who regards him as a Parental Substitute .
Tony goes out of his way to please his unreasonable and sociopathic mother. Since he's never able to reach some harmony, he's helplessly haunted by this failure long after her death.
Tony: Our mothers are... bus drivers. No, they are the bus. See, they're the vehicle that gets us here. They drop us off and go on their way. They continue on their journey. And the problem is that we keep tryin' to get back on the bus, instead of just lettin' it go.
Wicked Cultured :
Zig-zagged. As mentioned above, depending on the occasion, the mobsters dress sharply or casually. They often enjoy luxury items, refined cuisine, and Artie's restaurant is one of the usual hangouts. On the other hand, below the surface, they are somewhat glorified ruffians.
While Tony has moments of unsophistication, he is not the average goombah, his "semester and a half of college" background really shows up from time to time, he is attracted to sophisticated women, and can hold his ground intellectually with Dr. Melfi, understanding many references and complex concepts, e.g. he can cite Freud and Sun-Tzu. This particularly shows in his happiness that Meadow is on the path to a professional career, and his disappointment in A.J.'s... um... divergent... trajectory.
Paulie tries too hard to emulate Tony and appear cultivated (he appropriates a fine painting made for Tony), but he fails many times; he is prone to malapropisms and misconceptions.
With Due Respect : Done in the episode ''All Due Respect'' .
Silvio pulls this with Tony when Tony seems willing to go to war against New York over the Blundetto-Leotardo situation. Tony gives it right back to him:
Tony: All due respect, you got no fuckin' idea what it's like to be Number One. Every decision you make affects every facet of every other fuckin' thing. It's too much to deal with almost. And in the end you're completely alone with it all.
Tony with Johnny Sack in a heated discussion regarding the Blundetto situation. Tony then gets tired of this formality and delivers an outright insult.
A former associate turned informant and relocated via it is found and executed by Tony during a trip with Meadow.
Chris and Adriana contemplate the option of joining it. They don't.
The mobsters tend to use "witness protection" as an explanation for the whereabouts of many of the colleagues they murdered.
Women Are Wiser : Played straight more often than not; while there are certainly a few dimwitted or crazy women in the cast, the major female characters tend to be wiser or at least more mentally stable than the men.
World of Snark : While some characters are more sarcastic than others, most characters make at least one memorable sarcastic quip. It's particularly notable in the "meeting of minds" between Tony and Phil, which features these exchanges:
Little Carmine: For whatever reason, certain incidents have expired lately, that, in addition to being dangerous, could have an adverse impact on our respective bottom lines.
Phil: I know Vito's bottom was impacted if that's what you're referring to.
Then a few seconds later:
Phil: He's MIA, a lot of people are concerned for his well-being.
Tony: So what the fuck would I know about that?
Phil: Well as coincidence would have it, he was last seen in New Jersey.
Tony: So was the Hindenburg, maybe you wanna look into that too.
Would Hit a Girl :
Christopher and Tony. Subverted in the Season 4 finale, when Tony stops himself from hitting Carmela and punches the wall.
Ralphie takes this to the extreme and not only punches a pregnant woman, but beats her to death.
Hot-headed Richie Aprile hits Janice. She hits him back. With a bullet to the chest.
You Always Hear The Bullet : Discussed and debunked by Tony, Bobby, Silvio, and physically averted in the final scene, according to the main theory.
You Look Familiar : Joseph R. Gannascoli played a random bakery client named Gino in a season 1 scene (the one mentioned in Actor Allusion above) before landing into his Vito Spatafore role in Season 2.
Your Cheating Heart :
Tony's extramarital affairs are naturally explored and generate a great deal of problems.
Practically all the mobsters indulge in this; it comes with the job description to have a goomah . The only exceptions are Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri and Johnny "Sack" Sacrimoni, who both love their wives deeply.
Carmela initially tolerates and rationalizes Tony's extramarital activities as a meaningless valve of escape, and she longs for one herself until season 5, in which she has an affair with A.J.'s principal who identifies it as Sex for Services .
You Remind Me of X : As pointed out by his shrink, Tony's goomahs bear a resemblance to his unpleasable mother — dark hair, contemptuous, and with issues — and even to Dr. Melfi herself — interesting, independent, and sophisticated women. Tony asks his first and simplest lover to dress more businesslike, with Melfi in mind. Later on, Tony makes a explicit mother connection with the troubled Gloria Trillo.
You Wouldn't Shoot Me : Lost in Pine Barrens and fearing for his life, Chris draws a gun on Paulie, who tries to calm him down:
Paulie: All the shit we been through. You think I'd really kill you?
Chris: Yeah, I do.
| Meadow |
In the US television show ‘The Sopranos’, what did Janice Soprano change her name to after joining an ashram in Los Angeles? | The Sopranos (Series) - TV Tropes
The Sopranos
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"I'm in the waste management business. Everybody immediately assumes you're mobbed up. It's a stereotype, and it's offensive."
—Tony Soprano
The Sopranos is a deconstructive Criminal Procedural series centered around North Jersey Mob Boss Tony Soprano, who after a panic attack secretly begins seeing a therapist. Hilarious Reality Ensues as his therapy coincides with him sending his troublesome, sociopathic mother Livia into a nursing home when it becomes apparent that she's no longer able to take care of herself.
The show focuses on Tony's problematic dual families: his biological family — long-suffering wife Carmela, his straight-A student daughter Meadow, underachiever son A.J., and his equally morally bankrupt sister Janice — and the organized crime family he is involved in, who include his bitter uncle Junior, his 'nephew' (actually his wife's cousin) Christopher, and more.
The series ultimately ended with one of the most infamous cases of No Ending ever to air on an American TV show. See the WMG page for various interpretations.
Created by David Chase, the Pilot Episode was shot in 1997, the show premiered on the premium cable network HBO in the United States on January 10, 1999, and ended its original run of six seasons and 86 episodes on June 10, 2007.
The Film-Within-The-Show Cleaver has its own work page.
This show provides examples of:
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A-G
Abusive Parents : Tony is emotionally manipulated and terrorized by his difficult mother throughout his childhood and well into his adult life. One notable incident featured his mother threatening to stick a fork in his eye when he was only ten years old. Tony's father was outwardly friendly, but also a manipulative sociopath who indoctrinated his son into violent crime and the mob. It's implied that the various degrees of emotional manipulation and terror Tony suffered under his parents is what turned him into the violent sociopath that heads the New Jersey crime families. Oddly enough, Tony manages to become a better father to his kids than his parents ever were to him (despite being an aforementioned violent sociopath), and his children turn out relatively nice and normal, even if they have a few issues of their own.
Christopher in Season 1 when he suffers a mock execution . Reversed later in Season 5 when Tony is about to kill him and Chris doesn't back down from an accusation.
Lorraine Calluzzo offers to blow the Leotardo brothers during what turns out to be a mock execution.
Matthew Bevilaqua's last action was to pitifully beg for his life . Tony wasn't moved.
Alas, Poor Yorick : Christopher holds a skull this way when he is relocating the bones of an old murder.
Alas, Poor Villain : In a rare occurrence, Johnny Sack is given a touching and empathic death scene, dying after a long illness and surrounded by his anguished family. The show makes a point about a broken mobster dying of cancer is still a human being, a father and a husband. In-universe, even the mobsters who felt betrayed by the man mourn his loss and honor his memory.
All Girls Want Bad Boys : Played straight for almost all the female characters. Played with Melfi, who feels an unhealthy attraction to Tony but is able to fight it off.
All Psychology Is Freudian : Played with. Tony Soprano cites Sigmund Freud (whom he learned about in his "semester and a half" of college) to explain to Melfi that he understands therapy "as a concept", but the show deals with psychology a lot, and it really isn't here. Often called the most accurate fictional depiction of what actually happens in therapy. Tony however is diagnosed with a compelling Freudian Excuse and Freud is also the Trope Codifier for Oedipus Complex , one of the Freudian Excuses mentioned often by Melfi despite Tony's repulsion.
Aluminum Christmas Trees : In-universe; Christopher thinks the Cuban Missile Crisis was a fictional event made up for the film Thirteen Days .
Amoral Attorney : Neil Mink and Harold Melvoin, traditional and very expensive mob-lawyers who reinforce the genre-savviness of the bosses and their ability to commit crime or get away with it.
And a Diet Coke : Vito orders a Grande Nacho and a Diet Coke at Crazy Horse in "Pie-O-My".
Animal Motifs : Several used as symbolism throughout the series, e.g felines represent Adriana or Chris and migratory ducks the fragile family of Tony. A more concrete example is the parting gift Tony gives to his goomahs, a horseshoe-shaped jewel.
Anti-Hero or Anti-Villain : Tony Soprano, depending on your viewpoint.
Anyone Can Die : Too recent to call it the codifier, but was probably the first series a lot of people thought of when they think of this trope, until another HBO series usurped that title. Many deaths are out of the blue, making wham episodes frequent.
Arcade Sounds : Bobby Baccalieri's son plays a computer full of generic laser blasts, beeps, doots, and other such game noises. The game he's playing is Max Payne ...
Actually, he just watches the game's intro. Funnily enough, Max Payne is about a guy who wipes out the New York mob (among other people).
Arc Words : "Oh, poor you," Livia's sarcastic rejoinder to Tony's complaints. When his mistress also says it, Tony realizes he'd sought her out because she is like his mother. In season 6, Tony in turn says it to his son.
Armor-Piercing Question :
Meadow catches Tony off-guard when she asks him "Are you in the Mafia?". Tony replies there is no Mafia and discloses that he's indeed into some illegal activities such as gambling.
Tony asking "Don't you love me?" to Junior who is going through early stages of dementia and has behaved badly to Tony. Junior is left shaken, speechless, and showing a Single Tear .
"Hey, Pussy... did she even really exist?"
Carmela to Tony after he says he was attracted to the one-legged Russian because he could converse with her: "what about the thousand other fucking pigs you had your dick in over the years, the strippers, the cocktail waitresses. Were you best friends with all of them too?"
Artifact Title : In-universe: the DiMeo Crime Family, of which the Soprano crew is a part, still bears Ercole "Ecky" DiMeo's name, even though he's been in prison for decades, and no one named "DiMeo" has any part in running the family.
Ascended Extra : Many characters start out with minor roles and grow more prominent as the series goes on. Johnny Sack and Vito Spatafore are both barely seen in Seasons 1 and 2, but are major players later on; Bobby Bacala is another notable example. Adriana was promoted to main character and Chris' girlfriend only after the pilot.
Jon Favreau plays a manipulative version of himself who screws Chris out of his ideas.
Janeane Garofalo in a movie directed by Favreau.
Ben Kingsley and Lauren Bacall make a cameo when Christopher is pitching his own movie. The role finally goes to Danny Baldwin.
Invoked in "The Test Dream". Annette Benning is playing Finn's mother in Tony's dinner dream. He recognizes her, and later in Tony's episode-long dream she appears as herself.
Asskicking Equals Authority : While Tony recovers from a severe gunshot wound, he notices that his old lieutenants don't follow his orders as readily as they used to, and he suspects that they now see him as weak. Tony responds by goading his hotheaded, musclebound bodyguard into fighting him. He kicks the everloving shit out of the much younger man in front of his entire crew, to their visible shock, then calmly walks into the bathroom and coughs up blood into the sink. No one questions his orders after that.
Ass Shove : It's mentioned off-handedly that Vito Spatafore was sodomized with a broomstick while they were murdering him.
As the Good Book Says : Despite their dubious morals, the mafia members all appear to be Catholic, which is Truth in Television , and make occasional references to The Bible . Religion is also used as a plot point on occasion; for example, when Christopher recovers from his shooting, he mentions he had a vision of going to hell (or possibly purgatory), and in another episode, Tony tries to persuade A.J. that God exists when he loses faith.
Automobile Opening : Tony driving from New York to his home in New Jersey. His route is deliberately inefficient to provide more interesting visuals (nobody in their right mind would go from Manhattan to North Caldwell by going through surface streets in Kearny and Newark).
Authority Equals Asskicking : All of the capos and bosses in the mob are either capable fighters and killers, or they used to be in their younger days before they rose so high that they no longer need to get their hands dirty.
Authority in Name Only : Corrado Soprano (Junior) is the official boss of the family, but not the one calling the shots. Invoked by Tony in season 1 when he sets up Junior as a fall guy to shield himself. The FBI tries to use it as wedge against them, but Junior denies it.
Junior: My nephew running things? Not that strunz. Not in this life.
Ax-Crazy : Several mobsters shown traits of this, especially Richie, Ralph, Feech, Johnny Boy, and Phil Leotardo.
Badass in a Nice Suit : Zig-zagged. The mobsters like to wear plain sportswear, but they dress up according to their fancy businessmen status when the occasion requires it. Members of the Lupertazzi crew can usually be seen in suits, befitting their more successful and refined nature when compared to the Jersey crew. Carmine Lupertazzi also stated to Tony that "a Don doesn't wear shorts".
Bad Boss : Tony is a successful manager, but he verbally shreds his underlings on a regular basis. He is entitled by the hierarchical level of the Mafia, but crosses the line once and gets called on it when he physically assaults Ralph, as beating another made-man is a violation of Mafia protocol. He later kills Ralph, which is also against the rules. Christopher is another victim of this kind of abuse.
Ironically, while Tony was out of line when he beat the piss out of Ralphie Ciffaretto, he could have had the man killed at any time that he wanted, for any reason. Which is more or less why no one asked any questions about Ralphie's death; that, and no one was sad to see him go. The world of the Mafia, folks.
Tony always loses it when he learns of animals being harmed. Chris and Ralph learn it the hard way when they kill a dog and presumably a horse.
Johnny Sack is usually calm and collected, unless someone makes a remark about his wife.
Tony doesn't take it well when he is reminded on several times that he never had the makings of a varsity athlete.
At one point, Tony thinks Janice is acting way too nice and out of character, so he deliberately invokes Janice's button by asking questions about her strayed son . Janice being Janice, it's malignant and amusing at the same time.
Big Applesauce : The much larger NY families become major players in the final seasons.
Big Bad : Not in the typical Once a Season fashion of many shows; season 2 has Richie Aprile and the final season has Phil Leotardo. Partial examples in Junior in season 1, in tandem with Livia, and Johnny Sack in season 5, as they stay agreeable for the most part and while there is some build-up or major conflict, it gets resolved or defused very quickly before becoming an arc.
Alternatively, the show has three successive Big Bads, each lasting two seasons: Livia Soprano, Ralph Cifaretto, and Phil Leotardo.
Big Fancy House : The Soprano McMansion. It turns out, it's only a modest estate compared to the houses of other rich, legitimate people of the state.
Big Screwed-Up Family : The Sopranos, the two families (the criminal one also called DiMeo sometimes). Tony tries his best to avert it. The mere basis of the show.
Bilingual Bonus : Too many to mention if you know Italian.
Butt Monkey :
Artie Bucco and Georgie, who is often beaten up brutally for... well, no reason at all.
A.J. too, though this is only in the later seasons. He's one of the dumbest characters on the show, but lacks the ruthless spirit that a mobster needs, so he has no real place in the world.
A recurring gardener keeps running afoul of the Mafia, getting his hand stomped by Feech, and then arrested by the FBI when they take down Johnny Sacks.
Calling the Old Man Out : Meadow calls Tony out a number of times on his hypocrisy and line of work. Tony calls her back, pointing out he is the one who puts food on the table and that everything she enjoys is based on that. She gradually becomes less rebellious and more assimilated by the masquerade.
Car Fu : Tony and Richie viciously rely on the pedal to enforce their wills over hirkers.
The Cast Show Off : Dominic Chianese (Junior) is a talented tenor (having released at least two albums of Italian and American songs), and it's his voice we hear when Junior sings Salvatore Cardillo's "Core 'ngrato" ("Ungrateful Heart") at the end of "Army of One."
Tony has "You've gotta be fuckin' kiddin' me" and "End of story".
"Fuhgeddaboutit" and an overuse of OH!
for everybody.
"Always with the drama!", recurringly used by Johnny Boy, Tony, and AJ Soprano.
Silvio's impersonation of Michael Corleone in the first seasons invokes "Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in."
Celebrity Paradox :
In one episode, Tony watches The Fugitive — oddly, he doesn't notice that Ralphie has a minor role in it.
Goodfellas . It's mentioned quite a few times in the series, even though half of the major cast are in it, including but not limited to Michael Imperioli (Christopher), Vincent Pastore (Pussy), Tony Sirico (Paulie), Frank Vincent (Phil), and Lorraine Bracco (Dr. Melfi), who played a major supporting role in the film as the main character's wife.
Similarly, The Godfather Part II is referenced a number of times, in which Dominick Chianese (Uncle Junior) has a supporting role as Johnny Ola.
Christopher mentions Scarface (1983) as a film in the first season. In season 5 Robert Loggia, who played Frank Lopez in the film, appears as Feech La Manna.
Frankie Valli is mentioned several times, is an acquaintance of Tony's and the names of some of his songs are used in a few episode titles. He appears in later seasons playing the New York underboss Rusty Millio.
Chris references Bruce Springsteen in one episode, even though Steven Van Zandt (Silvio) is guitar player in the E Street Band.
Noah Tannenbaum's father, a Hollywood attorney who frequently represents celebrities, claims to have met the actor Tim Daly before. Tim Daly would later go on to play the recurring character J.T. Dolan.
The similarities between Tony's life and Analyze This don't go unnoticed, but no one seems to note that Benny Fazio (Max Casella) has a small role in it.
Tony gives his mother an audio version of Mario Puzo 's Omerta , read by none other than Christopher.
The Chains of Commanding :
Most of Tony's angst derives from his position of boss. He mentions the trope often, argues that his greedy underlings have no idea how hard it is to be a boss, and warns his friend Johnny Sack about it several times.
In season 6 Silvio doesn't last more than a few days as regent because the responsibility quickly takes a toll on his health.
Cell Phones Are Useless : Poor telecommunication service is the source of problems in "Pine Barrens", where Paulie and Chris get lost in a frozen forest . Tony gets gradually more and more agitated and has to give them orders very loudly and full of profanity while his parents-in-law are in his house. Justified to no small degree; if any part of New Jersey would have patchy/poor/nonexistent cell phone coverage in 2001, it would be the Pine Barrens
.
Characterization Marches On / Early Installment Weirdness :
Carmela in the first season is a more of a gun moll than in later seasons. In The Pilot , after hearing a noise in the night, she expertly locks and loads an assault rifle, ready to throw down. In later seasons she's more of a sheltered suburban housewife. A later episode has her again looking for a possible intruder in the house, and she's much less prepared.
In the pilot, shot a year before the dubious greenlight, Tony is already a peerless boss, not a mere capo and provides a voiceover. Some later recasts and several physical changes are noticeable.
Bobby Baccala is hateful, cynical, and outspoken in private towards Tony in his first appearances, in contrast with his Gentle Giant / Extreme Doormat usual behavior.
Chiaroscuro : Used frequently in the lighting setup, to show the moral ambiguity of all the characters.
Chronic Villainy : Played for tragedy in the case of Cousin Tony.
Cliffhanger : Notably averted. Creator David Chase considered them a cheap narrative device and the sequences are never split between episodes. One very rare cliffhanger is used at the end of Season 6 opener — Tony laying on the ground with a bullet wound — and the end of the second to last episode could be interpreted as one.
shows the nearly thirty minutes of Cluster F-Bomb employed throughout the series.
Comedic Sociopathy : While the series on the whole is aimed at creating disgust with the mob's brutality, the violence is often played for laughs. Paulie is particularly a bit of a Comedic Sociopath.
Comically Missing the Point : Christopher is the major offender, seconded by Paulie.
Tony debriefs Paulie and Chris over the phone about a guy they have to deal with:
Tony: "He is an ex-commando! He killed sixteen Chechen rebels single-handed! He was with the Interior Ministry. Guy's like a Russian green beret. He can not come back and tell this story. You understand?"
Paulie: "You're not gonna believe this. He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator.
Chris: "His house looked like shit."
Silvio and Chris get Tony exasperated when he argues about his strong, silent type role model:
Paulie during a dinner, trying to appear cultivated:
Paulie: "That's why dinosaurs don't exist no more."
Goomar: "Wasn't it a meteor?"
Paulie: "They�re all meat-eaters."
Christopher: "METEOR! METEOR!"
Christopher, discussing Johnny Sack's daughter's name:
Christopher: "Allegra? Ain't that a cold medicine?"
Paulie: "It means happiness in Italian."
Christopher: "...What the fuck's that got to do with cold medicine?"
Subverted by Christopher when he punctures through a Young Earth Creationist theory.
Christopher: "What's he saying? There were Dinosaurs back with Adam and Eve?"
Tony: "I guess."
Christopher : "No way. T-Rex in the Garden of Eden? Adam and Eve would be running all the time, scared shitless, but the Bible says it was paradise."
Confess in Confidence :
Discussed early in the show. In theory, everything said during therapy falls under doctor-patient privilege and is out of reach from the law, but there are instances where this doesn't apply so Tony remains cryptic in many conversations, hindering the effectiveness of his treatment and frustrating his doctor.
The doctor-patient privilege is also used to have meetings with Junior in his doctor's office when he's on trial, as the government can't wiretap the doctor's office. The feds get around this by having a female agent pose as a nurse and listen in on Junior's conversations, as well as detail the people present in their meetings.
Junior also uses his lawyer's office for the same purpose, as the same rules apply.
Confessional : Carmela requires it during one of her crises of conscience.
The Consigliere : Silvio Dante has that official role in Tony Soprano's crew/family. On several occasions, we see other mobsters complaining about Tony's decisions behind his back, and Silvio is the one to raise the issue with Tony face-to-face.
Consummate Liar : Lying and deceiving is a second nature to most of the characters. Tony is so adept at it that he can smell most lies a mile away .
Continuity Nod : Many episodes reference very minute details from several seasons ago. Unemphatic Continuity Porn . Some examples:
In an early episode, Tony tells A.J., "There's an old Italian saying: you screw up once, you lose two teeth." Much later on, in season five, Tony has a lengthy dream and during it, he loses two of his teeth.
Pussy Malanga, the enemy that Junior wants dead in the pilot episode, shows up again in Junior's mind in the first episode of the last season.
In the season one finale, in a restaurant, Tony advises his children to "try to remember the times that were good". A.J. brings the phrase back in another restaurant in the series finale, but Tony doesn't remember his own counsel.
Carmine Sr. dismissively calls the Jersey Family "a glorified crew" in Season 4. Phil Leotardo cites his words near the end of the show.
Contrived Clumsiness : Paulie Walnuts drops Valery's universal remote and gives a sarcastic oops after Valery tells him sternly, in his thick Russian accent, that "remote goes on docking station". Unsurprisingly, the conflict escalates from there.
Conversation Casualty : Christopher shoots Emil Kolar in the back of the head after a polite discussion.
Cool Boat : Tony's yacht, The Stugots. Envied and praised by some characters, and a common place for Tony's escapades. The name is a derivative of stu cazzo, the Napolitan term for "these testicles" (or perhaps more fittingly, "deez nuts"), and an insult.
Cool Car : Lots of them, as befits the lavish lifestyle of the mobsters. One of the primary Conspicuous Consumption objects. Examples with plot relevancy include:
The Jersey crew steals high-end vehicles which are later sold to the Camorra in Napoli (yes, like in Italy), which then sells them in Eastern Europe.
Gloria Trillo is a saleswoman for Mercedes.
Johnny Sack buys a striking Maserati during his happy days. The car has to be sold later unofficially to Christopher and is finally impounded.
Cool Horse : Pie-O-My, Ralph Cifaretto's racehorse. Tony grows immensely fond of the horse, referring to it as "our girl," in direct contrast to Ralph, who brusquely instructs the trainer to whip it good. Tony's growing expectation of an increasing share of the winnings creates tension between the two. The poor animal dies in a mysterious fire which ends up ruining a few lives and sending ripples through the entire criminal underworld.
Corrupt Politician : Several examples, most notably State Assemblyman Zellman, who is Tony's equal partner in a major scam.
Could Have Avoided This Plot :
Tony's reflections about the struggle with his uncle.
Tony: "Uncle Junior and I, we had our problems with the business but I never should have razzed him about eating pussy. This whole war could have been averted. Cunnilingus and psychiatry brought us to this.
"
Little Carmine slides from pompous to pragmatist in late seasons and mentions the trope identifying phrase sometimes. Other New York bosses do the opposite.
Country Matters : Regularly. It's generally not treated as a big deal nor used for shock value, with some exceptions.
Season two has a scene where Tony applies the word to Big Pussy's wife, causing Carmela to stop him mid-sentence and shut him up.
Tony insults Melphi with the term when she carefully refuses his advances. He gets called on it when he later apologizes.
Silvio's Pre-Mortem One-Liner delivered to Adriana: "Come on, come on! Fuckin' cunt!"
Paulie refers to the old lady who is mean to his mother as a "malignant cunt."
Crazy Jealous Guy : Christopher could be this way with Adriana.
David Chase is the Italian man who ignores Paulie in "Commendatori". He also appears as an extra in "Luxury Lounge" and is the voice on the phone in "The Test Dream".
Matthew Weiner plays TV-pundit and mafia expert Manny Safier in "Two Tonys" and in "Stage 5".
Criminal Procedural : Organized crime variety. A relatively "blue collar" gangster family overshadowed by New York. The focus is set on how the professional and personal issues tend to overlap and conflict.
Critical Psychoanalysis Failure : In the first few seasons, Dr. Melfi gradually gets distraught by her therapy sessions with Tony Soprano, leading to weight gain, drinking , and needing therapy herself. In season 6, Dr. Melfi learns of a psychological study which discourages the use of traditional psychoanalysis with career criminals, as it too often validates the use of hypocrisy and deception for them; this is apparently a significant factor in her decision to end Tony's therapy.
Cryptic Conversation :
The mobsters actively avoid using incriminating words and have colorful euphemisms and Trouble Entendre for their illegal enterprises.
Tony tells a guy that a job might involve "getting messy, real wet work". The FBI agents listening prick up their ears, only to realize a few seconds later he's asking a plumber to fix his burst water heater.
Parodied in the last season when Johnny Sack's 'civilian' brother-in-law gives a shot at the Spy Speak , but his efforts
comically complicate the conversations.
Cure Your Gays : When Finn asks what is going to happen with Vito, Chris tries to ease his mind by telling him that they'll make Vito pay for some therapy. A classic mix of Blatant Lies with amusingly ignorant comments so prevalent in the show. Vito also tries to discuss it with Tony, to no avail.
Vito: It was the medication I was on. For my blood pressure. It fucked with my head, but I'm over that now. I could probably get a letter from my doctor
Tony: A note from your doctor saying you don't like to suck cock?
Cut Himself Shaving : After the "intervention" for Chris' drug addiction (where he gets the crap beaten out of him), he is taken to the ER. Tony explains to the nurse that he sustained his injuries "slipping off the kitchen counter while spraying for ants". At her skeptical look, Tony elaborates, "Well, he was wearing socks."
Disproportionate Retribution :
Ralphie makes a joke about Ginny Sack's weight. Johnny Sack's reaction? He attempts to place a hit on him.
"Doc" Santoro takes a piece of food off Phil Leotardo's plate during a very private meeting. Phil's reaction? He orders a few hitmen to shoot him and his bodyguard multiple times.
Distracted by the Luxury : One of Carmela's main traits. For Tony, the standard way out of a marital problem is to bury it under gifts or loads of money.
Divorce Is Temporary : The Buccos and The Sopranos. Tony basically bribes his way out.
Does This Remind You of Anything? : Played with in "College", where Carmela's relationship with her priest, Father Phil Intintola, is portrayed in such a way that recalls Tony's relationship with Dr. Melfi. Carmela clearly lusts after him, but the episode ultimately shows her taking the same solace in religion that Tony takes in therapy—complete with a private confession session that recalls a therapy session. Amusingly, Tony even accuses Carmela of having an affair with him after finding out that he spent the night at their house while Tony was away ; barely a minute later, Carmela accuses Tony of doing the same with Dr. Melfi after finding out that she's a woman (a fact that Tony had tried to conceal).
The Don :
Tony, who is nominally the acting boss for Junior and for the now jailed Don, Ercole DiMeo.
Carmine Lupertazzi in New York. He scolds Tony for doing un-Don-like things like wearing shorts, and disregards the Jersey Family as "a glorified crew".
Don't Ask / You Do Not Want To Know : A rare instance where Tony slips some true information about whackings to Carmela, when she asks about the Janice and Richie situation.
Tony He's gone [...] Carmela, after 18 years of marriage, don't make me make you an accessory after the fact. [...] Stop asking. I took care of it.
Don't Explain the Joke :
Johnny Sack describing the joke Ralphie made about his wife. "He said she was having a 90 pound mole removed from her ass. The implication was that her ass is so big she could have a mole that size removed from it."
Paulie has a habit of repeating the setup and punchline to his jokes.
Double Meaning Title : Used occasionally in episode names, e.g. "Rat Pack" refers to Frank Sinatra and co. but also to the multiple FBI moles.
Double Standard : The writers didn't really have any. The characters, on the other hand...
Downer Ending : Nothing upbeat about the finale: even though Phil Leotardo is killed, ending the mob war between New Jersey and New York crews, most of Tony's key guys are either dead or otherwise incapacitated, making the future of the Soprano crime family pretty grim. Even worse, Carlo, one of the last trusted members of the organization, decides to testify against Tony and others. Meanwhile, while AJ finally gets his life back on track, Meadow essentially becomes her mother, with prospects of marrying a mob lawyer. Uncle Junior completely loses himself and is left to die in a mental hospital, and Bobby's kids are stuck with Janice, who starts resembling her and Tony's mother Livia. Tony himself stops visiting Dr. Melfi as she realizes he cannot be saved and abruptly ends Tony's therapy, with no real conclusion. And, finally, the last scene of the series implies Tony might have been killed in front of his family... or not. Everybody loses. Paulie may be the dark horse winner, make of it what you will .
Meadow drops the phone after she's informed of Jackie Jr.'s death.
The same situation happens again when Kelli is told the news about Christopher's death.
Drugs Are Bad :
Chris struggles with heroin and cocaine addictions, and is berated and judged hopeless and unworthy by Tony and the gang. Paulie particularly. They resent more the weak nature of Christopher than the badness of drugs, since the mobsters casually indulge in the habit too and selling them is a regular source of income.
Truth in Television , as Mafia members are supposed to be banned from dealing in drugs. Not due to any moral objections, but because the prison sentences associated with drug trafficking are so severe that those who are caught inevitably turn on their associates and become government informants to save themselves . This is exactly what happens with Pussy, Eugene Pontecorvo, and Carlo (to save his son).
Dude, Where's My Respect? : A major issue for Christopher. He spends the entire show carving a status for himself, yet after deep personal sacrifices and a rank of Captain, he gets and feels disrespected. Near the end of the show, after a long struggle, he seems redeemed and happy; he is a captain, has a new and stable family, and his long-awaited movie project is a reality. Then comes an ugly feud with Paulie, some disrespectful jokes, and a general lack of empathy with Tony, which, when combined, make him snap and relapse into his drug habits, with fatal consequences.
Dysfunction Junction : You'll be hard-pressed to find a single regular character that doesn't suffer from deep psychological issues manifesting as either hysteria or sociopathy. At the very least, the characters will be involved in dysfunctional relationships. An interesting example in a world that averts There Are No Therapists ; it's just that the therapist herself is also dysfunctional.
Epiphany Therapy : Subverted to hell and back; Tony mostly uses what he learns in therapy to be a more efficient mob boss. Dr. Melfi eventually realizes this and terminates the sessions for good.
Erotic Dream : Tony Soprano has had more than a few erotic dreams throughout the series, including one with his psychiatrist Dr. Melfi in her office, and another one with his friend Artie Buco's wife as he's cheering them on. Interestingly, Dr. Melfi also dreams about having sex with her patient at one point.
Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas : Deconstructed. While the values of mafia and home life nominally require the men of the series to show respect and affection towards their mothers, the show also shows how mothers end up receiving the brunt of their sons' scorn. Tony Soprano, while having good reason to resent his mother for his emotionally abusive upbringing, generally idealizes his father at the expense of his mother, blaming her for most of his childhood issues. However, in the Season 5 episode "In Camelot," it's shown that Johnny Soprano was a very neglectful father and husband, failing to visit Livia when she was in the hospital after having had a miscarriage. To a lesser extent, A.J. Soprano is much colder towards his mother than his father during their separation in Season 5.
In the beginning of the series, Tony plays this trope straight. He literally goes berserk when Dr. Melfi diagnoses Livia with borderline personality disorder and reads the symptoms to him. It's zig-zagged many times, as Tony is full of love and hate.
Paulie Walnuts. And how. His love is fickle, though, as seen in "The Fleshy Part of the Thigh": turns out he only loves his mama as long as she really is his biological mama. He gets over it eventually.
Christopher has also a soft spot for his mother, and Phil Leotardo harassing her comes out as one of the nastier Kick the Dog moments for Phil.
Tony and the crew are appropriately horrified and disgusted when Ralph beats a stripper, pregnant with his own child, to death.
Phil Leotardo is disgusted that Tony would screw over his own uncle to become Don.
The gang is downright appalled when they hear about Coach Don Hauser's affair with one of Meadow's high-school friends.
The mobsters all express disapproval at Christopher's drug habits.
Taken up a notch at his intervention. They freak out when it comes out that Chris accidentally sat on and killed Adriana's dog while high.
Richie Aprile, who condones the beating of a woman if, and only if, the man is her husband.
During the uproar within the gang after Vito gets outed, Tony is (or at least tries to be) the lone voice of tolerance, suggesting that perhaps Vito's sexuality is his own business and not sufficient reason to have him whacked.
The gangsters seem themselves as this as well, one even goes so far as to claim that Vito's actions go against their principles and is "a sin". Tony doesn't hesitate to call him out on this.
Everything Is Racist : Sil viewing Anti-Columbus Day protesters as racist against Italians.
Evil Is Petty : The mobsters all do horrible things at various points but still find time to be complete dicks too. Notable examples include:
Tony forces the kind, gentle Bobby to murder someone over something trivial as he feels Bobby offended his pride by beating him in a fight. After Tony was antagonizing Janice and refused to stop when Bobby asked.
Paulie is especially petty. For instance, when Chris is forced to pick up the tab, he pointedly drives up the bill any way he can.
Ralphie Ciferetto is passed over for the promotion to capo in favor of Gigi. Ralphie immediately starts antagonizing Gigi every single opportunity he gets.
"Fat Dom" Gamiello takes rather obnoxious glee at gloating over Vito Spatafore's death to Sil and Carlo. Bad move.
Evil Parents Want Good Kids :
Tony is adamant that A.J. doesn't go into the life like him, partly because he's simply not cut out for it.
Jackie Aprile also felt this way towards his own son, and arranged with Tony to make sure this wouldn't happen before he himself died in the fourth episode. Tony doesn't succeed and Jackie Jr. ends up dead later on, further strengthening his decision to keep A.J. out of it.
Evil Versus Evil / A Lighter Shade of Black : Tony and his friends ain't no saints, but the other mobsters who are against them are much worse.
Exiled to the Couch : Self-exile in "Army of One": In the midst of their fight about sending A.J. to Military School , Carmela starts picking up blankets and pillows; then Tony grabs them, and says, "leave it to me!"
Expy :
Done in-universe. The nasty boss from Cleaver is modeled almost verbatim after Tony, who fails to realize this at first. It becomes a major wedge between him and Chris. Chris, terrified by the implications, strong-arms the nominal writer into taking credit for the character. He claims that he stole the character from another movie , but Tony (who's on the fence about the thing) easily sees past the lie, checks the original movie, and takes serious offense to the whole issue .
Steven van Zandt takes Silvio on the road wholesale for the show Lilyhammer .
Mikey, before executing Brendan Filone:
Mikey: "Hijack, bye, Jack."
Lampshaded by Big Pussy, who requests not to be shot in the face so he can keep his eyes.
Georgie is whacked in the eye by a ball-and-chain-like weapon by Ralphie.
Bobby gets mugged and beaten up by a gang of kids in season 6. They don't kill him, but one of them shoots the pavement next to his face, which causes asphalt to shoot in his eye.
Happens to minor season 6 character Faustino "Doc" Santoro during a power struggle over the next New York boss.
Face�Heel Turn / Hazy Feel Turn : From Phil's point of view, "The Leotardo family has been taking shit from everybody the minute they got off the boat from Italy."
Follow the Leader :
As discussed above, this show opened the door for a lot of shows that tried to show "gritty" depictions of crime families. Most of those shows only copied the shocking violence, and not the great dialogue, wicked sense of humor, complex themes, and excellent acting that made this show a success, which is why they're all gone. The show itself isn't subtle in its attempts to pick up where Goodfellas left off in its demythologizing of the Mafia. A truly impressive amount of the cast of this show had parts of varying significance in that film. In case it wasn't obvious enough, their first choice to play Tony Soprano was Ray Liotta.
An in-universe Real Life emulation. Jackie Jr. learns that Tony and co. had their major breakthrough in the criminal world when they robbed a poker game organized by a big shot mobster, so Jackie decides to follow the example. It ends badly, a made-man is killed, and Jackie gets whacked for it.
Foreshadowing : After Johnny Sack confesses in court his involvement in the mafia and is sent to prison, a disgusted and infuriated Tony tells Silvio:
Tony's friend David Scatino, who tragically gets Trapped by Gambling Debts .
Chris's friend and sponsor J.T Dolan, in a very reminiscent way, but he manages to stay afloat.
Tony himself ends up 'chasing it' after a bad luck streak. Being rich and powerful, he can afford it, but goes through it in a very unpleasant mood and insults his friend and moneylender Hesh with the All Jews Are Cheapskates trope.
Gayngster : Vito Spatafore is a straight deconstruction; the other gangsters find it disgusting, Tony, his only defender, is given a hard time, the guy has to flee and is eventually killed for being gay. Vito essentially commits suicide by returning to the fold despite having found a new life and an attractive boyfriend.
Genius Bruiser : Tony Blundetto's IQ was revealed to be 158. Given his line of work, he almost certainly qualifies for the bruiser aspect as well.
Girls with Moustaches : In one episode, several of the wiseguys are sitting around their no-work jobs, "breaking balls" about each other's girlfriends. One teases another, saying his girl had a moustache so bad it must have been like kissing a fireman.
Go Into the Light : When Tony Soprano is comatose after a shooting, he dreams that he's going to a family reunion. He's greeted in front by his dead cousin, who urges him to hand over his briefcase (despite his protest that "my whole life's in here") and go into the party in the white building they're standing in front of. As he approaches the door, the inside of the house becomes a white blur—but he hears his family calling him to come back, refuses to hand over the briefcase, and wakes up on the hospital bed.
Go-Karting with Bowser : Once the FBI agent tasked to Tony's crew is re-assigned to anti-terrorism, he starts frequenting Satriale's, Tony's hangout, because the sandwiches are so good.
Good Is Not Nice : The FBI are portrayed as manipulative, condescending jerks, but still unambiguously better than the mob .
The Feds do everything they can to ruin Allegra Sacrimoni's wedding day. They succeed by brusquely taking her father into custody, embarrassing them all in front of the entire wedding party.
Gory Discretion Shot : Most of the mob executions are shown in their bloody entirety... except Adriana's.
Gossip Evolution : Tony gets in a car accident with Adriana as a passenger. Rumors circulate into Tony crashing the car while Adriana was giving him a blowjob and go from there; the rumors aren't true, but the two did share a lot of Unresolved Sexual Tension that they most likely would have resolved (if you follow) had they made it to their destination.
Hospital Hottie :
Jack Aprile is pranked with a Hello, Nurse! who turns out to be an stripper/prostitute from the Bing.
Junior is fooled by an attractive nurse who is revealed to be a mole planted by the FBI.
Hot Librarian : Dr. Melfi.
How We Got Here : Done at the beginning of an episode when Tony suffers a panic attack, the action is literally rewinded to the moment he meets Meadow's black-Jewish new boyfriend.
Humiliation Conga : Season six includes a neutral one with Johnny Sack going through hell once he's the big boss; arrested, incarcerated, embargoed, and humiliated in front of his family and friends on the day of his daughter's wedding. He shames himself by breaking the Omertà code of silence to lower his sentence, only to die of cancer not much later.
Hypocrite : If you ask most characters, being a mafioso or abetting family member of one doesn't go in the way of being a good Christian or upstanding citizen.
Hypocritical Humor : The characters' numerous hypocrisies are frequently showcased for laughs and irony:
Many of the mobsters consider themselves to be observant Catholics, and the mobwives, who live on blood-money, are very devout and self-righteous.
There is also season 4's "Christopher", where many characters associate protests against Columbus day as a slight against Italian-Americans and complain how the media portrays them as violent, uneducated mobsters. It becomes humorous when you realize that almost every character on the series falls into at least one of those categories.
Idiot Ball : Loan Shark Tony takes a SUV used by David Scatino's son as collateral from the busted-out Scatino, and then gives it to Meadow, who is a close friend of said son. Not surprisingly, a fight emerges between father and daughter.
"I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight : Tony tries this with Uncle Junior when the latter is in the grips of Alzheimer's, but he's only able to get the slightest bit of recognition when he says a talismanic Mafia phrase: "This thing of ours."
Imagine Spot : Adriana has a particularly sad one in "Long Term Parking".
I'm Not Here to Make Friends : Mentioned often by Tony. "I'm running a fuckin' business, not a popularity contest!" Besides his close family and business associates, he has no real friends ; he manages to alienate Artie, David Scatino, Hesh Rabkin, and Zellman among others.
In-Series Nickname :
"Big Pussy" gets a second one, much to his chagrin, Tony keeps calling him "beached whale".
Phil gets called "The Shah of Iran". He resents it and brings it up when he summarizes the reason why the DiMeo family sucks.
Insistent Terminology : Tony has an issue with a "retiring community" being called a "nursing home" and corrects the term every time. In later seasons when his mother is no longer in one, he does the opposite correction.
Irony : Tony ascended in the Mafia at a young age by some audacious violations of mob protocol, as he was respected for his moxie. Brendan Filone, Jackie Aprile Jr, Dino Zirelli, Carlo Renzi, Matthew Bevilaqua, Sean Gismonte... pretty much the entire cast of young De Meo gangsters aside from Chris... are all killed trying to follow this example.
Livia Soprano. She's always complaining about how everyone's mistreating her and how her son does not appreciate her.
Janice, although in a much sneakier way.
Ivy League for Everyone : Meadow is an undergraduate student at Columbia. Carmela implicitly uses the nefarious power of her surname to grant her admission.
Jammed Seatbelts : How Sean Gismonte ends up getting killed.
Jerkass : The show doesn't shy away from portraying the Mafia as full of people with anti-social behavior or outright sociopathy, and while a lot of guys do qualify, nobody matches up to the level of sheer obnoxiousness that is Ralph Cifaretto, who... well. Just watch the man in action, why don't you.
Joisey : Most of the series takes place in Essex County, and much of the rest is in Hudson County.
Tony was born in the Ironbound neighborhood of Newark; like any true Newarker of his age he calls the neighborhood "Down Neck." Livia's house (later Janice's and then Tony's during his separation) is here, as is Uncle Junior's. Uncle Junior's trial also takes place in Newark, at the federal courthouse. Additionally, "the Esplanade", one of the most important plot points in the series, is an urban redevelopment project in Newark.
The Soprano McMansion is in North Caldwell.
The series makes the occasional foray into Montclair.
Furio's house is in Nutley.
It's not quite clear where Bada Bing and Satriale's Pork Store are supposed to be (there are some indications that Satriale's is supposed to be in or very near Newark, as there's a sign with directions to the PATH right next to it); the place that doubled for Satriale's is in Kearny and the place that doubled for the Bing is in Lodi.
"Pine Barrens" takes the series on a rare trip to South Jersey, going as it does to, um, the Pine Barrens .
A few episodes also take us to Atlantic City.
Jury and Witness Tampering : Corrado Soprano Jr. persuades a juror not to deliver a guilty verdict against him by hiring someone to threaten the safety of the juror's family.
Kavorka Man : Despite being a criminal prone to violent outbursts and not being particularly attractive in terms of appearance (he's middle aged, balding, and noticeably overweight), Tony finds himself in relationships with several women throughout the show in addition to his wife, Carmela. Evil Is Sexy and All Girls Want Bad Boys working in his favor, no doubt.
Georgie gets gratuitously beaten up on a regular basis.
Ralph beating Tracee to death.
Corrado's constant mistreatment of Bobby is precisely written to balance the sympathy/empathy attached to his increasing emasculation and senility.
When Chris is torn apart after ratting on Adriana, Tony gets annoyed by his nephew's plight and brutally beats him instead of giving any kind of humane support.
Phil killing Vito on merely homophobic grounds and extending his scorn to Vito's strayed son.
Paulie and his cronies pointlessly bully Christopher and disrespect his daughter. In turn, the evoked sympathy is lost when Chris kills Dolan, his sponsor and only friend as a consequence of said disrespect.
Tony making contemptuous remarks against Kelli for being too melodramatic during the funeral of her late husband, like "Jackie Kennedy".
Kick the Son of a Bitch : Towards the end of Season 4, Paulie suffocates an elderly woman to death while trying to steal her money. However, she was a snobby bitch who was mean to Paulie's mother for picayune reasons, and Paulie (at first) had no intentions of killing her. No one even rose an eyebrow after she died .
Kill 'em All : The last few episodes "take care of" Christopher, Bobby Bacala, and Phil Leotardo while Silvio is in a coma he may never wake up from, and Tony himself may have been shot in the final scene.
Knee-capping : Paulie threatens a sports teacher who inherits the garbage business with this. Later on, Paulie obliges.
Lampshade Hanging / Leaning on the Fourth Wall : In the season 6 opener, Tony tells Dr. Melfi when they're discussing Vito's secret homosexuality that it bothers him how every other show on TV tends to rub the gay agenda or lifestyle in your nose.
The Last Dance : Baccala Sr. has a pretty awesome/brutal one, while in the terminal stages of lung cancer.
Let Me Tell You a Story : Tony tells Junior the story of how Octavian became Augustus and ruler of The Roman Empire . The aesop about greed and generosity is unclear and it's lost on Junior, so Tony switches to a more mundane story about two bulls mating with as many cows as possible.
Meaningful Funeral : Frequent for violent and natural reasons; big families have a lot of relatives .
Against Tony's opinion, Janice tries to forcefully do one for Livia, but it totally backfires. A stoned Christopher delivers a bizarre eulogy , the relatives don't have anything good to say about the deceased, Carmela and her father explode against Livia, and their rant is shared by others.
Season 3 ends with Jackie Jr.'s wake and half the cast bawling to Uncle Junior's Italian song.
Subverted with Junior, as he doesn't actually care about some deceased individuals and he just wants to attend to any planned funeral to dodge his house arrest for a while.
Li via .
A "soprano" is a woman with a high-pitched singing voice. In times past, choirboys would be castrated before puberty in order to retain their soprano voice. At the beginning of the series, Tony Soprano is a man who's afraid that he's losing hold of his masculinity.
The musical term "soprano" is derived from the Italian word "sopra", which means "above". This could be a reference to Tony's status as the head of the Jersey family.
Military School : One of the contested options for A.J.. in the episode "Army of One"
Mistaken for Cheating : Happens to Adriana in "Irregular Around The Margins". Aggravated by Gossip Evolution .
"Mister Sandman" Sequence : "To Save Us All From Satan's Power." The brief 1995 sequences include multiple references to O.J. Simpson and Valujet, and features Jackie Sr. and Big Pussy prominently smoking in a restaurant. (It also mentions Pussy's wife booking a cruise on the Dawn Princess, which actually set sail two years later, but that's neither here nor there).
Mob War : Avoiding it is a major concern, as blood is expensive , but several times it just happens:
Junior vs Tony in season 1.
In season 5, Johnny Sack vs Little Carmine.
In the last episodes, Phil Leotardo vs Tony Soprano.
Mother Russia Makes You Strong :
One-legged and determined Svetlana remarks that Americans don't know what a real problem is and live an easy existence compared to the average miserable life in Russia/USSR, yet they are wimpy complainers.
Valery, a Mafiya member and former Spetsnaz who boasts in a frozen forest about harsh weather being warm to him, and gets away from Chris and Paulie when he was suppressed and about to be executed. He seemingly gets his throat crushed and his head shot, but manages to escape into the pine barrens. His uncertain fate lead to a WMG that David Chase deliberately HandWaved in the season 5 opener.
Ms. Fanservice : Adriana. If she's not parading around in her undies for Chris, she's bending over a trash can wearing very tight pants. Lampshaded in the third season opener when the FBI agent keeping tabs on her prays to God that he not be reassigned.
Mugging the Monster : Bobby goes to make his pickups from an inner-city Newark "client" late at night, and winds up getting robbed by some street kids. Because he didn't bring any backup, they get away with it, and the rest of Tony's crew mock Bobby for quite some time.
Paulie and Chris kill a waiter who confronts them over a very low tip. They guy has a sudden seizure and Paulie, to resolve the issue, simply shoots the poor bastard on the spot .
Tony and Ralph's mistreatment of Bada Bing's bartender Georgie reaches absurd levels. Compilation
Junor's behavior towards his devoted and kind-hearted assistant Bobby Baccala is unpleasantly harsh.
Noble Bigot : Tony is more tolerant than many of his friends and colleagues, but even he freaks out when he discovers Meadow is dating a half-black, half-Jewish classmate from a wealthy New York family.
He also spews a lot of homophobic slurs after finding out Vito is gay, but when Dr. Melfi points out that he doesn't sound like he means it, he admits that his true feelings are closer to "Who gives a shit?" He even initially tries to find a way to keep Vito in the fold, but the realities of mob culture conspire against him.
, and this
to see portions of the ending, as well as details that pop up in it. As for the actual ending itself: Tony and his family sit and eat in a restaurant, with Tony continually looking up at the door to see who walks in, obviously extremely nervous. Just as another person walks in, the show immediately cuts to black, and after a few seconds the credits roll.
Non-Actor Vehicle : As mentioned above, Steve Van Zandt is primarily a musician. Silvio was his first acting role (it gets somewhat resumed in Lilyhammer ). Van Zandt also served as music consultor for the show and picked songs for the soundtrack from time to time.
The Nothing After Death : The last season in particular. The finale, if one interpretation is to be believed.
Oh Crap! : Many, many times.
Applies frequently when someone knows they are about to die.
Paulie and Chris, when they realize Valery is more than they bargained for and again when they realize they are lost in The Pine Barrens.
David Scatino, when Tony confronts him in his office to collect.
Vito, when he sees Phil Leotardo in his hotel room.
Adriana zones out while Sil drives her across the state to a hospital to see her fiancé�and has an Oh Crap! when the car stops in the middle of the woods, and she realizes what the drive was really for.
Once a Season : The first episode of a mid-season shows Tony walking to the front of his house in his bathrobe to pick up the newspaper. In later seasons he doesn't, but there is a logical explanation for it.
The unlucky barkeep at the Bada Bing will once a season, without fail, be beaten up by another character for no good reason.
One Steve Limit :
Completely averted, repeatedly. A lot of strange nicknames made up for it, though.
Even the nicknames start to overlap, though.. In the pilot, there is some consternation when rumors get around that Uncle Junior wants to kill "Big Pussy" — one of Tony's right hand men, and not "Little Pussy" — one of Junior's.
The two Tonys, Soprano and Blundetto, were referred to as "Tony uncle Johnny" and "Tony uncle Al" as children, later simplified as Tony A. and Tony B.
Also subverted. Tony and his son have the same first name, but the latter is always called A.J. to prevent confusion.
This is actually a three-person case: Tony and A.J. are Anthony John Soprano, Sr., and Anthony John Soprano, Jr., respectively, so the natural choice of nickname for the latter would be "Junior;" however, "Junior" is already Corrado Soprano, Jr., Tony's "Uncle Jun."
The name "Jason" has to take the cake for most common among satellite characters. You have Jason La Penna, Jason Blundetto, Jason Barone, the "two Jasons" Gervasi and Parisi, and Lorraine Calluzo's younger boyfriend Jason.
Tony worries Uncle Jun might be going senile when Jun mentions meeting a long-dead friend earlier that day, and Jun has to angrily clarify that he meant Jr., not Sr.
Overly Long Gag : Paulie's habit of repeating his jokes is a funnier quirk on its own.
Papa Wolf : Never EVER threaten Tony's daughter.
Parents as People : Tony, Silvio, and Artie are understandably outraged that their daughters' soccer coach was having an affair with one of the other girls on the team.
Tony and Carmela were incensed that Meadow, threw a party at Livia's house. To be fair, the house was utterly trashed, and to make matters worse, ecstasy, Ketamine, and alcohol were found at the scene.
One of the factors that triggers a power struggle between Tony and Junior, acting boss and nominal boss respectively.
Tony does this to Ralph, big earner but erratic; he gives a captaincy to Gigi, more docile.
Peer Pressure Makes You Evil : Played with.
Tony deciding against his initial feelings during the Blundetto crisis. His crew is uneasy, but Tony is a bit shielded, as only Silvio manifests the opposition face to face. It's complicated, as violent pressure from New York is a major consideration too.
Tony deciding against his personal criteria during the Vito situation in season 6; his soldiers and captains are openly rebellious about it, and he finally gives the go ahead basically because of peer pressure. A moot dilemma in the end because Phil beats him to the punch.
Averted by A.J., who befriends some gangster wannabes who idolize him for being the son of the big man and make him accessory to some violent extortions, but he is unaffected.
Pet the Dog : Literally. One of Tony's few virtues is a love of animals. It was was used against him via Melfi's fellow shrink friends, who point out that Tony's empathy for animals is also a sign of being a cold-blooded monster, since animals often mean more to such people than humans.
Phony Psychic : Averted (apparently) by the one Paulie visits. Paulie freaks out when the psychic appears to be communicating with some of his victims.
Psychic: Charles Pagano.
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything :
The mobsters all have "legitimate" jobs, which they never show up for, and don't actually work when they do. Getting such "no-show" jobs is an important point during negotiations.
Christopher is the only one seen regularly earning, but then again, he is a rookie while the rest of the characters we mostly see are bosses and spend most of their time hanging around Bada Bing or Satriales. Explained by the hierarchical system; senior mobsters have their own crews and do mostly managerial work or collections, but do perform delicate tasks or street jobs from time to time — Paulie assaults Columbian drug dealers in Season 6.
Subverted during an episode after Tony believes the FBI is about to pinch him for executing one of the mooks who shot Christopher. While he doesn't get pinched, Tony's lawyer suggests he clock in at his trash collection company just to create the mask of "respectable businessman." The job bores Tony to tears and he even develops a rash from the change in routine. So he goes back to hanging out at his restaurant with his crew and everything goes back to normal .
Begets major plot points later: When Meadow uses her dad to get Finn an allegedly "No Work" job at a construction site, he's not comfortable spending time with the mobsters, so he actually works. And being the young go-getter that he is, he shows up early to see Vito and another man having sex in the parking lot. Later, the man who owns Barone Sanitation dies, and his son (unaware of his father's "arrangements") tries to sell, threatening Paulie's legitimate income cover. Paulie viciously attacks him.
Playing Sick : Junior, feigning dementia to avoid criminal prosecution. Invoked and then twisted, as Junior is really going senile.
Police Are Useless : Apparently there is no law enforcement in the state of New Jersey. Tony and his crew are endlessly worrying about the FBI, but there's never a hint of state and local cops investigating them for their various crimes. It's hinted and shown that the Mafia has influence and leverage over the civil servants who can control the local police (e.g. Zellman) and some cops are on the Mafia's payroll; Bobby mentions a local police as one of his sources of information. Season 1 explores this with Vin Makazian, the detective who feeds information to Tony, and yet Tony treats him with contempt and not as a valuable asset.
This makes sense to anyone who knows New Jersey; the state gives local government a lot of power and has a very town-centric mindset; areas that might be one municipality elsewhere often form several in NJ.note Example: Hudson County and Essex County together have a population of about 1.4 million; their land area is roughly equivalent to Queens plus Manhattan (i.e. smaller than NYC) and only a bit larger than Philadelphia, with a population of 1.5 million, and Philly is geographically small (of the top 20 largest cities in the US, only San Francisco has a smaller land area). To put it another way: One of the nation's largest and densest cities is in New Jersey; it's just that it's divided into 34 municipalities in two counties. Consequently, police forces are weakened by division: the areas with the most crime tend to be the poorest and most underfunded (and therefore most likely to be corrupt), while the areas with the cash to fund a good police force tend to be low-crime anyway, with cops mostly focusing on traffic violations and adolescent shenanigans rather than Mob business. More generally, organized crime had, thanks to RICO, really become a main focus for the Feds by the 90s, more or less preempting the local law-enforcement efforts.
Politically Incorrect Villain : Well, pretty much all of the male gangster characters are quite politically incorrect and are (obviously) professional criminals. Phil might count in particular, as he is a more homophobic/generally unpleasant person than Tony (although not necessarily much more evil). Nicely illustrated during a conversation about Vito's strayed son.
Phil: I guess the turd doesn't fall far from the faggot ass.
Tony (quietly disgusted): That's beautifully put, but you are family, right?
An aversion exists with Pasquale "Patsy" Parisi. When it comes out that Vito is gay, while he laughs at some of the jokes, he makes it clear that he is the only person in the family that has no problem with homosexuality.
Porn Stash : When the FBI raids the Sopranos' compound, the main concern of the Soprano children is the discovery of A.J.'s computer, full of porn .
Post Modernism : Very often, almost Once per Episode the show features some classic movies and songs relevant to the plot and references to other fictional works are common. Tony himself is a movie buff with a great VHS and DVD collection and at one point the roots of gangster cinema are discussed, including the The Public Enemy , the film cited by Creator David Chase as one of his major influences building the main characters.
Pragmatic Villainy : Displayed numerous times; the level-headed mobsters know when to avoid high-profile crimes, because being flashy is bad for business. One specific example has Tony berating Richie for selling drugs in the garbage routes, but only because it will draw the attention of the Federal Government, not out of any moral qualms. An issue explored in other works of the genre alluded to in-universe and Truth in Television .
Finn, who put himself on a bus to San Francisco because he discovered Vito was gay.
Also Furio, because of the Unresolved Sexual Tension between him and Carmela.
Also Tony puts Janice on a bus to Seattle, after she shoots her fiance, Richie Aprile. Tony's solace is short-lived; she comes back 'for good' on a plane (that Tony has to pay for) the next season... two episodes later.
Rape as Drama : Melfi is raped in a rather disturbing sequence and later finds out, due to the police screwing up when they arrested the man, that they can't bring charges against them. And then has the misfortune of finding out that her rapist is "Employee of the Month" at a coffee shop she frequents. Angry, full of rage, and realizing that Tony would easily murder the scumbag rapist, with or without her permission if told about it, Melfi decides to keep what happened to her a secret.
Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil : Jesus Rossi, Melfi's rapist, may be one of the least-sympathetic characters in the whole series.
Rasputinian Death : The Russian mobster from "Pine Barrens". After seemingly getting his throat crushed, he turns out to still be alive. After seemingly getting shot in the head, he simply disappears into the Pine Barrens. Paulie even compares him to Rasputin, and we never find out what happened to him or if he even died of his injuries.
Rated M for Manly : Sex, drugs, violence, male bonding, fatherhood, and diatribes about the emasculated state of contemporary Western society abound. The show is a deconstruction and frequently subverts itself, though, by reminding viewers that most of the "manly men" in question are in fact morally bankrupt human beings whose inability to express themselves in any way other than aggression makes both them and their families miserable.
Real Estate Scam : Tony and his associates scheme a very profitable one, whose boundaries cause some friction with New York.
Reality Is Unrealistic : In contrast to typical Hollywood portrayals, the experience of being shot in the head at close range would in fact be very much like "cutting to black" — the bullet would pierce the brain before it could process the sound of the gunshot.
Real Life Writes the Plot :
Nancy Marchand (Livia Soprano) died between seasons. The writers gave her a final scene with Tony, cut from her previous work with him. It was terrible. Most jarring was that Livia's lines are pretty generic with Tony's dialogue made to fit. Not to mention that Tony probably wouldn't have visited his mother or even talked to her at that point.
Tony Sirico (Paulie Gualtieri) underwent back surgery around season 4 and was thrown in a jail to reduce his appearances. His role was fully restored once the actor recovered.
Vito's weight loss was written into the plot due to actor Joseph R. Gannascoli's actual weight loss. It's made surprisingly tragic.
A Real Man Is a Killer : Implied by a spiteful Tony when he assigns Bobby a mission to pop his cherry.
Bobby Baccala and his love of toy trains, though it goes toward characterizing him as something of a Man Child who happens to also be a mobster.
Furio's Eurotrashy silk shirts, due to being a mobster raised in Italy.
Real Song Theme Tune : "Woke Up This Morning (Chosen One Mix)" by Alabama 3. A Thematic Theme Tune almost expository. Lyrics
. Initially, David Chase wanted a different opening music for every episode, but the final theme changed his mind.
Redemption Rejection :
Phil Leotardo. After nearly dying from a heart attack and crying in front of Tony when he gave him advice at the end of Part 1 of season 6, it seemed like he was finally going to change his ways. And then Part 2 came out.
This is one of the reasons why Tony killed Christopher. Despite going to rehab and getting his act together, Christopher still did drugs from time to time , which resulted in the car crash with him and Tony.
Tony takes a gentler approach to life after a near-death experience; this niceness doesn't last long .
Reformed, but Rejected : Chris's sobriety makes him drift apart from his pals, as the Bada Bing and other work places are a source of temptation. The others resent him for this. He carefully explains in an A.A. meeting how his sobriety hinders him professionally. Very sad how his almost unbearable struggle and related problems, combined with some disrespectful jokes Paulie cracks about him and his daughter, make him relapse, eventually leading to his fatal car crash with Tony.
Red Herring Twist : During a food poisoning-induced dream sequence, Tony encounters a talking Red Herring that lays down some pretty hard truths Tony does not want to admit.
Relationship Reveal : Chris tells Tony he doesn't bring around his new girlfriend, Kaisha, to spare her from the racist mafiosi. When he goes off to meet her, we see his real girlfriend is Julianna, who Tony has been unsuccessfully trying to get with for several episodes.
Remember the New Guy :
Ralph is in Miami during the first two seasons before he shows up in Jersey.
Richie Aprile, Tony B, and Phil Leotardo, who were in jail since '83. The Jersey crew avoiding their pinched guys (Paulie in season 4) is internally coherent; the big boss Ecole DiMeo is "a guest of the government" and he is rarely alluded to, if ever, after the first episodes. Lampshaded when Bobby Jr. mentions that he's never heard of Tony B.
Avoided with "Feech" LaManna, released together with Tony B and Phil Leotardo at the beginning of season 5, but who was frequently mentioned and referred to in season 3, with Ralph recounting how "Feech's" card game was hit and inspiring his stepson to attempt to reenact it. The same anecdote is replayed once "Feech" is released.
Resignations Not Accepted : Silvio literally recites this to Eugene Pontecorvo.
Retirony : Detective Barry Haydu is killed just a few hours after his retirement party, and Angelo Garepe is killed because he wouldn't retire.
Revealing Hug : Chris and Tony during Caitlin's baptism. Without any words, their chilling stares powerfully convey a primal fear and a bitter disappointment.
Riddle for the Ages : What makes "Pine Barrens" such a well-known episode. What the hell did happen to that Russian mobster?
Ripped from the Headlines : The dynamics between Tony, Phil, and agent Harris in the last episode are identical to the DeVecchio FBI case. link
.
Rogue Juror : A man is successfully threatened by Bobby to be this in Junior's trial.
Rule of Three : Alluded to by Tony regarding his close encounters with death, after the second one.
Sad Clown :
Tony describes himself as one, in the Stepford Smiler sense; putting on a happy, joking face to his family and friends while keeping his pain locked away. His claims — contested by Dr. Melfi — come across more as self-pitying than anything else, given his behavior throughout the series.
Reversed with Christopher's death; for Tony, a big liability is 'gone' and he is very happy about that, but he has to put on a sad grimace in front of the families. Eventually, he suddenly just goes to Las Vegas to enjoy himsef.
Saw "Star Wars" 27 Times : Gangsta Rap exec Massive Genius expresses (in "A Hit Is a Hit") his admiration for the Cosa Nostra by saying he had watched The Godfather "like 200 times."
Screams Like a Little Girl : Fat Dom's voice noticeably goes up an octave or so after Carlo stabs him with a cooking knife.
Paulie resents Chris for playing the blood relation card too many times, but he is not above enforcing the trope shamelessly; his attitude towards Finn takes a radical turn once he learns he is Meadow's boyfriend
.
Carmela implictly uses the nefarious power of her surname to grant Meadow admission to Columbia.
Tony and his pals were given a free pass after robbing the cards game of Feech LaManna because his father Johnny Boy Soprano was an influential capo.
Screw the Rules, I Make Them! : Only implied. Given the realistic approach of the show , Tony making unilateral life and death decisions is a departure from the Mafia code, as a high-level sit-down is required before the liquidation of a made-man gets approved.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here! : Matush when he hears a gunshot during Jackie Jr.'s card game heist. And then later, Jackie himself, who steals a car and leaves his friend Dino to get slaughtered.
Secret Identity : Tony often conceals his real name to 'civilian' clerks and receptionists. This backfires soundly when he tries to use one of his usual aliases (Mr. Spears) with a new psychiatrist — aware of Tony's identity and line of work — who is Genre Savvy , as he had seen Analyze This . Tony tries to argue that he is Wrong Genre Savvy as "Analyze This" is a comedy, but gets rejected anyway.
Sexy Priest : Father Intintola, who also develops feelings for Carmela and needs to beat a hasty retreat out of town.
Shown Their Work : In true Godfather style, Ralph gives pasta-cooking advice to his stepson Jackie. Writer Michael "Christopher Moltisanti" Imperioli learned it from a chef/fellow castmember, and advised people (on the commentary track) to try it. It works.
Shout-Out : A staple of the show. Loads and loads of them, and then more
. Examples include:
Tony rates The Godfather Part II above the original and is not very fond of Part III. The gang starts to watch the movie after they steal some DVDs.
In the first season, Christopher is Wrong Genre Savvy and thinks any business-related problem is resolved with violence, bazooka in hand and More Dakka à la Scarface (1983) .
Junior comes across an episode of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm and thinks it's a cheap Made-for-TV Movie about his trial. The resemblance is certainly there
.
A playful one when Johnny Sack, on the day of his daughter's wedding, asks Tony for a professional favour. Christopher casually points out that Tony can't refuse, as the whole thing is identical to the one from The Godfather ; Tony corrects him telling it's the other way around, the father of the bride is the one who cannot refuse.
Ralphie is a fanboy of Gladiator who disregards Spartacus — a recommendation from Chris — as unrealistic, and who reenacts one scene on Georgie's head .
Tony is a fanboy of Gary Cooper , "The strong, silent type". Tony seems to blur the lines between reality and fiction with High Noon and the film appears in his dreams. Funnily enough, he also loves its Spiritual Antithesis Rio Bravo , specially the song " My rifle, my pony and me
."
Silvio and Tony have a Friendship Moment in which they mimic boxing moves while Cavalleria Rusticana plays .
Numerous little nods and subtle references here and there to Goodfellas , a film defined by David Chase as "My Koran ". For example, several characters joke about how scared Christopher is when he becomes a "made man", telling him he "watches too many movies"; in Goodfellas, Tommy's induction ceremony is a ruse to kill him.
Tony praises The Art of War , ranks it way above The Prince , and gives practical use to the teachings that Sun-Tzu provides in it. Later on, Paulie tries to emulate Tony and reads it in audiobook form. On one occasion, he tries to boast about it, but can't even say the author's name properly (he utters something like Soon-Tizoong) and gets mocked for being an obnoxious brown-noser.
Distingished Meadow and lazy airhead A.J..
Richie Aprile is covetous and bloodthirsty, while Jackie is benevolent and easygoing.
Game of Thrones has been described by a series producer as ''The Sopranos in Middle-Earth ".
The also duality-themed Mad Men and Boardwalk Empire created by the show's writers Matthew Weiner and Terence Winter have inherited many concepts from The Sopranos.
Staging an Intervention : There's an intervention to stop Chris from taking heroin. It's fairly hypocritical on the part of the mob guys calling Chris out on his addiction, which he doesn't fail to point out. It turns violent when Chris insults his own mother and Paulie beats his face in.
The Starscream : Just about everyone. One of the episodes lampshades this completely.
Stealth Pun : Phil coming out of the closet when he is handling the resolution of Vito's situation.
Stiff Upper Lip :
Ben Kingsley never loses his polite and calm demeanor when he is uncomfortably approached by some mafia men, who are in fact deflected by his suave manners and refrain from further pressure. The mobsters, however, get frustated by it and they violently mug an 81-year-old Lauren Bacall so they don't leave their trip empty-handed.
Kingsley gets to express some restrained disdain and profanity when he finds himself sharing a flight with the gangsters. It's implied he knows they are the ones behind his friend Bacall's incident.
Stock Sound Effect : When Tony gets food poisoning, the noises coming from his bathroom are obvious generic farting sound effects.
The Stoic : This is what Tony would like to be and sometimes laments that Americans - including himself - have gone soft, always whining, complaining, and dominated by their emotions. His role model is Gary Cooper ; the strong, silent type.
Stolen Good, Returned Better : Dr. Melfi is having trouble with her car, and with the mechanics who are fixing it. When Tony learns this during one of his therapy sessions, he has her car stolen, fixed, and returned that night. She's grateful, but not happy about it.
Stranger in a Familiar Land : A lot of the released Mafiosi — including members of "the Class of 2004" — who were in the can for 20 years are jolted by the changes since The '80s , particularly the increasing laxness respecting Mob tradition. Phil Leotardo is a particular example.
Straw Nihilist : Anthony Jr. briefly becomes one in season 2. To his parents' dismay, he suddenly starts espousing a nihilistic worldview, questions the purpose of life, name-checks Nietzsche, and declares that God Is Dead . It pops back up again in season 6 after his girlfriend dumps him.
Succession Crisis : Happens in Jersey after the death of Jack Aprile Sr. and in New York after Carmine Luppertazzi and Johnny Sack pass away. It gets settled by the usual and ancestral methods .
Surrounded by Idiots : Tony, near the end of the show's run, because all of his smart, capable underlings had died, fled, or turned witness.
There Is No Kill Like Overkill :
In retribution for an attempt on Christopher's life, Matthew Bevilaqua is shot over twenty times by Tony and Big Pussy.
Christopher and another mobster shoot Dino Zerilli in the head three times... and then Christopher walks up to his corpse and shoots him in the head two more times. This happens after the Pine Barrens incident, and Chris has valid reasons for making sure a dead body stays dead.
A capo who disrespected Phil Leotardo is whacked by a few hitmen. One of them shoots him in the eye , and then riddles his abdomen with bullets.
Those Two Bad Guys : Christopher and Paulie often fit this trope, especially in the "Pine Barrens" episode.
Too Dumb to Live : Some of the minor characters are positively suicidal. For example:
In season 2, two small players decide to try and kill Christopher in an attempt to please Richie Aprile, who despises him, with the hopes that they'll get promoted. It doesn't work. One of them is killed during the attack, and the other gets hunted down and butchered by Tony.
Then there's also Darwin Award winner Jackie Aprile Jr., who tries the same thing in season 3 by robbing Tony's gang.
Also, in season 6, after Vito gets brutally murdered because it was discovered he's gay, one of the visiting New York guys openly implies in front of Silvio and Carlo that they had gay sex with him. Hilarity ensues.
Tragic Hero / Tragic Villain : Tony does try to be a good person for his family and friends. The fact he's a a sociopath does kind of hinder that, though.
Tragic Keepsake : Tony actively defies it with an artistic picture of Pie-O-My. He gets rid of it because it brings painful memories and gets very angry when he discovers that Paulie rescued it from the garbage and restored it. The picture is finally disposed of for good.
Trouble Entendre : In the first episode, Tony is about to tell Melfi what he did to a guy who owed him money, when she interrupts by telling him that knowing the details of his crimes would put her in a very precarious legal situation. So Tony tells her that he took the guy out to coffee. The scene then cuts to a flashback of Tony running the guy over and beating him up. Tony slips some feeble truth in the story, as he was finishing a coffee in the meantime.
Tropaholics Anonymous : Christopher occassionaly goes to a meeting on account of his drug addiction.
Truth in Television : Junior's gradual descent into senile dementia was realistically done, including accurate depictions of the victim's good and bad days, and the eventual separation from reality.
The depiction of Tony's depression is also excruciatingly realistic, with his condition rising and falling continuously even after he starts therapy and medication.
Turn Coat : A disgruntled Paulie tries to defect to New York, so he starts feeding sensitive information to a cajoling Johnny Sack. Paulie discovers he has been duped when he learns that the New York big boss practically doesn't know who he is.
TV Never Lies : Adriana gets the idea from a TV legal show she's watching that married people can't testify against their spouses , and decides to marry Chris to gain this protection. But a real lawyer tells her it doesn't work that way , mentioning retroactivity and precedents where the Department of Justice circumvented the privilege.
Two-Person Pool Party : Tony and Carmela in the episode "Marco Polo".
Ugly Guy, Hot Wife : Almost every single male character is married or in a relationship with insanely hot women, while usually also cheating on them with other even hotter women. Subverted with Johnny Sack: due to his high rank in the New York crew, it's assumed that like all the others, he has a hot wife with affairs on the side. In season 4, however, we see that his wife is a rather large woman who he loves deeply and does not cheat on.
Undignified Death : Gigi Cestone, who suffers a heart attack while constipated on the Bada Bing toilet and surrounded by porn magazines.
Unfortunate Names : Phil Leotardo openly complains that his legal family name used to be "Leonardo," like the painter. But an Ellis Island bureaucrat goofed it up, and now he's saddled with a name for a ballet outfit.
The Unfair Sex : Averted. The two female characters who appear on the show are as ruthless as the male gangsters. There's also Evil Matriarch Livia and immoral Janice. The wives on the show are depicted as hypocritical for claiming to be religious while living off blood money.
The Unreveal : So did Ralphie really kill Pie-Oh-My? What happened to the Russian? Did Hadyu really kill Christopher's father? Was the psychic really communicating with Paulie's victims? And what about that ending?
The Unseen : Janice's son Harpo, who is mentioned repeatedly but never appears.
Vader Breath : Tony snorts heavily when he gets particularly agitated.
Verbal Tic : Paulie's he-he. Tony gets annoyed by it and asks Paulie if he has ever been checked for Tourette's Syndrome .
Villainous Breakdown : Tony's panic attacks are triggered by repressed phobias, thoughts, and feelings and some unpleasant situations. He also can't go an episode without breaking down in anger or throwing a temper tantrum.
Villain Protagonist : Tony himself isn't one of the show's best protagonists. He is a thug who kills other mobsters, being a womanizer and adulterer who cheats on his wife behind her back, has a gambling addiction in the form of horse races, not a nice mafia boss to work for, and not to mention , being an asshole who frequently curses .
Villains Out Shopping : Omnipresent, since the show focuses on both the personal and professional lives of the mobsters.
Tony grabs a pillow and is going to smother his mother, but he gets interrupted. Melfi makes a Call Back to it much later, but Tony is in denial.
Paulie smothers an old woman with a pillow when she surprises him breaking and entering.
Wager Slave : What David Scatino becomes to Tony when he "busts him out."
Wake Up Makeup : Averted, Tony frequently rocks some impressive bed-head.
We Used to Be Friends : Tony bitterly comments this regarding Johnny Sack as the New York boss gets more ruthless and less pragmatic and amiable. Still, Tony is very sad when Johnny passes away and still loves him despite some of his final actions.
"Well Done, Son!" Guy :
Tony is this to Christopher, who regards him as a Parental Substitute .
Tony goes out of his way to please his unreasonable and sociopathic mother. Since he's never able to reach some harmony, he's helplessly haunted by this failure long after her death.
Tony: Our mothers are... bus drivers. No, they are the bus. See, they're the vehicle that gets us here. They drop us off and go on their way. They continue on their journey. And the problem is that we keep tryin' to get back on the bus, instead of just lettin' it go.
Wicked Cultured :
Zig-zagged. As mentioned above, depending on the occasion, the mobsters dress sharply or casually. They often enjoy luxury items, refined cuisine, and Artie's restaurant is one of the usual hangouts. On the other hand, below the surface, they are somewhat glorified ruffians.
While Tony has moments of unsophistication, he is not the average goombah, his "semester and a half of college" background really shows up from time to time, he is attracted to sophisticated women, and can hold his ground intellectually with Dr. Melfi, understanding many references and complex concepts, e.g. he can cite Freud and Sun-Tzu. This particularly shows in his happiness that Meadow is on the path to a professional career, and his disappointment in A.J.'s... um... divergent... trajectory.
Paulie tries too hard to emulate Tony and appear cultivated (he appropriates a fine painting made for Tony), but he fails many times; he is prone to malapropisms and misconceptions.
With Due Respect : Done in the episode ''All Due Respect'' .
Silvio pulls this with Tony when Tony seems willing to go to war against New York over the Blundetto-Leotardo situation. Tony gives it right back to him:
Tony: All due respect, you got no fuckin' idea what it's like to be Number One. Every decision you make affects every facet of every other fuckin' thing. It's too much to deal with almost. And in the end you're completely alone with it all.
Tony with Johnny Sack in a heated discussion regarding the Blundetto situation. Tony then gets tired of this formality and delivers an outright insult.
A former associate turned informant and relocated via it is found and executed by Tony during a trip with Meadow.
Chris and Adriana contemplate the option of joining it. They don't.
The mobsters tend to use "witness protection" as an explanation for the whereabouts of many of the colleagues they murdered.
Women Are Wiser : Played straight more often than not; while there are certainly a few dimwitted or crazy women in the cast, the major female characters tend to be wiser or at least more mentally stable than the men.
World of Snark : While some characters are more sarcastic than others, most characters make at least one memorable sarcastic quip. It's particularly notable in the "meeting of minds" between Tony and Phil, which features these exchanges:
Little Carmine: For whatever reason, certain incidents have expired lately, that, in addition to being dangerous, could have an adverse impact on our respective bottom lines.
Phil: I know Vito's bottom was impacted if that's what you're referring to.
Then a few seconds later:
Phil: He's MIA, a lot of people are concerned for his well-being.
Tony: So what the fuck would I know about that?
Phil: Well as coincidence would have it, he was last seen in New Jersey.
Tony: So was the Hindenburg, maybe you wanna look into that too.
Would Hit a Girl :
Christopher and Tony. Subverted in the Season 4 finale, when Tony stops himself from hitting Carmela and punches the wall.
Ralphie takes this to the extreme and not only punches a pregnant woman, but beats her to death.
Hot-headed Richie Aprile hits Janice. She hits him back. With a bullet to the chest.
You Always Hear The Bullet : Discussed and debunked by Tony, Bobby, Silvio, and physically averted in the final scene, according to the main theory.
You Look Familiar : Joseph R. Gannascoli played a random bakery client named Gino in a season 1 scene (the one mentioned in Actor Allusion above) before landing into his Vito Spatafore role in Season 2.
Your Cheating Heart :
Tony's extramarital affairs are naturally explored and generate a great deal of problems.
Practically all the mobsters indulge in this; it comes with the job description to have a goomah . The only exceptions are Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri and Johnny "Sack" Sacrimoni, who both love their wives deeply.
Carmela initially tolerates and rationalizes Tony's extramarital activities as a meaningless valve of escape, and she longs for one herself until season 5, in which she has an affair with A.J.'s principal who identifies it as Sex for Services .
You Remind Me of X : As pointed out by his shrink, Tony's goomahs bear a resemblance to his unpleasable mother — dark hair, contemptuous, and with issues — and even to Dr. Melfi herself — interesting, independent, and sophisticated women. Tony asks his first and simplest lover to dress more businesslike, with Melfi in mind. Later on, Tony makes a explicit mother connection with the troubled Gloria Trillo.
You Wouldn't Shoot Me : Lost in Pine Barrens and fearing for his life, Chris draws a gun on Paulie, who tries to calm him down:
Paulie: All the shit we been through. You think I'd really kill you?
Chris: Yeah, I do.
| i don't know |
In the US television show ‘The Sopranos’, what is the name of the club in Long Beach, New Jersey, in which Christopher set Adriana up as manager? | List of characters from The Sopranos in the DiMeo Crime Family | The Sopranos Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
List of characters from The Sopranos in the DiMeo Crime Family
390pages on
Main article: Jackie Aprile, Sr.
Silvio Dante
Referenced in: " 46 Long ", " Meadowlands ", " Pax Soprana ", " Guy Walks Into a Psychiatrist's Office... ", " Rat Pack "
Ercole DiMeo, a.k.a. "Old Man" and Ercole "Eckley" DiMeo, is the founder and the longtime Boss of the DiMeo crime family . By the events of the series, he is Boss in name only, and never demonstrated any influence over the family: he is serving a life sentence in a high security United States Prison in Springfield, Missouri . In season two, when Philip "Philly Spoons" Parisi picks up Gigi Cestone at the airport, we got some information about the prison where he is serving his life sentence. It is implied from the conversations that DiMeo is suffering from extreme old age and requires round-the-clock nursing care in the prison hospital wing. When the death of Giacomo "Jackie" Aprile is reported on television in season one, the newsreporter states that; he was the Acting boss for the 74-year-old Ercoli "Eckley" DiMeo, which then makes him over 80 years old at the end of the series.
DiMeo ran the family from sometime in the late 1950s or early 1960s until he received a sentence of life imprisonment in 1995, at which point Giacomo "Jackie" Aprile became Acting boss of the family. Though Jackie already had full control in 1999 (the first season of The Sopranos ), at one point he said "I may be Acting boss while the old man's a guest of the government" out of deference to DiMeo.
DiMeo was apparently a major force in his prime. He served as a mentor to Tony Soprano and, according to other characters, had Tony and Jackie pegged early on as an eventual candidate for boss. DiMeo also took a liking to Tony's father "Johnny Boy" Soprano and it is likely that Johnny would have been Acting Boss had he not died of emphysema in 1986. However, it is clear that DiMeo had great muscle behind him when he led the family, as prominent capos "Johnny Boy" Soprano , Corrado "Junior" Soprano , and Michele "Feech" La Manna were below him.
DiMeo is based on the real boss of the North Jersey-based DeCavalcante crime family , Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi , an aging mobster serving a long prison term who made only the occasional intervention via the various acting bosses. The DiMeo/Soprano crime family is based on the DeCavalcante crime family .
Michael "Mikey Grab Bag" Palmice
Appears in: " Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request... ", " Live Free or Die ", " The Ride ", " Cold Stones "
Perry Annunziata, also known as "Muscles Marinara" is from Bloomfield, New Jersey . He served as a bodyguard and driver for Tony Soprano during his recovery from a gunshot in 2006. Tony calls him Penne Arrabiata (as in the pasta dish Penne all'arrabbiata ), on account of his getting angry (Italian: arrabiato) at a rude driver while driving Tony. He is first runner-up in Mr. Teenage Bloomfield and cousin of Gina Annunziata. Tony picked a fight with Perry at Satriale's to regain the respect of the family following his injury - selecting Perry specifically because of his muscular build and hot-headed nature. Perry knows the ramifications of beating up a mob boss and even still tried to fight back. Tony beats him to the ground and gives him a broken nose . Tony later paid Perry off as an apology for the altercation although Perry stated that he was in the wrong. Perry takes advice from both his father and from capo Carlo Gervasi. Perry renewed his duties by accompanying Tony to the Feast of Saint Elzear and to Christopher Moltisanti's belated bachelor party. Annunziata was driving Tony when he discovered the corpse of Fat Dom Gamiello at Satriale's, but he remained in the car.
Matthew Bevilaqua
Appears in: " Cold Cuts ", " Long Term Parking ", " Remember When ", " Made in America "
Former soldier in the Soprano crew, worked alongside Johnny Boy Soprano. Unlike many of his contemporaries he was able to retire from "the business". He suffered from hiccups and contemplated suicide. Uncle of Tony Blundetto and father of Louise Blundetto. Tony Soprano calls him Uncle Pat but they are not blood relatives. Pat's brother Al Blundetto married Quintina the sister of Tony's mother. Owns a farm in Kinderhook , Upstate New York that his nephews used to visit in the summers of their youth. Several bodies were buried on the farm - Tony, Tony B and Chris dug them up and moved them in 2004, as he was planning to sell the farm, and move to Florida, which he later does. In the series finale, Pat is seen visiting a decrepit Junior Soprano in a New Jersey mental facility. He there encounters Janice , whom he suspects is attempting to con Junior into giving her the last of his money. Pat later visits Tony at the Bada Bing to report his niece's suspicious behavior, before going back to Florida.
Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero
Appears in: " Live Free or Die ", " Luxury Lounge ", " The Ride ", " The Blue Comet "
An associate of Christopher Moltisanti and a heroin addict. Christopher enlisted him to accommodate the Italian hitmen provided to Tony for the hit on Rusty Millio. Corky was chosen primarily because he speaks Italian and would therefore be able to communicate effectively with the hitmen. Corky was in fact born near Naples, moving to the States with his parents at age two. Christopher paid him for the job with heroin. Corky performed well, delivering weapons and instructions at a remote spot without revealing much about himself, and the hit went smoothly. Chris delivered the second half of Corky's payment at the Feast of St. Elzear and included more heroin as a substitute for some of the money. Corky injected the drug in Chris' car, which initially prompted Chris to encourage him to get into rehab. But Chris was eventually tempted into joining him.
After Chris' death, the Soprano Family used Corky again through Patsy Parisi. The target this time was Phil Leotardo, but Corky was not as successful. The hit was botched badly and Yarnya, Phil's housemaid and mistress , and her elderly father, who looks remarkably like Phil, are killed instead. When Corky heard from the hitmen that the man spoke Ukrainian to his daughter, he mumbled "whatever"; he had no idea of the gravity of the mistake. However, he did ask Patsy Parisi if Phil spoke Ukrainian. (The brutal double homicide is later reported in the newspapers and on television, and Murmur shows the story to Silvio and Paulie.)
Frankie Cortese
Appears in: " Irregular Around the Margins ", " Marco Polo ", " Unidentified Black Males ", " Long Term Parking "
He served as a driver and bodyguard for Tony as a soldier of the Soprano crime family in 2004. In the episode "Irregular Around the Margins," Frankie was one of the parties that restrained Christopher when he came after Tony with a gun at the Bing (Frankie threatened to break him like a wishbone during this incident). Frankie also accompanied Tony, Silvio and Christopher to a tense sit-down with Johnny Sack, Phil Leotardo and Jimmy Petrille shortly after Tony Blundetto killed Billy Leotardo.
Peter "Bissell" LaRosa
Appears in: " Eloise ", " Whitecaps ", " Two Tonys ", " In Camelot ", " Unidentified Black Males ", " Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request ", " Moe N' Joe "
Bissell, also known as Petey, was part of the group Little Paulie took to vandalize Carmine Lupertazzi's restaurant in the HUD dispute. Petey made his bones (along with Benny Fazio) by killing Stanley Johnson and Credenzo Curtis, on orders from Christopher Moltisanti. Petey/Bissell is often seen at Satriale's. He was sweeping up at Satriale's when Tony returned after recovering from his injury and later showed Phil Leotardo into the room. He continued his role as a doorman, admitting Anthony Infante to his meeting with Tony at the Bada Bing.
Cary DiBartolo
Appears in: " In Camelot ", " Luxury Lounge ", " Johnny Cakes ", " The Ride ", " Kennedy and Heidi ", " The Blue Comet "
A younger paternal cousin to Carlo Gervasi , Burt was made a formal member of the Soprano crime family in 2006, at the same time as Phil Leotardo 's soldier Gerry Torciano . He lives with his wife Lorraine and toy terrier Spencer. Gerry Torciano and Burt were given a joint celebration by the New Jersey and New York families at Nuovo Vesuvio where Burt was seated between Carlo and Gerry. Burt helped Patsy to make collections shortly after he became a made man and also attended Christopher Moltisanti 's belated bachelor party; and later his funeral. According to Silvio Dante , Burt was eventually swayed to take the side of the Lupertazzi Family, and went to Sil to convince him to go along in a coup d'état, but as we see at the beginning of " The Blue Comet " Sil responded by strangling him to death in his home the next day.
Gaetano Giarizzo
Appears in: " 46 Long , " Pax Soprana ", " The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti ", " University ", " Second Opinion ", " For All Debts Public and Private ", " Christopher ", " Watching Too Much Television ", " The Strong, Silent Type ", " Where's Johnny? ", " In Camelot ", " Cold Cuts ", " Walk Like a Man "
Georgie Santorelli is a bartender at the Bada Bing. He was occasionally involved in the crime family's activities, including helping Christopher move the body of Emil Kolar, a Czech-American mobster Christopher had whacked in the pilot episode, and also swept the Bing for bugs following rumors of federal indictments. He was well-liked by Silvio Dante who owned the club.
While Georgie is clearly harmless, affable, and compliant, it appears as if he is somewhat slow mentally. Georgie's mental impediments would later make him the catalyst for many of Tony Soprano 's sudden, violent outrages in a few different situations, as he had a tendency to exhibit excessive incompetence and spout inappropriate commentary at the worst times, which led to him receiving multiple beatings at Tony's hands, including Tony repeatedly hitting him over the head with the phone, the ice tray for wasting ice, and the cash register drawer for when he says, "That's why ya gotta live for today" when Tony is discussing the potential of genocide that could be caused by further Al Qaeda attacks. In the season 3 episode " University ", Georgie is hit in the eye by a chain while Ralph Cifaretto is emulating a scene from the 2000 film The Gladiator . After Tony hits him repeatedly over the head with the cash drawer causing permanent ear damage, Georgie says he is quitting. However, Georgie can later be seen working back at the Bing in season 6.
Corky Ianucci
Referenced in: " A Hit is a Hit ", " From Where to Eternity ", " Whitecaps ", " For All Debts Public and Private ", " Stage 5 ", " Walk Like a Man "
Former soldier in the Soprano crew. Died in the mid-1970s, Married to Joanne Moltisanti née Blundetto, father of Christopher and cousin to Carmella. Dickie was in the U.S. Navy and later served time in prison, making it unlikely that he spent much time with his family when alive. Dickie was killed during Christopher's infancy, right outside the house while bringing TV trays home. In 2001, Tony Soprano told Christopher that Dickie's killer was Lt. Barry Haydu, who had just retired from the force. Tony delivered Haydu to Christopher Moltisanti as a part of his process of bonding Chris to him and slowly easing him up the family hierarchy. However, when confronted by Christopher, Haydu denied ever having heard of Dickie Moltisanti and claimed that someone was "obviously" setting him up; however, he inadvertently admitted knowing Dickie Moltisanti by stating "Look, whoever told you I had anything to do with his death is lying!", before Christopher ever mentioned Dickie's death, whom Haydu supposedly didn't even know. Haydu's last words are 'I'm sorry' indicating that he was responsible.
Tony remembers Dickie as a "stand up guy" and describes a lot of his positive qualities to Christopher. Dickie once took on a whole crew from New England and brought the war home to their turf. Tony also remembers that Dickie was killed because of a beef with Jilly Ruffalo, a man he was in prison with. Jilly murdered Dickie's cell mate and Dickie gouged out his eye in revenge.
According to Christopher, Dickie also struggled with problems of alcoholism and drug addiction.
Pasquale "Patsy" Parisi
Appears in: " College "
Former soldier in the DiMeo family; he was possibly in the Soprano crew as Johnny Soprano knew him although Tony Soprano said he didn't know him well and Febby thought his name was "Teddy" not Tony. He was possibly in the Aprile crew as Tony said Jackie Aprile, Sr. knew him really well, and they served time together in Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary . He entered the Witness Protection Program after he informed on a lot of people from the DiMeo family to the FBI which led to convictions, allegedly that of Jackie Aprile, Sr. But he was eventually kicked out of the program. He later becomes a bonded and certified travel agent who is the proprietor of his own agency outside of Waterville, Maine . He promoted cruise line trips and train excursions. Tony recognised him living under the false name "Frederick 'Fred' Peters" while visiting Colby College in Waterville, Maine with Meadow. Tony waits for Febby to leave his place of business—a travel agency— and kills him with a garrote .
Febby was an amateur sculptor since prison but had a problem carving lifelike lips. Christopher says he thought Febby's bust of Frank Sinatra was actually that of Shaquille O'Neal , and Tony realizes he's found Febby when he sees that a bust of Ronald Reagan in his office has overlarge lips. At the time of his murder, Febby had a daughter who was around the age of Meadow Soprano at the time of his death and was apparently married, had served as a volunteer fireman , and had dealt some drugs locally. He had the chance to shoot Tony the previous day while accompanying his daughter to an orientation day at Colby College but cancels the plan because of the presence of two elderly bystanders. While Tony is garroting him, he lies and tries to use Meadow's presence as an excuse for not shooting him, but Tony doesn't care.
Giovanni "Johnny Boy" Soprano
Appears in: " Members Only ", " Mayham ", " Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request ", " Live Free or Die ", " Luxury Lounge ", " The Ride ", " Cold Stones ", " Kaisha ", " The Blue Comet "
A friend and AA sponsor of Christopher Moltisanti , Murmur is reportedly an expert at forging documents. Attended Raymond Curto 's funeral to Tony Soprano 's chagrin. He's also shown that he has the ability to do some muscle work as well, as seen by his and Benny Fazio 's quick kidnapping of J.T. Dolan . Present at Christopher's pitch meeting for his movie project "Cleaver." Also with Christopher at an AA meeting when the crew first learned of Vito Spatafore 's homosexuality although Tony dismissed him from the back-room discussion of the news at the Bada Bing. James earned the moniker "Murmur" for having a heart murmur during child birth.
Murmur made Chris' rounds while he was in LA - buying credit card numbers from a pizza parlour and from Hillel at the Teittleman's hotel then selling the numbers on to Mohammed and Ahmed at the Bada Bing. Murmur also went out to LA to meet Chris because he was "chipping." While there they robbed Lauren Bacall of a gift basket she received at an awards ceremony. Murmur later attended Chris' belated bachelor party at Nuovo Vesuvio and continued to hang out with the crew at Satriale's. Murmur was skeptical of the benefits of Christopher's relationship with fellow addict Julianna Skiff, warning Christopher that it could be enabling (to relapse into substance abuse), and of the possibility of Tony finding out about his recent slip at the Feast of St. Elzear . He was also responsible for informing Tony that Phil Leotardo had a heart attack - Tony had warmed to him a little by this point and rewarded him with a club soda. Ironically, he later (unknowingly) informed Paulie and Silvio, by showing them a newspaper article on the murders of two civilians, that Phil Leotardo is still alive and the job to kill him failed because the hitmen misidentified their target.
Aprile crew associates
Appears in: " Guy Walks into a Psychiatrist's Office... ", " Do Not Resuscitate ", " Big Girls Don't Cry ", " Funhouse ", " Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood ", " Proshai, Livushka ", " Fortunate Son ", " Employee of the Month ", " Another Toothpick ", " University ", " He Is Risen ", " ...To Save Us All From Satan's Power ", " The Test Dream "
Cestone's first name is never told, although "Gigi" is a derivation of the names "Gianluigi" and "Luigi." Former soldier in the Junior Soprano crew, defected to Tony Soprano 's crew in 1999 following the execution of Philly Parisi (the acting capo of Junior's crew while Junior was incarcerated). The hit was ordered by Tony as revenge for Philly spreading rumors about Tony's mother with regards to Tony and Junior's feud. Gigi was picked up by Philly from the airport, and Philly drove him home. Before exiting the car, Gigi shot Philly twice in the head and, deafened by his own gunshots, made off in another vehicle being driven by Paulie Walnuts. Gigi was quickly made part of the inner circle of Tony's crew unlike fellow new member Patsy Parisi . Gigi faced some awkward moments around Patsy as he expressed his grief over the loss of his twin brother Philly.
Gigi made a final transition in 2001 when he was granted the role of capo over the Aprile crew, following Richie Aprile 's "disappearance." He wasn't well received by most of his new crew ( Donny K , Vito Spatafore , and Eugene Pontecorvo ). Ralph Cifaretto took every opportunity to make his life difficult as he had hoped to receive the promotion himself. It was also Gigi's idea to have Bobby Bacala, Sr. perform the hit on Mustang Sally , in the episode, " Another Toothpick ."
In a flashback scene in the episode, " ...To Save Us All From Satan's Power ," Gigi accompanied Junior to a sit-down with acting boss, Jackie Aprile, Sr. , in 1995 following Junior's hijackings of Jackie's trucks.
The undue stress of putting his children through college and trying to control a resentful and recalcitrant Ralphie finally proved to be too much for Gigi and thereby induced a fatal heart attack while he was constipated on the toilet.
Ralph Cifaretto
Appears in: " Toodle Fucking-Oo ", " Full Leather Jacket ", " Bust Out ", " Calling All Cars ", " Remember When "
Peter "Beansie" Gaeta was a former associate of Richie Aprile , supervising a drug operation for him. Upon Richie's release from prison, he tracked down Gaeta at his pizza parlor, Beansie's Pizzeria, and demanded payment allegedly still owed to him for his financial support. After Gaeta denied the validity of the debt, Richie first broke a hot pot of coffee over Beansie's head, gave him a serious beating, and later on ran him over with his car, rendering Beansie hospitalised and paraplegic from his injuries. Tony Soprano later gave a reluctant Beansie a large envelope of cash in compensation, insisting he could donate it to the Spinal Injury Foundation . Now using a wheelchair, Beansie moved down to open a club in Miami. He had evidently remained in contact with Tony Soprano: he helped set up a meeting between Tony and fellow Miami resident Little Carmine Lupertazzi, and in 2007 secured AJ Soprano a job in his New Jersey pizzeria.
Dante "Buddha" Greco
Appears in: " All Happy Families... ", " Irregular Around the Margins ", " All Due Respect ", " Members Only ", " Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request ", " Live Free or Die ", " Stage 5 ", " Chasing It ", " Walk Like a Man ", " Kennedy and Heidi ", " The Blue Comet ," " Made in America "
Soldier of the Aprile crew first seen taking delivery of cigarettes from Christopher Moltisanti on his return from North Carolina. Often seen in the back at Satriale's Meat Market. Visited Benny Fazio in hospital after his beating by Phil Leotardo. Brought T a glass of water and helped take his shoes off when he collapsed while arriving at Allegra Sacrimoni's wedding. Later at the wedding Dante brings drinks for the Soprano family and dances with Rosalie Aprile. He shares the same nickname as real-life Lucchese crime family mob associate Joe Manri who was involved in the 1978 Lufthansa heist .
Dante accompanied Benny to look for Vito Spatafore at his goomah 's beach house following the revelation that Vito was homosexual. Dante's mother suffered from Lupus and he considered a career in healthcare while looking after her. Was playing pool in the back room of the Bada Bing when Anthony Infante informed Tony that Johnny Sack had died. Recently, Dante has been acting as Tony's driver and bodyguard, carrying around a sawn-off shotgun .
Robert "Bobby" Coniglio
Appears in: " Full Leather Jacket ", " Proshai, Livushka ", " He Is Risen ", " No Show ", " The Weight "
"Donny K." is a Soldier of the Aprile crew. Often seen at the crew's social club and at private parties at the Bada Bing. Present when Gigi Cestone died at the social club. Donny is a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America in Local 623 and held one of the "no work" carpenter jobs on the Esplanade construction site for the Aprile crew.
One night while having a drink at a bar in Little Italy in Mahattan, Johnny Sack spots Donny sitting diagonally across from him on the right side of the bar. Ralph Cifaretto had recently made a disparaging joke regarding Johnny's obese wife Ginny. Johnny and Donny make eye contact as Donny is laughing and amusingly cutting up with the bartender. Since Johnny knows Donny works for Ralph and assumes he is laughing and conversing about the joke Ralph made about Jenny, Johnny begins to grow angry. He then follows Donny outside the bar to his car. Donny is then attacked and beaten unconscious by Johnny. After the intense beating, Johnny proceeds to urinate on Donny. Donny is known to have received some nerve damage from the beating and has not been seen since.
Kevin "Dogsy" Interdonato
Appears in: " Irregular Around the Margins ", " Unidentified Black Males ", " All Due Respect ", " Mayham ", " Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request ", " The Ride ", " Walk Like a Man "
Member of the Aprile crew. He becomes the executor of Joe "Peeps" Peparelli 's estate and affairs. Joe is survived by his mother, who is a widow. Jason arranges to have a headstone made following his death - but failed to have Peparelli's name correctly spelled, the final product being simply "Joseph Peeps." Silvio defended Jason at Joey Peeps funeral for the mistake, explaining to Tony Jason was dyslexic . Tony replies, "What's that got to do with it?" Accompanied Vito when passing on information about the Colombian drug money heist in 2006. Stood guard outside the ICU as Tony recovered from his gutshot. Later took part in a card game at Satriale's that took place as T rejoined the crew. Jason helped to break up an altercation between Paulie Gualtieri and Bobby Baccala at the Feast of St. Elzear festival.
Eugene Pontecorvo
Appears in: " Full Leather Jacket ", " Another Toothpick ", " Cold Stones ", " Kennedy and Heidi "
Brother of Vito Spatafore, and partner in Spatafore Bros Construction. When Tony insisted to Richie Aprile that he build a wheelchair ramp on Beansie Gaeta's house (since it was Richie who put Beansie in the wheelchair in the first place), Richie sent Vito and Bryan over there to get this done (despite the Gaetas' protests).
Bryan was put into a coma by Mustang Sally, in the episode entitled, "Another Toothpick," when Sally's girlfriend had turned to him for help after she and Sally had fought, he was beaten mercilessly with a golf putter, and expected to remain a "vegetable". In the episode, "The Ride," Tony briefly mentions to Carmela that Bryan made some repairs at Satriale's. Even though this statement was most likely a lie on Tony's part (to cover up the real reason for his ankle injury in that episode), it was the first sign that Bryan awoke from his coma and recovered from his beating. Upon Vito's return to New Jersey, Bryan, apparently armed, watchdogged his brother's meeting with Tony and later attended a family dinner. As he remained silent throughout, it is unclear if Bryan has sustained brain damage from the assault, although his eyesight seems to have suffered.
Vito Spatafore
Appears in: " The Happy Wanderer ", " Amour Fou "
Sunshine was the dealer for Tony Soprano's high stakes, all night, executive card game in 2000. He is extremely talkative in a very monotone voice and dispenses metaphors and famous quotes while acting as a card dealer. Sunshine also was dealing for Eugene Pontecorvo 's Saturday night low stakes game in 2001 when Jackie Aprile, Jr. and his friends tried to rob the game. Sunshine continued talking when the robbers told him to be quiet, causing Jackie to panic and shoot him.
It is implied he was an employee of the Aprile crew who dealt regularly at their illegal card games.
Dino Zerilli
Appears in: " Fortunate Son ", " He Is Risen ", " The Telltale Moozadell ", " ...To Save Us All From Satan's Power ", " Amour Fou "
Dino was a childhood friend of Jackie Aprile, Jr. and partner in crime and an associate in Ralph Cifaretto's crew. He helps Jackie Jr. with the disruptive Hispanics at Pizzaland. Dino is the one who holds onto Jackie's handgun after Jackie Jr. threatens the Hispanics with it. Like Jackie Jr. and Carlo Renzi he feels that Ralph Cifaretto is holding them back from their full potential. He looks up in admiration to Christopher Moltisanti who was at that point in time a rising figure in the DiMeo crime family . After quickly picking up his bad habits along with Jackie Jr., he gets arrested for a short period of time. When he is released, Jackie gives him the lowdown. Dino resists at first but later decides to comply with Jackie Jr.'s scheme to rob Eugene Pontecorvo's low-stakes card game in order to gain the respect of the higher level mobsters. They team up with Carlo Renzi, who wields a heavy shotgun. Things do not go their way when Sunshine gets whacked during the robbery, triggering a barrage of gunshots from both sides. This scuffle leaves Carlo dead and Furio wounded. Dino and Jackie Jr. run for the street, but their getaway wheelman, Matush, had fled out of fear after hearing the gunshots. Jackie boosts an oncoming car and high-tails it out of the area, leaving Dino to face an angry Christopher Moltisanti and Albert Barese. Dino tries to level with them by mentioning he's with Ralph, but that does not help. Chris and Albert promptly rapid fire their pistols into Dino's face.
Junior Soprano/Bacala crew associates
Appears in: " Another Toothpick "
Father of Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri. Soldier in Junior Soprano's crew in his younger days. Tony mentioned to Bobby's son how it was unusual that he never whacked anyone, considering his father was "the fuckin Terminator in that respect", suggesting Bobby, Sr. was responsible for numerous homicides before his retirement. Returned to New Jersey from semi-retirement in 2001. Suffered from lung cancer after a lifelong smoking habit. Tony Soprano gave him the task of killing Salvatore "Mustang Sally" Intile. The hit was ordered as retribution for the savage unprovoked beating of Bryan Spatafore, brother of Vito Spatafore. Vito was a made man in the Aprile crew at the time. Mustang Sally was Robert's godson but he felt he had always been a problem so he had no reservations about the job and was glad to be of use. Despite his poor health and shortness of breath on exertion he was able to overwhelm and kill the much younger Mustang Sally and his friend Carlos. Died after choking on blood brought on from his lung and losing control of his car and crashing into a sign post while leaving the scene of his final hit.
Thomas "Tommy" Di Palma
Appears in: " Another Toothpick "
Salvatore Intile, nicknamed "Mustang Sally" for the '85 Mustang convertible he drives, is the godson of Robert Baccalieri, Sr. He dated Tina Francesco, who was an exotic dancer at the Bing and a friend of Adriana La Cerva . Although he is a godson, Salvatore calls him "Uncle Bobby." He is verbally and physically abusive and very possessive with his girlfriends and suffers from anger management problems. In 2000 Ralph Cifaretto says that Salvatore threw a hot dog vendor off a fifth floor mezzanine for serving too much onion on his hotdog. He is callous and has a morbid sense of humor, joking about the attack on Bryan Spatafore with Baccalieri, Sr. Tina and Mustang Sally argued in the street and when Tina urged Bryan Spatafore, of Spatafore Bros construction, who was standing by his truck waiting for a companion, to take her home, Mustang Sally hit Bryan in the forehead with a golf club and beat him to the point where he was in a coma . Bryan Spatafore's brother, Vito Spatafore, was a made man in the Aprile crew at the time. Sally was killed by his godfather, Bobby Bacala, Sr. along with his friend Carlos, as retribution for the beating. He drives a 1985 Mustang GT . He keeps a golf club driver underneath the seat of his car. Although it's not appreciated by his godfather, he associates with Hispanics or as Bobby Bacala Sr. calls them, "greaseballs." He has his right ear shot off when Robert first attempts to execute him with a gunshot to the back of the head as he gets him a glass of water—then after a brief struggle he shoots him in the head.
Murf Lupo
Appears in: " Isabella "
He is a low level associate of Mikey Palmice. He drives a 1982 Chevrolet Camaro . Mikey Palmice uses him as an intermediary to seek out contract killers and organize a hit on Tony Soprano. After given the task Donnie's contract killers fail to fulfill the job, as there are too many witnesses which angers Corrado Soprano. Donnie arrives at a clandestine meeting and after Mikey and Chucky talk to Donnie for a moment, Donnie makes a joke saying "I hear that Tony Soprano's own mother even wants him clipped." Junior reacts poorly to this joke and has Mikey call Donnie back and execute him on the spot.
Phillip "Philly Spoons" Parisi
Appears in: " Guy Walks into a Psychiatrist's Office... ", " Funhouse "
Phillip is Patsy Parisi 's identical twin brother, who was born eleven minutes after him in Bloomfield, New Jersey . The two brothers were extremely close and Pasquale would follow his older brother into a life of organized crime in the DiMeo crime family . He is the uncle to Patrick Parisi and coy with revealing mob information. Unlike his brother he rose in the ranks of the DiMeo crime family and became a capo. He acted as capo of Junior Soprano 's crew following Junior's arrest in 1999. He speaks to Cestone about his time evading federal indictments and the troubles of being a wanted fugitive. It is unknown what the indictments were actually investigating Parisi for at the time. He is executed by Gigi Cestone in 2000, when Philly picked-up and drove Gigi home from the Newark Liberty International Airport . Tony Soprano ordered the hit to silence rumors (which in reality was factual gossip of Tony's troubled personal life at the time) that "Spoons" had been spreading that Tony had tried to smother Livia Soprano. Appeared in Tony's dream while he was suffering from food poisoning as Meadow graduated high school in 2000.
Giuseppe "Beppy" Scerbo
Appears in: " Pilot ", " I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano ", " ...To Save Us All From Satan's Power ", " Calling All Cars ", " Eloise ", " Whitecaps ", " Remember When "
Beppy is an elderly soldier in the Junior Soprano crew, full name Giuseppe Scerbo. Agrees with Junior on the need to kill Pussy Malanga and sides with Junior when Tony tries to persuade Junior into changing the planned location of the hit. Stands by Junior throughout his RICO trial and can often be seen in the courtroom. He also visits Junior in the asylum where Junior currently resides. Joe Pucillo, the actor who portrays Beppy, is the uncle of series creator David Chase.
Charles "Chucky" Signore
Appears in: " Nobody Knows Anything ", " Isabella ", " I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano "
He is a soldier in Uncle Junior's crew. Once it was confirmed that Junior and Mikey organized the failed hit on Tony, the sentiment was that Junior would want to finish what he started. Like Tony Soprano he is an avid yachtsman and boater who owns a runabout which he keeps moored at a Liberty Landing Marina located in Jersey City, New Jersey on the Hudson River. At this point, Tony decided to retaliate. Being that Mikey was now "too high up," the thought was that Chucky would be the most likely person to pull the trigger the next time around. As such, he was taken by surprise at a marina, while in his small boat, and killed by Tony when he reveals a hidden gun in a fish he was carrying and shoots Chucky several times in the chest. Tony and Silvio Dante take Signore's corpse out on his runabout and dispose of it.
Barese crew associates
Appears in: " The Knight in White Satin Armor ", " Proshai, Livushka ", " Fortunate Son ", " Amour Fou ", " For All Debts Public and Private ", " No Show " " The Weight ", " Watching Too Much Television ", " The Strong, Silent Type ", " Rat Pack "
He is a paternal cousin of Larry Boy Barese; acting capo of the Barese crew when Larry Boy was in jail; soldier in the Barese crew.
When Richie Aprile wanted to make a move against Tony Soprano, he approached Albert (who was acting capo at the time) for support, expecting sympathy since both of them had asked Tony for control over garbage routes and been rejected. Albert declined. Once Junior found out Richie couldn't get Albert's support, he decided it was in his best interest to side with Tony instead of Richie. As such, Junior informed Tony about Richie's intent to make a move against him.
The crew's contest for the routes continued as Albert was briefly involved in a "garbage war" with Ralph Cifaretto. This dispute disturbed Tony a great deal, primarily because it was making headlines due to the fires being set by those involved. Tony quickly settled the dispute between the two at a stand-up meeting in his backyard, in which Tony said, "No more fires." Interestingly, the FBI thought this "war" was likely the cause of Richie Aprile's "disappearance."
Albert was also at Eugene Pontecorvo's card game when Jackie Aprile, Jr., Dino Zerilli and Carlo Renzi tried to rob it - Christopher Moltisanti and Albert caught up with Dino as he tried to run away and shot him. It was also at Albert's birthday party that the infamous "weight" remark was said by Ralphie about Ginny Sack.
Albert also has a reputation for repeating, verbatim , whatever is said to him in a conversation by the person speaking to him (Paulie refers to Albert as a parakeet). Albert was also outspoken with Silvio and Patsy, "off the record," about his suspicion (which he was correct about, unbeknownst to him), that it was in fact Tony that assassinated Ralphie over a horse. Albert was a good earner while Larry Boy was away. Silvio once commented to Paulie that he was bringing in more than him.
Lawrence "Larry Boy" Barese
Appears in: " Meadowlands ", " Pax Soprana ", " Boca ", " The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti ", " Nobody Knows Anything ", " Isabella ", " I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano ", " ...To Save Us All From Satan's Power "
Former capo in the DiMeo/Soprano crime family. Present at Christmas celebrations in 1995, in a flashback scene in the episode, "......To Save Us All From Satan's Power."
James "Jimmy" Altieri is a caporegime in the DiMeo Crime Family . Jimmy possesses many similar characteristics to his peers such as Big Pussy Bonpensiero . He has thick black hair and is obese. Jimmy first appears on the show in the episode " Meadowlands ". Very little is known about Altieri, for his existence on the show is brief and is rarely emphasized in the episodes in which he does appear. Jimmy had to have been a capo since at least 1995 because he appears in a flashback sequence during a 95' Christmas Party celebration in the season 3 episode " ...To Save Us All From Satan's Power ". In the episode " Nobody Knows Anything ", Jimmy was arrested for gun charges while running an illegal card game. The FBI found pool tables full of guns. He was probably "flipped" at this time, although it was never proven. Big Pussy Bonpensiero was also present and arrested but was already working for the feds at this point (Agent Skip Lipari stated he had been with them since 1998. Although, it is interesting to note that Tony thinks Pussy "flipped" in 1995).
Vin Makazian, Tony's inside detective (who works clandestinely for Tony and does his dirty work from time to time, which included stalking Dr. Melfi and her date at Tony's request), informs Tony that Big Pussy Bonpensiero is "wired for sound" (that is he is an informant). Tony finds this very difficult to believe and partially denies this to be the truth. Shortly after Jimmy's arrest, he is released. He shows up one night at Tony's home during dinner. He and Tony walk into the basement where Jimmy begins asking Tony a lot of questions. Tony finds Jimmy's behavior very peculiar and also believes he was released too promptly after his arrest. Tony then begins to suspect that Vin Makazian mistook Jimmy for Pussy as they are similar in appearance. Also, Jimmy's behavior deems him as in the informant instead of Pussy despite Pussy's abrupt disappearance after being confronted by Paulie Gualtieri . Earlier in the episode, Vin Makazian, who had suffered from chronic depression, had committed suicide by jumping off a bridge, so Tony was not able to confirm whether or not for sure Vin had gotten Jimmy and Pussy confused. Tony decides to go with his instincts that Jimmy is an informant. Chris remarks to Tony shortly before it is finally concluded that Jimmy is an informant, "If he's wired, it's doing shit for the Feds because all we do is feed em' bullshit now." At a meeting with other administrators and capos, it is apparent to everyone else Jimmy is acting somewhat odd and also deemed an informant. As such, Uncle Junior sanctioned a hit on Jimmy and said he wanted a message to be sent. Christopher lured Jimmy to a hotel room with a beautiful Russian girl as bait. Once Jimmy was seated in the room, Silvio came in and put a gun to the back of his head. Jimmy realized what was about to happen and went for a gun in his ankle holster but was too late. Christopher and Silvio taunt him by saying he should call for help down his microphone (a wire) - at which point Silvio shot him in the back of his head. Given that he didn't deny being a rat when he was at gun point, it is likely that Jimmy was an informant. As for the message, Jimmy's body was found in an alley with a rat stuffed in his mouth. Christopher even went so far as to call in a bomb threat to Jimmy's wake, to which Dante replied, "See now, that's over the top." Carlo Gervasi subsequently takes over Jimmy's crew after Jimmy's demise.
Walden Belfiore
First appears in: " Walk like a Man ", " Kennedy and Heidi ", " The Blue Comet ", " Made in America "
Walden Belfiore was a soldier in the DiMeo Crime Family , and played a small but pivotal role during the show's final episodes. Belfiore was a soldier in the Gervasi crew and thus an assumed soldier in the Gualtieri crew, which succeeded Gervasi's. Walden Belfiore was named after singer Bobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto. He is presumably related to Angie Bonpensiero , whose maiden name is also Belfiore. He was first seen accompanying Carlo Gervasi to a meeting at the Bada Bing and also visited Tony Soprano following the death of Christopher Moltisanti , going to great pains to reassure the others of Gervasi's imminent arrival. Walden was also a bodyguard for Tony Soprano at the safe-house when Tony goes into hiding after the death of Bobby Bacala and the incapacitation of Silvio Dante . In the final episode of the series, Belfiore executes the rival family's boss Phil Leotardo at a gas station with a 9mm slug to Phil's head and chest before making a quick getaway with Benny Fazio in a Chrysler 300 . The Leotardo murder was the 92nd and final on-screen death to occur during the series.
Tony Blundetto
Appears in: " Cold Cuts ", " Live Free or Die ", " Cold Stones "
Member/soldier of Carlo Gervasi 's crew. His last name is supposedly derived from Andrea Doria , the Genoese condottiere and admiral who also had the famous vessel SS Andrea Doria named after him. Terry is a member of the ILA and a dock foreman who is responsible for monitoring incoming shipments through New Jersey ports, and worked with Benny Fazio to track down Vespa scooters that Johnny Sack kept hidden from Tony. Part of the group that went to looking for Vito Spatafore at his goomah's beach house following the revelation that he was homosexual. When Spatafore returned to town, he ran into Doria who then asked to borrow money for child support payments. After Spatafore's death Doria was pleased to have timed his borrowing so well, knowing that since Vito Spatafore is dead he will not have to pay back any off the money he borrowed.
Carlo Gervasi
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Main article: Carlo Gervasi
An elder wiseguy who grew up in the era of Feech La Manna who has risen to the rank of capo in the DiMeo crime family. After his son is arrested for drug dealing, Carlo apparently strikes a deal with the FBI, and is ready to give Grand Jury testimony against Tony in the series finale.
Salvatore "Sammy" Grigio
Appears in: " Commendatori "
Jimmy was an associate of the DiMeo–Soprano crime family, who doubled as a legitimate Elvis impersonator and hired entertainer. He was born and raised in Dover, New Jersey . He does not resemble the young Elvis, but has the image of how Presley appeared circa 1977 around the time of his death. Jimmy styles his hair in the classic 1950s duck tail like Dean Martin . In his home it is shown that he has a ceramic bust of Elvis. Sal Bonpensiero and Agent Skip Lipari met him in a party store somewhere in New Jersey. Pussy introduced Skip as a "friend of ours" from Delaware to make Jimmy believe that Skip was a made man and not an FBI agent. Jimmy was skeptical as he said he had never met any connected guys from Delaware. Pussy was afraid that Jimmy would tell someone about having seen him and Skip so Pussy killed him with a hammer in his own home. Jimmy Bones is the nickname of a mobster used in a Richard Pryor comedy skit in That Nigger's Crazy when Richard discusses working at a " Mafia night club" in Youngstown, Ohio .
Joey Cipollini
Referenced in: " D-Girl "
Christopher Moltisanti tells Jon Favreau and Amy Safir the story of a wiseguy he knew, a made man who received a blowjob from a girl only to discover it was really a man . In revenge for the embarrassment the wiseguy burnt him with acid. Chris doesn't say his name at the time as he can't risk other people finding out but upon seeing that Favreau used it in his script Chris remarked "this is Joey Cipollini's story". Amy says that there is no character named Cipollini indicating this was the mobsters real name.
Raymond "Buffalo Ray" Curto
Appears in: " Two Tonys ", " Rat Pack ", " Where's Johnny? ", " All Happy Families... "
An original gangster who was made in Italy, Feech came over to America in the 1950s and settled in Northern New Jersey where he became involved with the DiMeo crime family, then under the leadership of boss Ercoli 'Eckley' DiMeo . Paulie Walnuts calls him "The King of Breadsticks" because he owns a bakery and catering company. A contemporary of Giovanni "Johnny Boy" Soprano and Corrado "Junior" Soprano , Feech had become one of the most respected and feared capos in the DiMeo family by the 1970s. However, his status did not prevent a young Jackie Aprile, Sr. and Tony Soprano from robbing his card game, and thereby solidifying their status as rising stars in the organization. Despite Feech's anger at having been robbed, Jackie's older brother, Richie Aprile , then a high-ranking earner and soldier in the family, intervened on Tony and Jackie's behalf and got Tony and Jackie a pass. They were also helped by the fact that both Tony's father and uncle were powerful capos under DiMeo.
In 1984, Feech was convicted of criminal charges and began serving a twenty year sentence. In 2004, his sentence was up and he returned to North Jersey to, in his own words, 'get back in the game'.
Feech went to see Tony Soprano, the new boss of North Jersey, and requested his card game back, as well as permission to get back in the action. Tony acquiesced, on the condition that Feech not step on anybody's toes. However, Feech soon got into trouble. After a power struggle with Paulie Walnuts over landscaping. Feech stole cars from Dr. Ira Fried's daughter's wedding. Previously, during a card game, Tony had made it clear that Dr. Fried was a friend and was not to be touched, but Feech went ahead with his plan anyway. Tony realized that Feech still thought of him as a kid, and did not believe that he owed him the respect of the boss. Tony, having learned from his experience with Richie Aprile, indicated to Silvio that things needed to be "nipped in the bud." Tony instructed Christopher Moltisanti and Benny Fazio to convince Feech to keep a truck of stolen plasma screen televisions in his garage. When a different parole officer suddenly appeared at his home, and discovered the televisions, Feech was arrested, and ended up back in prison.
Gennaro "Little Pussy" Malanga
Appears in: " Pilot "
Little Pussy is an old enemy of Uncle Junior. When Junior wants to have him killed, he plans for the hit to occur in Vesuvio - Artie Bucco 's restaurant. Tony, aware that this murder would destroy his friend's business, sought an alternative which would allow Artie to build a new restaurant with fire insurance money. Soon after the hit was planned, Malanga (appearing in a wheelchair) was arraigned by the authorities when he returned to New Jersey from Florida. News footage of the charges was seen by Tony's crew, so Tony acted quickly and took the advice of Hesh Rabkin to send Silvio Dante to start a fire at the restaurant so the hit must occur elsewhere.
The only other significant mention of Malanga is when Tony says to Junior that he's been dead "six years now" in the Season 6 premiere episode " Members Only ". However, Junior's dementia causes him to believe that Tony is Little Pussy when he shoots him in the same episode. He is loosely based on, by nickname only, New Jersey mobster Anthony "Little Pussy" Russo .
Romeo Martin
Referenced in: " The Happy Wanderer "
Fritzie Nesti is an associate or soldier of the DiMeo/Soprano crime family. Christopher Moltisanti warns Matthew Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte about Silvio Dante 's behavior while gambling with a story wherein Silvio was down $50,000 in a card game. At some point he sneezes and Fritzie says " salut' " Silvio thinks he says something else. Silvio then blames Fritzi for his losing streak for the rest of the game. A person named Fritzie in Boston is mentioned by Christopher in " Members Only ", whether this is the same Fritzie is unclear however. Sean Gismonte asks Christopher if it's Fritzie from Hoboken, Christopher says "Yeah, you know him?"
Francesco "Cicci" Sasso
Appears in: " 46 Long "
He is a Hispanic garment truck driver for Comley Trucking - an organization under Junior Soprano's protection and constantly robbed by Soprano crew associate Brendan Filone. He was accidentally killed in a hijack attempt led by Brendan when Special K dropped his gun. His transport truck and his shipment of Italian suits, with several taken by Tony Soprano and Silvio Dante is returned by Christopher. The Comley Trucking foreman was an associate of Corrado Junior who tips off Moltisanti of shipments to hijack. This death enrages Junior Soprano and is resolved by executing Brendan Filone and ordering a mock execution for Christopher Moltisanti .
Ariel
Appears in: " Pilot ", " House Arrest ", " The Knight in White Satin Armor "
Richard "Dick" Barone owned and operated Barone sanitation - a front business for the Soprano crew that also handled their legitimate garbage hauling routes. In 1999 the Triborough Towers route was subject to a bidding war between Barone and Kolar Brothers Sanitation. Dick Barone was part of the crews discussions about the problem and was at Satriale's when Christopher Moltisanti took it upon himself to deal with the issue and murder Emil Kolar . Chris' action led to the Kolar Bros. withdrawing their bid which Dick was happy to report to Tony.
In 2000, Dick attended the Garbagemen's Ball alongside "Waste Management Consultant" Tony Soprano .
Dick died a well-respected businessman in 2006 from Lou Gehrig's disease . His funeral was attended by many members of the Soprano crime family. Dick was survived by his wife, Helen Barone, and son, Jason. Following his death, Barone Sanitation was bought out by Lupertazzi crime family firm, Cinelli Sanitation.
Vic Caputo
Appears in: " Johnny Cakes "
Vic Caputo is the manager of Caputo's Poultry - a small business in the neighborhood around the Satriale's meat market. It's also a front, a Bookie is being run in the building. Tony Soprano is Caputo's landlord and he also pays protection to Patsy Parisi . Vic is forced to move his business when Tony sells the property in 2006. Tony had misgivings about the sale, partially due to his sense of loyalty to Vic and because Caputo's had been in the neighborhood since Tony's childhood, but eventually the offer was too high for him to resist. Vic complains to Patsy about the juice company that has bought the building.
Warren Dupree
Appears in: " Do Not Resuscitate ", " No Show ", " Rat Pack "
Owner of Massarone Construction, sometimes referred to as "Black" Jack Massarone. The Soprano crew had an interest in Massarone's construction company. In 2000 Jack was the unwitting victim of a shakedown - black protesters caused work to cease at one of his sites by picketing because they thought his employment policies were racist. He paid Tony Soprano to intervene on his behalf and Tony organized a gang of mob associates to break up the protest. Tony had actually orchestrated the protest through his contact Reverend James, Jr. Massarone Construction was later involved in Soprano construction schemes like the Esplanade project and HUD scam.
In 2004, Jack had become a federal informant and wore a wire concealed in a baseball cap to several meetings with Tony. Tony realized something was wrong when Jack started acting extra kind to him, and doing him favors such as presenting him with a framed picture of the Rat Pack at a meeting and asking him if he had lost weight. Jack was murdered and found in the trunk of his car with a rat in his mouth - a message that his killers knew he was a rat.
Hillel Teittleman
Appears in: " Denial, Anger, Acceptance ", " The Happy Wanderer ", " Funhouse ", " Luxury Lounge "
A practicing Chassidic Jew and co-owner of The Fly Away Motel. In 1999 his brother-in-law Ariel used his ending marriage to negotiate a share in the Teitlemann's motel where he had worked for his whole life. However, Hillel's father Shlomo contracted the Soprano family to intimidate Ariel against Hillel's advice. Unfortunately for Hillel the Soprano family also got a share in the business and in 2000 Hillel was still working at the motel and facilitating their business there - prostitution and the "executive game"—a high-stakes poker game—which Hilell later complains to Paulie Walnuts and Silvio Dante about, angering them greatly due to the fact of all the business they bring the hotel. In 2006 Hillel was involved in Benny Fazio 's credit card number scheme - selling card information to Soprano crew associate Murmur.
Shlomo Teittleman
Appears in: " Denial, Anger, Acceptance "
A practicing Chassidic Jew and co-owner of the Flyaway Motel. Father of Hillel Teitlemann. In 1999 Teitlemann hired the Soprano crew to settle a dispute with his son-in-law Ariel. His daughter wanted a divorce but Ariel would not leave without a 50% share in the business because he had spent his life working in the family motel. An amicable solution was eventually brokered - the divorce was to go through for a 15% share in the motel to the son-in-law. Because he had organized his own solution Teitlemann tried to pay the Sopranos off with cash instead of the promised share in the business - Tony refused this and insisted on his promised 25%. Teitlemann was left with a worse deal than before he involved the mafia - 40% of his business still gone but now he was partnered with the mob. The crew uses the motel for meetings, illegal business, prostitution and to host the executive game.
Maurice Tiffen
Appears in: " Watching Too Much Television "
Maurice was a African-American college friend of Ronald Zellman. In 2002 he was married with two sons. Maurice worked with charitable organizations for many years eventually becoming disillusioned and embittered by the lack of real change he effected. Zellman put Maurice in touch with Tony Soprano in 2002 to work a scam defraudng the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Maurice bought houses in poor neighbourhoods with the promise of cleaning them up using HUD loans; he would later default on the loans, claiming that the project had soured and walking away with a share of the money. He is a philanthropist and large supporter of charity work who organized a Youth Outreach Program for troubled and homeless adolescence. He is told by Zellman to hire some delinquents to steal a car and shoot up one of the homes to clear out drug addicts and dealers operating there.
Hired goons
Appears in: " 46 Long "
One of Brendan Filone's goons involved in robbing Comley trucking shipments under the protection of Uncle Junior. He accompanies Brendan and Antjuan on a heist even after Junior had made Brendan and Chris pay tribute for robbing his trucks. He pretends to be able to drive a truck when he really can't and he accidentally drops his gun when exiting the vehicle. The gun discharged when it hit the ground and the ricochet bullet killed Hector Anthony, the driver. Special K flees the scene along with Antjuan and Brendan ends up getting punished for the accident. The name "Special K" is both a brand of Kelloggs breakfast cereal and a slang term for the drug ketamine .
Italo and Salvatore
Appears in: " Luxury Lounge ", " The Blue Comet " (Italo only)
A pair of Italian hitmen from the Naples -based Camorra the Soprano family has close ties with. Tony refers to them as the "tailors", "cousins", or " zips ". They are hired to assassinate Rusty Millio as a favor to Johnny Sack, and succeed, killing Rusty and his bodyguard, Eddie Pietro. Later, Italo and Roberto, a fellow Neapolitan hitman, are hired to assassinate Phil Leotardo, but in a case of mistaken identity Italo murders Yarnya, Phil's housemaid and mistress , and her elderly father, who looks remarkably like Phil in a brutal double homicide which is later reported in the newspapers and on television due to their execution style murders.
The pair are given orders through Corky Caporale , Christopher Moltisanti's drug-addled associate, because he speaks fluent Italian, and the two speak little English.
Other criminal associates
Appear in: " Join the Club ", " Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request ", " Luxury Lounge ", " Kaisha ", " Chasing It "
Muslim associates of Christopher. They are frequent customers at the Bing and seek help from Chris in acquiring stolen credit cards and TEC-9 semi-automatic pistols which are suspected to help with terrorist activities in the United States . They are suspected sleeper cell terrorists for Al Qaeda by Tony and Chris. Tony passed their names and Ahmed's cell phone number to the FBI in a pang of conscience and later passes details of their merchant bank to the FBI hoping to gain whereabouts on Phil Leotardos location.
Augusto "Little Auggie" Aprile
Referenced in: " Employee of the Month "
A mob figure well known enough for Dr. Elliot Kupferberg to assume that Dr. Melfi was treating him when her real patient was Tony Soprano. It is not known whether he was a paternal relative of Jackie Aprile, Sr. or a member of the DiMeo/Soprano crime family. Due to the fact that Dr. Melfi is a psychiatrist, it is assumed by the inquiry by Dr. Kupferberg that Augusto Aprile either is known to demonstrate psychotic behavior or anger management issues for needing to actually see a psychiatrist. Then again, it could just be that Dr. Kupferberg is confusing names, and that there is no such character.
Joseph "Joey" Cogo
Appears in: " For All Debts Public and Private "
Barry Haydu was a Detective-Lieutenant with the Clifton, New Jersey police force until his retirement in 2002. Haydu was the investigating officer in the killing of Dickie Moltisanti. The night he was murdered, he came home from his retirement party wearing a Hawaiian shirt and a few novelty leis around his neck. Tony told Christopher that Haydu was also responsible for his father's death. According to Tony, Haydu was a gambler with serious debts back when he was a uniform cop. Haydu performed contract killings to stave off his debts and Dickie was named a target for Haydu by "Jilly" Ruffalo after Dickie gouged out Jilly's eye. When Christopher asked why Haydu was allowed to live Tony said that he had been useful, but now that he was retiring his usefulness had come to an end. Christopher remembered being told that it was a cop that killed his father.
Christopher broke into Haydu's home and waited for him to return from his retirement party. Chris surprised Haydu and knocked him out, handcuffing him to a staircase so he could question him. Haydu awoke with Christopher watching Magnum P.I. . Haydu denied any involvement in Dickie's death but Chris states that it does not really matter because Tony wanted Haydu dead. Chris then turns up the volume on the television all the way and proceeds to shoot Haydu twice with his own service revolver. Chris placed the gun back in Haydu's hand staging the crime scene to look like a suicide.
Kamal
Appears in: " Pilot ", " The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti "
Emil is a Czech American , graduated from West Essex High School , and was involved in varsity football at the same time Christopher Moltisanti's cousin was enrolled. He is a recreational cocaine user. He is murdered by Christopher in Satriale's, with the dubious honor of being the first on-screen casualty in "The Sopranos". Emil's wealthy family is involved in the New Jersey waste management business. At the time of his execution his family's waste sanitation corporation is involved in a bidding contract war over garbage routes controlled by Soprano family front organization Barone Sanitation. Chris lured him to Satriale's under the pretense of seeking an amicable solution to the problem. Chris calls Emil "Email" several times at Satriale's, before "whacking" him. Chris killed Emil without authorization from the family in an effort to gain recognition and rise through the ranks. Big Pussy helped Chris dispose of the body, and later Chris and Georgie (the bartender/bouncer at the Bing) move the body as Chris becomes paranoid after dreaming about Emil. The body is buried on the grounds of Pat Blundetto 's farmhouse, where Chris and Tony Blundetto are forced to move it a third time after the land is sold to developers. The bones are broken up and thrown in the bottom of a lake.
Rene LeCours
Appears in: " Soprano Home Movies "
He is the estranged Brother in law to a French -speaking French-Canadian Quebecer who was supplying Tony Soprano with the prescription drug Labetalol that they were smuggling from Canada at an agreed price. He is a follower of Bohemian and Rastafari movement culture by having natty dreadlock type hair. Rene had divorced from the Quebecer's sister and as a result the two were involved in a dispute over custody of their child. It is suggested that he is only battling over custody of their child in a vain attempt to have his wife make amends and come back to him. He is negligent of his alimony and child support checks. The Quebecers agreed to drop the price of the Labetalo if Tony organized someone to "take care of their problems". Tony appointed Bobby to do the hit. Bobby managed to track down Rene at the laundry room of his apartment and shot him in the chest, leaving him choking for breath on the floor. Earlier in the episode Tony had pointed out that Bobby had yet to kill anyone unlike his father who was referred to as a " Terminator " so Bobby walked forward and shot LeCours.
Alex Mahaffey
Appears in: " Pilot "
Alex is a CPA who worked for Blue Cross. Tony chases him across Blue Cross' property with Christopher's car and strikes him with the car. He breaks his leg, after which Christopher and Tony administered a beating for the insult. However, as the debt was quite large, Hesh was reluctant to have Alex killed. Tony, who recently paid $1,000 for an MRI, came up with the idea of committing Medicaid fraud. He ordered Big Pussy and Hesh to accompany Alex to the Great Falls in Patterson to propose working off his debt in this manner. Pussy reassured Mahaffey that their fake bills looked akin to genuine ones, and they would protect him from fraud investigation in order to recoup the debt. When Pussy threw litter into Great Falls, Alex seemed to get the impression he would suffer the same fate, so he started talking with Hesh to put the plan in motion, making whacking unneccesary.
Vin Makazian
Appears in: " Meadowlands ", " Pax Soprana ", " Boca ", " Nobody Knows Anything ", " The Test Dream "
Vin Makazian was a police detective who fed information to Tony Soprano . Tony also used Vin as an investigator, engaging Vin to find information about Dr. Melfi when Tony first started therapy in 1999. Vin was over-enthusiastic in this role, having misunderstood the relationship between Tony and Dr. Melfi. He tailed her and pulled her over, beating up her companion unprovoked and chastising her for being out with a man he refers to as "hamburger, when you've got prime rib at home." Vin later told Tony that he had taken photographs of Melfi undressing from outside her home. Vin is loosely based on Gambino crime family capo Salvatore Reale .
Vin was responsible for informing Tony that Pussy Bonpensiero was a rat, prompting Tony's suspicions of Pussy.
Makazian frequented a brothel and had a friendship with the madam there. He was arrested at the brothel along with Soprano crime family capo Raymond Curto . Vin committed suicide by jumping off the Donald Goodkind Bridge shortly after his arrest. Tony visited the madam who he had a therapeutic relationship with and she divulges to Tony that Vin looked to him as a friend and like Tony was prone to depression, this leaves Tony depressed as he too dealt with depression and had always treated the detective with disdain.
Vin appeared in the episode " The Test Dream " in Tony's titular dream as the father of Finn De Trolio (Meadow Soprano's fiancée). Tony's subconscious may have put the two together because of their similar sounding names.
Massive Genius
Appears in: " A Hit Is a Hit "
Massive Genius was a successful rapper and music producer. In 1999 he met with Christopher Moltisanti and Adrianna La Cerva by chance at a fast food burger restaurant in New York City where Chris offended the predominantly black customers by making several racially charged remarks about welfare and food stamps . Massive's crew were ready to start something but a police officer intervened informing them that Chris was a soldier/associate with the Soprano crew who was soon to be a made man , and that the scuffle would be a bad idea in the long run for the group.
Massive approached Chris and invited him to a party at his home — Ade recognized him and insisted they attend. Massive's reasons for starting the association seemed to be twofold — he was interested in Ade and a member of his family had been involved with Soprano advisor/associate Herman "Hesh" Rabkin 's former record label and he was seeking money for a relative. Massive had become involved in Ade's aspirations of becoming a music producer and listened to a demo tape she made. He also had Chris arrange a sitdown with Hesh where it seemed violence might break out — however Massive instead threatened litigation if payment was not forthcoming. He apparently demurred when Hesh pointed out that Massive had illegally sampled a song to which Hesh owned the rights, and that if Massive should sue him, he would counter-sue. It is assumed that they settled or dropped the matter as they were at loggerheads, litigation wise and it is not referenced again throughout the series run .
Matush Giamona
Appears in: " The Telltale Moozadell ", Amour Fou ", Long Term Parking "
An Ecstasy dealer who has had some association with Soprano/DiMeo business over the years. He was often found in and around the Crazy Horse club owned by Adriana LaCerva, and initially Furio and Chris were hostile to him and threw him off the premises. With the reassurance of Jackie Jr. he returned to dealing outside the club and was put in the hospital by Furio, in traction with his jaw wired shut. Matush was later recruited as a driver in Jackie Junior's failed robbery of a card game in 2001. He bolted with the car as soon as the robbery went awry leaving Dino Zerilli to be caught and killed and forcing Jackie Jr. to improvise his own escape. He is also a close friend of unfortunate card-game stick up man Carlo Renzi . He is most likely the drug dealer for Jackie Aprile, Jr. , Dino Zerilli and Carlo Renzi .
In 2004 Matush had returned to dealing at the Crazy Horse - Ade's drug habit and Furio's disappearance made the club more welcoming. He murdered an upset customer, named Gilbert Nieves, in Ade's office and forced her to help him dispose of the body. Another dealer, Kamal, was also involved. This was recorded by FBI surveillance outside and was instrumental in Ade's attempt to flip Christopher that resulted in her death. In Season 6, Agent Harris, in a conversation with Chris, implied that Matush was either sympathetic to extremist Muslim groups or involved in a terrorist group in some capacity.
Harold Melvoin
Appears in: " Boca ", " Do Not Resuscitate ", " The Knight in White Satin Armor ", " Another Toothpick ", " Christopher ", " Pie-O-My ", " In Camelot ", " Calling All Cars ", " Eloise ", " Whitecaps ", " Where's Johnny? ", " In Camelot ", " The Test Dream "
Harold Melvoin was Junior Soprano's lawyer from 1999–2004. Also known as Mel and Hal. Following Junior's arrest on Federal Racketeering charges Mel allowed him to use his office to conduct business as it was one of the few places he was allowed to visit while under house arrest.
He conducted Junior's defense throughout his first RICO trial and helped Junior with schemes like pretending a minor head injury on the court house steps had affected his capacity to stand trial.
After suffering a stroke which affects his ability to speak, Melvoin is fired by Junior, who considers his attorney's weakened condition a reminder of his own mortality.
Neil Mink
Appears in: " Guy Walks into a Psychiatrist's Office... ", " Bust Out ", " House Arrest ", " Funhouse ", " Mergers and Acquisitions ", " All Due Respect ", " Soprano Home Movies ", " Made in America "
Tony Soprano's lawyer. Advises Tony to stay off the street and distance himself from the day-to-day work of his crew — this contributes to Tony insulating himself by communicating through closely trusted friends wherever possible. In the final episode Made in America Mink informs Tony that the government most likely will indict him on federal weapons charges steming from the arrest made in Soprano Home Movies at the beginning of the season, and it is strongly inferred that he could be facing jail time for it.
Willie Overall
Appears in: " Pax Soprana "
Rusty is a small-time Irish-American Newark, New Jersey drug dealer who is blamed for the death of a teenage boy by Junior Soprano . The boy is the son of a friend of Corrado Soprano's tailor. The boy committed suicide during a drug induced psychosis after buying drugs from Rusty. Mikey Palmice , along with Joseph Marino, threw Rusty off a bridge in 1999, on behalf of Junior. Rusty was associated with the Larry Barese crew, and was its biggest earner. Larry Boy Barese was angered that Mikey killed Rusty, without approaching him for consultation first, and thought of this as a sign that Junior was abusing his new position as boss of the DiMeo crime family .
"Yo-Yo" Mendez
Appears in: " Christopher "
Doug Smith is the CEO of Mohank Casino (a pun on the Indian word Mohunk ). Hesh puts Tony in touch with Doug Smith to try and settle a racial dispute about Christopher Columbus Day. Smith says guys like Del Redclay, the professor who is protesting honoring Columbus, are stuck in ivory towers and out of touch with the problems of present day Indians. Silvio is surprised about Doug Smith's white skin and remarks that he thought the Mohanks were extinct, to which Smith says he claims his status as chief through his great-grandmother, who was 1/4 Mohank. Through lax gaming laws, Smith has managed the Mohank casino. He fails to intimidate Redclay and offers Tony's crew a complimentary day at the Mohank Casino to make it up to them. Tony later annoying says to Silvio that Doug swayed him to get Frankie Valli to appear at the Mohank Casino, and now it is incumbent on Silvio to get him to appear.
Teddy Spirodakis
Appears in: " ...To Save Us All From Satan's Power ", " Pine Barrens "
Valery was an associate of the Russian mob acquainted with Tony Soprano through his business association with the organization. He is based on real life Russian mobster counterpart Bosko Radonjich who had ties to The Westies and La Cosa Nostra . Valery was shown as a heavy drinker and volatile alcoholic who got into debt with the Soprano crew — specifically Silvio Dante . He is fluent in both his native Russian language and English language . Coming from poverty and hardship, Valery enjoys the wealthy and prosperous American lifestyle investing widely in state of the art television, stereo system and other modern day commodities that he was deprived of in his home country. The Russian boss Slava demanded Valery retire the debt in order to keep up excellent relations with the Soprano crew. Slava also revealed to Tony that they served together in the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation and he loves Valery like a brother for saving his life; but wants Valery to sober up from his alcoholism (he drinks Smirnoff ) and drug addiction. Paulie Walnuts and Christopher Moltisanti visited him to collect his payment, where Valery easily agreed to collection by readily handing over the envelope of money and offering the two men vodka , but Paulie started intentionally being careless with Valery's electronic equipment, which caused a brawl and the two believed they had killed Valery. They drove out to the Pine Barrens to dispose of him but when they arrived he was awake and had bitten through the tape they used to restrain him. They marched him into the snow to dig his own grave and laughed at him for being poorly dressed in winter, but Valery yelled in his native Russian that Pine Barrens is nothing compared to the Russian tundra , to which he then attacked an overconfident Paulie and Christopher with the shovel they gave him and escaped. Unbeknownst to Paulie and Christopher, Valery had been a member of the Spetsnaz in his native Russia, and fought in Chechen Republic of Ichkeria during what is assumed to be the Second Chechen War which began in 1999 with a confirmed 16 kills. Paulie claimed to have shot him in the head (as Valery was running to get away), but there is speculation that he survived - even though Paulie clearly hit Valery's head, he was still seen running. Paulie and Christopher, unprepared for the rigors of outdoor life, start to freeze and become scared Valery may be stalking them in order to kill them. Valery's body was never found, and Paulie's car was stolen from the remote location where it was parked in the wilderness although it is never confirmed if it was Valery (or someone else) who stole it. Tony chastises Paulie for his recklessness over a simple collection matter, especially one where the debtor readily presented payment. Tony says because the car was stolen with Valery's money, now Paulie is responsible for Valery's debt to Silvio, and that if Valery is ever to return to civilization, Paulie will be brought to task before Slava.
An HBO promo shows notable characters who have been murdered over the course of the series and displays each character's name and the episode number and title in which he or she met his demise. Valery is featured, and 'Episode #37' is displayed as the episode of his death. However, there is a question mark at the end of the episode number for Valery, leaving some doubt about his demise.
Ronald Zellman
Appears in: " Proshai, Livushka ", " Employee of the Month ", " Another Toothpick ", " For All Debts Public and Private ", " Christopher ", " Watching Too Much Television "
Ronald Zellman was an assemblyman (member of the lower house of the state legislature ) and acted as a political operative on behalf of the Soprano crime family. He aided them in securing the Esplanade construction contract. Ronald was a friend of Reverend James Junior and they attended Livia Soprano's funeral together. Zellman was instrumental in having a cop that gave Tony a speeding ticket removed from patrol and assigned to the evidence locker, where he was no longer eligible for overtime and ends up working in a garden center to make up the lost pay. Tony later regretted this and considered asking Zellman to move him back. But, after the officer displays attitude Tony doesn't like at the garden center (including refusing a large cash tip Tony offers him), Tony tells Zellman: "Fuck 'im." Zellman also helped Tony set up the HUD scam by introducing him to Maurice Tiffen, a friend of Zellman's from his days at the University of Michigan .
Zellman began dating Tony's ex comàre , Irina, in 2002. Tony initially gave them his blessing. He later arrived at their home and beat Zellman with a belt. Irina left Zellman some time after this because he was no longer able to perform in bed. Although Tony and Zellman have not been shown meeting since the incident, he turned to the now State Senator Zellman in 2006, allowing AJ to be released from police custody following his abortive attempt to murder his great-uncle Junior.
Annalisa Zucca
Appears in: " Commendatori ", " Funhouse "
The beautiful and curvaceous daughter of Zi Vittorio, head of the Neapolitan famiglia which is the Camorra a mafia-like criminal organization, or secret society, in the region of Campania and the city of Naples in Italy. She is also the wife of the acting Camorra boss, Mauro Zucca, who is currently serving a life sentence, and a distant cousin of Tony Soprano.
When Tony took over Junior's luxury car "export" business, he went over to visit Zi Vittorio in Naples to discuss the parameters of their arrangement. When he finally meets Zi Vittorio, Tony finds that he's a senile, wheelchair-using old man - and it is, in fact, Annalisa who runs the organization now. Tony finds this hard to accept at first, as the American Mafia will likely never have a female don, but eventually works out a deal with Annalisa — he would cut the price of the cars he supplies to Naples, in exchange for her to supply him with members of her organization. This resulted in Furio Giunta being sent over to the States, and later on with Tony being supplied with the hitmen to take care of the hit on Rusty Millio , and Philip "Phil" Leotardo (which resulted in his girlfriend and her father mistakenly getting killed).
Annalisa is known to save her nail clippings, which Tony observed her doing while staying at her home. When he inquired as to why, she explained that she has them burned — if her enemies obtained her nail or hair clippings, she stated they could, "make the evil on you."
Tony also had a brief flirtation with Annalisa while in Italy but she politely avoided his interest, keeping things strictly business. She later on appeared to be a bit more receptive to the idea, while they were in an ancient cave discussing the sibyl and premonitions , but Tony turned her down, saying, "Non fare la merda dove mangio … I don't shit where I eat."
Annalisa reminds Tony of Dr. Jennifer Melfi , probably because of her beauty, strength, and perceptiveness — he implies this to Annalisa in the ancient cave as well. In the Season 2 finale, " Funhouse ," during one of Tony's fever dreams (which were induced by a bout of food poisoning), he envisions Annalisa speaking to him in Dr. Melfi's office during a therapy session. Further, some scenes involving Tony and Annalisa were prefigured by his earlier interactions with Isabella , implying that both Isabella and Annalisa symbolise Tony's idealised image of women in Italy.
Annalisa is last referenced in the sixth season, " Live Free or Die ", in which Tony mentions to Chris that she is sending two associates over from Naples to execute Rusty Millio .
Mauro Zucca
| Crazy Horse |
In the US television show ‘The Sopranos’, what is the name of the race horse owned by Tony Soprano and Ralph Cifarreto? | The Sopranos The Complete~720p~2014~$$CAPOBOSS666$$+BOUNISES - 🔥Demonoid🔥
Original run January 10, 1999 – June 10, 2007
External links
Website
The Sopranos is an American television series created by David Chase. Revolving around the fictional New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), the show portrays the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the conflicting requirements of his home life and his criminal organization. These are often highlighted during his therapy sessions with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). The series features Tony's family members and Mafia colleagues and rivals in prominent roles and story arcs, most notably his wife Carmela (Edie Falco) and his cousin and protégé Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli).
After a pilot was ordered in 1997, the show premiered on the premium cable network HBO in the United States on January 10, 1999, and ended its original run of six seasons and 86 episodes on June 10, 2007. The series then went through syndication and has been broadcast on A&E in the United States and internationally.[1] The Sopranos was produced by HBO, Chase Films, and Brad Grey Television. It was primarily filmed at Silvercup Studios, New York City, and on location in New Jersey. The executive producers throughout the show's run were Chase, Brad Grey, Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess, Ilene S. Landress, Terence Winter, and Matthew Weiner.
The Sopranos has been regarded by some as the greatest television series of all time.[2][3][4][5] The series also won a multitude of awards, including Peabody Awards for its first two seasons, twenty-one Emmy Awards and five Golden Globe Awards. A staple of 2000s American popular culture, the series has been the subject of critical analysis, controversy, and parody, and has spawned books,[6] a video game,[7] high-charting soundtrack albums, and a large amount of assorted merchandise.[8] Several members of the show's cast and crew who were previously largely unknown to the public have had successful careers after The Sopranos.[9][10][11][12] In 2013, the Writers Guild of America named The Sopranos the best-written TV series of all time,[13] while TV Guide ranked it the best television series of all time.[14]
Contents [hide]
Production[edit]
Conception[edit]
Before creating The Sopranos, David Chase had worked as a television producer for more than 20 years.[15][16] He had been employed as a staff writer/producer for several television series (including Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Switch, The Rockford Files, I'll Fly Away, and Northern Exposure[17][18]) and had co-created one short-lived original series, Almost Grown, in 1988.[19][20] He made his television directorial debut in 1986 with the "Enough Rope for Two" episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents revival. He also directed episodes of Almost Grown and I'll Fly Away in 1988 and 1992, respectively. In 1996, he wrote and directed the television film The Rockford Files: Punishment and Crime.[18] He served as showrunner for I'll Fly Away and Northern Exposure in the 1990s. Chase won his first Emmy Award in 1978 for his work on The Rockford Files (shared with fellow producers) and his second for writing the 1980 television film Off the Minnesota Strip.[21][22] By 1996, he was a coveted showrunner.[23]
"I want to tell a story about this particular man. I want to tell the story about the reality of being a mobster—or what I perceive to be the reality of life in organized crime. They aren't shooting each other every day. They sit around eating baked ziti and betting and figuring out who owes who money. Occasionally, violence breaks out—more often than it does in the banking world, perhaps."
—David Chase, creator and showrunner of The Sopranos[24]
The story of The Sopranos was initially conceived as a feature film about "a mobster in therapy having problems with his mother."[19] After some input from his manager, Lloyd Braun, Chase decided to adapt it into a television series.[19] In 1995, Chase signed a development deal with production company Brillstein-Grey and wrote the original pilot script.[16][21][25]
Drawing heavily from his personal life and his experiences growing up in New Jersey, Chase has stated that he tried to "apply [his own] family dynamic to mobsters."[24] For instance, the tumultuous relationship between series protagonist Tony Soprano and his mother, Livia, is partially based on Chase's relationship with his own mother.[24] Chase was also in therapy at the time and modeled the character of Dr. Jennifer Melfi after his own psychiatrist.[26] Chase had been fascinated by organized crime and the Mafia from an early age, witnessing such people growing up, and having been raised on classic gangster films like The Public Enemy and the crime series The Untouchables. The series is partly inspired by the Boiardo family, a prominent New Jersey organized crime family when Chase was growing up, and partly on New Jersey's DeCavalcante Family.[27] Chase has mentioned American playwrights Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams as influences on his and the show's writing and Italian director Federico Fellini as an important influence on the show's cinematic style.[23][28][29] The series was named after high school friends of his.[15][26] Like the majority of the characters on the show, Chase is Italian-American. His original family name is DeCesare.[30]
"I said to myself, this show is about a guy who's turning 40. He's inherited a business from his dad. He's trying to bring it into the modern age. He's got all the responsibilities that go along with that. He's got an overbearing mom that he's still trying to get out from under. Although he loves his wife, he's had an affair. He's got two teenage kids, and he's dealing with the realities of what that is. He's anxious; he's depressed; he starts to see a therapist because he's searching for the meaning of his own life. I thought: the only difference between him and everybody I know is he's the Don of New Jersey."
—Chris Albrecht, president of HBO Original Programming, 1995–2002.[16][31]
Chase and producer Brad Grey, then of Brillstein-Grey, pitched The Sopranos to several networks; Fox showed interest but passed on it after Chase presented them the pilot script.[25] Chase and Grey eventually pitched the show to Chris Albrecht, at the time president of HBO Original Programming, who decided to finance the shooting of a pilot episode.[16][21]
The pilot episode—originally referred to as "Pilot" but renamed to "The Sopranos" on the DVD release—was shot in 1997;[32] Chase directed it himself.[18] After the pilot was finished and shown to the HBO executives, the show was put on hold for several months. During this time, Chase considered asking HBO for additional funding to shoot 45 more minutes of footage and release The Sopranos as a feature film. In December 1997, HBO decided to produce the series and ordered 12 more episodes for a 13-episode season.[16][21][33] The show premiered on HBO on January 10, 1999 with the pilot episode. The Sopranos was the second hour-long television drama series produced by HBO, the first being the prison drama Oz.
Casting[edit]
Like the characters they portray on the show, many of the actors on The Sopranos are Italian-American. Many cast members had appeared together in films and television series before joining the cast of The Sopranos. The series shares a total of 27 actors with the 1990 Martin Scorsese gangster film, Goodfellas, including main cast members Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli, and Tony Sirico.[34]
Cast members James Gandolfini (right) and Tony Sirico (left) visit with a member of the U.S. Air Force during a USO visit to Southwest Asia.
The main cast was put together through a process of auditions and readings. Actors often did not know whether Chase liked their performances or not.[16] Michael Imperioli, who beat out several actors for the part of Christopher Moltisanti, recalls "He's got a poker face, so I thought he wasn't into me, and he kept giving me notes and having me try it again, which often is a sign that you're not doing it right. I thought, I'm not getting this. So he said, 'Thank you,' and I left. I didn't expect to hear back. And then they called." Chase also said he wanted Imperioli because he had been in Goodfellas.[16] James Gandolfini was invited to audition for the part of Tony Soprano after casting director Susan Fitzgerald saw a short clip of his performance in the 1993 film True Romance.[16] Lorraine Bracco, who had played the role of mob wife Karen Hill in Goodfellas, was originally asked to play the role of Carmela Soprano. She took the role of Dr. Jennifer Melfi instead because she wanted to try something different and felt the part of the highly educated Dr. Melfi would be more of a challenge for her.[35] Tony Sirico, who has a criminal background,[36] signed on to play Paulie Walnuts as long as his character was not to be a "rat".[37] Chase invited musician "Little Steven" Van Zandt (known as the guitarist of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band) to audition for a part in his series after seeing him live at the 1997 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony and being impressed with his appearance and presence. Van Zandt, who had never acted before, originally auditioned for the role of Tony Soprano but felt the role should go to an experienced actor.[35] Van Zandt eventually agreed to star on the show as mob consigliere Silvio Dante and his real-life spouse Maureen was cast as his on-screen wife, Gabriella.[38][39][40]
With the exception of Oscar nominee Bracco (Goodfellas), Dominic Chianese (The Godfather Part II, along with stage work) and Emmy-winner Nancy Marchand (Lou Grant), the cast of the debut season of the series consisted of largely unknown actors. After the breakthrough success of the show, many cast members were noted for their acting ability and received mainstream attention for their performances.[16][41] Subsequent seasons saw some established actors (Joe Pantoliano, Robert Loggia, Steve Buscemi, Frank Vincent[42]) join the starring cast along with well-known actors in recurring roles such as Peter Bogdanovich, John Heard,[43] Robert Patrick,[44] Peter Riegert,[45] Annabella Sciorra,[42] and David Strathairn.[46] Several well-known actors appeared in just one or two episodes, such as Charles S. Dutton,[47] Ken Leung,[48] Ben Kingsley, Lauren Bacall, Daniel Baldwin, Tim Kang, Elias Koteas, Annette Bening, Sydney Pollack, Hal Holbrook and Burt Young.[49]
Crew[edit]
Series creator and executive producer David Chase served as showrunner and head writer for the production of all six seasons of the show. He was deeply involved with the general production of every episode and is noted for being a very controlling, demanding and specific producer.[15][22] In addition to writing or co-writing 2–7 episodes per season, Chase would oversee all the editing, consult with episode directors, give actors character motivation, approve casting choices and set designs and do extensive but uncredited re-writes of episodes written by other writers.[41][50][51] Brad Grey served as executive producer alongside Chase, but had no creative input on the show.[52] Many members of the creative team behind The Sopranos were handpicked by Chase, some being old friends and colleagues of his; others were selected after interviews conducted by producers of the show.[16][42]
Many of the show's writers worked in television prior to joining the writing staff of The Sopranos. Writing team and married couple Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, who worked on the series as writers and producers from the first to the fifth season, had previously worked with Chase on Northern Exposure.[53] Terence Winter, who joined the writing staff during the production of the second season and served as executive producer from season five onwards, practiced law for two years before deciding to pursue a career as a screenwriter. He eventually caught the attention of Chase through writer Frank Renzulli.[23][54] Matthew Weiner, who served as staff writer and producer for the show's fifth and sixth seasons, wrote a spec script for the series Mad Men in 2000. The script was passed on to Chase who, after reading it, was so impressed that he immediately offered Weiner a job as a writer for The Sopranos.[55] Cast members Michael Imperioli and Toni Kalem, who portray Christopher Moltisanti and Angie Bonpensiero, respectively, also wrote episodes for the show. Imperioli wrote five episodes of seasons two through five and Kalem wrote one episode of season five.[56][57] Other writers the show employed throughout its run include Frank Renzulli, Todd A. Kessler (known as the co-creator of Damages), writing team Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider (worked with Chase on Northern Exposure) and Lawrence Konner, who co-created Almost Grown with Chase in 1988. In total, 20 writers or writing teams (22 people) are credited with writing episodes of The Sopranos. Of these, two (Tim Van Patten and Maria Laurino) receive a single story credit and eight are credited with writing a sole episode. The most prolific writers of the series were Chase (30 credited episodes, including story credits), Winter (25 episodes), Green and Burgess (22 episodes), Weiner (12 episodes) and Renzulli (9 episodes).
Before directing The Sopranos, many of the directors had worked on other television series and in independent films.[42] The most frequent directors of the series were Tim Van Patten (20 episodes), John Patterson (13 episodes), Allen Coulter (12 episodes), and Alan Taylor (9 episodes), all of whom have a background in television.[42] Recurring cast members Steve Buscemi and Peter Bogdanovich also directed episodes of the series intermittently.[58][59] Chase directed two episodes himself, the pilot episode and the series finale.[60] Both episodes were photographed by the show's original director of photography Alik Sakharov; he later alternated episodes with Phil Abraham.[61] The show's photography and directing is noted for its feature film-quality.[62][63] This look was achieved by Chase collaborating with Sakharov: "David wanted a look that would have its own two feet. [...] From the pilot, we would sit down with the whole script and break the scenes down into shots. That's what you do with feature films."[61]
Music[edit]
Main article: Music on The Sopranos
The Sopranos is noted for its eclectic music selections and has received considerable critical attention for its effective use of previously recorded songs.[64][65][66][67] Chase personally selected all of the show's music with producer Martin Bruestle and music editor Kathryn Dayak, sometimes also consulting Steven Van Zandt.[64] The music was usually selected once the production and editing of an episode was completed, but on occasion sequences were filmed to match preselected pieces of music.[50]
The show's opening theme is "Woke Up This Morning" (Chosen One Mix), written by, remixed and performed by British band Alabama 3.[68] With few exceptions, a different song plays over the closing credits of each episode.[66] Many songs are repeated multiple times through an episode, such as "Living on a Thin Line" by The Kinks in the season three episode "University" and "Glad Tidings" by Van Morrison in the season five finale "All Due Respect".[66] Other songs are heard several times throughout the series. A notable example is "Con te partirò", performed by Italian singer Andrea Bocelli,[69] which plays several times in relation to the character of Carmela Soprano. While the show utilizes a wealth of previously recorded music, it is also notable for its lack of originally composed incidental music, compared to other television programs.[70]
Two soundtrack albums containing music from the series have been released. The first, titled The Sopranos: Music from the HBO Original Series, was released in 1999. It contains selections from the show's first two seasons and reached #54 on the U.S. Billboard 200.[71][72] A second soundtrack compilation, titled The Sopranos - Peppers and Eggs: Music From The HBO Series, was released in 2001. This double-disc album contains songs and selected dialogue from the show's first three seasons.[73] It reached #38 on the U.S. Billboard 200.[74]
Sets and locations[edit]
The majority of the exterior scenes taking place in New Jersey were filmed on location, with the majority of the interior shots—including most indoor shots of the Soprano residence, the back room of the strip club Bada Bing!, and Dr. Melfi's psychiatrist's office—filmed at Silvercup Studios in New York City.[41]
The pork store, a frequent hangout for the mobsters on the show, was in the pilot episode known as Centanni's Meat Market, an actual butchery in Elizabeth, New Jersey.[75] After the series was picked up by HBO, the producers leased a building with a store front in Kearny, New Jersey.[75] For the remainder of the production period, this building served as the shooting location for scenes outside and inside the pork store, now renamed Satriale's.[75] After the series ended, the building was demolished.[76]
Bada Bing!, a strip club owned and operated by the character Silvio Dante on the show, is an actual strip club on Route 17 in Lodi, New Jersey.[75] Exteriors and interiors (except for the back room) were shot on location.[75] The club is called Satin Dolls and was an existing business before the show started.[77] The club continued to operate during the eight years the show was filmed there. As such, a business arrangement was worked out with the owner.[77] Locations manager Mark Kamine recalls that the owner was "very gracious" as long as the shooting did not "conflict with his business time."[77] Scenes set at the restaurant Vesuvio, owned and operated in the series by character Artie Bucco, were in the first episode filmed at a restaurant called Manolo's located in Elizabeth. After the destruction of Vesuvio within the context of the series, Artie opened a new restaurant called Nuovo Vesuvio; exterior scenes set there were filmed at an Italian restaurant called Punta Dura located in Long Island City.[75] All the exterior and some interior shots of the Soprano residence were filmed on location at a private residence in North Caldwell, New Jersey.[75]
Title sequence[edit]
Tony Soprano is seen emerging from the Lincoln Tunnel and passes through the tollbooth for the New Jersey Turnpike. Numerous landmarks in and around Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, are then shown passing by the camera as Tony drives down the highway.[78] The sequence ends with Tony pulling into the driveway of his suburban home. Chase has said that the goal of the title sequence was to show that this particular Mafia show was about New Jersey, as opposed to New York, where most similar dramas have been set.[79]
In the first three seasons, between Tony leaving the tunnel and entering the Turnpike, an image of the World Trade Center towers can be seen in his side rear-view mirror as Tony leaves the Lincoln Tunnel to join the Turnpike. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, this shot was removed, beginning with the show's fourth season.[80]
In a 2010 issue of TV Guide, the show’s opening title sequence ranked #10 on a list of TV's top 10 credits sequences, as selected by readers.[81]
Cast and characters[edit]
Further information: List of The Sopranos characters
The Sopranos features a large cast of characters throughout its six-season run. Some only appear in certain seasons, while others appear for the entire series. All characters were created by David Chase, unless otherwise noted.
Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) was the protagonist of the series. Tony was a capo of the New Jersey-based DiMeo crime family at the beginning of the series and the acting boss starting in season two. He was also the patriarch of the Soprano household. Throughout the series, Tony struggles to balance his family life and his career in the Mafia.[82] Because he is prone to depression, Tony seeks treatment from psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) in the show's first episode. Jennifer is a divorced Italian-American woman with a son in college. She treats Tony to the best of her ability despite the fact that they frequently clash over various issues. Jennifer is usually thoughtful, rational and humane, which contrasts with Tony's personality. Tony and Jennifer also harbor sexual feelings for each other, although Jennifer never openly shows or tries to act on it.[83]
Adding to Tony's complicated life is his relationship with his wife Carmela (Edie Falco),[84] which is strained by his constant infidelity and her struggle to reconcile the reality of Tony's business with the material rewards it brings her. Both have a stressful relationship with their two children, the intelligent but rebellious Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler)[85] and troubled underachiever Anthony Junior (Robert Iler),[86] whose everyday teenage issues are further complicated by their knowledge of their father's criminal activities.
The starring cast includes members of Tony's extended family, including his mother, Livia (Nancy Marchand);[87] sister, Janice (Aida Turturro);[88] uncle Corrado "Junior" Soprano (Dominic Chianese), nominal boss of the crime family following the death of then-acting boss Jackie Aprile, Sr;[89] cousin Tony Blundetto (Steve Buscemi);[90] and Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli),[91] often referred to as Tony's nephew but actually a cousin by marriage. Both Livia and Janice are shrewd manipulators with emotional problems of their own. Tony's Uncle Junior is involved in his criminal organization and their family bond ties with their criminal ambitions. Both his cousin Tony and nephew Christopher are also involved with his "other" family and their actions are a further source of conflict. Christopher struggles with drug addiction and alcoholism, and a desire to gain respect, while Tony Blundetto hopes to "go straight" but has a violent streak.
Tony's close circle within the DiMeo crime family includes Silvio Dante (Steven Van Zandt),[92] Paulie Gualtieri (Tony Sirico)[93] and Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero (Vincent Pastore).[94] Silvio is Tony's consigliere and best friend. Paulie and Big Pussy are longtime soldiers and close allies who have worked with Tony and his father; Paulie soon becomes capo and eventually is further promoted to underboss. Also in Tony's criminal organization are Patsy Parisi (Dan Grimaldi)[95] and Furio Giunta (Federico Castelluccio).[96] Patsy is a quiet soldier with a head for figures. Furio, imported muscle from Italy, is Tony's bodyguard and enforcer.
Other significant characters in the DiMeo family include Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri (Steven R. Schirripa),[97] Richie Aprile (David Proval),[98] Ralph Cifaretto (Joe Pantoliano),[99] Eugene Pontecorvo (Robert Funaro)[100] and Vito Spatafore (Joseph R. Gannascoli).[101] Bobby is a subordinate of Junior's whom Tony initially bullies but later accepts into his inner circle. Ralph is a clever, ambitious top-earner but his arrogance and tendency to be obnoxious, disrespectful and very violent make Tony resentful. Richie Aprile is released from prison in season two and quickly makes waves in the organization. Pontecorvo is a young soldier who becomes a made man alongside Christopher. Spatafore works his way up through the ranks to become top earner of the Aprile Crew but is secretly homosexual.
Friends of the Soprano family include Herman "Hesh" Rabkin (Jerry Adler),[102] Adriana La Cerva (Drea de Matteo),[103] Rosalie Aprile (Sharon Angela),[104] Angie Bonpensiero (Toni Kalem), along with Artie (John Ventimiglia)[105] and Charmaine Bucco (Kathrine Narducci).[106] Hesh is an adviser and friend to Tony, and served in this role under Tony's father. Adriana is Christopher's longtime girlfriend; the two have a tempestuous relationship. Rosalie is the widow of the previous DiMeo boss and a close friend of Carmela. Angie is Salvatore Bonpensiero's wife who later goes into business for herself. Artie and Charmaine are school friends of the Sopranos and owners of the popular restaurant Vesuvio. Charmaine wishes to have no association with Tony and his crew due to his criminal activities, and often has to insist because Artie—a law-abiding and hard-working man—is drawn to Tony's way of life.
John "Johnny Sack" Sacramoni (Vince Curatola),[107] Phil Leotardo (Frank Vincent)[108] and "Little" Carmine Lupertazzi, Jr. (Ray Abruzzo)[109] are all significant characters from the New York-based Lupertazzi crime family, which shares a good amount of its business with the Soprano organization. Although the Lupertazzis' and DiMeos' interests are often at odds, Tony maintains a cordial, business-like relationship with Johnny Sack, preferring to make deals that benefit both families. His second-in-command and eventual successor, Phil Leotardo, is less friendly and is harder for Tony to do business with. Little Carmine is the son of the family's first boss and vies for power with the others.
Plot synopsis and episode list[edit]
Main article: List of The Sopranos episodes
Season 1[edit]
Main article: The Sopranos (season 1)
The series begins with Tony Soprano collapsing after suffering a panic attack. This prompts him to begin therapy with Dr. Jennifer Melfi. Gradually, the storyline reveals details of Tony's upbringing, with his father's influence looming large on his development as a gangster, but more so that Tony's mother, Livia, was vengeful and possibly personality-disordered. His complicated relationship with his wife Carmela is also explored, as well as her feelings regarding her husband's cosa nostra ties. Meadow and Anthony Jr.—Tony's children—gain increasing knowledge of their father's mob dealings. Later, federal indictments are brought as a result of someone in his organization talking to the FBI.
After ordering the execution of Brendan Filone and the mock execution of Chris Moltisanti, Tony's uncle Corrado "Junior" Soprano is installed as boss of the family (following the death of previous boss Jackie Aprile, Sr. from cancer), even though Tony actually controls most things from behind the scenes. Furious at Corrado's plan to have him killed, Tony responds to the attempt on his life with a violent reprisal, and confronts his mother for her role in plotting his downfall; she appears to have a psychologically-triggered stroke. "Junior" is arrested by the FBI on non-related charges.
Season 2[edit]
Main article: The Sopranos (season 2)
Jackie's brother Richie Aprile is released from prison at the beginning of the second season, and proves to be uncontrollable in the business arena; he also starts a relationship with Tony's sister Janice, who has arrived from Seattle. Tony's friend "Big Pussy" returns to New Jersey after a conspicuous absence.
Christopher Moltisanti becomes engaged to his girlfriend Adriana La Cerva. Matthew Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte, two low-level associates dissatisfied with their perceived lack of success in the Soprano crew, try to make a name for themselves by attempting to kill Christopher. Their plan backfires; Christopher kills Sean and though critically wounded, survives their attack. Tony and Big Pussy locate Matthew and assassinate him. However, a witness goes to the FBI and identifies Tony.
Junior is placed under house arrest as he awaits trial. Richie, frustrated with Tony's authority over him, entreats Junior to have Tony killed. Junior feigns interest, then informs Tony of Richie's intentions, leaving Tony with another problem to address. However, the situation is defused unexpectedly when Janice kills Richie in a violent argument; Tony and his men conceal all evidence of the murder, and Janice returns to Seattle.
Tony, realizing Big Pussy is an FBI informant, murders him on board a boat (with assistance from Silvio Dante and Paulie Gualtieri), then wraps his corpse in chains and throws it overboard.
Season 3[edit]
Main article: The Sopranos (season 3)
Following the "disappearance" of Aprile Crew capo Richie Aprile, the return of the ambitious Ralph Cifaretto, having spent an extended period of leisure time in Miami, marks the third season. He renews a relationship with Rosalie Aprile, the widow of the deceased acting boss Jackie Aprile, Sr., and former capo of the Aprile Crew, which bears his name. With Richie assumed to have joined the Witness Protection Program, Ralph unofficially usurps control over the Aprile Crew, proving to be an exceptionally dexterous earner for the crew. While Ralph's competitive merit would seemingly have him next in line to ascend to capo, his insubordination inclines Tony not to promote him and instead gives the promotion to the unqualified, but complacent, Gigi Cestone, causing much resentment and tension between him and Ralph. Livia dies of a stroke.
Jackie Aprile, Jr. becomes involved with Meadow and then descends into a downward spiral of recklessness, drugs and crime. Tony initially attempts to act as a mentor to Jackie but becomes increasingly impatient with his escalating misbehavior, particularly as Jackie's relationship with Meadow begins to become serious. Inspired by a story from Ralph about how Tony, Jackie Sr., and Silvio Dante got made, Jackie and his friends Dino Zerilli and Carlo Renzi make a similar move and attempt to rob Eugene Pontecorvo's Saturday night card game, so they can gain recognition from the family, possibly getting them respected and made as well. The plan takes a turn for the worse when Jackie panics due to the heckling of the card dealer "Sunshine" and shoots him to death. Dino and Carlo are killed during the robbery, but Jackie manages to escape. Tony decides to give Ralph the decision regarding Jackie Jr.'s punishment. Despite his role as a surrogate father, Ralph decides to have Jackie Jr. killed.
Ralph ultimately crosses the line when, in a cocaine-induced rage, he gets into a confrontation with girlfriend, Tracee and beats her to death. She may have been pregnant with his child at the time. This infuriates Tony to the point where he violates traditional Mafia code by striking him repeatedly in front of the entire family. Bad blood temporarily surfaces between the two but is shortly resolved after Gigi Cestone dies of an aneurysm, thereby forcing Tony to reluctantly promote Ralph to capo.
Tony begins an affair with Gloria Trillo, who is also a patient of Dr. Melfi. Their relationship is brief and tumultuous. Meanwhile, Dr. Melfi is raped. Junior is diagnosed with stomach cancer; following chemotherapy, it goes into remission. A.J. continues to get in trouble at school, despite success on the football team. This culminates in his expulsion.
Season 4[edit]
Main article: The Sopranos (season 4)
Starting the fourth season, Tony and Christopher stake out the retirement party of Detective Lieutenant Barry Haydu, the man who murdered Christopher's father. Tony gives Christopher Haydu's address. When Christopher asks why he had been allowed to live all these years, Tony says that he had been valuable, but that he has outlived his worth. Christopher waits inside Haydu's home and ambushes him as he returns from his party. Haydu vehemently denies murdering Christopher's father, but struggles to get away, yelling "I'm sorry!" when Christopher goes to shoot him.
New York underboss Johnny Sack becomes enraged after learning Ralph Cifaretto made an inappropriate joke about his wife's weight. He seeks permission from boss Carmine Lupertazzi to have Ralph clipped, but is denied. Johnny orders the hit anyway. Tony receives the okay from Carmine to hit Johnny Sack for insubordination. Junior Soprano tips Tony to use an old outfit in Providence for the work. After catching his wife eating sweets secretly, instead of following the diet plan, Johnny Sack gives in, and bloodshed is averted.
Tony and Ralph invest in a race horse named Pie-O-My, who wins several races and makes them both a great deal of money. However, when Ralph's 12-year old son Justin is severely injured when an arrow plunges into his chest, Tony comes to believe Ralph burned Pie-O-My in a stable fire to collect $200,000 in insurance money. Tony confronts Ralph the following morning and Ralph denies setting the fire. The two engage in a violent brawl, culminating in Tony strangling Ralph to death. Tony and Christopher dispose of the body; they bury his head and hands at Mikey Palmice's father's farm and throw his body into a quarry.
While he is leaving court, Uncle Junior is hit in the head with a boom mic and falls down several steps. Tony advises him to take advantage of the opportunity, act mentally incompetent, and employ it as a ruse for not continuing the trial. Later, Eugene Pontecorvo intimidates a juror, resulting in a deadlocked jury, forcing the judge to declare a mistrial.
Following the death of Bobby Baccalieri's wife, Janice pursues a romantic relationship with him. Christopher's addiction to heroin deepens, prompting his associates and family to organize an intervention, after which he enters a drug rehabilitation center. Adriana befriends a woman who is an undercover FBI agent. When the friendship ends, the woman reveals herself as an FBI agent and tells Adriana the only way to stay out of prison is to become an informant. Adriana agrees and starts sharing information with the FBI.
Carmela, whose relationship with Tony is tense due to financial worries and Tony's infidelities, develops a mutual infatuation with Furio Giunta. Furio, incapable of breaking his own moral codes and that of the Neapolitan mafia, clandestinely returns home to Italy. After Tony's former mistress calls their home, Carmela throws Tony out. Tony is approached by Johnny Sack with a proposal to murder Carmine, which Tony turns down.
Season 5[edit]
Main article: The Sopranos (season 5)
A string of brand new characters are introduced in the fifth season, including Tony's cousin Tony Blundetto, who along with other mafiosos are released from prison simultaneously. Among the others released are former DiMeo Crime Family capo Michele "Feech" La Manna, Lupertazzi family capo Phil Leotardo, and semi-retired Lupertazzi consigliere Angelo Garepe. Tony offers Tony B. a job, but he respectfully declines, as he is determined to lead a straight life. He initially begins to take courses to earn a degree in massage therapy and aspires to open up his own massage parlor. After Carmine Lupertazzi dies of a stroke, his death leaves a vacancy for boss of the Lupertazzi Family, which will soon be fought over by underboss Johnny Sack and Carmine's son Carmine Lupertazzi, Jr.. After Feech proves to be an insubordinate presence, Tony arranges for him to be sent back to prison by setting him up with stolen property, violating his parole.
The war between Johnny Sack and Carmine, Jr. begins when Johnny has Phil kill "lady shylock" Lorraine Calluzzo. Tony B.'s attempt to stay straight comes to a head when he gets into a brawl with his employer Sungyon Kim. Tony informs Tony B. that "it's hard working with strangers." Angelo, who was a good friend to Tony B. in prison, and Lupertazzi capo Rusty Millio offer Tony B. the job of taking out Joey Peeps in retaliation for Lorraine's death. Tony B. initially declines but, desperate to earn, accepts the job. He catches Joey outside a bordello, shoots him, and quickly flees the scene. Johnny believes Tony B. is involved, and retaliates by having Phil and his brother Billy Leotardo kill Angelo. Tony B. finds the Leotardo brothers and opens fire, killing Billy and wounding Phil.
Still separated from Carmela, Tony is living at his parents' house. Carmela, now the sole authority figure in the home, becomes frustrated as her rules lead A.J. to resent her; eventually she allows him to live with his father. She has a brief relationship with Robert Wegler, A.J.'s guidance counselor; he breaks it off abruptly when he suspects that she is manipulating him to improve A.J.'s grades. Tony and Carmela reconcile; Tony promises to be more loyal and agrees to pay for a piece of real estate Carmela wishes to develop.
Tony gets Meadow's boyfriend Finn De Trolio a summer job at a construction site, which is run by Aprile Crew capo Vito Spatafore. Finn comes in early one morning and catches Vito performing fellatio on a security guard. Vito tries to buddy up to Finn so that he does not say anything to anybody else. He even asks Finn to a Yankees game, which Finn does not attend. Finn soon quits the job out of fear.
After covering up a murder that occurred at The Crazy Horse, Adriana is arrested and pressured by the F.B.I. to wear a wire to avoid being charged as an accomplice. She refuses to wear a wire and informs the F.B.I. that she may be able to persuade her fiancé Christopher to co-operate and become an informant against Tony. She confesses to Christopher that she has been informing and that the F.B.I. would give them new identities if they would testify. Christopher is grief-stricken and nearly kills her. He leaves the apartment, saying he needs time to think. Tony has Silvio pick up Adriana under the pretense of taking her to see Christopher, but instead drives her out to the woods and executes her. Adriana’s betrayal and subsequent execution is too much for Christopher to handle and he briefly returns to drug abuse to deal with the pain.
Phil Leotardo and his henchmen beat Benny Fazio while trying to acquire the whereabouts of Tony B.; Phil also threatens to have Christopher taken out if Tony B.'s whereabouts are not disclosed soon. To avoid any more of his guys getting hurt and to pacify New York, Tony tracks Tony B. to their Uncle Pat's farm and shoots him. Phil, however, is furious that he did not get the opportunity to do it himself. Tony and Johnny meet at Johnny's house in a reconciliatory manner, but Johnny is arrested by Federal agents, while Tony escapes.
Season 6[edit]
Main article: The Sopranos (season 6)
Uncle Junior, now senile and confused, shoots Tony at the beginning of the sixth and final season. Rendered comatose, Tony dreams he is a salesman on a business trip, where he mistakenly exchanges his briefcase and identification with a man named Kevin Finnerty. Tony's recovery from the shooting changes his outlook, and he tries to mend his ways. However, he is faced with more problems in his business life.
Once out of the hospital, Johnny Sack's daughter gets married and the Soprano family attends. There, Tony is shown very exhausted and through security must take off his shoes. In the process he collapses to the ground, but is not hurt. Before the wedding Johnny Sack is approved to leave prison for six hours to see his daughter get married and that he has to pay for the metal detectors and the presence of the U.S. marshals at the event. As his daughter is about to drive away the SUV that was escorting Johnny to the wedding blocks the car from leaving and an altercation begins in the driveway. In a moment of weakness and despair Johnny Sack cries as he is put back into handcuffs and driven back to prison, greatly diminishing the respect his crew and Tony's crew have for him.
Vito Spatafore is outed as homosexual after running into a friend at a New York night club. The rumor spreads quickly, and once word gets to Meadow that everyone else knows, she tells Tony and Carmela about the incident between Finn and Vito with the security guard. Finn then has to sit in front of Tony's entire crew and tell them what happened with the guard, solidifying their thoughts on Vito's sexuality. Tony is urged to deal with the problem by Phil Leotardo, now acting boss of New York with Johnny Sack in prison. Once Vito is outed, he runs away from the city and hides out in a New Hampshire town where he claims to be writing a book and meets with the locals. Vito also starts a romantic relationship with a male cook at a local diner. Eventually, Vito returns to New Jersey and asks Tony to allow him to return to work, albeit in Atlantic City. He continues to maintain that he is not a homosexual. Tony mulls over the decision to let him work, as well as whether to let him live. When Tony fails to act, Phil intervenes and kills Spatafore. When one of the members of the New York family, Fat Dom Gamiello, pays a visit to the Jersey office and won't stop making jokes about Vito and his death, the two members of Tony's crime family who are present kill Fat Dom out of anger at the disrespect he has shown. Once more, it appears that the families are on the verge of all-out war.
During the first half of the season Chris and Carmine head to Los Angeles to try to sign Ben Kingsley for a film they are trying to make called Cleaver, which is basically a mix of The Godfather and Saw. But Kingsley passes on the picture. While in Los Angeles Chris goes back to using cocaine for a short period of time.
Tony considers killing several of his associates for relatively minor infractions. Christopher is unable to leave the mob, deflecting his problems by relapsing into drug addiction and kills his friend from Narcotics Anonymous, J. T. Dolan. He is then seriously injured in a car accident while driving under the influence of narcotics. Tony, the sole passenger, is not badly hurt, and suffocates Christopher to death. A.J. is dumped by his fiancée and slips into depression, culminating in a failed suicide attempt in the backyard pool. Dr. Melfi is convinced by friends that Tony is making no progress and may even be using talking therapy for his own sociopathic benefit. She drops him as a patient.
Johnny Sack dies from lung cancer while imprisoned, and Leotardo then consolidates his position in the Lupertazzi family by having his rivals for the leadership killed. Phil then officially takes over, igniting a resumption of the past feud with Tony and refusing to compromise with Tony on a garbage deal. When Tony assaults a Lupertazzi soldier for harassing Meadow while she is on a date, Phil decides it's time to decapitate the Soprano crew. He orders the executions of Bobby Baccalieri, who is shot to death; Silvio, who ends up comatose; and Tony, who goes into hiding. A deal is brokered whereby the rest of the Lupertazzi family agrees to ignore the order to kill Tony, giving Tony an opportunity to go after Phil. An FBI agent informs Tony of Phil's location, allowing Tony to have him killed. Tony suspects that Carlo, a capo from New Jersey, has become an informant in an attempt to help out his son, who has recently been caught for dealing ecstasy. Tony meets with his lawyer, who informs him that subpoenas are being given to New Jersey and New York crews alike. Sometime after Phil's death and a meeting with everyone, Tony, Carmela, and AJ meet for dinner, while the Journey song "Don't Stop Believin'" plays in the background. At this time, several individuals become apparent that seem out of place for the venue. Three individuals enter and are specifically focused upon during entry. Meadow is shown coming to the dinner late and crossing the street as the rest of the family starts to eat an appetizer. An individual who had been previously shown at the counter specifically taking notice of Tony, is shown entering the restroom, the door of which is directly facing, (and approximately 90 degrees to), the table at which Tony and his family are sitting. As Meadow walks up to the door, the screen goes to Tony. The diner door opens with a bell ringing, Tony looks up and the show smash cuts to black and after a few seconds the credits roll in silence.
Chase's decision to end the last episode abruptly with just a black screen was controversial. While Chase has insisted that it was not his intention to stir controversy, the ambiguity over the ending and question of whether Tony was murdered has continued for years after the finale's original broadcast and has spawned numerous websites devoted to finding out his true intention.[110][111][112]
Reception and impact[edit]
Ratings[edit]
The Sopranos was a major ratings success. Despite being aired on premium cable network HBO, which is available in significantly fewer American homes than regular networks, the show frequently attracted equal or larger audiences than most popular network shows of the time.[113] Nielsen ratings for the show's first four seasons are not entirely accurate, however, as prior to January 2004 Nielsen reported aggregate numbers for cable networks, meaning people watching other HBO channels than the main one, on which The Sopranos aired, would be included in the ratings estimates.[114]
Season Originally aired Nielsen ratings (in millions) Time slot
Season premiere Season finale Season average
1 January 10 – April 4, 1999 3.45[115] 5.22[115] 3.46[116] Sunday
9:00 pm
2 January 16 – April 9, 2000 7.64[115] 8.97[115] 6.62[116]
3 March 4 – May 20, 2001 11.26[115] 9.46[115] 8.87[116]
4 September 15 – December 8, 2002 13.43[115] 12.48[115] 10.99[116]
5 March 7 – June 6, 2004 12.14[115] 10.98[115] 9.80[116]
6 (Part 1) March 12 – June 4, 2006 9.47[115] 8.90[117] 8.60[117]
6 (Part 2) April 8 – June 10, 2007 7.66[118] 11.90[119] 8.23[116]
Critical response[edit]
Many critics have asserted that The Sopranos is the greatest and most groundbreaking television series of all time.[2][3][4][32][120][121][122][123] The writing, acting, and directing have often been singled out for praise. The show has also received considerable attention from critics and journalists for its mature and artistic content, technical merit, music selections, cinematography, and willingness to deal with difficult and controversial subjects including crime, gender roles, family, and American and Italian American culture.[63][122][123] The Sopranos is credited for creating a new era in the mafia genre deviating from the traditional dramatized image of the gangster in favor of a simpler, more accurate reflection of mob life.[124] The series sheds light on Italian family dynamics through the depiction of Tony's tumultuous relationship with his mother.[125] Edie Falco's character Carmela Soprano is praised in Kristyn Gorton's essay "Why I Love Carmela Soprano" for challenging Italian-American gender roles.[126] The New Yorker writer, David Remnick, stated in his 2006 article "Family Guy", The Sopranos mirror the "mindless commerce and consumption" of modern America.[127]
The Sopranos has been called "perhaps the greatest pop-culture masterpiece of its day" by Vanity Fair contributor Peter Biskind.[16] The New Yorker editor David Remnick called the show "the richest achievement in the history of television."[127] In 2002, TV Guide ranked The Sopranos fifth on their list of the "Top 50 TV Shows of All Time,"[128] while the series was only in its fourth season. In 2007, Channel 4 (UK) named The Sopranos the greatest television series of all time.[129]
The first season of the series received overwhelmingly positive reviews.[130] Following its initial airing in 1999, The New York Times stated, "[The Sopranos] just may be the greatest work of American popular culture of the last quarter century."[21] In 2007, Roger Holland of PopMatters wrote, "the debut season of The Sopranos remains the crowning achievement of American television."[131]
Time Out New York 's Andrew Johnston had high praise for the series, stating: "Together, Chase and his fellow writers (including Terence Winter and Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner) produced the legendary Great American Novel, and it’s 86 episodes long."[132] Johnston asserted the preeminence of The Sopranos as opposed to Deadwood and The Wire in a debate with critics Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz.[133]
In November and December 2009, a large number of television critics named The Sopranos the best series of the decade and all time in articles summarizing the decade in television. In numbered lists over the best television programs, The Sopranos frequently ranked first or second, almost always competing with The Wire.[123] In 2013, TV Guide ranked The Sopranos No. 2 in its list of The 60 Greatest Dramas of All Time,[134] In the same year, the Writers Guild of America named it the best-written television series of all time[135] and TV Guide ranked it as the greatest show of all time.[14]
Certain episodes have frequently been singled out by critics as the show's best. These include the pilot, titled "The Sopranos", "College" and "I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano" of the first season; "The Knight in White Satin Armor" and "Funhouse" of the second; "Employee of the Month", "Pine Barrens" and "Amour Fou" of the third; "Whoever Did This" and "Whitecaps" of the fourth; "Irregular Around the Margins" and "Long Term Parking" of the fifth and "Members Only", "Join the Club", "Kennedy and Heidi", "The Second Coming" and "The Blue Comet" of the sixth season.[136][137][138][139][140][141]
Humanities professor Camille Paglia, herself Italian-American, has spoken negatively about The Sopranos, arguing that its depiction of Italian-Americans was inaccurate, inauthentic, dated and racist.[142]
Awards and nominations[edit]
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by The Sopranos
The Sopranos won and was nominated for a large number of awards over the course of its original broadcast. It was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in every year it was eligible, and is the first cable TV series to receive a nomination for the award. After being nominated for and losing the award in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2003 (losing the first time to The Practice, and the last three to The West Wing), The Sopranos won the award in 2004, and again in 2007. Its 2004 win made The Sopranos the first series on a cable network to win the award,[143] while its 2007 win made the show the first drama series since Upstairs, Downstairs in 1977 to win the award after it had finished airing.[144] The show earned 21 nominations for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series and won the award six times, with creator David Chase receiving three awards.[145]
The Sopranos won at least one Emmy Award for acting in every eligible year except 2006 and 2007. James Gandolfini and Edie Falco were each nominated six times for Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress, respectively, both winning a total of three awards. Joe Pantoliano won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2003, and Michael Imperioli and Drea de Matteo also won Emmys in 2004 for their supporting roles on the show. Other actors who have received Emmy nominations for the series include Lorraine Bracco (in the Lead Actress and Supporting Actress categories), Dominic Chianese, Nancy Marchand, Aida Turturro, Steve Buscemi (who was also nominated for directing the episode "Pine Barrens"), Tim Daly, John Heard and Annabella Sciorra.[145]
In 2000 and 2001, The Sopranos earned two consecutive George Foster Peabody Awards. Only two other series have won the award in consecutive years: Northern Exposure and The West Wing.[146] The show also received numerous nominations at the Golden Globe Awards (winning the award for Best Drama Series in 2000)[147] and the major guild awards (Directors,[148] Producers,[149] Writers,[150] and Actors[151]).
Influence on television industry[edit]
The Sopranos had a significant impact on the shape of the American television industry. It has been characterized by critics as one of the most influential artistic works of the 2000s (decade) and is credited with allowing other drama series with similarly mature content to achieve mainstream recognition. It has also often been cited as one of the television series that helped turn serial television into a legitimate art form on the same level as feature films, literature and theater.[62][122][152] TIME editor James Poniewozik wrote in 2007, "This mafia saga showed just how complex and involving TV storytelling could be, inspiring an explosion of ambitious dramas on cable and off."[122] Also in 2007, Maureen Ryan of PopMatters described The Sopranos as "the most influential television drama ever" and wrote "No one-hour drama series has had a bigger impact on how stories are told on the small screen, or more influence on what kind of fare we’ve been offered by an ever-growing array of television networks."[62] Hal Boedeker, also writing for PopMatters in 2007, stated that the series was "widely influential for revealing that cable would accommodate complex series about dark characters. The Sopranos ushered in Six Feet Under, The Shield, Rescue Me and Big Love."[152]
The series helped establish HBO as producers of critically acclaimed and commercially successful original television series. Michael Flaherty of The Hollywood Reporter has stated that The Sopranos "helped launch [HBO's] reputation as a destination for talent looking for cutting-edge original series work."[32]
Depiction of stereotypes[edit]
The show has been frequently criticized for allegedly perpetuating negative stereotypes about Italian Americans. In 2000, Essex County officials denied producers permission to film on county-owned property, arguing that the show depicts Italian Americans in a "less than favorable light."[153] Despite the controversy, Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind found, in an August 2001 national survey, that 65% of Americans disagreed with the notion that the show was "portraying Italian Americans in a negative way."[154] The PublicMind's "New Jersey and The Sopranos: Perfect Together?" survey was referenced in a 2002 episode titled "Christopher" that addressed the topic of Italian American identity in the context of Newark's annual Columbus Day parade.[155] Later that year, Sopranos cast members were barred by parade organizers from participating in the real-life event.[156] At the end of the series the PublicMind again asked the American public about their opinions on the series. Similar to the 2001 results, 61% of Americans disagreed with the idea that The Sopranos portrayed Italian Americans in a negative light.[157] The PublicMind also found, in their 2001 poll, that viewers of The Sopranos were more likely to see New Jersey in a more negative light than people who did not watch the show.[158]
Chase has defended his show, saying that it is not meant to stereotype all Italian Americans, only to depict a small criminal subculture.[159]
DVD and Blu-ray Disc releases[edit]
All six seasons were released as DVD box sets, with the final season released in two parts; two different versions of the complete series were also released.
In addition, the sixth season (both parts 1 and 2) were also released on Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD in 2006 and 2007, respectively. The first season was released on Blu-ray in 2009.[160] A complete series box set will be released on Blu-ray on November 4, 2014.[161]
Season Release dates Episodes Special features Discs
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
1 December 12, 2000 November 24, 2003 November 24, 2003 13
A 77-minute interview with series creator David Chase, conducted by film historian and director Peter Bogdanovich.
"Family Life" featurette.
"Meet Tony Soprano" featurette.
One audio commentary by David Chase and Peter Bogdanovich for the pilot episode, "The Sopranos".[162]
4
2 November 6, 2001 November 24, 2003 November 24, 2003 13
"The Real Deal" featurette.
"A Sit Down With Tony Soprano" featurette.
Four audio commentaries by crew members for the episodes "Commendatori", "From Where to Eternity", "The Knight in White Satin Armor", and "Funhouse".[163]
3 August 27, 2002 November 24, 2003 November 24, 2003 13
"A Day On The Set Of The Sopranos" featurette.
Three audio commentaries by crew members for the episodes "The Telltale Moozadell", "Pine Barrens", and "Amour Fou".[164]
4 October 28, 2003 November 3, 2003 November 3, 2003 13
Episodic previews and recaps.
Cast and crew biographies.
Four audio commentaries by crew members for the episodes "The Weight", "Everybody Hurts", "Whoever Did This", and "Whitecaps".[165]
5 June 7, 2005 June 20, 2005 August 17, 2005 13
Five audio commentaries by cast and crew members for the episodes "All Happy Families...", "Sentimental Education", "In Camelot", "Cold Cuts", and "Long Term Parking".[166]
6
(Part 1) November 7, 2006 November 27, 2006 March 7, 2007 12
Four audio commentaries by cast and crew members for the episodes "Join the Club", "Luxury Lounge", "The Ride", and "Kaisha".[167]
6
(Part 2) October 23, 2007 November 19, 2007 January 31, 2008 9
"Making Cleaver: Behind the scenes of Christopher's horror film" featurette.
"The Music of The Sopranos" – Creator David Chase, cast, and crew discuss the songs from the show.
Four audio commentaries by cast members for the episodes "Soprano Home Movies", "Remember When", "The Second Coming", and "The Blue Comet".[168]
Complete HBO
Box set N/A November 19, 2007 86
Collects the previously released box-sets.
28
Deluxe Edition November 11, 2008 November 24, 2008 86
Includes all special features from the previously released box-sets.
Never before seen scenes from all six seasons.
Exclusive interviews with David Chase conducted by actor Alec Baldwin.
Supper with The Sopranos: Two sit-down dinners with the cast and crew of the show as they discuss the series finale.
Lost scenes from all six seasons of The Sopranos.
Panel Center Seminar: Discussions featuring "whacked" characters.
Extra Gravy: Spoofs and Parodies, including The Simpsons and Saturday Night Live.
Show Demonoid some love with
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In the US television show ‘The Sopranos’, what is the nickname of Paulie Gualtieri? | Paulie Gualtieri | The Sopranos Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Peter Paul "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri played by Tony Sirico , is a caporegime (captain) and later underboss in the DiMeo crime family .
Contents
Biography
Plot details
According to The Sopranos, A Family History, Peter Paul Gualtieri, son of Gennaro Gualtieri (although Paulie's biological father was later revealed to be a World War II era soldier named "Russ"), has been a troubled street kid from the age of nine. He dropped out of school after the 9th grade [1] and spent time in and out of juvenile correctional facilities during his early youth. When he was 17, he officially became an enforcer/bodyguard for "Johnny Boy" Soprano , Tony's father and captain in the DiMeo crime family . His mother, later discovered to be his aunt, worked at a Krespe's Department store in Newark during Paulie's childhood and early adulthood, but has since retired. Paulie's grandfather, who immigrated to the United States in 1910, is from Ariano Irpino, a municipality in the province of Avellino, in the Campania region of Italy . [2] Paulie's grandfather and Tony's paternal grandparents were from the same province in Italy. Paulie spent four years in the US Army Signal Corps, where he was eventually drummed out through Section 8 (discharged because of psychiatric reasons). Although Paulie did not have a long military career, he is still proud of it, and few of the other characters in the series had military experience. Afterwards, he spent more time in and out of prison on various criminal charges. Eventually, he worked his way up through the DiMeo crime family, reaching the rank of Captain in 2000, shortly after Anthony "Tony" Soprano became Boss of New Jersey. In 2006, Paulie was promoted to Underboss , and Christopher Moltisanti was put in charge of Paulie's crew, which happened to be Tony's crew earlier. Paulie got his nickname "Paulie Walnuts" due to hijacking a truck in the early 1990s which he believed to be filled with television sets, but only contained walnuts.
Paulie is one of the most colorful characters on the show. Often talked about as a reputed psychopath with no heart-feelings, Paulie is highly paranoid and often refers to the supernatural things he experiences, like déjà vu, seeing the Virgin Mary , and especially his constant fear of death, either natural or probable. Paulie has displayed kindness and loyalty, and usually cracks jokes. However, despite his seniority, Paulie is one of the more eccentric of Tony's associates and is arguably one of the most ruthless, as expressed by his paranoia, mysophobia, competitiveness, miserly nature, impulsive violence and often childlike dependence on Tony's approval. In the season one finale, " I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano ", Tony told his crew that he had been in therapy for almost a year, when Paulie revealed that he too had seen a therapist, from whom he 'learned some coping skills'. Nevertheless, Paulie is recognized throughout the series as one of the top earners and one of Tony's most trustworthy friends in his "inner circle" of Paulie, Silvio Dante , and Christopher Moltisanti .
Uniquely among his colleagues, Paulie remains single and has no children outside marriage. Unlike most of the other Mafiosi , he shuns the married life. [3] A girlfriend of Paulie's, played by Judy Reyes, is briefly seen in episode 2.9 (" From Where to Eternity "). In a rare moment, Paulie shows compassion for her two children, putting them back to bed, sadly citing he shouldn't keep everyone up, (as he is suffering from nightmares after hearing Christopher talk about his trip to Hell after being shot). She recommends a psychic, but the session ends with Paulie calling the group a bunch of "fucking queers" after the psychic sees the spirit of Charles "Sonny" Pagano - the first guy Paulie ever whacked - together with other spirits, including Mikey Palmice , who supposedly tells the psychic to ask Paulie if the poison ivy, which he caught on his face while chasing (Palmice) to execute him, still itches.
Season 1
In Season One, Paulie was a central member of Tony's crew. He executed a Colombian drug dealer and stole a large quantity of drugs and cash from his hotel room. Other tasks he did were retrieving a car for a teacher of Tony's son , torturing a hotel co-owner so the crew can own 25% of the business, and extorting a soccer coach by giving him an unwanted free TV. When suspicions that Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero was an informant first surfaced, Paulie volunteered to investigate (and murder if necessary). His method of taking Pussy to a bath house and trying to get him to undress for a steambath lacked subtlety and drove Pussy into hiding. In Tony's brief and bloody war with the Corrado "Junior" Soprano crew, following Junior's attempt on Tony's life, Paulie was assigned the hit on Junior's consigliere Mikey Palmice , with assistance from Christopher Moltisanti .
Season 2
In Season Two, when Tony becomes the street boss of the family, while Junior only remains boss in name, Paulie is promoted to capo of his old crew. This meant that Pussy, Christopher, and Furio Giunta amongst others, reported to him. To help set up the crew's stolen car distribution operation in the country, Paulie traveled with Tony and Christopher to Italy. Paulie also helped run the "executive game"; a high stakes poker game. In the episode From Where to Eternity , while Christopher is in the hospital slowly recovering from the bullet wounds caused by Matthew Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte 's failed assassination attempt (which was engaged in to gain recognition in the DiMeo Crime Family, particularly with Richie Aprile ), when Christopher becomes clinically dead for a few minutes after his heart stops while in his comatose state, he has what may have just been a morphine induced dream in which he visits purgatory and sees his deceased father Richard "Dickie" Moltisanti along with his deceased best friend Brendan Filone and Mikey Palmice who had slain Brendan earlier in Season One. Ironically, Brendan and Mikey are good friends in the afterlife and even gamble together with Ancient Roman soldiers against Irish gangsters whom they constantly lose to according to Christopher's description of what was going on in his ephemeral visit to the realm between Heaven and Hell. Christopher informs Tony and Paulie that Mikey had a message for them: Three o' clock is what Mikey told Christopher to tell them. It is never actually revealed what this esoteric message is supposed to mean, although Paulie thinks it could have been around the time Mikey was executed. Christopher's spiritual experience, which Tony remains skeptical of and deems just a dream, spooks Paulie intensely. Paulie subsequently begins to have disturbing nightmares of being dragged to Hell. Paulie, at the recommendation of his comare (mistress), goes to see a medium but to confirm for sure the guy is real, Paulie gives a pseudo-name when he calls and makes his appointment. Much to Paulie's chagrin, the authenticity of the medium is confirmed when he begins communicating with Charles "Sonny" Pagano who was the first person Paulie ever whacked back in the 1960s and also Mikey Palmice. It becomes abundantly clear that Mikey's spirit is present when the medium informs Paulie that "he" wants to know if the poison ivy still itches (Paulie had inadvertently ran into a batch of poison ivy whilst he and Christopher chased Mikey through the woods on the day they murdered him). Paulie abruptly flips out, grabs the medium, and asks who he's been talking to, as he feels he somehow got some very clandestine information on Paulie through an actually still living person. Paulie continues to remain spooked and paranoid, as he also feels he's being haunted by Mikey Palmice accompanied by others he had murdered throughout his criminal life. However, a skeptical Tony informs him that it means nothing. Later in the season, when it was confirmed that Pussy was an FBI informant , Paulie accompanied Tony and Silvio Dante on their trip out on a boat to execute Pussy. Paulie, right before execution is carried out, tells Pussy "you were like a brother to me", at which point Tony adds, "to all of us." Paulie has clearly stated the hurtful impact Pussy's betrayal has had on him but seems to have put the experience behind him. Paulie will also be later haunted by the memory of his deceased friend.
Season 3
In Season Three, Christopher often chafed under Paulie's leadership, particularly after Chris became a made man in Paulie's crew. Paulie began to demand regular payments and subjected Chris to humiliating random strip searches for wires . One night, Paulie and Patsy Parisi show up unexpectedly at Christopher's apartment and search his apartment for wires; they also confiscate some stolen shoes Christopher got for Adriana to give to their comares . While meddling through a dresser drawer, Chris observes Paulie sniffing Adriana's panties, about which he later complains to Tony who informs Paulie he must apologize. Paulie grows angry at Christopher's tattle-telling and informs him, "If you ever go to the big man [Tony] again about stuff between you and me, we're gonna have a problem my friend." The tensions between Paulie and Chris culminated in the episode " Pine Barrens ". when Tony assigns Paulie and Christopher the task of collecting a payment owed to Silvio by Russian mobster named Valery . They botched the simple assignment after they got into a fight with Valery at his apartment, which Paulie had instigated. Believing Valery is dead after Paulie chokes him with a lamp, they took Valery out into the Pine Barrens to dispose of him. Valery, who was later revealed to be a former commando in the Soviet military, was still alive, and knocked both Paulie and Christopher to the ground with a shovel. He escaped and led Paulie and Christopher on a brief chase in the woods. Paulie shoots Valery in the head, however, Chris and Paulie they can not find Valery, and the two are dumbfounded as to what happened to him. Afterwards, Paulie and Chris decide to get in the car and look for him, but they lose their way. The two try continuously to communicate with Tony on the cell phone to get him to come pick them up but as they are deep in the woods, the signal is weak, and every conversation becomes incomplete by static and disconnection. Paulie and Chris feud throughout the night. They become hungry, extremely cold, tired, and frustrated with each other. Later, a heated exchange even promts Christopher to pull his gun and threaten to kill him. The next morning, they are rescued by Tony and Bobby Baccalieri , but Tony is very disappointed at Paulie's failure to complete such an easy task.
In the season finale " Army of One ", Paulie grew upset after Tony ruled against him in a sit down with Ralph Cifaretto . Paulie, who had provided Ralphie with the security codes he needed to execute a $100,000 robbery, demanded 50% of the take. Ralphie countered by offering only $5,000, claiming Paulie had not done any of the leg work. Ultimately, Tony ruled that Paulie was entitled to $12,000. Paulie, who had just put his mother in the expensive "Green Grove" retirement community, was especially angered by the ruling, as he had been depending on the $50,000 to cover his expenses. Paulie also grew jealous of Ralphie's earning ability, which outpaced Paulie's because of Ralphie's labor union ties, which helped bring in the highly lucrative Newark Esplanade project, and Ralphie's consequently rising stock in Tony's eyes.
Season 4
Between Seasons 3 and 4, Paulie was arrested in Youngstown, Ohio on a gun possession charge. Albeit no censure was rendered upon him, Paulie's separation from the family, incorporated with Ralphie's continued earning abilities, continued to erode his reputation and credibility in Tony's eyes. During his four months in jail, he communicated with John "Johnny Sack" Sacramoni , the Underboss of New York's Lupertazzi crime family , while under the false impression that he could earn a place with them. It was Paulie who told Johnny Sack that Ralph Cifaretto made a very insensitive joke regarding Ginny Sack 's being overweight to the family which compels an infuriated Johnny to sanction a hit on Ralph that was called off at the last minute. A party was thrown at the Bada Bing when he was released, but his wavering loyalty only served to accelerate his marginalization under Tony. Paulie however, by the end of season four (in 12th episode of the season), realized he had been duped by Johnny Sack and that Carmine Lupertazzi had never even heard of him, much less offered him a place in his New York family. Following this ascertainment, Paulie once again devoted himself fully to Tony and the Soprano family, reclaiming his status as a top earner and his place within Tony's inner circle.
Paulie has always been devoted to his mother, Marianucci "Nucci" Gualtieri , (it's disclosed in the Season Six episode The Fleshy Part of the Thigh that she is actually his aunt, however) whom he has watched over constantly. She was delighted when he first placed her at "Green Grove" (in stark contrast to Livia Soprano 's reaction), and Paulie also interceded in her social problems with the other residents, going so far as to attack their relatives to ensure civility for his mother. He later learned that one of the women Nucci had trouble with, Minn Matrone , kept all her cash in her home. Paulie broke into Minn's home to try to steal this money, but she caught him in the act. When he failed to talk his way out of it, he suffocated her with a pillow. He gave the money to Tony to rejuvenate Tony's confidence in Paulie.
Season 5
In Season Five, Christopher and Paulie's bad blood resurfaces when Christopher reiterates the story of the Pine Barrens incident to Vito Spatafore , Patsy Parisi , and Benny Fazio . The story starts out friendly, but after Chris embarrasses him in front of the guys, Paulie calls Chris "Tony's little favorite". This leads to Chris and Paulie almost starting a fight and later, Paulie tells the rest of the guys that it's over between the two of them. This is one of many fights in the weird relationship that Paulie and Christopher have. At comare night, Christopher refuses to pay for the dinner, forcing Paulie to pay. At Satriale's the following morning, Paulie demanded the money back, else Christopher would begin paying points . At another dinner in Atlantic City, Paulie tells everyone to choose whatever they want in order to inflate Christopher's bill. Tapped out, Chris left a small tip and argued with Paulie in the parking lot until the waiter came out to confront them. Chris responded violently and threw a brick at him. The waiter collapsed and went into convulsions. Panicked, Paulie shot the waiter and grabbed the $1200 tab before running away. Paulie later called Christopher and they agreed to "bury the hatchet", and split the $1200 bill.
Paulie also got into a dispute with Michele "Feech" La Manna over their rival landscaping companies. Paulie and Feech both resorted to violence, assaulting the others gardeners. Paulie's competition with and antagonism of Feech served to highlight Feech's insubordinate tendencies, which caused Tony to "set up" Feech for a return to prison, making it easier for everyone.
Season 6
Part I
Between seasons 5 and 6, Christopher Moltisanti was made Capo of Paulie's crew, with Paulie being elevated to underboss of the family. Paulie's reputation for withholding money from his payments "up the ladder" were observed in the episode " Mayham ". While Tony was in a coma, Paulie took part in a heist with associate Cary DiBartolo that led to an immense score of $1,000,000 in Colombian drug money, which was to be divided up fairly in terms of percentage amongst Tony, Paulie, and Vito. The heist resulted from a tip by Vito Spatafore . Although they had agreed to split the acquisition, Paulie later tried to withhold some of Vito's share due to an injury he had received during the heist; Silvio had to mediate as acting boss, informing them that under the circumstances Tony's share would be given to Carmela. Vito and Paulie were strongly reluctant to give Tony's share to Carmela, as they speculated Tony could potentially die at any moment but in the end accepted their obligation. When Vito's homosexuality was later revealed, Paulie was outspoken in his condemnation of homosexuality and desire to see Vito killed. When Vito returned after months in hiding, Tony considered letting his proposal of setting up business in Atlantic City with Silvio in front of Paulie; Paulie remained quiet, but left the room in apparent protest. Tony largely decided to have Vito killed because Paulie's attitude mirrored the lack of respect his underlings would feel for him letting Vito live free, although Phil Leotardo made it a moot point when he had members of his family beat Vito to death.
In the episode " The Fleshy Part of the Thigh ", it was disclosed to Paulie that his dying Aunt Dotty, a nun, was actually his mother. She had become pregnant with him by a soldier identified only as "Russ" during World War II. Nucci, the woman Paulie had thought of as his mother, was really his aunt who took him in to hide the scandal. This flabbergasting ascertainment sent Paulie into an emotional tailspin, in the grips of which he severed his ties to his Nucci and did not attend Dotty's funeral. The episode ended with Paulie extorting $4,000 per month (the sum of Nucci's retirement home costs) from the son of the late owner of the Barone Sanitation company, unbeknown to Tony. Earlier, Paulie had witnessed Helen Barone meet with Tony to intercede on her son's behalf, and Tony promised that he would not be harmed; hearing this conversation led Paulie to break down emotionally. This means that Little Paulie Germani is not his nephew, but his first cousin once removed, although he still referred to Little Paulie as his nephew.
In " The Ride " Paulie was responsible for organizing the annual festivities at the Feast of St. Elzear. Paulie had taken over running the festival from Johnny Boy Soprano upon his death, and continued to try to run it for profit. In 2006, it proved a burden—the replacement priest, Father José, tried to renegotiate the payment the church would receive from the proceeds of the feast. Paulie refused to pay, and Father José retaliated by refusing to allow St. Elzear's gold hat to be used in the festival. The hat's absence was noticed and complained about by elder residents. Ride maintenance was another area where Paulie decided to save money, which resulted in a malfunction while Bobby Baccalieri 's family was on a ride. Janice received minor neck injuries. Subsequently, this resulted in temporary bad blood between Paulie and Bobby which Tony ordered to be resolved.
During the festival, Paulie was tested for prostate cancer because of an elevated prostate-specific antigen. With his uncertain parentage, there was no way of knowing if he was genetically predisposed to the disease or not. During a restless night awaiting his biopsy results, Paulie awoke at 3 a.m. and went to the Bada Bing club. There he had a striking vision of the Virgin Mary hovering above the stage. Paulie later visited Nucci at Green Grove, and they had a silent reconciliation. In the episode " Moe N' Joe ", Paulie told Tony that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The disease was apparently caught in an early stage, and Paulie underwent a course of radiation therapy. Paulie suggested that his luck at having been diagnosed early was a reward for good deeds in his life, and Tony agreed with him. He stated in the episode " Stage 5 ", that he beat the cancer, after learning of Johnny Sack's death from lung cancer.
Part II
In the episode, " Remember When ", Paulie and Tony went to Miami to lie low when the FBI investigated the old murder case of Willie Overall , who was Tony's first murder victim. On the trip and in Miami, Paulie begins to reminisce about the old days at which point he brings up Big Pussy Bonpensiero and Ralph Cifaretto and how they all four went out to dinner the night Tony whacked Willie Overall. Tony begins to grow somewhat suspicious of Paulie's idiosyncrasies and inclination to divulge information to other people, and Tony questioned him several times about the joke Ralph Cifaretto made about Ginny Sacramoni 's weight. Eventually, the Overall's murder was blamed on the deceased Jackie Aprile, Sr ., so Tony took Paulie on a fishing trip to celebrate. Paulie had serious misgivings about going to sea with Tony due to the boat trip that was used to lure informant Pussy Bonpensiero to his death. On the boat, Paulie continues to deny informing Johnny Sack of Ralph's joke about his wife. While Tony seriously considered murdering Paulie, he ultimately decided to spare his life. Seemingly out of "gratitude", Paulie sent Carmela a $2,000 espresso machine to replace her broken one. The overly expensive gift gave the impression of Paulie to Carmela that "there is something seriously wrong with that man", but Tony defends him, saying it was people like Paulie who allowed Tony and Carmela to live the way they did.
In the episode " Walk like a Man ", Paulie's nephew, Little Paulie, was beaten by Christopher over a dispute and thrown out a second-story window, suffering six broken vertebrae. A furious Paulie tore up Christopher's lawn with his car, leaving Chris's wife shaken. Later in the episode, they seemed to have made up, and drank together at the Bada Bing. However, Paulie made off-color remarks about Christopher's daughter, which caused an inebriated Chris to storm out and later kill his Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor J.T. Dolan . In the episode, " Kennedy and Heidi ", Paulie was left surprisingly grief-stricken when Christopher was killed, reflecting that their argument over money and respect was trivial and that he should have been nicer to him, in life. Paulie was later "upstaged" when his aunt/adopted mother Nucci's wake was under-attended because his friends were at Christopher Moltisanti's wake instead. In the final episode " Made in America ", Tony asked Paulie to step in and take over the old Aprile/Cifaretto/Spatafore/Gervasi crew. At first, Paulie was hesitant because all the bad luck that had befallen previous capos of that crew but immediately changes his mind after clever persuasion.
Gualtieri crew
Main article: Soprano crime family#Soprano / Gualtieri / Moltisanti crew
When given control of the Soprano crew Paulie oversaw all of Tony’s old business dealing, which included amongst others, the Paving Union , extorting drug dealers, the pump and dump scams, charging HMOs for fake MRI expenditures, fencing stolen cars, a phone card scam, gambling , loan sharking and the crew’s front businesses: Barone Sanitation and Massarone Construction. Throughout the shows run other aspects of the crew's criminal activities developed or were revealed. These include control of the Joint Fitters Union, credit card hijacking (run by Benny Fazio ), betting shop , cigarette smuggling (both run by Christopher), and protection racketing (run by Patsy). Legit businesses include Pussy’s old auto body shop (now run by his wife Angie ), silent partner in a lawn care business, and the Feast of St. Elisario. Paulie soon became Tony's biggest earner. However, by season four Paulie's business hit a low point, especially in comparison to the Cifaretto and Barese crew. By season 5 Paulie's crew regained its position as one of the best earners in the family. When Paulie was promoted to Underboss between seasons 5 and 6, Christopher took over as Capo of his old crew.
Murders committed by Paulie
The following is a list of murders committed by or referenced to on the show by Paulie. With eight confirmed murders, and one possible murder, he holds the record of having killed the most people in the series run.
Victim
*First mentioned. Happened before events of first The Sopranos episode.
Family tree
In the episode Commendatori , when Paulie still believed that Nucci is his mother, he mentions having two brothers. Only Gerry is mentioned by name in the series. One of them is a doctor.
In the series finale, Tony mentions a niece of Paulie's who has multiple sclerosis. Because it now is known that Paulie has no siblings, he is referring to one of his cousin's/"siblings" children.
Vehicles
Like many other gangsters, Paulie is partial to Cadillacs - favoring beige colored Cadillacs. During seasons 1 and 2 he drove a green 1996 Cadillac Seville SLS. He drives a beige 1998 Cadillac DeVille in season 3 (which was stolen in " Pine Barrens " ) He drives a beige 2001 Cadillac Eldorado until the end of season 5 and a beige Cadillac CTS in season 6. One of his Cadillacs has the "Love Theme from The Godfather" as the melody for the car horn (" Nobody Knows Anything ").
Trivia
His surname is taken from real life DeCavalcante crime family mobster Frank Gualtieri, who served under Vincent Palermo.
Appearances in other media
Since his appearance on The Sopranos, Tony Sirico has appeared in several TV commercials. Although it is never explicitly stated that he is "Paulie Walnuts," his performances in all of them have been consistent with that character.
Denny's commercials:
The first one is where he is in a fast food restaurant trying to pay with Monopoly-like money for a breakfast meal. When the cashier says he can't accept the money because it is not real, Sirico responds, "That's not a real breakfast!" The commercial ends when Sirico throws down a wad of Monopoly money and says to the cashier "Go buy yourself something nice." [4]
The second one is where he plays a police detective with a victim behind a one-way mirror in a police line-up. The victim points to a suspect and says, "That's the one who sold me the fake breakfast." Sirico responds, "Calm down, chief. He can't harm you no more." [5]
The third one shows Sirico tying a rope to the bumper of his Cadillac DeVille connecting the car to a billboard advertising breakfast. When someone asks him what he is doing he responds, "Is that the Grand Slam?" The next shot shows him driving away and pulling the billboard down.
In addition, Sirico has appeared in a Netflix commercial in 2003.
He appears in a commercial for Aftonbladet, advertising the tabloid being shipped with a free Sopranos DVD weekly in the 2009 period. [6]
| Walnut |
In the US television show ‘The Sopranos’, who had to return to Italy after a flirtation with Tony Soprano’s wife Carmela? | Paulie Gualtieri | Villains Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Peter Paul "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri is a character played by Tony Sirico on the HBO series The Sopranos. Paulie begins the series as a soldier, but later becomes a caporegime and eventually underboss of the DiMeo crime family.
Contents
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Biography
According to The Sopranos: A Family History, Peter Paul Gualtieri, son of Gennaro Gualtieri (although Paulie's biological father was later revealed to be a World War II soldier named "Russ"), has been a troubled street kid from the age of nine. He dropped out of school after the ninth grade and spent time in and out of juvenile correctional facilities during his early youth. When he was seventeen, he officially became an enforcer/bodyguard for "Johnny Boy" Soprano, Tony's father and captain in the DiMeo crime family. His mother, later discovered to be his aunt, worked at a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop during Paulie's childhood and early adulthood, but has since retired. Paulie's grandfather, who emmigrated to the United States in 1910, is from Ariano Irpino, a municipality in the province of Avellino, in Italy's Campania region. Paulie's grandfather and Tony's paternal grandparents were from the same province in Italy.
Paulie spent four years in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, where he was eventually drummed out through Section 8 (discharged because of psychiatric reasons). Although Paulie did not have a long military career, he still is proud of it, and few of the other Sopranos characters had military experience. Afterwards, he spent more time in and out of prison on various criminal charges. Eventually, he worked his way up through the DiMeo crime family, reaching the rank of Captain in 2000, shortly after Anthony "Tony" Soprano became the de facto boss. In 2006, Paulie was promoted to underboss, and Christopher Moltisanti was put in charge of Paulie's crew, which earlier was Tony's crew. Paulie got his nickname "Paulie Walnuts" due to hijacking a truck in the early 1990s which he believed to be filled with television-sets, but only contained walnuts. His surname is taken from real life DeCavalcante crime family mobster Frank Gualtieri, who served under Vincent Palermo.
Paulie is one of the show's most colorful characters. A psychopath with little empathy, Paulie is highly paranoid and often refers to supernatural experiences, like déjà vu, seeing the Virgin Mary, and especially his constant fear of death, either natural or probable. Paulie has displayed kindness and loyalty, and usually cracks jokes. However, despite his seniority, Paulie is one of the more eccentric of Tony's associates and is arguably one of the most ruthless, as expressed by his paranoia, mysophobia, competitiveness, miserly nature, impulsive violence and often childlike dependence on Tony's approval. In the first season finale, "I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano," Tony told his crew that he had been in therapy for almost a year, when Paulie revealed that he too had seen a therapist, from whom he "learned some coping skills." Nevertheless, Paulie is recognized throughout the series as one of the top earners and one of Tony's most trustworthy friends in his "inner circle" of Paulie, Silvio Dante, and Christopher Moltisanti. By the end of the series, he is also the only member of Tony's original core crew that is alive, active, and out of prison.
Paulie has no children outside marriage and, uniquely among his colleagues, remains single. Unlike most of the other Mafiosi, he shuns the married life. A girlfriend of Paulie's, played by Judy Reyes, is briefly seen in episode 2.9 ("From Where to Eternity.") In a rare moment, Paulie shows compassion for her two children, putting them back to bed, sadly citing he shouldn't keep everyone up. He is suffering from nightmares after hearing Chris talk about his trip to Hell after being shot. She recommends a psychic, but the session ends with Paulie calling the group a bunch of "fucking queers" after the psychic sees the spirit of Charles "Sonny" Pagano - the first guy Paulie ever whacked - together with other spirits, including Mikey Palmice, who supposedly tells the psychic to ask Paulie if the poison ivy, which he caught on his face while chasing (Palmice) to execute him, still itches.
Season 1
In the first season, Paulie was a central member of Tony 's crew. He executed a Colombian drug dealer and stole a large quantity of drugs and cash from his hotel room. Other tasks he did were retrieving a car, with Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero's help, for a teacher of Tony's son, torturing a hotel co-owner so the crew can own 25% of the business, and extorting a soccer coach by giving him an unwanted free TV. When suspicions that Big Pussy was an informant first surfaced, Paulie volunteered to investigate (and murder if necessary). His method of taking Pussy to a bath house and trying to get him to undress for a steambath lacked subtlety and drove Pussy into hiding. In Tony's brief and bloody war with Corrado "Junior" Soprano's crew, following Junior's attempt on Tony's life, Paulie was assigned the hit on Junior's consigliere Mikey Palmice, with assistance from Christopher Moltisanti .
Season 2
In the second season, when Tony becomes the family's street boss, while Junior only remains boss in name, Paulie is promoted to capo of his old crew. This meant that Pussy, Chris, and Furio Giunta amongst others, reported to him. To help set up the crew's stolen car distribution operation, Paulie traveled with Tony and Chris to Italy. Paulie also helped run the "executive game," a high-stakes poker game. In the episode From Where to Eternity, while Chris is in the hospital recovering from the bullet wounds caused by Matthew Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte's failed assassination attempt (which was engaged in to gain recognition in the Soprano crime family, particularly with Richie Aprile), when Chris becomes clinically dead for a few minutes after his heart stops while in his comatose state, he has what may have just been a morphine induced dream in which he visits purgatory and sees his deceased father "Dickie" Moltisanti along with his deceased, former best friend Brendan Filone and Mikey Palmice who had slain Brendan. Ironically, Brendan and Mikey are good friends in the afterlife and even gamble together with Roman soldiers against Irish gangsters to whom they constantly lose, according to Christopher's description of what was going on in his ephemeral visit to the realm between Heaven and Hell. Chris informs Tony and Paulie that Mikey had a message for them: Three o' clock is what Mikey told Chris to tell them. It is never actually revealed what this esoteric message is supposed to mean, although Paulie thinks it could have been around the time Mikey was executed. Christopher's spiritual experience, which Tony remains skeptical of and deems just a dream, spooks Paulie intensely.
Paulie subsequently begins to have nightmares of being dragged to Hell. Paulie, at the recommendation of his comare, goes to see a medium but to confirm for sure the guy is real, Paulie gives a pseudonym when he calls and makes his appointment. Much to Paulie's chagrin, the authenticity of the medium is confirmed when he begins communicating with Charles "Sonny" Pagano who was the first person Paulie ever whacked and also Palmice. It becomes abundantly clear that Mikey's spirit is present when the medium informs Paulie that "he" wants to know if the poison ivy still itches (Paulie had inadvertently run into a batch of poison ivy while he and Chris chased Mikey through the woods). Paulie abruptly flips out, grabs the medium, and asks who he's been talking to, as he feels he somehow got some very clandestine information on Paulie through a living person. Paulie continues to remain spooked and paranoid, as he also feels he's being haunted by Palmice accompanied by others he had murdered throughout his criminal life. However, a skeptical Tony informs him that it means nothing. Later in the season, when it was confirmed that Pussy was an informant for the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Paulie accompanied Tony and Silvio Dante on their trip out on a boat to execute Pussy. Paulie, right before execution is carried out, tells Pussy "you were like a brother to me," at which point Tony adds, "to all of us." Paulie has clearly stated the hurtful impact Pussy's betrayal has had on him but seems to have put the experience behind him. Paulie will also be later haunted by the memory of his deceased friend.
Season 3
In the third season, Chris often chafed under Paulie's leadership, particularly after Chris became a made man in Paulie's crew. Paulie began to demand regular payments and subjected Chris to humiliating random strip searches for wires. One night, Paulie and Patsy Parisi show up unexpectedly at Christopher's apartment and search it for wires; they also confiscate some stolen shoes Chris got for Adriana to give to their comares. While meddling through a dresser drawer, Chris observes Paulie sniffing Adriana's panties, about which he later complains to Tony who informs Paulie he must apologize. Paulie grows angry at Christopher's tattle-telling and informs him, "If you ever go to the big man [Tony] again about stuff between you and me, we're gonna have a problem my friend." The tensions between Paulie and Chris culminated in "Pine Barrens." when Tony assigns Paulie and Chris the task of collecting a payment owed to Silvio by Russian mobster named Valery. They botched the simple assignment after they got into a fight with Valery at his apartment, which Paulie had instigated. Believing Valery is dead after Paulie chokes him with a lamp, they took Valery out into the Pine Barrens to dispose of him. Valery, who was later revealed to be a former Russian military commando, was still alive, and knocked both Paulie and Chris to the ground with a shovel. He escaped and led Paulie and Chris on a brief chase in the woods. Paulie shoots Valery in the head; however, he and Chris are unable to find the seemingly mortally wounded Valery, and the two are dumbfounded as to what happened to him. Afterwards, Paulie and Chris decide to get in the car and look for him, but they lose their way. The two try continuously to communicate with Tony on the cell phone to get him to come pick them up but as they are deep in the woods, the signal is weak, and every conversation becomes incomplete by static and disconnection. Paulie and Chris feud throughout the night. They become hungry, extremely cold, tired, and frustrated with each other. Later, a heated exchange prompts Chris to pull his gun and threaten to kill him. The next morning, they are rescued by Tony and Bobby Baccalieri, but Tony is disappointed at Paulie's failure to complete such an easy task.
In the season finale "Army of One," Paulie grew upset after Tony ruled against him in a sit-down with Ralph Cifaretto. Paulie, who had provided Ralph with the security codes he needed to execute a $100,000 robbery, demanded 50% of the take. Ralph countered by offering only $5,000, claiming Paulie had not done any of the legwork. Ultimately, Tony ruled that Paulie was entitled to $12,000. Paulie, who had just put his mother in the expensive "Green Grove" retirement community, was especially angered by the ruling, as he had been depending on the $50,000 to cover his expenses. Paulie also grew jealous of Ralph's earning ability, which outpaced Paulie's because of Ralph's labor union ties, which helped bring in the highly lucrative Newark Esplanade project.
Season 4
Between the third and fourth seasons, Paulie was arrested in Youngstown, Ohio on a gun possession charge. Although no censure was rendered upon him, Paulie's separation from the family, combined with Ralphie's continued earning abilities, continued to erode his reputation and credibility in Tony's eyes. During his four months in jail, he communicated with John "Johnny Sack" Sacramoni, the underboss of New York's Lupertazzi crime family, while under the false impression that he could earn a place with them. It was Paulie who told Johnny Sack that Ralph Cifaretto made a very insensitive joke regarding Ginny Sack's being overweight to the family which compels an infuriated Johnny to sanction a hit on Ralph that was called off at the last minute. A party was thrown at the Bada Bing when he was released, but his wavering loyalty only served to accelerate his marginalization. Paulie however, by the end of the season, realized he had been duped by Johnny Sack and that Carmine Lupertazzi had never even heard of him, much less offered him a place in his New York family. Following this realization, Paulie once again devoted himself fully to Tony and the Soprano family, reclaiming his status as a top earner.
Paulie has always been devoted to his mother, Marianucci "Nucci" Gualtieri, whom he has watched over constantly. She was delighted when he first placed her at "Green Grove" (in stark contrast to Livia Soprano's reaction), and Paulie also interceded in her social problems with the other residents, going so far as to attack their relatives to ensure civility for his mother. He later learned that one of the women Nucci had trouble with, Minni Matrone, kept all her cash in her home. Paulie broke into Minn's home to try to steal this money, but she caught him in the act. When he failed to talk his way out of it, he suffocated her with a pillow. He gave the money to Tony to rejuvenate Tony's confidence in Paulie.
Season 5
In the fifth season, Chris and Paulie's bad blood resurfaces when Chris reiterates the story of the Pine Barrens incident to Vito Spatafore, Patsy Parisi, and Benny Fazio. The story starts out friendly, but after Chris embarrasses him in front of the guys, Paulie calls Chris "Tony's little favorite." This leads to Chris and Paulie almost starting a fight and later, Paulie tells the rest of the guys that it's over between the two of them. At comare night, Chris refuses to pay for dinner, forcing Paulie to pay. At Satriale's the following morning, Paulie demanded the money back, or else Chris would begin paying points. At another dinner in Atlantic City, Paulie tells everyone to choose whatever they want in order to inflate Christopher's bill. Tapped out, Chris left a small tip and argued with Paulie in the parking lot until the waiter came out to confront them. Chris responded violently and threw a brick at him. The waiter collapsed and went into convulsions. Panicked, Paulie shot the waiter and retrieved the $1,200 in cash before running away. Paulie later called Chris and they agreed to "bury the hatchet," and split the tab. While this seems to Chris like a fair compromise, it essentially means that Paulie is profiting from the whole situation by only returning half of the cash he stole from the dead waiter.
Paulie also got into a dispute with Michele "Feech" La Manna over their rival landscaping companies. Paulie and Feech both resorted to violence, assaulting the other's gardeners. Paulie's competition with and antagonism of Feech served to highlight Feech's insubordinate tendencies, which caused Tony to "set up" Feech for a return to prison, making it easier for everyone.
Season 6
Part 1
Between the fifth and sixth seasons, Chris was made Capo of Paulie's crew, with Paulie being elevated to underboss, albeit a nominal one. Paulie's reputation for withholding money from his payments "up the ladder" were observed in "Mayham." While Tony was in a coma, Paulie took part in a heist with Cary De Bartolo that led to a score of $1,000,000 in Colombian drug money, which was to be divided up fairly in terms of percentage amongst Tony, Paulie, and Vito. The heist resulted from a tip by Vito Spatafore. Although they had agreed to split the acquisition, Paulie later tried to withhold some of Vito's share due to an injury he had received during the heist; Silvio had to mediate as acting boss, informing them that under the circumstances, Tony's share would be given to Carmela. Vito and Paulie were strongly reluctant to give Tony's share to Carmela, as they speculated Tony could potentially die at any moment but in the end accepted. When Vito's homosexuality was later revealed, Paulie was outspoken in his condemnation and desire to see Vito killed. When Vito returned after months in hiding, Tony considered letting his proposal of setting up business in Atlantic City with Silvio in front of Paulie; Paulie remained quiet, but left the room in apparent protest. Tony largely decided to have Vito killed because Paulie's attitude mirrored the lack of respect his underlings would feel for him letting Vito live free, although Phil Leotardo made it a moot point when members of his family beat Vito to death.
In "The Fleshy Part of the Thigh," Paulie learns that his dying aunt Dotty, a nun, was actually his mother. She had become impregnated by a soldier identified only as "Russ" during World War II. Nucci, the woman Paulie had thought of as his mother, was really his aunt who took him in to hide the scandal. This news sent Paulie into an emotional tailspin, in the grips of which he severed his ties to his Nucci and did not attend Dotty's funeral. The episode ended with Paulie extorting $4,000 per month (the sum of Nucci's retirement home costs) from the son of the late owner of the Barone Sanitation company, unbeknown to Tony. Earlier, Paulie had witnessed Helen Barone meet with Tony to intercede on her son's behalf, and Tony promised that he would not be harmed; hearing this conversation led Paulie to break down emotionally. This means that Little Paulie Germani is not his nephew, but his first cousin once removed, although he still referred to Little Paulie as his nephew.
In "The Ride", Paulie was responsible for organizing the annual festivities at the Feast of St. Elzear. Paulie had taken over running the festival from Johnny Boy Soprano upon his death, and continued to try to run it for profit. In 2006, it proved a burden—the replacement priest, Father José, tried to renegotiate the payment the church would receive. Paulie refused to pay, and Father José retaliated by refusing to allow St. Elzear's gold hat to be used in the festival. The hat's absence was noticed and complained about by elder residents. Ride maintenance was another area where Paulie decided to save money, which resulted in a malfunction while Bobby Baccalieri's family was on a ride. Janice received minor neck injuries. Subsequently, this resulted in temporary bad blood between Paulie and Bobby which Tony ordered to be resolved.
During the festival, Paulie was tested for prostate cancer because of an elevated PSA. With his uncertain parentage, there was no way of knowing if he was genetically predisposed to the disease or not. During a restless night awaiting his results, Paulie awoke at 3 a.m. and went to the Bada Bing. There, he had a striking vision of the Virgin Mary hovering above the stage. Paulie later visited Nucci at Green Grove, and they had a silent reconciliation. In "Moe N' Joe," Paulie told Tony that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The disease was apparently caught in an early stage, and Paulie underwent radiation therapy. Paulie suggested that his luck at having been diagnosed early was a reward for good deeds in his life, and Tony agreed with him. He stated in "Stage 5," that he beat the cancer, after learning of Johnny Sack's death from lung cancer.
Part 2
In "Remember When," Paulie and Tony leave for Miami to lie low while the F.B.I. investigated the old murder case of Tony's first murder victim, Willie Overall. On the trip and in Miami, Paulie begins to reminisce about the old days, at which point he brings up Pussy Bonpensiero and Ralph Cifaretto and how they all four went out to dinner the night Tony whacked Willie. Tony begins to grow somewhat suspicious of Paulie's idiosyncrasies and inclination to divulge information to other people, and Tony questioned him several times about the joke Ralph made about Ginny Sacrimoni's weight. Eventually, Overall's murder was blamed on the deceased Jackie Aprile, Sr., so Tony took Paulie on a fishing trip to celebrate. Paulie had serious misgivings about going to sea with Tony due to the boat trip that was used to lure Pussy to his death. On the boat, Paulie continues to deny informing Johnny Sack of Ralph's joke about his wife. While Tony seriously considered murdering Paulie, he ultimately decided to spare his life. Seemingly out of "gratitude," Paulie sent Carmela a $2,000 espresso machine to replace her broken one. The overly expensive gift gave the impression of Paulie to Carmela that "there is something seriously wrong with that man," but Tony defends him, saying it was people like Paulie who allowed Tony and Carmela to live the way they did.
In "Walk like a Man," Paulie's nephew, Little Paulie, was beaten by Chris and thrown out a second-story window. A furious Paulie tore up Christopher's lawn with his car, leaving Christopher's wife shaken. Later in the episode, they seemed to have made up, and drank together at the Bada Bing. However, Paulie made off-color remarks about Christopher's daughter, which caused an inebriated Chris to storm out and later kill his A.A. friend J.T. Dolan. In "Kennedy and Heidi," Paulie was left surprisingly grief-stricken when Chris was killed, reflecting that their argument over money and respect was trivial and that he should have been nicer to him, in life. Paulie was later "upstaged" when his aunt/adopted mother Nucci's wake was under-attended because his friends were at Christopher's wake instead. In the final episode "Made in America," Tony asked Paulie to take over the old Aprile/Cifaretto/Spatafore/Gervasi crew. At first, Paulie was hesitant because all the bad luck that had befallen that crew's previous capos, but changes his mind after clever persuasion. With an ongoing war between the New Jersey and New York crime families, Tony and Paulie attend a sitdown with the New York crew, who agree to a truce to end their war. When they make an offer, Tony looks to Paulie, who nods in agreement.
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Who created the US television show ‘The Sopranos’? | The Sopranos Fan Reviews & Ratings - TV.com
The Sopranos is a phenomenal roller coaster ride into the mind of a both repulsive and lovable character.
9.5
By cowhouse , May 29, 2014
The Sopranos is a strong contender for greatest television show ever made. But what gives it the edge is that Sopranos raised the benchmark and set the rules for all other high quality dramas to follow. Claiming The Wire or Breaking Bad may not have existed is a bit of a stretch, but to say it influenced them in formula, style and sheer intelligence is an understatement. Sopranos paved the way in so many ways, such as mature content at its most raw, and allowing us to sympathise with monsters, which has now become standard in this medium and is now what sets it apart from other media outlets.
The importance of Sopranos is clearly huge, but that alone wouldn't propel it amongst the very best if it wasn't entertaining. Luckily, it reigns supreme in this factor too, with arguably the single greatest anti hero to grace our screens, emotional gut punches galore and plenty of truly dark humour that often relieves the tension at always the right time.
It remains high in quality throughout it's run, and the only slight dips are the occasional episode in the later seasons. The first few episodes give the impression its a generic, albeit brilliantly made depiction of the gangster lifestyle. It quickly destroys this notion however, as Tony Soprano gradually opens up and eventually pouring his heart to his shrink, where we unravel his twisted, disturbing and suprisingly vulnerable thought process. These scenes become almost an analysis to his rotten criminal activities before it, and becomes a compelling formula once you are into it. As the show goes on, it becomes much more surreal and artistic, with ambitious (very long) dream sequences and monologues that are hard to decipher. More often than not however they hit their mark.
The entire supporting cast, much like Tony himself, are certainly flawed, and can be difficult to like. The show doesnt ask you to do so however. It's grounded in realism, and characters are the story, a tragic one at that. And seeing it unravel is to venture further into the rabbit hole. There are a number of scenes in the series that are downright shocking, and will likely to put even the most desensitised viewer into a state of anger. But its not "shock value" if the scenes has context and meaning.
Since this show has ended I sort television dramas into two categories: pre-Sopranos and post-Sopranos. And since television has never been better.
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By RBarao , Feb 11, 2014
This show isn't about mafiosi, crime, murder or drugs.
This is a careful, methodical dissection of the notion of "family" and "family values". There are no simple relationships, and no character is either black or white. They're all flawed and, at some point, they all disappoint or surprise us, make us root for them or hate them.
Moreover, the writing is simply unsurpassable. There is no room or need for expository dialogue. All we need to know is either shown or hinted at, and it's our job to put the pieces together, which is the true appeal of any meaningful relationship.
The Sopranos is the gold standard for any show, regardless of genre.
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4.0
By bknight1 , Sep 04, 2013
The Soprano's is a Mafia drama in the same way that Olive Garden is an Italian resteraunt. What always frustrated me about this show is how such great pains were taken with certain production values of this show, and yet the criminal aspect is glossed over in almost comical Tony and his crew behaved the way they did in the real world, they'd have been whacked after the first episode..
If you really want to see a real Mafia drama, (and see how the mob really works) watch Goodfellas or Donnie pay attention..
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#1 organized crime show-totally gangster !!
10
By Mooser1971 , Jun 03, 2013
This show is smoking awesome !! I love the the cast and everything about the show !! never missed an episode while it was on comcast !! The drama keeps me on the edge of my seat at ALL times ! One of my favorite episodes was when angela got what she thought was a great boyfriend whom she knew from way back and he ended up being a jerk and slapped her and she whacked the guy and then tony took his body to the meat market at night and cut him up into pieces !!!!! wwwwow !!!!
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One Of The Great Shows
10
By Zingo , Nov 04, 2012
This show had me from the opening credits and theme song. I never missed a show after the pilot, and thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. Some shows reach a level that could be called "high art", and this is one of them. The cast was perfect and real looking. Some shows have an unnatural amount of beautiful looking people on them. Of the regulars, one or two could be called beautiful. The rest had interesting normal mugs. The acting doesn't get any better. Rarified air.
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The Americanized Mafia Soap Opera.For Kids!
5.0
By sk_razor , Sep 18, 2012
Everything about the sopranos except the core plot is great. How ever the mafia core is just plain ***ed. What you get with the Sopranos is a well done series of what mafia would have been like with a brain damaged leader in the town of Unnamedsville with population of 4000 people. While drama lovers certainly are going to appreciate a good production, and the pseudo-mafioso spicing. While watching an Joe potato gangster argue with his wife on a daily basis certainly has an audience, and that has already been verified, it can't stand as any criminal portrayal be it fictional or realistic.That is unless you want to watch the head of the Mafia, in an American state populated by 8 million people, at the peak of his career personally negotiating a deal on the street, with common truck hijackers about a full truck of garage tools enticing the dealers for further business by offering to return the truck with shampoo with 20$ retail price - per.
Apparently the crime element in the show has somewhat slipped past 99% of the criminal activities that have been going around America for over a century, And the scale is too dumb to be even funny. Overall if you would like to see a televised motion of what the mafia would like in the head of a three year old you should go ahead. If you like personal dramas with the American flavor its for you. However if you want a show with even basic sense of dignity you won't be able to enjoy actors doing great performances on crime subjects most often near relevant as a turd, having a dip of sloppy murder occasionally.
As the previous reviewer put it excellently "turn of your brain" is a prerequisite for most enjoyment you can acquire out of it. Once again, there is certainly an audience for this. However this review is for anyone so anyone with other tastes, should know what they are getting into.
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10
By dodyman , Nov 13, 2011
I decided to watch The Sopranos few months ago , I've been always curious to know what this show is about and why it gets all that hype and positive critics .
In my opinion the show did something different to the world of T.V , it's not only show about mafia or about Tony Sopranos and his relations with society . It's about Family Values that it's not easy to find nowadays .
The show is outstanding in Writing , Acting and Directing and it really deserves all these awards . All the acting cast are really great and talented , and I think James Gandolfini is one of the best actors ever , Both of him and Bryan Cranston are the greatest actors of the last decade . Not to forget about David Chase who always reminds me with Martin Scorsese, The way David wrote the show and created it proves this I think .
I only finished three season of the show and there are all great and the second one is the best of them , I heard that the other three seasons are not as greatness as the first three but whatever happens I don't really care because what I saw from this show in the first three season forces me to give it a 10 without any doubt .
Overall This is highly recommended , Thanks for reading and forgive me if there is any English mistakes , English is my second language
Greetings !
It's outstanding writing, acting, direction and setting made it one of the most sublime cutting edge show in television history
9.5
By PollosHermanos , Oct 29, 2011
The Sopranos is a television show based around the Italian American New Jersey crime family. Focusing on the protagonist ''Tony Soprano'' who is a mob boss who suffers from a genetic history of stressful panic attacks. He becomes diagnosed with depression and starts to see a psychiatrist. He deals with these problems in his own way both helping and disgracing his own wife and kids. The first 4 seasons were absolutely brilliant. The show wasn't just a cliched Italian mafia crime movie involving nothing but swears and a mediocre plot. The show was about Tony and the people around him, the show was so dramatic as it was hilarious in it's own way. Some of the most memorable characters made it what it was today. Season 5 and 6 weren't as good but still good seasons.
I would definitely recommend this show to anyone because you will thoroughly enjoy it no matter were you're from.
To sum up out of ten for each season i'd say:
Season 1: 9.7/10
Woke up this mawnin' never sounded so sweet and also never evoked so many great memories...
10
By hunt33 , Oct 29, 2011
As the Godfather saga was the view of the mafia from the executive suite, this series is a complex tale of the mafia from the working man's point of view. If you've never watched this show, you're in for an extended treat. Yes, there is violence and nudity, but it is never gratuitous and is needed to contrast Tony Soprano, the thinking man's gangster, with the reality of the life he has been born to and, quite frankly, would not ever have left even knowing how so many of his associates have ended up. Tony Soprano can discuss Sun Tzu with his therapist, then beat a man to death with a frying pan in a fit of rage, and while dismembering and disposing of the body with his nephew, take a break, sit down and watch TV while eating peanut butter out of the jar, and give that nephew advice on his upcoming marriage like they had just finished a Sunday afternoon of viewing NFL football. Even Carmella, his wife, when given a chance for a way out, finds that she really prefers life with Tony and the perks that go with it and looking the other way at his indiscretions versus life on her own. If you followed the whole thing, you know how it ends. If you didn't, trust me you've never seen a TV show end like this !
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Sopranos - It's in my top 3 best shows of all time.
10
By trentraz , Dec 14, 2010
Each episode doesn't leave you hanging for the next but at the same time it does. Almost like enjoying a rather fulfilling meal only to be yearning for the next as each episode begins and ends on it's own accord.
The time line throughout the show is very realistic as days, weeks or even months may pass and the cast is well structured as well as the storyline, which is primarily based around respect and preservation for all members involved (unless they're flipped by the feds).
The show captured me from the very first episode and continued to intrigue and interest throughout the seasons as numerous plots thicken followed by many twists and turns.
I rate this show and firmly believe it's without a doubt a closer to the truth portrayal of what the mafia is about, unlike the bleak vision of that of The Godfather.
Do yourself a favor and watch it, it won't disappoint.
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This show was flat out bad
1.2
By Petarded211 , Aug 31, 2010
Dont adjust your set that was the ending...In 20 years of beign on this earth and i have seen a lot of crappy shows but this by far was the worst episode of not just The Sopranos but any show i have ever watched. The true disapointment of it all is i will never get that time back which i have wasted watching this season..i was a huge fan but this has just made me shake my head who ever said patience is a virtue did not sit throurh this terrible season ending to a great televison series..BADA BUST
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9.5
By hyperjim , Aug 08, 2010
I discovered the Sopranos this summer and I watched the whole episodes in a two months span. This show is really one of the best I had ever seen ! Characters, stories, filming all is fantastic and makes every single episode look like a fragment of a long movie.
The Sopranos is not only a story of a middle-aged bad guy, dealing with familly and business, it's more a philosophical interrogation about the meaning of life. Every character in the show is in front of that question sooner or later : who I'am, what I'am doing, is my life really meanfull ?
The show is not giving any formal answers but it's nicelly depicting life and so anyone can interrogate himself and luckilly find his own way to live with.
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best mobster show ever created
10
By AnalogOdyssey , Jul 15, 2010
Best mobster show ever created.. incredible acting I loved this show although the ending was not what I hoped it would be this show has you from the beginning exploring Tony Sopranos life, his family and his "waste management business" He goes to a shrink and suffers from depression taking prozac and he also kills other gangsters and represents Italy Proud!!! !! !! I love this show and I recommend it to anyone espeically if u like the movies heat, scarface, goodfellas, casino and other gangster films then this film is right up your alley..... . . . .. . . .
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8.5
By bizzy_bn , May 01, 2010
If you do start watching this great show be prepared to get addicted to the show, the episodes are around 40 mins long, so a whole 6 seasons you will need a bit of time on your hands.
It's a good change from all of the other shows on TV, (prison break, heroes, lost, etc.) all very good, but have the same type of feel about them and The Sopranos is different yet still good. It's a great show that improves season after season. If you're not a fan of gangster/mob movies, this show probably isn't for you, but you might want to give it a try anyway.
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Great TV Show, if you like gangster/mob movies, such as (The Godfather, Goodfellas, The Departed) you will love the show.
9.0
By cp111 , Apr 25, 2010
Great TV Show, if you like gangster/mob movies, such as (The Godfather, Goodfellas, The Departed) you will love the show. If you were like me and missed the sopranos when it came out on TV and looking for something new to start watching, well you've found it. Don't let the first episode put you off, because it doesn't do it justice. So just watch the first 3 or 4 episodes and if you don't like it, well I don't know why, maybe it's just not for you.
If you start watching it be prepared to get addicted to the show, the episodes are around 40 mins long, so a whole 6 seasons you will need a bit of time on your hands.
It's a good change from all of the other shows on TV, (prison break, heroes, lost, etc.) all very good, but have the same type of feel about them and The Sopranos is different yet still good. It's a great show that improves season after season. If you're not a fan of gangster/mob movies, this show probably isn't for you, but you might want to give it a try anyway.
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Best there ever wil be.
10
By ImAwesome66 , Dec 01, 2009
Meet Tony Soprano: your average, middle-aged businessman. Tony's got a dutiful wife. A not-so-dutiful son. A daughter named Meadow. An uncle who's losing his marbles. A hot-headed nephew. A not-too-secret mistress. And a shrink to tell all his secrets, except the one she already knows:
Tony's a mob boss whose troubles are wrapped up in his two families. These days, it's getting tougher and tougher to make a killing in the killing business. Just because you're 'made' doesn't mean you've got it made. This show will never be topped in mafia drama shows, it isn't really like the movie the godfather or anything, it is a mobster show that revolves around a little bit of unintentional comedy,whacking,beatings,drugs,pyschology,relationships and it is th best mobster show ever made.
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Never will there be a moment greater than this.
10
By knscarper , May 07, 2009
I remember the days when The Sopranos was a weekly event.For me it was a moment in time worthy of a pause.Everybody was working for the weekend while I was working for the Soprano.Watching this show gave me one of the best feelings that I have had in a long time.Almost like being a kid at Christmas.The wait was that intense and that much more satisfying when a new episode would air,But yet that much more melon Colly when it would end as well. And no ,I don't have posters,collector items or a weird shrines build in homage to the show.lets just say it was the one bright star in this mans average life. But to say the least, I think a lot of people have had these feelings .Whether it be this show or "I love Lucy" from a much later era.When its gone,you feel like things will never be the same. It was a great show,it was a good time and most of all it was life style.
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The Sopranos is to television what Godfather is to the movies. Never was the mafia so perfectly depicted.
10
By Matt_Predator_X , Oct 17, 2008
The Sopranos tells the story of Anthony Soprano (a sensational James Gandolfini). He is one of the most important gangsters in New York- and he's having a crisis. In most of the shows, he appears talking to his psychiatrist (played by Lorraine Bracco) about the problems in his mob life. It's a whole different side of the mafia we are used to. The series does a lot of references to other crime movies, like Godfather and The Goodfellas. It's top entertainment, a television series so rare and original. One of the best television shows of all time. A true classic.
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10
By dta151 , Aug 06, 2008
Simply the best tv show in the history of tv.Season 1 2 3 4 5 and 6 are all awesome.Cant wait for the movie.My fav is season 2 first then 4 then 3 then 1 then 5 and then 6.Really really hope they make a movie.It would be stupid and idiotic not to.They will make tons of money. Alot of the characters are dead now so they would have to bring in new people,make Chuck Zito,Deniro someone that can challenge Tony from NY so we wont know who is gonna come out on top.There will never be another like it.End of story.
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Why I agree that The Sopranos is without a doubt one of the greatest shows ever.
10
By HotDogFingers13 , Jul 22, 2008
Only one word can describe the roller coaster ride that David Chase took us on from 1999 to 2007...Classic. From the very first one hour installment the viewer knows they are witnessing something rare and special. With its pulse pounding stories,stunning plot twists,deep well developed characters, and top notch acting,writing,and direction; The Sopranos made an impact that will still be felt years and years from now. It was arguably the most realistic portrait of mafia life that has ever been created for movies,tv, or anything else. It brought us so many iconic scenes and of course TV's greatest anit-hero Tony Soprano.
But what really makes Tony's saga a classic in my mind id how it managed to capture both the family elements of The Godfather and the mob lifestyle of Goodfellas,and make them both into something noone will ever forget.
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10
By petrelli19 , May 17, 2008
The best drama of television is certainly The Sopranos. WÝth its six seasons, The sopranos became the most successful tv drama ever and It will never be forgotten. I liked every single episode of it and every episode tasted like a movie. Characters are drawn incredibly amazing. James Gandolfini is a great actor and he was amazing in The Sopranos. With characters like Tony, Christopher, Paul and others, The show was incredible. I watched not only how Tony dealt with his everyday problems but I also watched how psycologically Tony grew and this character development added really important things. Especially by the help of conversations with his doctor, I could see the way of how he thinks.
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The best drama series ever!
10
By sideshowfan , May 03, 2008
This show is certinly in my opinion in the top 5 greatest tv shows ever. Every episode something happened. Maybe it just went a teeny bit over the top sometimes but not very much. My favorite character was probably Chrissy Montisanti because he got in more troble than anyone,even Tony himself. My favorite seasons were 3 and 6 because they had my favorite episodes in such as "Pine barrons" which was like a classic novel,and "Members only" which h.d the deaths of Eugene Portacorvo and Ray Curto and,of course the shooting of Tony.If the show ever had a weak point,it was the suffocation of Chris by Tony. I mean what the hell was wrong with him? Ok here's my view on the finale. In my mind,if Tony got whacked it was Meadow who did it. I know it sounds crazy but think about it, the last thing Meadow said to Tony was "You are a fat loudmouth!". Surely that was intended as a clue. Hopefuly David Chase will at least make a movie explaining what happened and who knows, if that's a success he might revive the series again. Long live The Sopranos!
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well i just started watching it but its awsome?
9.3
By rohan1104 , Apr 30, 2008
kinda started watching the show late.. but so far i love it. Only see half of season one and its is awsome!!!
So like i wonder why they shut it down as the show was doing good.. but i guess now there is entourage to replce sopranos as the hard standing HIT all mens emsemble show!!
Could someone tell me where i can get more DVDS of sopraos pls. So like i wonder why they shut it down as the show was doing good.. but i guess now there is entourage to replce sopranos as the hard standing HIT all mens emsemble show!!
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9.4
By cavanagh15 , Feb 12, 2008
What makes this show really shine is the ability for you to get absorbed into the character. Tony is the good guy of the story - but he does some things that we would consider horrible in todays society. I thought the first season got off to a slow and odd start, but season two really picked up with season long storylines with beginnings, middles, and ends. I havent gotten the chance to watch every episode yet - but through three seasons I still feel that this show is able to keep my interest. At times some of the side plots can became a bit unrealistic or a little dull to watch, but for the most part the show tends to stay away from that and focus on Tony and his family and how they survive the day to day lifestyle. Overall, great show that has a lot of promise to get even better in the latter seasons.
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| David Chase |
British television commentator Kent Walton was associated with which sport for 33 years? | Watch The Sopranos Online | Watch Full The Sopranos episodes online
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Watch Season 6 Part 2
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The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around New Jersey-based mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads.
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The series also features Tony's family members and Mafia associates in prominent roles and storylines, most notably his wife Carmela (Edie Falco) and cousin and protégé Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli).
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The series premiered on the premium cable network HBO in the United States on January 10, 1999 and ended its original run of six seasons and 86 episodes on June 10, 2007. The show has also been broadcast on A & E in the United States and internationally.
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The Sopranos was produced by HBO, Chase Films and Brad Grey Television. It was primarily filmed at Silvercup Studios, New York City and on location in New Jersey.
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A major commercial and critical success, The Sopranos is the most financially successful series in the history of cable television and is acknowledged as one of the greatest television series of all time and a seminal work of fiction. The series is noted for its high level of quality in every aspect of production and is particularly recognized for its writing and the performances of its lead actors.
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The show is credited with bringing a greater level of artistry to the television medium and paving the way for many successful drama series that followed. It also won a multitude of awards, including twenty-one Emmys and five Golden Globes.
Original air date: May 13, 2007
"Kennedy and Heidi"
Original air date: May 20, 2007
"The Second Coming"
Original air date: June 3, 2007
"The Blue Comet"
Original air date: June 10, 2007
"Made in America"
Original air date: February 6, 2000
"Commendatori"
Original air date: May 6, 2001
"Pine Barrens"
Original air date: May 23, 2004
"Long Term Parking"
Original air date: March 19, 2006
"Join the Club"
Original air date: September 15, 2002
"For All Debts Public and Private"
Original air date: December 8, 2002
"Whitecaps"
Original air date: March 7, 2004
"Two Tonys"
Original air date: June 10, 2007
"Made in America"
| i don't know |
In which Hollywood hotel was singer Janis Joplin found dead of an accidental heroin dose? | Celebrity Hotel Deaths - Travel Chimp's Hospitality and Travel News
Travel Chimp's Hospitality and Travel News
A number of celebrities have died in hotel rooms, many of them at a very young age and
with drugs as the main or secondary cause. Here's a list I've compiled.
Norfolk Waterside Marriott Downtown, Norfolk, VA
Former NBA player Moses Malone was found dead in his hotel room on the morning of Sept. 13, 2015. He was 60. A medical examiner determined the cause of death to be cardiovascular disease. Malone was a three-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team and ABA All-Time Team . He went straight from Petersburg High School in Virginia to a 21-year career in professional basketball. By the time Malone retired after 19 seasons, he was the last former ABA player active and held numerous distinctions in both leagues, including a championship ring and NBA finals MVP trophy won with the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers . A prolific offensive rebounder , he was nicknamed "Chairman of the Boards."
According to Malone’s best friend Kevin Vergara, Malone saw a doctor about an irregular heartbeat less than week before his death. The doctor saw nothing wrong but gave Malone a heart monitor, which Malone was wearing when he died. Friends say that Malone didn’t drink or do drugs. He typically skipped sodas and fried food, choosing grilled chicken, fish and salad instead. “He was always very health minded,” said Vergara. “He’s vigorous about working out.” Malone was in Norfolk to attend the Still Hope Foundation Charity Golf Tournament.
Although Malone had a reputation of not being very smart, Vergara said that wasn’t the real Malone. “He is very smart. He was a shy person, but when he got to know you he opened up. And he knows the game. He would have been a good coach.”
Sunset Marquis Hotel, Los Angeles
Dennis Sheehan, longtime tour manager for U2, died of an apparent heart attack in his hotel room on May 27, 2015. He was 68. Despite spending decades in a notoriously dirty business, Sheehan emerged with his reputation largely intact. Over the years he helped manage Led Zeppelin and also worked with Iggy Pop, Patty Smith and Lou Reed.
“We’ve lost a family member, we’re still taking it in,” Bono wrote on U2’s Web site. “He wasn’t just a legend in the music business, he was a legend in our band. He is irreplaceable.”
Sheehan said in a 2008 interview, “I never drank until I was 30, I never did drugs and I was always honest. I think people knew my history at the time, and knew I was straight and had a sense of responsibility. I always got the job done regardless.”
Born in England, Sheehan grew up in Ireland. He played in a band from 13 to 19, doing some professional touring. “On the U.S. Army bases we would play House of the Rising Sun and they would just throw money on the stage,” he said. “We’d play it a half a dozen times a night! It was good fun.” But then he made an unusual move — he stepped offstage.
“At 19, I took my first job on the other side of the business,” he said in 2013. The job was tour managing for soul greats Jimmy James and the Vagabonds. Sheehan didn’t miss the spotlight. “I had driven my own band around, and at that point I knew I wasn’t going to miss playing very much.”
Of U2 he recently said, “The band works incredibly hard, and they go to extreme lengths to achieve what they want. With many bands, you get to a peak and that’s it. With U2 they are still climbing that mountain.”
Hotel Room, St. Gallen, Switzerland
Johnny Winter, an American blues rock guitarist known for his virtuoso slide-guitar solos and raspy vocals, was found dead in a hotel room outside Zurich on July 16, 2014. Winter was 70. Along with his brother, Edgar Winter, also a well known blues musician, the Texas-born Winter revered African-American blues tradition and began performing in his teens.
Johnny, distinctive because he and brother Edgar were albino, broke into national fame in 1968, when Rolling Stone magazine dubbed him the hottest musician outside Janis Joplin. In 1969, he played the Newport Jazz Festival, where he performed with B.B. King, one of his musical idols, and at Woodstock. He also produced albums for his idol, Muddy Waters, in the 1970s, helping to burnish the reputation of the legendary bluesman. Among Winter's best known songs was "Still Alive and Well", a blues rock stomper recorded after he resurfaced from heroin addiction in the 1970s. A new Winter album, on which Eric Clapton and Ben Harper appear as guests, is set to be released on Sept. 2. A boxed collections of his main tracks since the 1960s was released this year, complete with tributes from other performers who said he'd been a seminal influence on their careers.
A prosecutor ordered an autopsy but the cause of death is still unclear. There was no indication of third-party involvement, and early indications pointed to a medically related incident.
Article: One of Johnny Winter's final interviews
Parking lot, Gainey Suites Hotel, Scottsdale, AZ
James Brian Hellwig, better known as professional wrestler Ultimate Warrior, collapsed in the hotel parking lot while walking to his car on April 8, 2014. He was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead. There were no signs of foul play, and an autopsy later found that he died from cardiovascular disease. He was 54. Hellwig admitted to being a heavy user of steroids during his professional wrestling career. Long-term steroid use is thought to weaken the heart muscle. He also had a family history of fatal heart attacks; his father died at the age of 57 and a grandfather at 52.
Hellwig began his career as an amateur bodybuilder before moving into wrestling. His joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now World Wrestling Entertainment WWE) in 1987 and quickly went on to become one of the biggest WWE stars. Hellwig became WWE Champion on April 1, 1990, at WrestleMania VI by defeating Hulk Hogan in an epic encounter. He’s remembered for his many rivalries in the ring and for his trademark vivid face paint.
Hellwig's death came just days after he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.Tributes poured in from throughout the wrestling world, including from his former rival Hulk Hogan. During one appearance on WWE’s weekly cable show Raw, Hellwig gave a poignant speech saying, "No man becomes a legend on their own. Every man's heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe their final breath. And if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them believe deeper in something that's larger than life, then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalized by the storytellers, by the loyalty, by the memory of those who honor him, and make the running the man did live forever."
Sheraton Hotel, Pittsburgh
Actor and standup comedian John Pinette died of natural causes there on April 5, 2014. He was 50. Pinette had suffered from both liver and heart disease. Authorities did not suspect foul play and so an autopsy was not performed. A native of Boston, Pinette’s career began in the early ‘90s with roles in movies such as Junior, Dear God, Duets and The Punisher. He had a guest star role in the final episode of Seinfeld in 1998 and had his own special on Comedy Central in 2011.
Pinette had to postpone several performances in 2013 when he checked into rehab for a prescription drug addiction. He took a break from his comedy tour in early 2014 to recover from several surgeries after losing weight. Pinette wrote on Twitter in January, “I didn’t give myself enough time to heal this past fall and it has caught up with me. But I’m on the mend and I promise to hit the stage as soon as humanly possible.”
Casablanca Hotel, Harlem, New York
Former basketball legend Dean (The Dream) Meminger was found dead in a Harlem hotel on August 23, 2013, at the age of 65. Police reported a possible drug overdose. Meminger was a key backup on the Knicks’ 1973 NBA championship team, but also struggled with cocaine and crack addiction most of his adult life.
Meminger was discovered fully clothed, unconscious and unresponsive around noon by staff at the Hamilton Heights Casablanca Hotel after he didn’t check out on time. Meminger’s gold championship ring was still on his finger. Emergency medical personnel arrived and pronounced him dead. Police said there were no signs of trauma and that the cause of death hadn't been determined. An investigation is ongoing.
“There was white stuff oozing out of his nose,” according to one source. “Looked like he had a seizure after he was using cocaine, but the medical examiner will have the final say.”
A former New York City prep star at Rice High School, Meminger then led Marquette University to a 78-9 mark in three varsity seasons, averaging 18.8 points. He averaged 21.2 points as a senior in 1970-71 and was drafted 16th overall by the Knicks. During his basketball career, Meminger averaged 6.1 points in six seasons with the Knicks and Atlanta Hawks.
Meminger almost burned himself to death in a 2009 four-alarm fire in the Bronx. He was found unconscious near his bed in a dilapidated hotel room, surrounded by crack pipes. He spoke openly over the years about his struggles with cocaine, and he even worked as a drug counselor while battling his own addiction.
"Everyone at the New York Knicks' organization is saddened to hear the news of Dean Meminger's passing," said Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald in a statement.
"From the day he was drafted by this franchise in 1971, Dean was a friend and close family member of this team. On April 5, 2013, the 1973 world championship team was honored at Madison Square Garden on its 40th anniversary. There was no one prouder than Dean to be back on the court with his teammates. We send our heartfelt condolences to the entire Meminger family."
21st Floor, Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel, Vancouver, Canada
“Glee” heart throb Cory Monteith was found dead there on July 13, 2013. An autopsy revealed his death was the result of a heroin and alcohol overdose. Monteith's body was discovered by staff members at the hotel after he missed his noon checkout time. The 31-year-old actor had a long history of drug problems. He attended 16 different schools growing up, including alternative programs for troubled teens. He eventually quit school at the age of 16. By that time, his drug and alcohol addiction was "out of control," and Monteith turned to petty crimes to fund his addictions. At age 19 he entered rehab after his mother and friends intervened. Most recently, he voluntarily entered rehab in March of 2013.
Monteith appeared on the Fox musical comedy show Glee since it began in 2009. On the show, Monteith played the star quarterback of the football team at an Ohio high school who is forced to join the glee club. After graduation, he comes back to town and helps direct a musical at the school. Monteith won a Teen Choice Award for top actor in a comedy in 2011. Prior to Glee, he made guest appearances on a number of television shows including Smallville, Supernatural, Flash Gordon, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate SG-1.
Frequent Glee director Adam Shankman reacted on Twitter by posting, "Goodbye my amazing and beautiful friend. The lights in my world just grew dimmer. The world just lost one of our best. I love u so much."
Room 449, Boscolo Exedra Hotel, Rome, Italy
Actor James Gandolfini died in Rome, Italy, around 10pm on June 19, 2013. The 51-year-old Sopranos star was in Italy to receive an award at the Taormina Film Festival. The festival issued a statement saying that "Gandolfini has been the American actor who best represented the Italian-American society thanks to his personality rich of contrasts, ambitions, anguish and humor. He has represented the golden age of television being at the same time a memorable movie actor."
Gandolfini was in Italy with his son Michael, 13. The two had “a beautiful day out together” before returning to their hotel room. Michael later discovered his father in the bathroom apparently having a heart attack and called for help. The hotel staff immediately summoned an ambulance. The actor arrived at the Policlinico Umberto I hospital, which is approximately a three-minute drive from the hotel, in cardiac arrest. Resuscitation efforts continued for 40 minutes until he was pronounced dead.
The actor won three Emmy Awards for his portrayal of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano in HBO's "The Sopranos" for six seasons. He was later cast as CIA director Leon Panetta in the Oscar-nominated "Zero Darky Thirty" and performed on Broadway in "God of Carnage." Gandolfini's other roles included the woman-beating mob henchman Virgil in True Romance, enforcer/stuntman Bear in Get Shorty, and the impulsive Wild Thing Carol in Where the Wild Things Are. Gandolfini produced the 2007 documentary Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq, in which he interviewed 10 injured Iraq War veterans. His second 2010 documentary Wartorn: 1861-2010 analyzes posttraumatic stress disorder and its impact on soldiers and families through several wars in American history, from 1861 to 2010. TV Guide ranked him 28 on its "50 Sexiest Stars of All Time" list in 2005.
Room 434, Beverly Hilton, Los Angeles, CA
Singer Whitney Houston was found dead at the age of 48 in the bathtub of her hotel room on Feb. 11, 2012. The official cause of death was determined to be accidental drowning with cocaine and atherosclerotic heart disease as contributing factors. Toxicology results found she also had marijuana, Xanax, the muscle relaxant Flexeril, and the allergy medication Benadryl in her system. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most-awarded female act of all time. Her awards include two Emmys, six Grammys, 30 Billboard Music Awards, and 22 American Music Awards. Houston was one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide. Houston released seven studio albums and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which were diamond, multi-platinum, platinum or gold. She starred in several movies including The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale. Her last film, Sparkle, was released in 2012.
Tragically, Houston's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, was found face down and unresponsive in her bathtub on January 31, 2015. Marijuana, alcohol, morphine and the cocaine byproduct benzoylecgonine were found in her system. She never regained consciousness and spent her final months in hospital and hospice care. She died on July 26, 2015 at the age of 22.
Room 609, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, FL
Anna Nicole Smith died there at the age of 39 on Feb. 8, 2007. The former Playboy playmate overdosed on a combination of over-the-counter and prescription drugs less than five months after her son also died from a lethal combination of drugs. She had married oil business mogul J. Howard Marshall, 62 years her senior, resulting in speculation that she married the octogenarian for his money, which she denied. When he passed away, the matter of his inheritance ended up in a fierce court battle with his family.
Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
David Carradine was found dead in his room there on June 4, 2009. He was 72. Carradine played a Shaolin priest in the 1970s TV series ‘Kung Fu’, but younger fans know him for his role in ‘Kill Bill’. He was in Bangkok to shoot his latest film, Stretch. A police official said Carradine was found hanging by a rope naked in the room's closet, causing immediate speculation that his death was suicide. However, two autopsies concluded that the death was a result of "accidental asphyxiation." Carradine’s former wife Marina Anderson said David’s sexual interests included the practice of self-bondage. She claimed in her earlier divorce filing that, "It was the continuation of abhorrent and deviant sexual behavior which was potentially deadly.”
Room 120, Hotel & Suites del Perque, Durango, Mexico
John Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its related Second City Television series. He appeared in a number of highly successful comedic films including Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, Summer Rental, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, Uncle Buck and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Candy was reputedly the "most-burned potential host" of Saturday Night Live in that he was asked to host many times, only to be canceled by the SNL staff at the last minute.
Candy was filming the Western parody Wagons East! in March of 1994 when he died of a heart attack in his sleep at his hotel in Durango, Mexico, about 100 miles northwest of Mexico City. He was 43.
On the last day of Candy's life, they filmed for long hours in stifling heat. Filming finally stopped around 10pm and Candy decided to have dinner. That was the last time anyone saw him. The next morning at 8am his bodyguard, Gustavo Populus, tried to phone Candy, but there was no answer. Populus went to Candy’s room and found Candy half in and half out of bed. He was wearing a long red and black checked nightshirt. It was obvious that Candy was dead. There were no signs of drugs or alcohol in the room. A doctor was called and officially pronounced Candy dead. It was later found that Candy had suffered a massive heart attack in his sleep. It was March 4, 1994.
Candy's funeral took place on Wednesday, March 9th, at St. Martin of the Tours church, in Brentwood, California. Dan Aykroyd delivered the eulogy and mourners included Chevy Chase, Tom Hanks, Rick Moranis, Jim Belushi, Martin Short, George Wendt, Rhea Perlman, Bill Murray, and Ed Harris, along with John's widow Rosemary, and his two children.
Room 100, The Chelsea Hotel, New York City
Rock groupie Nancy Spungen was allegedly stabbed to death there by musician Sid Vicious on October 12, 1978. The former Sex Pistol was charged with Spungen’s death, but Vicious claims he was in a drugged stupor and couldn't remember what happened. Vicious killed himself a few months later on February 2, 1979, by overdosing on heroin. After his death, his mother found a suicide note in his pocket that read, "We had a death pact, and I have to keep my half of the bargain. Please bury me next to my baby in my leather jacket, jeans and motorcycle boots. Goodbye." Sadly, because Nancy was Jewish and Sid was not, they could not be buried together. Spungeon was 20, Vicious was 21. According to the managing director of the hotel, people still request room 100. However, the room was demolished to become part of a larger suite more than two decades ago. The Chelsea Hotel was a haven for struggling artists for over 50 years.
Article: NYPD secret transcript
Hotel Room, Frankfurt, Germany
Rob Pilatus of the singing group Milli Vanilli died in a Frankfurt hotel room on April 2, 1998, at the age of 32. His death was caused by a heart attack due to an accidental overdose of an unspecified drug (possibly Methadone) and alcohol. Despite the enormous success of Milli Vanilli, singers Pilatus and Fab Morvan were a frequent target of rumors and allegations of on-stage lip-synching and not having sung on their albums. Eventually producer Frank Farian revealed the truth to reporters, that Pilatus and Morvan did not actually sing on the records and their voices were dubbed. The Grammy that Milli Vanilli had received was withdrawn four days later. In the years following, Pilatus struggled with substance abuse and suicide attempts. He served three months in jail for assault, vandalism, and attempted robbery. He also spent six months in drug rehabilitation before returning to Germany from the United States.
Bungalow 3, Chateau Marmont Hotel, Los Angeles
Comedian John Belushi died there on March 5, 1982, at the age of 33. Belushi died from a speedball, a combined injection of cocaine and heroin. On the night of his death, he was reportedly visited separately by friends Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, each of whom left the premises, leaving Belushi in the company of others. Belushi was one of the original members of Saturday Night Live. Animal House and The Blues Brothers were his most famous films.
Room 16, L’Hotel, Paris
Irish playwright and poet Oscar Wilde died in room 16 on November 30, 1900, at the age of 46. A great deal of mystery surrounds his final days in the hotel. There are numerous reports as to the reason for his death, including syphilis and cerebral meningitis resulting from an ear infection. Considered one of the greatest wits to have lived, Wilde’s final words were reputedly, "My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or other of us has got to go". The hotel is now regarded as one of the best boutique hotels on the planet, and it exhibits many of Wilde’s mementos from his stay.
Room 524, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Double Bay, Sydney
Musician Michael Hutchence, age 37, was found dead at the Ritz on Nov. 22, 1997. He was the founder and lead singer of the rock band INXS. The coroner determined Hutchence hung himself, but it's also possible he died from autoerotic asphyxiation. The singer’s relationship with British TV presenter Paula Yates was cited as a cause of his depression. Yates had an affair with Hutchence while she was married to Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof. She had Hutchence’s daughter, which she named Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily Hutchence (known as 'Tiger') on July 22, 1996.
Yates wrote in her police statement that Michael Hutchence was, "frightened and couldn't stand a minute more without his baby". Hutchence was last seen alive at 4:50 A.M. while he was awaiting a phone call from London about whether Yates would be able to bring Tiger to Australia. Paula Yates herself died at age 41 of an accidental drug overdose on Sept. 17, 2000. It was her other daughter Pixie's 10th birthday.
Article: Michael Hutchence's final hours
The pantry of the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles
Presidential candidate Senator Robert F. Kennedy was shot there on June 5, 1968, by Sirhan Sirhan. Kennedy had just won the California Primary. He survived for nearly 26 hours, dying early in the morning of June 6. He was 42.
Robert Kennedy, born in Brookline, Massachusetts, was United States Attorney General from 1961 to 1964, during the administration of his elder brother John F. Kennedy. He was elected to the U.S. Senate from New York in 1965 before entering the race for the Democratic nomination for president in 1968.
As Attorney General, Robert Kennedy staunchly enforced established laws during the violence-prone days of civil rights unrest in the South. His commitment to civil rights implementation and his Justice Department’s vigorous prosecution of
organized crime, along with his later Senatorial efforts on behalf of the dispossessed and the poor had, by 1968 established him as a standard-bearer of suburban voters, blue-collar workers and members of minority groups.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hong Kong
Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing was a film actor and musician from Hong Kong. He's considered one of the founding fathers of Cantopop (Cantonese popular music). In 2000, Cheung was named ‘Asian Biggest Superstar’ by China Central Television and voted/ranked 1st as ‘The Most Favorite Actor in 100 Years of Chinese Cinema’ in 2005. He was also voted #3 in CNN's "top five most iconic musicians of all time" behind Michael Jackson and The Beatles. Cheung suffered from depression and attempted suicide once in 2002. On April 1, 2003, at the age of 46, Cheung leapt from the 24th floor of the Mandarin Oriental hotel. His translated suicide note said, "Depression! Many thanks to all my friends. Many thanks to Professor Felice Lieh-Mak (Cheung's last psychiatrist). This year has been so tough. I can't stand it anymore. Many thanks to Mr. Tong. Many thanks to my family. Many thanks to Fei-Fei (actress Lydia Shum Din-ha). In my life I did nothing bad. Why does it have to be like this?"
Room 105, the Landmark Motor Hotel, Hollywood, CA
Singer/songwriter Janis Joplin was found dead in this hotel at age 27 on the floor beside her bed on Oct. 4, 1970. The cause of death was an accidental heroin overdose. Joplin had an incredibly unique voice and broke down many barriers with her style and attitude. She’s also credited for bringing tattoos into the mainstream. It’s believed that her heroin was stronger than normal as several other users in the area also overdosed that week. Her death sent shockwaves around the world as Jimi Hendrix died only a few weeks earlier after an accidental overdose of sleeping pills. The Landmark Motor Hotel is now called the Highland Gardens Hotel, and it’s still home to up-and-coming actors attracted by its central location just off the Sunset Strip.
Room 858, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
Rock legend John Entwistle died there on June 27, 2002. Entwistle was best known as the bass guitarist for the rock band The Who. June 27 was the day before the scheduled first show of The Who’s 2002 U.S. tour. He had gone to bed that night with a stripper/groupie, Alycen Rowse, who woke at 10 A.M. to find Entwistle dead. It was determined he died at age 57 of a heart attack induced by cocaine.
Second Floor Balcony, Lorraine Hotel, Memphis, TN
Dr. Martin Luther King was shot and killed as he stood on the balcony outside his hotel room, #306, at 6:01 P.M. on April 4, 1968. King, 39, was in Memphis to support the black sanitary public works employees. He supposedly chose the Lorraine, which had welcomed such prominent guests as Cab Calloway and Count Basie, because of its significance to the black community of Memphis. King's last words were reportedly made to musician Ben Branch. King said, "Ben, make sure you play 'Take My Hand, Precious Lord' in the meeting tonight. Play it real pretty." Two months after King's death, escaped convict James Earl Ray was captured at London’s Heathrow Airport while trying to leave the U.K. on a false Canadian passport in the name of Ramon George Sneyd on his way to white-ruled Rhodesia. He was later convicted of King's murder. The Lorraine Hotel was converted into the National Civil Rights Museum in 1991.
Room 22, Samarkand Hotel, London
Jimi Hendrix died in room 22 on Sept. 18, 1970. Hendrix is generally regarded as the greatest electric guitar player of all time. Hendrix had spent the prior evening at a party before being picked up by girlfriend Monika Dannemann and driven to her flat at the Samarkand Hotel. Dannemann claimed that Hendrix, unknown to her, had taken nine of her prescribed sleeping pills. The normal medical dose was half a tablet, but Hendrix was unfamiliar with this very strong German brand. An autopsy found that the 27 year old Hendrix had asphyxiated in his own vomit, mainly red wine, which had filled his airways. Monika Dannemann committed suicide in 1996 after being found guilty of contempt of court for repeating a libel against Kathy Etchingham, who had been a friend of Hendrix in the 1960s.
Regency Hotel, Los Angeles
Described by People magazine as the "Drag Queen of the Century", Divine (born Harris Glenn Milstead) performed female roles in both cinema and theater and also appeared in women's clothing in musical performances. Even so, he considered himself to be a character actor and performed male roles in a number of his later films. He also had a successful career as a disco singer during the 1980s, at one point being described as "the most successful and in-demand disco performer in the world." On March 7, 1988, three weeks after the movie 'Hairspray' was released nationwide, Divine was staying at the Regency Hotel and was scheduled to film a guest appearance as Uncle Otto on the Fox network's television series ‘Married... with Children’ in the second season wrap-up episode. After spending all day at the studios in rehearsals, Divine returned to his hotel where he dined with friends at the hotel restaurant before returning to his room. He died that evening in his sleep of an enlarged heart at age 42.
The Ritz Hotel, Paris
Coco Chanel was an influential French fashion designer and founder of the famous brand Chanel whose modernist thought, practical design, and pursuit of expensive simplicity made her an important and influential figure in 20th-century fashion. She was the only fashion designer to be named on Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century. On January 10, 1971, 87 year old Chanel was tired and ailing but continued to adhere to her usual schedule. She died later that day of natural causes at the Hotel Ritz where she had resided for more than thirty years. She had gone for a long drive in the afternoon and, not feeling well, had retired early to bed. She was working on her collection to be presented in the spring fashion shows that month. Chanel dominated the Paris fashion world in the 1920s, and at the height of her career was running four business enterprises: a fashion house, a textile business, perfume laboratories and a workshop for costume jewelry that altogether employed 3,500 workers.
Ocean View Motel, San Francisco, CA
On May 25, 1996, Bradley Nowell, lead singer for the punk band Sublime, died of a heroin overdose just hours before the group was to perform a sold-out concert. Nowell was 28. Sublime had embarked on a drug-fueled five-day tour through Northern California just days after Nowell's marriage to Troy Dendekker on May 18, 1996. On the morning of May 25, in San Francisco, drummer Bud Gaugh awoke to find Nowell lying half-way across a bed, with his knees and feet on the floor. Gaugh first assumed Nowell had been too intoxicated to get into bed, but then he noticed a green film around his mouth, and it became apparent that Nowell had overdosed on heroin. Gaugh called for paramedics, but Nowell had died several hours earlier and was pronounced dead at the scene. Nowell was cremated and his ashes were spread over his favorite surfing spot in Surfside, California. A headstone was placed at Westminster Memorial in Westminster, California in his memory.
The Chelsea Hotel, New York
The great Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas died tragically at the age of 39 in Nov. 1953. Thomas was visiting New York and staying at the Chelsea Hotel. In addition to being an alcoholic, he also had lung problems and a history of blackouts. In the days before his death, he went on a drinking binge and even boasted he drank "18 straight whiskies; I think it's a record." He began feeling ill. A doctor examined him three times Nov. 4, and injected the poet with three doses of morphine, which further affected Thomas's breathing. By midnight the next day, his breathing worsened. Thomas didn’t die in the hotel, but he slipped into a deep coma and was taken to St. Vincent’s hospital. The physician on duty noted, "Impression upon admission was acute alcoholic encephalopathy damage to the brain by alcohol, for which the patient was treated without response." Doctors also found widespread bronchitis and pneumonia. The pneumonia worsened and Thomas died, still in a coma, at noon on Nov 9. The cause of death was determined to be swelling of the brain, caused by pneumonia reducing the supply of oxygen. Smoking, drinking, poor diet and sleeping problems were contributing factors.
Number 132A, Winfield Place Apartments, Scottsdale, Arizona
Actor Bob Crane was found dead in his room on June 29, 1978, at the age of 49. He had been brutally murdered. From 1965 to 1971, Crane starred in the TV comedy ‘Hogan’s Heroes’ set in a World War II German concentration camp. During that time, he became friends with John Henry Carpenter, who worked in the video department at Sony Electronics and had access to early video recorders. They began to hang out together, usually at bars and strip clubs. Carpenter frequently filmed Crane's sexual escapades with women. In 1978, Crane was appearing at the Windmill Dinner Theatre in Scottsdale. On the night of June 28, Crane allegedly called Carpenter and told him their friendship was over. The next day, Crane was discovered bludgeoned to death with a weapon that was never found but was believed to be a camera tripod. His face was so badly beaten, he was unrecognizable. There was also an electrical cord tied around his neck.
Police suspected Carpenter, but there wasn’t enough evidence to bring him to trial. The case was reopened in 1992. Carpenter was put on trial in 1994 and was found not guilty. Carpenter maintained his innocence until his death on Sept. 4, 1998, and Crane’s murder remains officially unsolved. One alternate theory is that a Mafia boyfriend or husband of one of his many female conquests murdered Crane.
Raffaello Hotel, Chicago
Mikey Welsh, former bassist for the band Weezer, was found unconscious and not breathing on Oct. 8, 2011, in his hotel room. Though authorities suspected a drug overdose, no cause of death was determined. Welsh said in a 2007 interview, “Basically, a lifetime of doing drugs and being undiagnosed as having disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorder finally caught up with me when I was 30 years old.' Welsh then dedicated himself to his love of painting. He moved to Burlington, Vermont, with his wife and two daughters where he worked on large-scale figures and abstracts.
He predicted his own death on Sept 26 writing on Twitter, “dreamt i died in chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today.” He then added, “correction - the weekend after next.” Along with this, he also suggested a prescience of events to come on his Facebook page. Showcasing one art piece, he wrote that it was available for $250 “if i am still alive at time of purchase, price to increase exponentially if i expire prematurely.” Welsh was 40.
Hotel Ambassador, New York City
Rudolph Valentino (born Rodolfo Alfonso Raffaello Pierre Filibert Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguolla) was an Italian actor who starred in several well-known silent films in the 1920s including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle, and The Son of the Sheik.
Valentino was an early pop icon and sex symbol known as the "Latin Lover" or simply as "Valentino". His early death at age 31 caused mass hysteria among his female fans and propelled him to iconic status. During his short career, Valentino's popularity soared as he went from being a five-dollars-a-day extra to a $200,000 per-movie star at the height of his career.
While traveling across country to promote his last movie, The Son of the Sheik, Valentino collapsed at the Hotel Ambassador in New York on August 15, 1926. He was rushed to Polyclinic Hospital for severe abdominal pains. X-Rays confirmed a large perforated ulcer. Surgery was performed to clean the abdomen cavity of the infection, but within days his gut was swollen, bruised and blotchy. Further X-rays were taken and revealed pleurisy, and all hopes of recovery were lost.
There’s speculation that Valentino’s death may have been hastened due to his own celebrity. The surgeons were reportedly so freaked out by the fact that the great "Valentino" was in their midst that they were terrified of being the person to operate on him. They were said to have procrastinated for several hours, dramatically worsening Valentino’s condition. Valentino died at 12:10pm on August 23, 1926 at age 31.
The events after the actor's death was a drama in itself as suicides of several despondent fans were reported. Two women attempted suicide outside the hospital. Another person in London took poison in front of a photograph of Valentino. A boy in New York is said to have died on a bed covered with Valentino photos. Polish actress Pola Negri, claiming to be Valentino's fiancée, collapsed in hysterics while standing over Valentino's coffin.
Valentino’s first funeral was in New York in what was described as a "carnival setting". More than 100,000 fans filed past his open casket at the Frank E. Campbell funeral home. Windows were smashed as fans tried to get in and an all-day riot erupted on August 24. Over 100 mounted officers and NYPD's Police Reserve were deployed to restore order. A phalanx of officers would line the streets for the remainder of the viewing.
The body was then taken by train across the country for a second funeral held on the West Coast. Valentino had no final burial arrangements and so his friend June Mathis offered a crypt she had purchased for a husband she had since divorced. She thought this would be a temporary solution; however, she died the following year and Valentino remained in the adjoining crypt. The two are still interred side by side at the Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery (now the Hollywood Forever Cemetery ) in Hollywood, California .
Days Inn, Corpus Christi, TX
On March 31, 1995, Mexican American singer-songwriter Selena went to Yolanda Saldivar’s room at the Days Inn in Corpus Christi to pick up some documents that Selena needed for tax purposes. Saldivar had already been fired for embezzling funds as the head of Selena’s fan club and manager of her clothing boutiques. At 11:49 A.M. Saldívar drew a gun from her purse and pointed it at Selena. As the singer turned to leave the room, Saldívar shot her once on the right lower shoulder, severing a major artery. Critically wounded, Selena ran towards the lobby to get help, leaving behind her a trail of blood 392 feet long with Saldívar chasing after her and calling her a "bitch". Selena collapsed on the floor as the desk clerk called 911. Selena began holding her chest and screaming "Help me! Help me! I've been shot!" She died at the age of 23 shortly after reaching the hospital.
Saldívar was quickly cornered in the hotel’s parking lot. She held off SWAT teams for nearly 10 hours by sitting in a pickup truck with a gun to her head. Police were finally able to coax her out and placed her under arrest. She is serving a life sentence but will be eligible for parole after 30 years.
Regency Hotel, New York City
On July 12, 1996, Smashing Pumpkins keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin died in his NYC hotel room at age 34. Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and Melvoin were injecting heroin into their veins and drinking alcohol. Then came the lethal dose, Melvoin collapsed and Chamberlin fell unconscious as well. According to police reports, Chamberlin awoke at 3:30 A.M. and tried to rouse Melvoin but was unsuccessful. Chamberlin called the bands' security manager who tried to revive Melvoin by putting him in the shower. They called 911 soon after, and paramedics later pronounced Melvoin dead at the scene. Chamberlin was subsequently arrested and charged with heroin possession. The rest of the band was also questioned but not charged. Chamberlin was subsequently fired from the band. According to band members, there had been previous overdoses by both Melvoin and Chamberlin. Melvoin had already been fired, but was continuing to play until the end of the tour leg.
Room 3327, Hotel New Yorker, New York City
Born in the village of Smiljan, in the province of Lika, Croatia, “Mad Scientist” Nikola Tesla almost single-handedly developed the alternating current (A/C) system including generation, transmission and utilization that is still used today. He sold the patent rights to his A/C system to George Westinghouse. In 1891 Tesla invented the Tesla coil, an induction coil widely used in radio technology. In 1900, Tesla began construction on Long Island of a wireless broadcasting tower.
The project was funded with $150,000 capital from financier J. Pierpont Morgan. The project was abandoned when Morgan withdrew his financial support. Tesla's work shifted to turbines and other projects, but his ideas remained on the drawing board due to a lack of funds. Tesla's notebooks are still examined by engineers in search of unexploited ideas.
Tesla lived the last ten years of his life in a two-room suite on the 33rd floor of the Hotel New Yorker. Near the end of his life, Tesla showed signs of encroaching senility, claiming to be visited by a specific white pigeon daily. Several biographers note that Tesla viewed the death of the pigeon as a "final blow" to himself and his work. Tesla died on Jan 7, 1943 at age 86 alone in room 3327 from heart thrombus. Hundreds of admirers attended his funeral, mourning the loss of a great genius. At the time of his death, Tesla held over 700 patents.
Mondrian Hotel, West Hollywood, CA
American rapper and music producer Chad Lamont Butler, known by his stage name Pimp C, is best known for his work with Bun B as a founding member of the Underground Kingz (UGK) and is widely considered a pioneer of the signature Houston, Texas scene and sound. He died at age 33 on Dec. 4, 2007, in a Los Angeles hotel from an accidental overdose of a homemade drink, nicknamed "syrup," that is popular in Southern hip-hop culture. Syrup is typically made of prescription-strength cough syrup (containing promethazine and codeine) mixed with benign ingredients like soda or candy. In Pimp C's case, his overdose combined with his sleep apnea prevented him from breathing, leading to his death. A long proponent of syrup, Pimp C was featured on the 2000 Three 6 Mafia song "Sippin' on Some Syrup," which helped introduce the public to the practice of drinking cough syrup as an alternative to alcohol.
Palazzo Vendramin Calergi, Venice
German composer and poet Richard Wagner died at the Palazzo Vendramin Calergi palace in Venice in 1883. Wagner and his family were vacationing there for the winter. His death inspired Thomas Mann's novella "Death in Venice," first published in 1912. Wagner is best known for his complex operas such as Tristan and Isolde. His use of leitmotifs, a recurring theme associated with a particular character or place, greatly influenced 20th and 21st century film scores. He was greatly admired by Adolf Hitler, who often visited Wagner's relatives in Bayreuth in northern Bavaria during his rise to power.
By 1883, Wagner had had increasingly serious angina attacks for 20 years. On Feb. 13, Wagner was writing some notes for a new Opera. He wrote “the role of woman in its progressive improvement proceeds and progresses only by ecstatic conviction. Love. Tragic… “. The pencil fell out of his hands and he began to lose consciousness. His maid heard him say, “my wife… a doctor.” Cosima, his wife, located in the adjacent room, ran off for help. When Dr. Friedrich Keppler entered the room, it was obvious that Wagner had died at the age of 69.
Warwick de Berri Hotel, Paris
Singer Robert Allen Palmer was known for his distinctive voice and his eclectic mix of musical styles on his albums, combining soul, jazz, rock, pop, reggae and blues. He found success both in his solo career and in the musical act Power Station, and had Top 10 songs in both the US and the UK. His iconic music videos "Simply Irresistible" and "Addicted to Love" featured identically dressed women dancing with pale faces, dark eye makeup and bright red lipstick. Palmer moved to Lugano, Switzerland, in 1986, and became a naturalized citizen of Switzerland in 1993. A heavy smoker, he died in Paris from a heart attack on Sept. 26, 2003, at the age of 54.
Paris Ritz, Paris
Pamela Churchill Harriman was an English-born socialite who was married and linked to several important and powerful men. In later life, she became a political activist for the U.S. Democratic Party and a diplomat. Harriman became a United States citizen in 1971. In 1980, the National Women's Democratic Club named her "Woman of the Year". President Bill Clinton appointed her U.S. Ambassador to France in 1993. The Dayton Agreement putting an end to the war in Bosnia was signed in Paris in 1995 while she served as ambassador. Harriman died on Feb 5, 1997, at American Hospital, Neuilly-sur-Seine, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage while swimming at the Paris Ritz one day earlier. She was 76.
The morning after her death, President Jacques Chirac of France placed the Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur on her flag-draped coffin. She was the first female foreign diplomat to receive this honor. President Clinton, in further recognition of her contributions and significance, dispatched Air Force One to return her body to the United States and spoke at her funeral at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
Room 210, Hotel Prins Hendrik, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Born in Oklahoma in December 1929, Chet Baker was a jazz singer and trumpeter who first gained fame in the early 1950s and who for the rest of his life was better known as a heroin addict. Baker had a deep and instinctive ear for music, playing trumpet in high school, the army, and junior college bands. In 1949 he was present at an all-night music session in Los Angeles with Charlie “Bird” Parker and shot up heroin for the first time. In 1955, he went on an eight-month European tour, the longest for an American jazz musician up to that date. But in the late 1950's, heroin addiction began to take its toll on his career. He was arrested repeatedly through the rest of that decade and 1960's on narcotics-related charges, both in the United States and in Europe. In the early 1960's he was jailed for 16 months in Italy, and he was deported by Great Britain, Switzerland and Germany. In a 1968 drug deal gone bad, Baker received a beating that left him near death. He stopped performing for two years while recovering and turned to methadone. When he began performing again in the 1970's, critics praised his firmer tone and more aggressive solos, and he toured again through the 1970's and 1980's.
At about 3 o’clock in the morning on May 13, 1988, Baker was found dead on the Prins Hendrikkade, near the Zeedijk, the street below his second-story room of the Hotel Prins Hendrik in Amsterdam with serious wounds to his head. Heroin and cocaine were found in his hotel room, and an autopsy also found these drugs in his body. There was no evidence of a struggle, and so his death was ruled an accident. Baker was 58.
Motel Room, Joshua Tree, California
Gram Parsons was a guitarist and pianist best known for being a member of several notable bands in the late 1960s and early 1970s including the International Submarine Band, The Byrds, and The Flying Burrito Brothers. Before he was scheduled to leave on tour in October 1973, Parsons decided to travel to Joshua Tree National Monument in southeastern California, a place be had come to love. On Sept. 19, 1973, Parsons died in his motel room from an overdose of morphine and alcohol. He was 26. Parson’s body was prepared for a trip to New Orleans for burial, but it was stolen from the Los Angeles International Airport by two of his friends who wanted to honor Parsons’ wish to be cremated at Joshua Tree. They drove to Joshua Tree in a borrowed hearse where they attempted to cremate Parsons’ body by pouring five gallons of gasoline into the open coffin and throwing in a match. An enormous fireball erupted. The two were arrested several days later. Since there was no law against stealing a dead body, the two were only fined $750 for stealing the coffin. They were not prosecuted for leaving 35 lbs of Parsons’ charred remains in the desert.
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Psittacosis is a contagious disease that affects which type of birds? | Celebrity Hotel Deaths - Travel Chimp's Hospitality and Travel News
Travel Chimp's Hospitality and Travel News
A number of celebrities have died in hotel rooms, many of them at a very young age and
with drugs as the main or secondary cause. Here's a list I've compiled.
Norfolk Waterside Marriott Downtown, Norfolk, VA
Former NBA player Moses Malone was found dead in his hotel room on the morning of Sept. 13, 2015. He was 60. A medical examiner determined the cause of death to be cardiovascular disease. Malone was a three-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team and ABA All-Time Team . He went straight from Petersburg High School in Virginia to a 21-year career in professional basketball. By the time Malone retired after 19 seasons, he was the last former ABA player active and held numerous distinctions in both leagues, including a championship ring and NBA finals MVP trophy won with the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers . A prolific offensive rebounder , he was nicknamed "Chairman of the Boards."
According to Malone’s best friend Kevin Vergara, Malone saw a doctor about an irregular heartbeat less than week before his death. The doctor saw nothing wrong but gave Malone a heart monitor, which Malone was wearing when he died. Friends say that Malone didn’t drink or do drugs. He typically skipped sodas and fried food, choosing grilled chicken, fish and salad instead. “He was always very health minded,” said Vergara. “He’s vigorous about working out.” Malone was in Norfolk to attend the Still Hope Foundation Charity Golf Tournament.
Although Malone had a reputation of not being very smart, Vergara said that wasn’t the real Malone. “He is very smart. He was a shy person, but when he got to know you he opened up. And he knows the game. He would have been a good coach.”
Sunset Marquis Hotel, Los Angeles
Dennis Sheehan, longtime tour manager for U2, died of an apparent heart attack in his hotel room on May 27, 2015. He was 68. Despite spending decades in a notoriously dirty business, Sheehan emerged with his reputation largely intact. Over the years he helped manage Led Zeppelin and also worked with Iggy Pop, Patty Smith and Lou Reed.
“We’ve lost a family member, we’re still taking it in,” Bono wrote on U2’s Web site. “He wasn’t just a legend in the music business, he was a legend in our band. He is irreplaceable.”
Sheehan said in a 2008 interview, “I never drank until I was 30, I never did drugs and I was always honest. I think people knew my history at the time, and knew I was straight and had a sense of responsibility. I always got the job done regardless.”
Born in England, Sheehan grew up in Ireland. He played in a band from 13 to 19, doing some professional touring. “On the U.S. Army bases we would play House of the Rising Sun and they would just throw money on the stage,” he said. “We’d play it a half a dozen times a night! It was good fun.” But then he made an unusual move — he stepped offstage.
“At 19, I took my first job on the other side of the business,” he said in 2013. The job was tour managing for soul greats Jimmy James and the Vagabonds. Sheehan didn’t miss the spotlight. “I had driven my own band around, and at that point I knew I wasn’t going to miss playing very much.”
Of U2 he recently said, “The band works incredibly hard, and they go to extreme lengths to achieve what they want. With many bands, you get to a peak and that’s it. With U2 they are still climbing that mountain.”
Hotel Room, St. Gallen, Switzerland
Johnny Winter, an American blues rock guitarist known for his virtuoso slide-guitar solos and raspy vocals, was found dead in a hotel room outside Zurich on July 16, 2014. Winter was 70. Along with his brother, Edgar Winter, also a well known blues musician, the Texas-born Winter revered African-American blues tradition and began performing in his teens.
Johnny, distinctive because he and brother Edgar were albino, broke into national fame in 1968, when Rolling Stone magazine dubbed him the hottest musician outside Janis Joplin. In 1969, he played the Newport Jazz Festival, where he performed with B.B. King, one of his musical idols, and at Woodstock. He also produced albums for his idol, Muddy Waters, in the 1970s, helping to burnish the reputation of the legendary bluesman. Among Winter's best known songs was "Still Alive and Well", a blues rock stomper recorded after he resurfaced from heroin addiction in the 1970s. A new Winter album, on which Eric Clapton and Ben Harper appear as guests, is set to be released on Sept. 2. A boxed collections of his main tracks since the 1960s was released this year, complete with tributes from other performers who said he'd been a seminal influence on their careers.
A prosecutor ordered an autopsy but the cause of death is still unclear. There was no indication of third-party involvement, and early indications pointed to a medically related incident.
Article: One of Johnny Winter's final interviews
Parking lot, Gainey Suites Hotel, Scottsdale, AZ
James Brian Hellwig, better known as professional wrestler Ultimate Warrior, collapsed in the hotel parking lot while walking to his car on April 8, 2014. He was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead. There were no signs of foul play, and an autopsy later found that he died from cardiovascular disease. He was 54. Hellwig admitted to being a heavy user of steroids during his professional wrestling career. Long-term steroid use is thought to weaken the heart muscle. He also had a family history of fatal heart attacks; his father died at the age of 57 and a grandfather at 52.
Hellwig began his career as an amateur bodybuilder before moving into wrestling. His joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now World Wrestling Entertainment WWE) in 1987 and quickly went on to become one of the biggest WWE stars. Hellwig became WWE Champion on April 1, 1990, at WrestleMania VI by defeating Hulk Hogan in an epic encounter. He’s remembered for his many rivalries in the ring and for his trademark vivid face paint.
Hellwig's death came just days after he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.Tributes poured in from throughout the wrestling world, including from his former rival Hulk Hogan. During one appearance on WWE’s weekly cable show Raw, Hellwig gave a poignant speech saying, "No man becomes a legend on their own. Every man's heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe their final breath. And if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them believe deeper in something that's larger than life, then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalized by the storytellers, by the loyalty, by the memory of those who honor him, and make the running the man did live forever."
Sheraton Hotel, Pittsburgh
Actor and standup comedian John Pinette died of natural causes there on April 5, 2014. He was 50. Pinette had suffered from both liver and heart disease. Authorities did not suspect foul play and so an autopsy was not performed. A native of Boston, Pinette’s career began in the early ‘90s with roles in movies such as Junior, Dear God, Duets and The Punisher. He had a guest star role in the final episode of Seinfeld in 1998 and had his own special on Comedy Central in 2011.
Pinette had to postpone several performances in 2013 when he checked into rehab for a prescription drug addiction. He took a break from his comedy tour in early 2014 to recover from several surgeries after losing weight. Pinette wrote on Twitter in January, “I didn’t give myself enough time to heal this past fall and it has caught up with me. But I’m on the mend and I promise to hit the stage as soon as humanly possible.”
Casablanca Hotel, Harlem, New York
Former basketball legend Dean (The Dream) Meminger was found dead in a Harlem hotel on August 23, 2013, at the age of 65. Police reported a possible drug overdose. Meminger was a key backup on the Knicks’ 1973 NBA championship team, but also struggled with cocaine and crack addiction most of his adult life.
Meminger was discovered fully clothed, unconscious and unresponsive around noon by staff at the Hamilton Heights Casablanca Hotel after he didn’t check out on time. Meminger’s gold championship ring was still on his finger. Emergency medical personnel arrived and pronounced him dead. Police said there were no signs of trauma and that the cause of death hadn't been determined. An investigation is ongoing.
“There was white stuff oozing out of his nose,” according to one source. “Looked like he had a seizure after he was using cocaine, but the medical examiner will have the final say.”
A former New York City prep star at Rice High School, Meminger then led Marquette University to a 78-9 mark in three varsity seasons, averaging 18.8 points. He averaged 21.2 points as a senior in 1970-71 and was drafted 16th overall by the Knicks. During his basketball career, Meminger averaged 6.1 points in six seasons with the Knicks and Atlanta Hawks.
Meminger almost burned himself to death in a 2009 four-alarm fire in the Bronx. He was found unconscious near his bed in a dilapidated hotel room, surrounded by crack pipes. He spoke openly over the years about his struggles with cocaine, and he even worked as a drug counselor while battling his own addiction.
"Everyone at the New York Knicks' organization is saddened to hear the news of Dean Meminger's passing," said Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald in a statement.
"From the day he was drafted by this franchise in 1971, Dean was a friend and close family member of this team. On April 5, 2013, the 1973 world championship team was honored at Madison Square Garden on its 40th anniversary. There was no one prouder than Dean to be back on the court with his teammates. We send our heartfelt condolences to the entire Meminger family."
21st Floor, Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel, Vancouver, Canada
“Glee” heart throb Cory Monteith was found dead there on July 13, 2013. An autopsy revealed his death was the result of a heroin and alcohol overdose. Monteith's body was discovered by staff members at the hotel after he missed his noon checkout time. The 31-year-old actor had a long history of drug problems. He attended 16 different schools growing up, including alternative programs for troubled teens. He eventually quit school at the age of 16. By that time, his drug and alcohol addiction was "out of control," and Monteith turned to petty crimes to fund his addictions. At age 19 he entered rehab after his mother and friends intervened. Most recently, he voluntarily entered rehab in March of 2013.
Monteith appeared on the Fox musical comedy show Glee since it began in 2009. On the show, Monteith played the star quarterback of the football team at an Ohio high school who is forced to join the glee club. After graduation, he comes back to town and helps direct a musical at the school. Monteith won a Teen Choice Award for top actor in a comedy in 2011. Prior to Glee, he made guest appearances on a number of television shows including Smallville, Supernatural, Flash Gordon, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate SG-1.
Frequent Glee director Adam Shankman reacted on Twitter by posting, "Goodbye my amazing and beautiful friend. The lights in my world just grew dimmer. The world just lost one of our best. I love u so much."
Room 449, Boscolo Exedra Hotel, Rome, Italy
Actor James Gandolfini died in Rome, Italy, around 10pm on June 19, 2013. The 51-year-old Sopranos star was in Italy to receive an award at the Taormina Film Festival. The festival issued a statement saying that "Gandolfini has been the American actor who best represented the Italian-American society thanks to his personality rich of contrasts, ambitions, anguish and humor. He has represented the golden age of television being at the same time a memorable movie actor."
Gandolfini was in Italy with his son Michael, 13. The two had “a beautiful day out together” before returning to their hotel room. Michael later discovered his father in the bathroom apparently having a heart attack and called for help. The hotel staff immediately summoned an ambulance. The actor arrived at the Policlinico Umberto I hospital, which is approximately a three-minute drive from the hotel, in cardiac arrest. Resuscitation efforts continued for 40 minutes until he was pronounced dead.
The actor won three Emmy Awards for his portrayal of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano in HBO's "The Sopranos" for six seasons. He was later cast as CIA director Leon Panetta in the Oscar-nominated "Zero Darky Thirty" and performed on Broadway in "God of Carnage." Gandolfini's other roles included the woman-beating mob henchman Virgil in True Romance, enforcer/stuntman Bear in Get Shorty, and the impulsive Wild Thing Carol in Where the Wild Things Are. Gandolfini produced the 2007 documentary Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq, in which he interviewed 10 injured Iraq War veterans. His second 2010 documentary Wartorn: 1861-2010 analyzes posttraumatic stress disorder and its impact on soldiers and families through several wars in American history, from 1861 to 2010. TV Guide ranked him 28 on its "50 Sexiest Stars of All Time" list in 2005.
Room 434, Beverly Hilton, Los Angeles, CA
Singer Whitney Houston was found dead at the age of 48 in the bathtub of her hotel room on Feb. 11, 2012. The official cause of death was determined to be accidental drowning with cocaine and atherosclerotic heart disease as contributing factors. Toxicology results found she also had marijuana, Xanax, the muscle relaxant Flexeril, and the allergy medication Benadryl in her system. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most-awarded female act of all time. Her awards include two Emmys, six Grammys, 30 Billboard Music Awards, and 22 American Music Awards. Houston was one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide. Houston released seven studio albums and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which were diamond, multi-platinum, platinum or gold. She starred in several movies including The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale. Her last film, Sparkle, was released in 2012.
Tragically, Houston's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, was found face down and unresponsive in her bathtub on January 31, 2015. Marijuana, alcohol, morphine and the cocaine byproduct benzoylecgonine were found in her system. She never regained consciousness and spent her final months in hospital and hospice care. She died on July 26, 2015 at the age of 22.
Room 609, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, FL
Anna Nicole Smith died there at the age of 39 on Feb. 8, 2007. The former Playboy playmate overdosed on a combination of over-the-counter and prescription drugs less than five months after her son also died from a lethal combination of drugs. She had married oil business mogul J. Howard Marshall, 62 years her senior, resulting in speculation that she married the octogenarian for his money, which she denied. When he passed away, the matter of his inheritance ended up in a fierce court battle with his family.
Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
David Carradine was found dead in his room there on June 4, 2009. He was 72. Carradine played a Shaolin priest in the 1970s TV series ‘Kung Fu’, but younger fans know him for his role in ‘Kill Bill’. He was in Bangkok to shoot his latest film, Stretch. A police official said Carradine was found hanging by a rope naked in the room's closet, causing immediate speculation that his death was suicide. However, two autopsies concluded that the death was a result of "accidental asphyxiation." Carradine’s former wife Marina Anderson said David’s sexual interests included the practice of self-bondage. She claimed in her earlier divorce filing that, "It was the continuation of abhorrent and deviant sexual behavior which was potentially deadly.”
Room 120, Hotel & Suites del Perque, Durango, Mexico
John Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its related Second City Television series. He appeared in a number of highly successful comedic films including Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, Summer Rental, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, Uncle Buck and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Candy was reputedly the "most-burned potential host" of Saturday Night Live in that he was asked to host many times, only to be canceled by the SNL staff at the last minute.
Candy was filming the Western parody Wagons East! in March of 1994 when he died of a heart attack in his sleep at his hotel in Durango, Mexico, about 100 miles northwest of Mexico City. He was 43.
On the last day of Candy's life, they filmed for long hours in stifling heat. Filming finally stopped around 10pm and Candy decided to have dinner. That was the last time anyone saw him. The next morning at 8am his bodyguard, Gustavo Populus, tried to phone Candy, but there was no answer. Populus went to Candy’s room and found Candy half in and half out of bed. He was wearing a long red and black checked nightshirt. It was obvious that Candy was dead. There were no signs of drugs or alcohol in the room. A doctor was called and officially pronounced Candy dead. It was later found that Candy had suffered a massive heart attack in his sleep. It was March 4, 1994.
Candy's funeral took place on Wednesday, March 9th, at St. Martin of the Tours church, in Brentwood, California. Dan Aykroyd delivered the eulogy and mourners included Chevy Chase, Tom Hanks, Rick Moranis, Jim Belushi, Martin Short, George Wendt, Rhea Perlman, Bill Murray, and Ed Harris, along with John's widow Rosemary, and his two children.
Room 100, The Chelsea Hotel, New York City
Rock groupie Nancy Spungen was allegedly stabbed to death there by musician Sid Vicious on October 12, 1978. The former Sex Pistol was charged with Spungen’s death, but Vicious claims he was in a drugged stupor and couldn't remember what happened. Vicious killed himself a few months later on February 2, 1979, by overdosing on heroin. After his death, his mother found a suicide note in his pocket that read, "We had a death pact, and I have to keep my half of the bargain. Please bury me next to my baby in my leather jacket, jeans and motorcycle boots. Goodbye." Sadly, because Nancy was Jewish and Sid was not, they could not be buried together. Spungeon was 20, Vicious was 21. According to the managing director of the hotel, people still request room 100. However, the room was demolished to become part of a larger suite more than two decades ago. The Chelsea Hotel was a haven for struggling artists for over 50 years.
Article: NYPD secret transcript
Hotel Room, Frankfurt, Germany
Rob Pilatus of the singing group Milli Vanilli died in a Frankfurt hotel room on April 2, 1998, at the age of 32. His death was caused by a heart attack due to an accidental overdose of an unspecified drug (possibly Methadone) and alcohol. Despite the enormous success of Milli Vanilli, singers Pilatus and Fab Morvan were a frequent target of rumors and allegations of on-stage lip-synching and not having sung on their albums. Eventually producer Frank Farian revealed the truth to reporters, that Pilatus and Morvan did not actually sing on the records and their voices were dubbed. The Grammy that Milli Vanilli had received was withdrawn four days later. In the years following, Pilatus struggled with substance abuse and suicide attempts. He served three months in jail for assault, vandalism, and attempted robbery. He also spent six months in drug rehabilitation before returning to Germany from the United States.
Bungalow 3, Chateau Marmont Hotel, Los Angeles
Comedian John Belushi died there on March 5, 1982, at the age of 33. Belushi died from a speedball, a combined injection of cocaine and heroin. On the night of his death, he was reportedly visited separately by friends Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, each of whom left the premises, leaving Belushi in the company of others. Belushi was one of the original members of Saturday Night Live. Animal House and The Blues Brothers were his most famous films.
Room 16, L’Hotel, Paris
Irish playwright and poet Oscar Wilde died in room 16 on November 30, 1900, at the age of 46. A great deal of mystery surrounds his final days in the hotel. There are numerous reports as to the reason for his death, including syphilis and cerebral meningitis resulting from an ear infection. Considered one of the greatest wits to have lived, Wilde’s final words were reputedly, "My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or other of us has got to go". The hotel is now regarded as one of the best boutique hotels on the planet, and it exhibits many of Wilde’s mementos from his stay.
Room 524, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Double Bay, Sydney
Musician Michael Hutchence, age 37, was found dead at the Ritz on Nov. 22, 1997. He was the founder and lead singer of the rock band INXS. The coroner determined Hutchence hung himself, but it's also possible he died from autoerotic asphyxiation. The singer’s relationship with British TV presenter Paula Yates was cited as a cause of his depression. Yates had an affair with Hutchence while she was married to Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof. She had Hutchence’s daughter, which she named Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily Hutchence (known as 'Tiger') on July 22, 1996.
Yates wrote in her police statement that Michael Hutchence was, "frightened and couldn't stand a minute more without his baby". Hutchence was last seen alive at 4:50 A.M. while he was awaiting a phone call from London about whether Yates would be able to bring Tiger to Australia. Paula Yates herself died at age 41 of an accidental drug overdose on Sept. 17, 2000. It was her other daughter Pixie's 10th birthday.
Article: Michael Hutchence's final hours
The pantry of the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles
Presidential candidate Senator Robert F. Kennedy was shot there on June 5, 1968, by Sirhan Sirhan. Kennedy had just won the California Primary. He survived for nearly 26 hours, dying early in the morning of June 6. He was 42.
Robert Kennedy, born in Brookline, Massachusetts, was United States Attorney General from 1961 to 1964, during the administration of his elder brother John F. Kennedy. He was elected to the U.S. Senate from New York in 1965 before entering the race for the Democratic nomination for president in 1968.
As Attorney General, Robert Kennedy staunchly enforced established laws during the violence-prone days of civil rights unrest in the South. His commitment to civil rights implementation and his Justice Department’s vigorous prosecution of
organized crime, along with his later Senatorial efforts on behalf of the dispossessed and the poor had, by 1968 established him as a standard-bearer of suburban voters, blue-collar workers and members of minority groups.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hong Kong
Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing was a film actor and musician from Hong Kong. He's considered one of the founding fathers of Cantopop (Cantonese popular music). In 2000, Cheung was named ‘Asian Biggest Superstar’ by China Central Television and voted/ranked 1st as ‘The Most Favorite Actor in 100 Years of Chinese Cinema’ in 2005. He was also voted #3 in CNN's "top five most iconic musicians of all time" behind Michael Jackson and The Beatles. Cheung suffered from depression and attempted suicide once in 2002. On April 1, 2003, at the age of 46, Cheung leapt from the 24th floor of the Mandarin Oriental hotel. His translated suicide note said, "Depression! Many thanks to all my friends. Many thanks to Professor Felice Lieh-Mak (Cheung's last psychiatrist). This year has been so tough. I can't stand it anymore. Many thanks to Mr. Tong. Many thanks to my family. Many thanks to Fei-Fei (actress Lydia Shum Din-ha). In my life I did nothing bad. Why does it have to be like this?"
Room 105, the Landmark Motor Hotel, Hollywood, CA
Singer/songwriter Janis Joplin was found dead in this hotel at age 27 on the floor beside her bed on Oct. 4, 1970. The cause of death was an accidental heroin overdose. Joplin had an incredibly unique voice and broke down many barriers with her style and attitude. She’s also credited for bringing tattoos into the mainstream. It’s believed that her heroin was stronger than normal as several other users in the area also overdosed that week. Her death sent shockwaves around the world as Jimi Hendrix died only a few weeks earlier after an accidental overdose of sleeping pills. The Landmark Motor Hotel is now called the Highland Gardens Hotel, and it’s still home to up-and-coming actors attracted by its central location just off the Sunset Strip.
Room 858, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
Rock legend John Entwistle died there on June 27, 2002. Entwistle was best known as the bass guitarist for the rock band The Who. June 27 was the day before the scheduled first show of The Who’s 2002 U.S. tour. He had gone to bed that night with a stripper/groupie, Alycen Rowse, who woke at 10 A.M. to find Entwistle dead. It was determined he died at age 57 of a heart attack induced by cocaine.
Second Floor Balcony, Lorraine Hotel, Memphis, TN
Dr. Martin Luther King was shot and killed as he stood on the balcony outside his hotel room, #306, at 6:01 P.M. on April 4, 1968. King, 39, was in Memphis to support the black sanitary public works employees. He supposedly chose the Lorraine, which had welcomed such prominent guests as Cab Calloway and Count Basie, because of its significance to the black community of Memphis. King's last words were reportedly made to musician Ben Branch. King said, "Ben, make sure you play 'Take My Hand, Precious Lord' in the meeting tonight. Play it real pretty." Two months after King's death, escaped convict James Earl Ray was captured at London’s Heathrow Airport while trying to leave the U.K. on a false Canadian passport in the name of Ramon George Sneyd on his way to white-ruled Rhodesia. He was later convicted of King's murder. The Lorraine Hotel was converted into the National Civil Rights Museum in 1991.
Room 22, Samarkand Hotel, London
Jimi Hendrix died in room 22 on Sept. 18, 1970. Hendrix is generally regarded as the greatest electric guitar player of all time. Hendrix had spent the prior evening at a party before being picked up by girlfriend Monika Dannemann and driven to her flat at the Samarkand Hotel. Dannemann claimed that Hendrix, unknown to her, had taken nine of her prescribed sleeping pills. The normal medical dose was half a tablet, but Hendrix was unfamiliar with this very strong German brand. An autopsy found that the 27 year old Hendrix had asphyxiated in his own vomit, mainly red wine, which had filled his airways. Monika Dannemann committed suicide in 1996 after being found guilty of contempt of court for repeating a libel against Kathy Etchingham, who had been a friend of Hendrix in the 1960s.
Regency Hotel, Los Angeles
Described by People magazine as the "Drag Queen of the Century", Divine (born Harris Glenn Milstead) performed female roles in both cinema and theater and also appeared in women's clothing in musical performances. Even so, he considered himself to be a character actor and performed male roles in a number of his later films. He also had a successful career as a disco singer during the 1980s, at one point being described as "the most successful and in-demand disco performer in the world." On March 7, 1988, three weeks after the movie 'Hairspray' was released nationwide, Divine was staying at the Regency Hotel and was scheduled to film a guest appearance as Uncle Otto on the Fox network's television series ‘Married... with Children’ in the second season wrap-up episode. After spending all day at the studios in rehearsals, Divine returned to his hotel where he dined with friends at the hotel restaurant before returning to his room. He died that evening in his sleep of an enlarged heart at age 42.
The Ritz Hotel, Paris
Coco Chanel was an influential French fashion designer and founder of the famous brand Chanel whose modernist thought, practical design, and pursuit of expensive simplicity made her an important and influential figure in 20th-century fashion. She was the only fashion designer to be named on Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century. On January 10, 1971, 87 year old Chanel was tired and ailing but continued to adhere to her usual schedule. She died later that day of natural causes at the Hotel Ritz where she had resided for more than thirty years. She had gone for a long drive in the afternoon and, not feeling well, had retired early to bed. She was working on her collection to be presented in the spring fashion shows that month. Chanel dominated the Paris fashion world in the 1920s, and at the height of her career was running four business enterprises: a fashion house, a textile business, perfume laboratories and a workshop for costume jewelry that altogether employed 3,500 workers.
Ocean View Motel, San Francisco, CA
On May 25, 1996, Bradley Nowell, lead singer for the punk band Sublime, died of a heroin overdose just hours before the group was to perform a sold-out concert. Nowell was 28. Sublime had embarked on a drug-fueled five-day tour through Northern California just days after Nowell's marriage to Troy Dendekker on May 18, 1996. On the morning of May 25, in San Francisco, drummer Bud Gaugh awoke to find Nowell lying half-way across a bed, with his knees and feet on the floor. Gaugh first assumed Nowell had been too intoxicated to get into bed, but then he noticed a green film around his mouth, and it became apparent that Nowell had overdosed on heroin. Gaugh called for paramedics, but Nowell had died several hours earlier and was pronounced dead at the scene. Nowell was cremated and his ashes were spread over his favorite surfing spot in Surfside, California. A headstone was placed at Westminster Memorial in Westminster, California in his memory.
The Chelsea Hotel, New York
The great Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas died tragically at the age of 39 in Nov. 1953. Thomas was visiting New York and staying at the Chelsea Hotel. In addition to being an alcoholic, he also had lung problems and a history of blackouts. In the days before his death, he went on a drinking binge and even boasted he drank "18 straight whiskies; I think it's a record." He began feeling ill. A doctor examined him three times Nov. 4, and injected the poet with three doses of morphine, which further affected Thomas's breathing. By midnight the next day, his breathing worsened. Thomas didn’t die in the hotel, but he slipped into a deep coma and was taken to St. Vincent’s hospital. The physician on duty noted, "Impression upon admission was acute alcoholic encephalopathy damage to the brain by alcohol, for which the patient was treated without response." Doctors also found widespread bronchitis and pneumonia. The pneumonia worsened and Thomas died, still in a coma, at noon on Nov 9. The cause of death was determined to be swelling of the brain, caused by pneumonia reducing the supply of oxygen. Smoking, drinking, poor diet and sleeping problems were contributing factors.
Number 132A, Winfield Place Apartments, Scottsdale, Arizona
Actor Bob Crane was found dead in his room on June 29, 1978, at the age of 49. He had been brutally murdered. From 1965 to 1971, Crane starred in the TV comedy ‘Hogan’s Heroes’ set in a World War II German concentration camp. During that time, he became friends with John Henry Carpenter, who worked in the video department at Sony Electronics and had access to early video recorders. They began to hang out together, usually at bars and strip clubs. Carpenter frequently filmed Crane's sexual escapades with women. In 1978, Crane was appearing at the Windmill Dinner Theatre in Scottsdale. On the night of June 28, Crane allegedly called Carpenter and told him their friendship was over. The next day, Crane was discovered bludgeoned to death with a weapon that was never found but was believed to be a camera tripod. His face was so badly beaten, he was unrecognizable. There was also an electrical cord tied around his neck.
Police suspected Carpenter, but there wasn’t enough evidence to bring him to trial. The case was reopened in 1992. Carpenter was put on trial in 1994 and was found not guilty. Carpenter maintained his innocence until his death on Sept. 4, 1998, and Crane’s murder remains officially unsolved. One alternate theory is that a Mafia boyfriend or husband of one of his many female conquests murdered Crane.
Raffaello Hotel, Chicago
Mikey Welsh, former bassist for the band Weezer, was found unconscious and not breathing on Oct. 8, 2011, in his hotel room. Though authorities suspected a drug overdose, no cause of death was determined. Welsh said in a 2007 interview, “Basically, a lifetime of doing drugs and being undiagnosed as having disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorder finally caught up with me when I was 30 years old.' Welsh then dedicated himself to his love of painting. He moved to Burlington, Vermont, with his wife and two daughters where he worked on large-scale figures and abstracts.
He predicted his own death on Sept 26 writing on Twitter, “dreamt i died in chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today.” He then added, “correction - the weekend after next.” Along with this, he also suggested a prescience of events to come on his Facebook page. Showcasing one art piece, he wrote that it was available for $250 “if i am still alive at time of purchase, price to increase exponentially if i expire prematurely.” Welsh was 40.
Hotel Ambassador, New York City
Rudolph Valentino (born Rodolfo Alfonso Raffaello Pierre Filibert Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguolla) was an Italian actor who starred in several well-known silent films in the 1920s including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle, and The Son of the Sheik.
Valentino was an early pop icon and sex symbol known as the "Latin Lover" or simply as "Valentino". His early death at age 31 caused mass hysteria among his female fans and propelled him to iconic status. During his short career, Valentino's popularity soared as he went from being a five-dollars-a-day extra to a $200,000 per-movie star at the height of his career.
While traveling across country to promote his last movie, The Son of the Sheik, Valentino collapsed at the Hotel Ambassador in New York on August 15, 1926. He was rushed to Polyclinic Hospital for severe abdominal pains. X-Rays confirmed a large perforated ulcer. Surgery was performed to clean the abdomen cavity of the infection, but within days his gut was swollen, bruised and blotchy. Further X-rays were taken and revealed pleurisy, and all hopes of recovery were lost.
There’s speculation that Valentino’s death may have been hastened due to his own celebrity. The surgeons were reportedly so freaked out by the fact that the great "Valentino" was in their midst that they were terrified of being the person to operate on him. They were said to have procrastinated for several hours, dramatically worsening Valentino’s condition. Valentino died at 12:10pm on August 23, 1926 at age 31.
The events after the actor's death was a drama in itself as suicides of several despondent fans were reported. Two women attempted suicide outside the hospital. Another person in London took poison in front of a photograph of Valentino. A boy in New York is said to have died on a bed covered with Valentino photos. Polish actress Pola Negri, claiming to be Valentino's fiancée, collapsed in hysterics while standing over Valentino's coffin.
Valentino’s first funeral was in New York in what was described as a "carnival setting". More than 100,000 fans filed past his open casket at the Frank E. Campbell funeral home. Windows were smashed as fans tried to get in and an all-day riot erupted on August 24. Over 100 mounted officers and NYPD's Police Reserve were deployed to restore order. A phalanx of officers would line the streets for the remainder of the viewing.
The body was then taken by train across the country for a second funeral held on the West Coast. Valentino had no final burial arrangements and so his friend June Mathis offered a crypt she had purchased for a husband she had since divorced. She thought this would be a temporary solution; however, she died the following year and Valentino remained in the adjoining crypt. The two are still interred side by side at the Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery (now the Hollywood Forever Cemetery ) in Hollywood, California .
Days Inn, Corpus Christi, TX
On March 31, 1995, Mexican American singer-songwriter Selena went to Yolanda Saldivar’s room at the Days Inn in Corpus Christi to pick up some documents that Selena needed for tax purposes. Saldivar had already been fired for embezzling funds as the head of Selena’s fan club and manager of her clothing boutiques. At 11:49 A.M. Saldívar drew a gun from her purse and pointed it at Selena. As the singer turned to leave the room, Saldívar shot her once on the right lower shoulder, severing a major artery. Critically wounded, Selena ran towards the lobby to get help, leaving behind her a trail of blood 392 feet long with Saldívar chasing after her and calling her a "bitch". Selena collapsed on the floor as the desk clerk called 911. Selena began holding her chest and screaming "Help me! Help me! I've been shot!" She died at the age of 23 shortly after reaching the hospital.
Saldívar was quickly cornered in the hotel’s parking lot. She held off SWAT teams for nearly 10 hours by sitting in a pickup truck with a gun to her head. Police were finally able to coax her out and placed her under arrest. She is serving a life sentence but will be eligible for parole after 30 years.
Regency Hotel, New York City
On July 12, 1996, Smashing Pumpkins keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin died in his NYC hotel room at age 34. Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and Melvoin were injecting heroin into their veins and drinking alcohol. Then came the lethal dose, Melvoin collapsed and Chamberlin fell unconscious as well. According to police reports, Chamberlin awoke at 3:30 A.M. and tried to rouse Melvoin but was unsuccessful. Chamberlin called the bands' security manager who tried to revive Melvoin by putting him in the shower. They called 911 soon after, and paramedics later pronounced Melvoin dead at the scene. Chamberlin was subsequently arrested and charged with heroin possession. The rest of the band was also questioned but not charged. Chamberlin was subsequently fired from the band. According to band members, there had been previous overdoses by both Melvoin and Chamberlin. Melvoin had already been fired, but was continuing to play until the end of the tour leg.
Room 3327, Hotel New Yorker, New York City
Born in the village of Smiljan, in the province of Lika, Croatia, “Mad Scientist” Nikola Tesla almost single-handedly developed the alternating current (A/C) system including generation, transmission and utilization that is still used today. He sold the patent rights to his A/C system to George Westinghouse. In 1891 Tesla invented the Tesla coil, an induction coil widely used in radio technology. In 1900, Tesla began construction on Long Island of a wireless broadcasting tower.
The project was funded with $150,000 capital from financier J. Pierpont Morgan. The project was abandoned when Morgan withdrew his financial support. Tesla's work shifted to turbines and other projects, but his ideas remained on the drawing board due to a lack of funds. Tesla's notebooks are still examined by engineers in search of unexploited ideas.
Tesla lived the last ten years of his life in a two-room suite on the 33rd floor of the Hotel New Yorker. Near the end of his life, Tesla showed signs of encroaching senility, claiming to be visited by a specific white pigeon daily. Several biographers note that Tesla viewed the death of the pigeon as a "final blow" to himself and his work. Tesla died on Jan 7, 1943 at age 86 alone in room 3327 from heart thrombus. Hundreds of admirers attended his funeral, mourning the loss of a great genius. At the time of his death, Tesla held over 700 patents.
Mondrian Hotel, West Hollywood, CA
American rapper and music producer Chad Lamont Butler, known by his stage name Pimp C, is best known for his work with Bun B as a founding member of the Underground Kingz (UGK) and is widely considered a pioneer of the signature Houston, Texas scene and sound. He died at age 33 on Dec. 4, 2007, in a Los Angeles hotel from an accidental overdose of a homemade drink, nicknamed "syrup," that is popular in Southern hip-hop culture. Syrup is typically made of prescription-strength cough syrup (containing promethazine and codeine) mixed with benign ingredients like soda or candy. In Pimp C's case, his overdose combined with his sleep apnea prevented him from breathing, leading to his death. A long proponent of syrup, Pimp C was featured on the 2000 Three 6 Mafia song "Sippin' on Some Syrup," which helped introduce the public to the practice of drinking cough syrup as an alternative to alcohol.
Palazzo Vendramin Calergi, Venice
German composer and poet Richard Wagner died at the Palazzo Vendramin Calergi palace in Venice in 1883. Wagner and his family were vacationing there for the winter. His death inspired Thomas Mann's novella "Death in Venice," first published in 1912. Wagner is best known for his complex operas such as Tristan and Isolde. His use of leitmotifs, a recurring theme associated with a particular character or place, greatly influenced 20th and 21st century film scores. He was greatly admired by Adolf Hitler, who often visited Wagner's relatives in Bayreuth in northern Bavaria during his rise to power.
By 1883, Wagner had had increasingly serious angina attacks for 20 years. On Feb. 13, Wagner was writing some notes for a new Opera. He wrote “the role of woman in its progressive improvement proceeds and progresses only by ecstatic conviction. Love. Tragic… “. The pencil fell out of his hands and he began to lose consciousness. His maid heard him say, “my wife… a doctor.” Cosima, his wife, located in the adjacent room, ran off for help. When Dr. Friedrich Keppler entered the room, it was obvious that Wagner had died at the age of 69.
Warwick de Berri Hotel, Paris
Singer Robert Allen Palmer was known for his distinctive voice and his eclectic mix of musical styles on his albums, combining soul, jazz, rock, pop, reggae and blues. He found success both in his solo career and in the musical act Power Station, and had Top 10 songs in both the US and the UK. His iconic music videos "Simply Irresistible" and "Addicted to Love" featured identically dressed women dancing with pale faces, dark eye makeup and bright red lipstick. Palmer moved to Lugano, Switzerland, in 1986, and became a naturalized citizen of Switzerland in 1993. A heavy smoker, he died in Paris from a heart attack on Sept. 26, 2003, at the age of 54.
Paris Ritz, Paris
Pamela Churchill Harriman was an English-born socialite who was married and linked to several important and powerful men. In later life, she became a political activist for the U.S. Democratic Party and a diplomat. Harriman became a United States citizen in 1971. In 1980, the National Women's Democratic Club named her "Woman of the Year". President Bill Clinton appointed her U.S. Ambassador to France in 1993. The Dayton Agreement putting an end to the war in Bosnia was signed in Paris in 1995 while she served as ambassador. Harriman died on Feb 5, 1997, at American Hospital, Neuilly-sur-Seine, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage while swimming at the Paris Ritz one day earlier. She was 76.
The morning after her death, President Jacques Chirac of France placed the Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur on her flag-draped coffin. She was the first female foreign diplomat to receive this honor. President Clinton, in further recognition of her contributions and significance, dispatched Air Force One to return her body to the United States and spoke at her funeral at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
Room 210, Hotel Prins Hendrik, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Born in Oklahoma in December 1929, Chet Baker was a jazz singer and trumpeter who first gained fame in the early 1950s and who for the rest of his life was better known as a heroin addict. Baker had a deep and instinctive ear for music, playing trumpet in high school, the army, and junior college bands. In 1949 he was present at an all-night music session in Los Angeles with Charlie “Bird” Parker and shot up heroin for the first time. In 1955, he went on an eight-month European tour, the longest for an American jazz musician up to that date. But in the late 1950's, heroin addiction began to take its toll on his career. He was arrested repeatedly through the rest of that decade and 1960's on narcotics-related charges, both in the United States and in Europe. In the early 1960's he was jailed for 16 months in Italy, and he was deported by Great Britain, Switzerland and Germany. In a 1968 drug deal gone bad, Baker received a beating that left him near death. He stopped performing for two years while recovering and turned to methadone. When he began performing again in the 1970's, critics praised his firmer tone and more aggressive solos, and he toured again through the 1970's and 1980's.
At about 3 o’clock in the morning on May 13, 1988, Baker was found dead on the Prins Hendrikkade, near the Zeedijk, the street below his second-story room of the Hotel Prins Hendrik in Amsterdam with serious wounds to his head. Heroin and cocaine were found in his hotel room, and an autopsy also found these drugs in his body. There was no evidence of a struggle, and so his death was ruled an accident. Baker was 58.
Motel Room, Joshua Tree, California
Gram Parsons was a guitarist and pianist best known for being a member of several notable bands in the late 1960s and early 1970s including the International Submarine Band, The Byrds, and The Flying Burrito Brothers. Before he was scheduled to leave on tour in October 1973, Parsons decided to travel to Joshua Tree National Monument in southeastern California, a place be had come to love. On Sept. 19, 1973, Parsons died in his motel room from an overdose of morphine and alcohol. He was 26. Parson’s body was prepared for a trip to New Orleans for burial, but it was stolen from the Los Angeles International Airport by two of his friends who wanted to honor Parsons’ wish to be cremated at Joshua Tree. They drove to Joshua Tree in a borrowed hearse where they attempted to cremate Parsons’ body by pouring five gallons of gasoline into the open coffin and throwing in a match. An enormous fireball erupted. The two were arrested several days later. Since there was no law against stealing a dead body, the two were only fined $750 for stealing the coffin. They were not prosecuted for leaving 35 lbs of Parsons’ charred remains in the desert.
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The ‘Chorleywood Process’ is used in the making of which foodstuff? | Chorleywood Bread Process
Chorleywood Bread Process
The Chorleywood Bread Process, the method that makes bread production possible on a large scale, was invented in 1961 and ranks as one of the most significant inventions of the last five decades and actually is ‘the greatest thing since sliced bread’.
According to research, 57% of us believe the process should be celebrated as an iconic invention, alongside the likes of the internet, space travel and the mobile phone – despite nine in 10 of us actually not knowing the name of it!
Since the household favourite was introduced into our homes in 1961 – we’ve been hooked. The system uses the finest British wheat to produce over nine million loaves of bread each day – revolutionising breakfast, lunch and dinner times across the country in the process – from toast, sandwiches, bread and butter pudding and coating dishes in breadcrumbs.
What’s more; despite the proliferation of ‘trendy’ artisan bread – the sliced white loaf is still the only choice for three quarters of us (76%) when making a sandwich or packed lunch.
Not only do we love the taste – it saves us time. For one in ten (11%) adults it saves between 4 and 10 minutes every day or an astonishing 43 hours every year – just by buying a sliced loaf.
It is environmental and ecologically sound too – as it reduces the level of waste, by staying fresher longer. Four in 10 claim that they would waste the bread if they didn’t buy wrapped sliced.
Celebrity chef, Antony Worrall Thompson said “Whilst it is great that there is so much choice when it comes to bread products on the market, sliced bread is the first choice for families who are looking for a versatile and healthy foodstuff. Toast it and serve with marmalade or marmite to make a quick breakfast, use it to make sandwiches or as an ingredient in puddings. There are so many different ways to enjoy bread, so why not get creative in the kitchen.”
So, what’s different about the Chorleywood system?
The main difference is that is replaces the slow mixing and kneading process of traditional breadmaking with a much faster mix and a reduced first proving time. After that, the dough is treated in the same way, being moulded and proved for about an hour before baking.
This reduces the amount of time required to bake a loaf by about an hour compared with traditional bakeries. It also means that flour with less protein (ie gluten) can be used, helping the mills to use more British grown wheat, which is naturally lower in protein than Canadian or US wheat which had been used previously.
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Fotheringhay Castle is in which English county? | Anthony Worrall Thompson joins campaign for Chorleywood Bread Process (From Watford Observer)
Anthony Worrall Thompson joins campaign for Chorleywood Bread Process
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Two rival bakery factions faced off to prove their loaf is the upper crust at an annual village day in Chorleywood.
In July 1961 the British Baking Industries Research Association discovered the Chorleywood Bread Process, which is now used to produce about 80 per cent of the loaves we buy.
Members of the Real Bread Campaign argue that the extra yeast, enzymes and chemicals required to make the bread in a shorter time scale could affect our health.
During Chorleywood Day on Saturday, members of the Real Bread Campaign took a CBP loaf for its “long-overdue retirement” at Beaumont House Care Home.
Chris Young, from the campaign, said ‘This was a great fun way to get across a serious message: that after half a century, the additive-laced, no-time factory loaf has had its day.
“We believe that the true costs, hiding behind what at the till might appear to be a low price tag, are too high.”
Gordon Polson, director of the Federation of Bakers and other representatives of the wrapped and sliced baking industry were also at the event, singing the praises of the Chorleywood loaf.
Visitors to the annual day were given a blind taste test between a factory loaf, and one from a Chorleywood bakery, and more than 72 per cent said that they preferred the taste of the real bread.
However, studies by the federation suggest that by buying a sliced loaf, one in ten adults save up to ten minutes every day, or 43 hours every year.
The federation has even gone as far as recruiting the help of cooking heavyweight Anthony Worrall Thompson to its cause.
The celebrity chef said: “Whilst it’s great that there is so much choice, sliced bread is the first choice for families who are looking for a versatile and healthy foodstuff.
“Toast it to make a quick breakfast, use it to make sandwiches, or as an ingredient in puddings. There are so many different ways to enjoy bread.”
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During which month of the year is Oak Apple Day (Royal Oak Day) celebrated? | Facts about Royal Oak Day
Back to Facts of the Day Calendar UK Calendar dates british festivals .... folklore ... anniversaries .... on this day
Royal Oak Day
29 May
Royal Oak Day (Oak Apple Day) was a public holiday celebrated in England on 29 May to commemorate the restoration of the English monarchy, in May 1660.
“Parliament had ordered the 29th of May, the King’s birthday, to be forever kept as a day of thanksgiving for our redemption from tyranny and the King’s return to his Government, he returning to London that day."
Samuel Pepys’s Diary 1st June 1660
Commonwealth of England
The English Civil War 1642-1649 was fought between the royalist forces loyal to King Charles I and the parliamentarians led by Oliver Cromwell. The Royalist were defeated at the Battle of Naseby in 1645 and Charles I was caught and executed on 30 January 1649. Cromwell declared Britain a republic 'The Commonwealth' and went on to become it's Lord Protector. Following his death in 1658 Cromwell was succeeded briefly by his son Richard before the monarchy was restored and Charles II became king on 29 May 1660.
How was Oak Apple Day marked?
Oak Apple Day was a time for dancing and parties.
To show their support for the monarchy, people wore sprigs of oak leaves or a sprig with an oak apple on (gall produced in oak buds by wasps).
On 29 May, children would challenge each other to show their oak sprigs or apples, and those not wearing one would face some form of punishment, varying from one place to another.
"Pinch-Bum-Day" - a pinch on the bottom
"Nettle Day" - whipping with nettles
"The wise boy wore his oak leaves, armed himselves (sic) with a stinging nettle and carried a few dock leaves for first aid just in case"
Bibliography of Nottinghamshire Folk Plays & Related Customs
In some areas it was necessary to wear the oak sprig only until noon; after that one was safe
In the 1890s many railway engines were decorated with boughs of oak on 29 May.
Why was the Oak chosen to commemorate the return of the monarchy?
It is said that King Charles' life was saved after the battle of Worcester in 1651, when he escaped from the Roundhead army by hiding in an oak tree in the grounds of Boscobel House in Staffordshire.
How is Oak Apple Day celebrated today?
Although the public holiday was abolished in 1859, Oak Apple Day continues to be celebrated in parts of England today.
Northhampton still remembers Charles II and his escape after the battle of Worcester. The town is also grateful to Charles II, for giving the citizens one thousand tons of timber from the Royal forests of Whittlewood, after a great fire almost razed the town in 1675. A garland of oak-apples is laid at Charles II's statue each year.
London too celebrates 29 May at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, which Charles founded as a home for Army pensioners. The Chelsea Pensioners parade on this day for inspection by a member of the Royal Family in honour of King Charles II.
Castleton Garland Day is held on Oak Apple Day (unless this is a Sunday when proceedings will take place on the Saturday.) It is custom that has been celebrated in Castleton for hundreds of years, originally, possibly as a fertility rite, but today it is said to commemorate the restoration of Charles II. The Garland is 3 feet high and is made from a wooden frame to which small bunches of wild flowers and leaves are tied. It is worn by a man dressed in Stuart costume
Castleton Garland
In Worcester, the 'Faithful City', Oak Apple Day is commemorated by decorating the entrance gate to Worcester's Guildhall with oak branches and leaves.
The Oak Tree is a symbol of England
The image of the Royal Oak can be pubs and hotels signs, on stamps and also on coins (£1). There have also been numerous naval ships, a train and a London underground station named ‘The Royal Oak’.
Pub Sign
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Joey, Chandler and Ross are all characters from which US television series? | OARVolunteers
Oak Apple Run Seeks Volunteers
Royal Oak, Mich. � The 39th Annual Oak Apple Run will be held Saturday, June 4. The annual event benefits the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Oakland County. This year�s presenting sponsors are the Roak Brewing Co. and O�Tooles Irish American Grill and Bar. In addition to hosting thousands of race participants each year, the Oak Apple Run requires volunteers to fill a variety of roles.
Oak Apple Run volunteers may be assigned to help with registration, course security, finish line, or other roles. In addition to attending race day on the morning of June 4, there will be a volunteers� dinner meeting on the evening of Wednesday, June 1. Volunteers will receive a race official t-shirt, a beverage ticket, and access to all festivities.
The Oak Apple Run�s 10k, HAP 5k Challenge, and 2-mile races start at 9:00 a.m. followed by the � mile Kids Fun Run on Saturday, June 4. This year�s event starts in front of the Roak Brewing Co. located at 330 E. Lincoln Ave. in Downtown Royal Oak and features an updated course, electronic chip timing, and the classic Oak Apple Run t-shirt.
This year�s Oak Apple Run is being held in conjunction with the revival of the historic Oak Apple Day; formerly celebrated in Royal Oak and celebrated in parts of England for centuries. Following the races, Oak Apple Day fun will continue until 3:00 p.m. in and around the Roak Brewing Co. Festivities include a family fun area and food and beverages available for purchase.
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What was the name of the ship that housed pirate radio station Radio Caroline, which sank in March 1980? | radio caroline : definition of radio caroline and synonyms of radio caroline (English)
Planet Sales Ltd
Radio Caroline origins
The MV Mi Amigo, c. 1974, which had been used as the home of Radio Caroline South from 1964-1967
Radio Caroline was begun by Irish musician manager and businessman Ronan O'Rahilly . O'Rahilly failed to obtain airplay on Radio Luxembourg for Georgie Fame 's records because its airtime was committed to sponsored programmes promoting the major record labels; EMI , Decca , Pye and Philips .
Encouraged by the presence of the Scandinavian and Dutch pirates, Ronan O'Rahilly raised the capital to purchase a suitable vessel. In February 1964, O'Rahilly obtained the 702 ton former Danish passenger ferry, Fredericia, which was converted into a radio ship at the Irish port of Greenore , owned by O'Rahilly's father. At the same time, Allan Crawford's Project Atlanta organisation was equipping the MV Mi Amigo at Greenore, where the two competed to be first on air. [4]
Financial backing for the venture came from six investors, including Jocelyn Stevens of Queen magazine , with which Radio Caroline shared its first office. [5] O'Rahilly named the station after Caroline Kennedy , daughter of U.S. President John F. Kennedy . [6] On a fund-raising trip to the US, O'Rahilly saw Life Magazine's photograph of Kennedy and his children in the Oval Office . Caroline Kennedy was playing and disrupting the business of government, the image he wanted for his station. [7] O'Rahilly's claims were re-examined[ by whom? ]; the photos of the three together exist and one of John Jr under the desk exists.[ clarification needed ] [8]
First transmissions
This section needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed .
(June 2011)
The Fredericia was renamed MV Caroline and was ancored off Felixtowe, where it began test transmissions on Friday, 27 March 1964. On Saturday, 28 March, it began regular programming at noon on 197 metres (1520 kHz, announced as 199 metres) with the official opening being conducted by Simon Dee . [4] The first programme, which was pre-recorded, was hosted by Chris Moore. Radio Caroline's first musical theme was Jimmy McGriff 's "Round Midnight", a jazz standard composed by Thelonious Monk . In March 1964, Birmingham band The Fortunes recorded the song Caroline, which later became the station's theme song. Round Midnight was confined to close down on Radio Caroline North after The World Tomorrow programme. The station's slogan was Your all-day music station, and it initially broadcast from 6am-6pm, seven days a week.
Radio Caroline announced a wavelength of 199 metres,rhyming with the station's name, but was actually on 197.3 metres (1520 kHz ). [nb 1] The Dutch offshore station Radio Veronica was on 192 metres (1562 kHz). Radio Atlanta broadcast on 201 metres (1495 kHz).
Radio Caroline's power was almost 20 kW , achieved by linking two 10 kW Continental Electronics transmitters together. Its broadcasting hours were between 6 am to 6 pm to avoid competition from Radio Luxembourg . Later, after its 6 pm close-down, the station returned to the air after 8 pm and continued until after midnight. This was to avoid direct competition with popular television programmes. Most of Radio Caroline's pop music programmes were aimed at housewives. Later in the day, children were targeted. Without serious competition, Radio Caroline quickly gained a daytime audience of several million listeners.
Merger with Radio Atlanta
Emperor Rosko
On 2 July 1964, Radio Atlanta and Radio Caroline's companies, Project Atlanta and Planet Productions Ltd., announced that the stations were to be merged, with Crawford and O'Rahilly as joint managing directors. At 8pm that day, Radio Atlanta closed. Radio Atlanta was re-branded Radio Caroline South and MV Mi Amigo remained off Frinton-on-Sea while the MV Caroline would broadcast as Radio Caroline North. MV Caroline sailed from Felixstowe around the coast of Great Britain to the Isle of Man, broadcasting as it went. The only deejays on board were Tom Lodge and Jerry Leighton . MV Caroline arrived at its new anchorage on 13 July. [4] The two stations were thus able to cover most of the British Isles. Later, some programmes were pre-recorded on land and broadcast simultaneously from both ships.
In October 1965, O'Rahilly bought Crawford's interest in the MV Mi Amigo and brought Tom Lodge from Radio Caroline North to make programming changes and regain audience from Radio London . Lodge hired a new group of deejays and introduced a free-form style of programming, which by August 1966 had succeeded, creating a total audience of 23 million people.[ citation needed ]
When Radio London arrived off the coast of England, there was an unsuccessful attempt to merge the sales operation of this station with the Caroline organization before Radio London commenced transmissions.[ citation needed ]
Broadcasting personnel
Radio Caroline's first programme, broadcast on 28 March 1964, was presented by Chris Moore . [3] Presenters Tony Blackburn , Tom Lodge , Roger Day , Simon Dee , Tony Prince , Spangles Muldoon , Keith Skues , Johnnie Walker , Robbie Dale , Dave Lee Travis and Andy Archer became well-known. Some DJs from the USA and Commonwealth countries, such as Graham Webb, Tom Lodge , Emperor Rosko , Steve Young, Keith Hampshire , Colin Nicol and Norman St John, were also heard. DJ Jack Spector , of the WMCA "Good Guys" in New York, regularly recorded a programme for Radio Caroline. Syndicated shows from the US and prerecorded religious programmes were also broadcast. BBC Radio 2 newsreader Colin Berry and Classic FM 's Nick Bailey started their careers reading the news on Radio Caroline South.
Tom Lodge has been a radio disc jockey for Radio Caroline since 1964
In mid September 1965, the crew and DJs on MV Mi Amigo were joined for the weekend by 1960s pop singer Sylvan Whittingham , who visited the ship to promote her single "We Don't Belong". Wittingham was unable to leave on the tender when a storm arose. She was the only singer to stay overnight and helped present programmes, make jingles and close the station down at night. [9]
Mi Amigo runs aground
On 20 January 1966, the MV Mi Amigo lost its anchor in a storm, drifted ran aground on the beach at Frinton-on-Sea. The crew and broadcasting staff were rescued unharmed, but the ship's hull was damaged and repairs were carried out at Zaandam , Netherlands. Between 31 January and 1 May, Radio Caroline South broadcast from the vessel Cheeta II, owned by Britt Wadner of Swedish offshore station Radio Syd , which was off the air because of pack ice in the Baltic Sea . [4] The Cheeta II was equipped for FM broadcasting, so it was fitted with the 10 kW transmitter from the Mi Amigo, feeding a makeshift antenna. The resulting signal was low-powered, but ensured that Caroline South's advertising revenue would continue.
The Mi Amigo returned to its Frinton-on-Sea anchorage with a redesigned antenna and a new 50 kW transmitter and attempted to resume broadcasting on 18 April, nominally on 259 metres to enable the same jingles as Radio Caroline North on 1169 kHz to be used, but actually 252 metres. The transmitter was initially too powerful for the antenna insulators. On 27 April, the Mi Amigo was fully operational.
Radio Caroline South's 259 metres signal was now near those of Radio London on 266m (1133 kHz) and the BBC's Light Programme on 247m (1214 kHz). Radio Caroline North subsequently moved to 257m (1169 kHz) but also called it 259.
Radio City affair
In October 1965, Radio Caroline and Radio City began negotiations for Radio Caroline to take over Radio City, which broadcast from Shivering Sands Army Fort , a Second World War marine fort off the Kent [4] coast. One of Radio Caroline's directors, Major Oliver Smedley , formerly of Radio Atlanta, entered a partnership with Radio City's owner, Reginald Calvert and installed a more powerful transmitter on the fort. However, according to Gerry Bishop's book Offshore Radio this transmitter was antiquated and failed to work. Smedley later withdrew from the deal. [10]
On 20 June 1966, Smedley boarded the Shivering Sands Fort with ten workmen to repossess a transmitter that Smedley had supplied, but had not been paid for. The next day, Calvert visited Smedley's home in Saffron Walden, Essex, to demand the departure of the raiders and the return of vital transmitter parts. During a violent struggle, Calvert was shot dead. Smedley's men occupied the fort until 22 June. [4]
Smedley was charged with Calvert's murder on 18 July, but this was reduced to a charge of manslaughter. Smedley's trial opened on 11 October at Chemlsford Assizes, where the jury acquitted him. [4]
Legislation
Owner
Legal status unclear due to a need to conceal actual legal ownership.
In 1967, the UK Government enacted the Marine, &c., Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967 , outlawing advertising on or supplying an unlicensed offshore radio station from the UK. The Manx parliament, the Tynwald , attempted to exclude the North Ship from the legislation, appealing to the European Court on the legality of the act being applied to the Isle of Man . All the UK based offshore stations closed, with the exception of both Caroline ships. The station moved its supply operation to the Netherlands , which had not yet outlawed unlicensed offshore broadcasting.
When Marine Broadcasting Offences Act become law on 14 August 1967, Radio Caroline was renamed Radio Caroline International. Six weeks later, the BBC introduced its new national pop station Radio 1 , modelled largely on the successful offshore station, Radio London , and employed many of the ex-pirate DJs. The BBC Light , Third , and Home programmes became Radios 2 , 3 and 4 respectively. [11]
Several justifications have been posited for the passage of the act, including:
the pirate ships were a danger because of RF interference to emergency shipping channels,
the act was adopted for the benefit of the recording industry,
the UK authorities could not accept the existence of an entity that was not subject to their control.[ citation needed ]
On 3 March 1968, the radio ships, Mi Amigo and Caroline, were boarded and seized before the day's broadcasting began. They were towed to Amsterdam by a salvage company to secure unpaid bills for servicing by the Dutch tender company, Wijsmuller Co. [4]
1970: Radio North Sea International
Radio Caroline International
90 kW MW
Affiliations
A brief name change from Radio North Sea International during the UK General Election campaign, after which the station reverted back to its original name.
Owner
Mebo Ltd
In 24 March 1970, a radio ship named Mebo II anchored off the east coast of England during the UK general election camapaign, broadcasting as Radio North Sea International (RNI). RNI operated on mediumwave, shortwave and FM; its mediumwave transmission was jammed by the UK Labour government and on 13 June, RNI changed its name to Radio Caroline International with co-operation from Ronan O'Rahilly. Radio Caroline lobbied against the Labour Party , for the Conservative Party and for the introduction of licensed commercial radio in the United Kingdom. Following the election, RNI resumed its original name but jamming continued under the newly elected Conservative government. [12] It was not until RNI returned to its original anchorage off the Netherlands that the jamming ceased.
Caroline Television
News stories appeared in the European press announcing the start of Caroline Television from two Super Constellation aircraft using Stratovision technology. One aeroplane would circle over the North Sea in international air space near the coastline of the United Kingdom , while the other would remain on standby to take over duties. Presentations were made to US advertising agencies. These stories continued for some time and included details of co-operation by a former member of the Beatles and a sign-on date given as 1 July; however, the station failed to appear. [4] It was later proven to be nothing more than a publicity stunt.[ citation needed ]
1972-1980: Mi Amigo rescued
Sister stations
Radio Atlantis 1973 and Radio Mi-Amigo 1974-1978
In 1972, MV Mi Amigo was bought for scrap at auction by enthusiast Gerald van Dam, who intended to use it as a free radio museum. O'Rahilly promised financial backing if van Dam could return the ship to broadcasting condition. [13] The ship was anchored off the Dutch coastal resort of Scheveningen and serviced and operated from the Netherlands . The ship had restarted broadcasting as Radio 199, but soon became Radio Caroline with a Top 40 format. DJs Chris Carey, broadcasting as Spangles Muldoon (who was also station manager), Roger 'Twiggy' Day , Andy Archer , Paul Alexander , Steve England , Johnny Jason and Peter Chicago (real name Peter Murtha) [13] manned the station.
In late 1972, Radio Caroline experienced financial difficulties. On 28 December, unpaid crew cut the Mi Amigo's generator fuel line and departed. Later that day, the Dutch Royal Navy returned the crew and fighting broke out onboard. Two days later, Mi Amigo was towed to IJmuiden and seized because of unpaid bills. [4] Because of the Christmas holidays, no solicitors were available to issue a writ and the ship lay in Amsterdam Harbour until O'Rahilly arranged for it to be towed back to sea. The ship was further delayed when hull damage was found and quickly repaired before writs could be issued. [13]
Between 11 and 20 April 1973, the ship broadcast programmes for Radio Veronica while the latter's ship, the Nordeney, was run aground in a storm. Because of an old law that allows pirates in distress to come ashore without being arrested, this running aground had no consequences for the crew. [4] During summer 1973, it broadcast two separate stations in English and Dutch simultaneously, on 773 and 1187 kHz. Two aerials and twin transmitters were used for about six weeks until the aerial mast failed. To accommodate the second aerial, a second short mast, positioned just in front of the bridge, was employed as the other end for the main mast.[ clarification needed ]
Radio Atlantis and Radio Seagull
Main article: Radio Atlantis
Around this time, O'Rahilly decided that Caroline should adopt an album format similar to that found on " FM progressive rock " stations in the USA, as this potentially very large radio audience was not catered for in Europe. This service was initially broadcast using the name Radio Seagull and was broadcast live from the ship's studio during the evening.
Since Radio Caroline could not find adequate advertising revenue it shared its nominal 259 metre wavelength, actually 1187 kHz or 253 metres, with Dutch language pop stations. The first of these was a Belgian station called Radio Atlantis , owned by Belgian businessman Adriaan van Landschoot . Programmes were pre-recorded on land and broadcast between 6 am and 7 pm. Rough weather sometimes prevented new tapes from arriving on Mi Amigo and old pregrammes had to be repeated. When its contract with Radio Caroline ended, the crew of Radio Atlantis moved to their own ship, the MV Janine . [4]
Radio Seagull became Radio Caroline on 23 February 1974, retaining the album format. Throughout most of the 1970s, Radio Caroline could be heard only at night, calling itself "Europe's first and only album station".
Radio Mi Amigo
Another Belgian station, Radio Mi Amigo , was launched on 1 January 1974. Radio Mi Amigo was run by Belgian businessman and Suzy Waffles magnate Sylvain Tack . [14] The station's offices and studios were based on Spain 's Playa De Aro Costa Brava resort, where it produced programmes for Dutch-speaking holidaymakers. Most of Radio Mi Amigo's output was pre-recorded and consisted of Europop , Top 40 , MOR and Dutch language popular music presented by Belgian, Dutch and occasionally English DJs with frequent commercials. Because commercial radio was prohibited in Belgium at that time, Radio Mi Amigo had little competition and became popular in Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK. For the first few years, advertising space on the station was in high demand. When Radio Veronica closed in 1974, some of its presenters moved to Radio Mi Amigo.
Loving Awareness
Caroline's album format meant that, although the station served a gap in the market, its audience was smaller than in the 1960s. Caroline also promoted O'Rahilly's concept of Loving Awareness (LA), a far-eastern inspired philosophy of love and peace. Some DJs were embarrassed at the idea of promoting this on air, but some were fascinated by the challenge of promoting an abstract concept. Disc jockey Tony Allan developed a cult following, combining his promotion of "Loving Awareness" with a professional style, humanity, deep knowledge of music and rich radio voice.[ citation needed ]
In 1974, O'Rahilly set up a pop group called The Loving Awareness Band, comprising John Turnbull (guitar) and Mick Gallagher (keyboards) both formerly of Skip Bifferty and two session musicians, Norman Watt-Roy (bass) and Charlie Charles (drums). In 1976, The Loving Awareness Band released their only album, Loving Awareness on More Love Records (ML001), a label set up by O'Rahilly. The album was later reissued on CD more than once, although the CD releases have been sourced from a mint vinyl pressing rather than the original master tapes.
The band broke up in 1977, Watt-Roy and Charles played on Ian Dury 's New Boots and Panties!! album, and Turnbull and Gallagher joined them on the Stiff 's tour, becoming The Blockheads . [15]
Dutch legislation
In 1974 the Dutch government enacted legislation to prohibit unlicensed offshore radio, which came into effect on 1 September. Radio Caroline continued broadcasting, moving its headquarters and servicing operation to Spain . Mi Amigo was moved from the Dutch coast to the Knock Deep Channel , approximately 30 km from the British coast. After 31 August, pre-recorded shows for Radio Mi Amigo were delivered on cassettes rather than reels of tape.
During an incident on 1 September, when a small motor launch experienced difficulties in rough seas, Radio Caroline broadcast appeals for help, giving the ship's position as 51°41′N 1°35′E / 51.683°N 1.583°E / 51.683; 1.583 . A coastguard vessel was sent to escort the launch back to shore, but the authorities were unhappy that Caroline listeners had jammed the emergency switchboards.
It was claimed that Radios Caroline and Mi Amigo were tendered from Spain. In practice, the Mi Amigo was tendered clandestinely from ports in Britain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Tenders and small boat owners were warned, and some were prosecuted for ferrying staff and provisions to the ship. Belgium had outlawed offshore radio in 1962 and its authorities prosecuted advertisers, cutting the station's revenue. Belgian courts sentenced Tack and some DJs to fines and jail terms in absentia — although the prison terms were later cancelled.
Wavelength changes
The two stations experimented with several different broadcast frequencies. After a short test on 773 kHz in late 1975, in May 1976, Radio Caroline began a daytime service on 1562 kHz (192 m) using a 10 kW transmitter, while its existing overnight service continued to share the 50 kW transmitter with Radio Mi Amigo's daytime programming on 1187 kHz (253 metres, announced as 259).
In December 1976, Radio Mi Amigo moved to 1562 kHz on the 50 kW transmitter, leaving Caroline on 1187 kHz 24 hours a day on the 10 kW. Radio Caroline's signal experienced greater night-time interference, and it was decided to move Caroline to a new frequency. On 3 March 1977, Caroline closed down, announcing that it would return six days later on 319 metres. To allow Radio Mi Amigo to continue broadcasting by day, the engineering work necessary for Caroline's move had to be carried out over 6 nights, after the 50 kW transmitter was switched off.
Caroline returned on 9 March 1977 on 953 kHz, actually 315 metres but announced as 319. This frequency produced very strong heterodyne interference because the transmitter crystal was off-channel, and Caroline moved to the adjacent channel, 962 kHz (312 metres but still called 319) and Caroline's reception in the UK improved. Meanwhile Radio Mi Amigo experienced interference on 1562 kHz and announced another frequency change on 23 July 1977 from 1562 kHz, changing to 1412 kHz (212 m) two days later.
Finally, Radio Mi Amigo moved to 962 kHz on 1 December. Due to generator trouble, the two services could no longer be broadcast simultaneously, and Radio Caroline again broadcast at night with both stations using the 50 kW transmitter and Radio Caroline began to receive an increase in mail from Europe. At times, a 10 kW transmitter was used to save fuel and relieve stress on the generators. The 10 kW transmitters could be run on the Henschel generator beside the two main MAN units and also a Cummings on the aft deck behind the wheelhouse. [16]
During this period, Radio Carolines night transmissions started with "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary craft". In late 1977, Radio Caroline began broadcasting sponsored evangelical programmes, and music programmes began at 9 p.m. On 20 October 1978, technical and financial problems put the Mi Amigo off the air. Unhappy at the loss of advertising revenue, Radio Mi Amigo terminated its contract with Caroline in November 1978 and broadcast from its own ship, the MV Magdalena , later that year, but this was short-lived. Broadcasting was in Dutch and English by day and in English at night, although for the first few months broadcasting finished at 10pm each evening. On 19 January 1979, the aging ship took in water and the lifeboat was called to evacuate the remaining crew members. [17] Radio Caroline returned to the air on 15 April 1979. The first record played was Fool (If You Think It's Over), by Chris Rea , dedicated to the British Home Office. [18]
Characteristic Music
During this period each night transmission of Radio Caroline started with the song "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" of the progressive Rock Band Klaatu , issued in 1976 on their Album 3:47 E.S.T .
Mi Amigo sinks
Main article: MV Mi Amigo
Just after midnight GMT on 20 March 1980, the Mi Amigo foundered in a severe storm after losing its anchor and drifting for several miles. It began taking in water and the crew were rescued by lifeboat. [4] The generator was left running to power the pumps but could not manage the inflow of water and the Mi Amigo sank ten minutes later. Three British nationals, a Dutchman and their canary, named Wilson after the former Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson were rescued. The last broadcast from the Mi Amigo was by Stevie Gordon and Tom Anderson, as follows:[ citation needed ]
Well, we're sorry to tell you that due to the severe weather conditions and the fact that we are shipping quite a lot of water, we are closing down, and the crew are at this stage leaving the ship. Obviously, we hope to be back with you as soon as possible, but just for the moment we would like to say goodbye. "It's not a very good occasion really, we have to hurry this because the lifeboat is standing by. We're not leaving and disappearing, we're going onto the lifeboat hoping that the pumps can take it, if they can, we'll be back, if not, well we really don't like to say it. I'm sure we'll be back one way or another. For the moment from all of us, goodbye and God Bless."
The crew of the Sheerness lifeboat Helen Turnbull were commended for their part in the rescue of broadcasters Tom Anderson, Stevie Gordon, Nick Richards and Hans Verlaan from Mi Amigo while it was sinking in the Black Deep near Long Sand Bank. Having to manoeuvre the lifeboat alongside the stricken vessel thirteen times in high seas and a north easterly gale to carry out the rescue earned Coxswain Charles Bowry an RNLI silver medal. Each of his crew were awarded The Thanks of the Institution on vellum. [19]
The Mi Amigo's 160-foot (49 m) mast remained erect for a further six years. [20]
1983-1991: MV Ross Revenge
Ownership was hidden due to illegality of operation.
MV Ross Revenge, home of Radio Caroline from 1983
MV Ross Revenge
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The station re-commenced broadcasting in August 1983 from its new radio ship, the MV Ross Revenge , an ex- North Sea factory fishing trawler used during the Anglo - Icelandic Cod War by Ross Fisheries [21] . The ship had an antenna system radiating from a 300-foot (91 m) high mast, the tallest on any ship in the world. The ship left port in Spain, with an incomplete studio, to avoid legal entanglements. Radio Caroline began broadcasting from the ship on 19 August 1983, when unwanted mechanical sounds were heard on speech. The station was opened by DJ Tom Anderson, who had said "goodbye" from the sinking Mi Amigo in 1980. [22]
The Ross Revenge was considerably larger than Mi Amigo and was fitted with more elaborate transmitting equipment. In 1983, two 5 kW RCA transmitters and a RCA 50 kW unit were on board. One 5 kW transmitter was initially regarded as not serviceable. When Radio Monique hired the main transmitter, spare parts were taken from a fourth transmitter to convert the 5 kW into a 10 kW unit, the RCA 5 and 10 kW transmitters having similar designs. [23] The remaining 5 kW transmitter was later converted for short wave use.
Ronan O'Rahilly had wanted Radio Caroline to become an oldies station. This was opposed by some DJs and crew who had worked on the Mi Amigo and the album format was retained along with presenters such as Andy Archer, Samantha Dubois and Simon Barrett.
Officially, Radio Caroline was managed from offices in North America, with advertising sourced from the US and Canada. In practice, day-to-day servicing was carried out clandestinely from France and the UK. From the ship's anchorage in the Knock Deep the Mi Amigo's mast could be seen on the horizon.
Four studios were on board, enabling the ship to transmit a number of other services. Radio Caroline tried out several frequencies, among them 963, 576, 585 (briefly), 558 (after Laser 558 closed) and later 819 kHz. European medium wave channels had been reallocated to exact multiples of nine. In the evenings on 963, some alternative music programmes were tried, including the reggae -oriented "Jamming 963", and in 1986 and early 1987, a progressive and indie rock programme called Caroline Overdrive was broadcast.
On 9 August 1985, an official vessel anchored 150 yards from the Ross Revenge. The UK [Department of Trade and Industry] (DTI) put a permanent watch on all movements of ships around the Ross Revenge and the MV Communicator, Laser 558 's ship. On 3 September 1985 at 24:00 hours the Dioptric Surveyor departed owing to a force nine storm.
Radio Monique
Main article: Radio Monique
From December 1984 the Ross Revenge broadcast Radio Monique, consisting of recorded and live Dutch language programmes of a Dutch music radio production company using the 50 kW transmitter during daytime. These programmes featured mainly pop and Euro-Pop style music and were aimed at the mainstream Dutch audience. Radio Monique was popular throughout the Benelux countries.
In the evenings, Radio Caroline transmitted Dutch and American religious evangelist broadcasters such as Johan Maasbach and Roy Masters on medium wave, and later on short wave, under the name Viewpoint 963/819, or World Mission Radio (WMR) on short wave.
In November 1985, the competing offshore station, Laser 558, closed because of electrical problems and Caroline moved from 576 kHz to Laser's 558 kHz frequency, with a Top 40 music format similar to Laser's under the name Caroline 558. When Laser returned as Laser Hot Hits, it used Caroline's former and somewhat inferior frequency of 576.
The mast collapses
In 1987, the British Government passed the Territorial Sea Act [24] which extended the UK maritime limit from three to twelve nautical miles (22 km). To remain in international waters, the ship moved to a new, less-sheltered anchorage. Initially this was a minor inconvenience as the 300-foot (91 m) mast was thought sturdy enough to cope. However, in October a massive storm hit southern England, causing loss of life and severe damage to buildings and trees. Unable to take shelter in territorial waters, the MV Ross Revenge weathered the storm in the North Sea.
The following day, Caroline was one of the few stations in the South East still broadcasting. However, the storm had severely weakened the mast, which collapsed in another storm some weeks later. Caroline quickly returned to the air using a makeshift aerial which gave a less powerful signal. This was eventually replaced by a twin-mast T-antenna. For several months only one transmitter could be used, leading to the loss of the crucial income-generating Radio Monique, although a substitute Dutch daytime service, Radio 558 (later Radio 819), was eventually established.
1989 Anglo-Dutch raid
The UK government amended the 1967 anti-offshore broadcasting law to permit the boarding and silencing of stations operating in international waters if their signals can be received in the UK, even if their vessels were foreign registered and operated. Lord Annan , author of the 1977 Report of the Committee on the Future of Broadcasting , spoke in defence of Radio Caroline in the House of Lords at Report Stage on the Broadcasting Act 1990 , saying "Why break a butterfly upon the wheel?" [25] In an article written for the pressure group Charter 88 , Steve McGann added:
"Whether Caroline was right to maintain her defiance for so many years is irrelevant. Her story illustrates how uniquely dangerous government regards an independent voice transmitted over unrestricted airwaves and to what ends it will go to silence it." [26]
This legislation remains in force.
During mid-August 1989, authorities in several European countries carried out co-ordinated raids on houses, recording studios and offices believed to be used by the Caroline organisation. On 18 August, a British government chartered ship pulled up alongside the Ross Revenge and requested permission to board in order to "discuss the future" of the Ross Revenge and the stations operating from it. This request, and one to cease transmissions on 819 kHz, were refused. A request to cease broadcasting on the short wave frequency 6215 kHz was complied with, and after several hours the British government chartered ship returned to port.
The following day James Murphy, an investigator for the UK Office of the Official Solicitor , acting on behalf of the UK Department of Trade and Industry, joined colleagues and counterparts from the Netherlands Radio Regulatory Authority to carry out an armed raid on the Ross Revenge in which vital equipment was damaged or confiscated.
It was claimed that Caroline's use of a marine supplementary distress and calling frequency 6215 kHz for the transmission of paid-for religious programmes, called World Mission Radio, was causing interference to maritime communications. Caroline had been warned about this by officials and offshore-radio fans.[ citation needed ]
Part of the raid was broadcast live before officials disabled the transmitters. Dutch nationals aboard were arrested and returned to the Netherlands, together with most of the broadcasting equipment. Non-Dutch staff were not arrested but were given the option of staying on the ship or returning to the Netherlands - most chose to stay on board.
The legality of the raid is under question; Caroline claimed that the boarding of the ship and removal or destruction of equipment was an act of piracy on the high seas under international maritime law. The Dutch claimed that as the ship's Panamanian registration had lapsed in 1987, it was not under legal protection from any country and that its transmissions were a breach of international radio regulations which since 1982 have prohibited broadcasting from outside national territories. Several years after the raid some of the seized items were returned to the station.
1990-1991: After the raid
On 1 October 1989, Radio Caroline re-commenced broadcasting from the Ross Revenge using makeshift equipment and very low power, in order to retain the 558 kHz frequency. Engineer Peter Chicago had hidden transmitter parts during the raid and retuned one 5 kW transmitter, previously used on short-wave, to 558 kHz. Over the following months, Caroline's signal quality improved as transmitting valves were donated and programming returned to normal.
In June 1990, Spectrum Radio , a new multi-ethnic community radio station for London, was allocated 558 kHz. Caroline's signal caused more interference to Spectrum's than vice versa. Caroline broadcast regular apologies to Spectrum and its listeners but refused to vacate the channel. Spectrum threatened to sue the Radio Authority , which then allowed Spectrum to temporarily broadcast on 990 kHz alongside 558 kHz. Eventually, Caroline left 558 kHz and moved to 819. On 5 November 1990, a lack of fuel and supplies forced the station to cease broadcasting. The final song played was Pilot of the Airwaves by Charlie Dore . [27] Although most of the broadcasting staff had left, some volunteers remained on board for a year as caretakers, while fresh funding and equipment were sought.
In November 1991, the ship lost its anchor in stormy weather and drifted onto the Goodwin Sands in the English Channel. The crew were rescued by a RAF helicopter. The Ross Revenge was later salvaged and brought into harbour in Dover, ending 27 years of Radio Caroline's unlicensed, offshore radio broadcasting career.
Radio Caroline
http://www.radiocaroline.co.uk
1991 - present: Licensed Support Group era
Following the 1991 near shipwrecking of the Ross Revenge and its subsequent harbouring around the south-east coast of England, the ship has been maintained by a group of enthusiasts called the Radio Caroline Support Group, originally called the Ross Revenge Support Group. From 2007, following numerous moves, the Ross Revenge has been docked at Tilbury , where a volunteer crew repair and maintain it. The ship has working radio studios, from which both Caroline and BBC Essex have occasionally broadcast.
Former offshore broadcasters who continue to broadcast on the station are: Roger Mathews, Nigel Harris , Martin Fisher, Marc Jacobs, Johnny Lewis, Doug Wood, Dave Foster, Cliff Osbourne, Bob Lawrence, Jeremy Chartham and Ad Roberts. Evangelical programmes and sponsored specialist music shows are broadcast. During Easter 2008, the station broadcast live for three days from the Ross Revenge, featuring ten presenters who had worked on the Mi Amigo in the late 1970s: Roger Mathews, Mike Stevens, Bob Lawrence, Brian Martin, Martin Fisher, Cliff Osbourne, Jeremy Chartham, Marc Jacobs, Ad Roberts, Dick Verheul and Kees Borrell.
Restricted Service Licenses
Radio Caroline was off the air for most of the 1990s, except for occasional low-power broadcasts of one month's duration. Some of these licensed 28-day Restricted Service Licence (RSL) broadcasts took place from the Ross Revenge during the 1990s, with the ship anchored off Clacton, in London's Canary Wharf , Southend Pier and off the Isle of Sheppey in Kent .
On 1 October 2001 at one minute past Midnight Radio Caroline returned on 1503khz from the LV (Light Vessel)18 based in Harwich Habour. This 28 day broadcast featured Phil Mitchell, Paul Dennis, Colin Lamb, John Patrick, Barry James, Steve Cisco and Clive Boutell. . http://www.radiocaroline.de/platt2.htm The LV 18 would in latter years be used by the BBC for BBC Pirate Radio Essex broadcasts! http://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/pirate/exhibition.shtml
One RSL broadcast ran from 7 August until 3 September 2004, with the ship moored at the cruise liner terminal jetty at Tilbury in Essex . They even commemorated the 40th anniversary of Radio Caroline and promoted the station's legal internet and satellite programmes. The medium wave frequency was 235 metres (1278 kHz) and the programmes were sent through ISDN landline to their Maidstone studio and streamed via the internet and broadcast on satellite. The supermarket chain Asda and English Heritage were amongst the backers for this event.
The station has subsequently broadcast on 531 kHz AM from the Ross Revenge during some bank holiday weekends, beginning on 28–31 August 2009 and 28–30 August 2010, which coincided within a few days with the 50th anniversary of the ship's first voyage.
Satellite and Internet broadcasting
Using land-based studios leased in Kent [28] in the late 1990s, the station began broadcasting via satellites Astra 19.2°E and Eutelsat 28A , covering Western Europe . These analogue transmissions ceased and a full digital service from Astra 28.2°E started in February 2003. [29]
In 2002, Caroline began broadcasting on the WorldSpace satellite radio system, continuing until the Worldspace operation went bankrupt and re-organised its operations in 2008.
On 12 June 2006, the station purchased an EPG slot on Sky channel 0199. [30] No subscription or viewing card was required. This service was removed on 1 July 2011 after failing to renegotiate costs with Sky and deciding not pursue a Freesat EPG slot. [31] Surveys performed in 2008 and 2010 into the audience's listening habits showed that a small percentage listened via Sky, and that satellite listening had dropped by 9% since the 2008 results, while on-line listening had increased by around 40%. Radio Caroline still broadcasts on satellite but requires manual tuning. [32]
The station has also been streamed on the Internet for some years, and in 2011 joined the Radioplayer UK project, an internet service formed by the BBC, Global Radio and the Guardian Media Group that supplies a listen live feed of UK radio stations across the world. [33]
Medium Wave campaign
In December 2010, Chatham & Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch presented an Early Day Motion to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom calling for OFCOM to allow Radio Caroline to broadcast as a licensed medium wave station to its "traditional heartland of the south east". [34]
The full text of the EDM is as follows:
That this House expresses its disappointment that, having pioneered commercial radio in the UK and for the past decade being a fully licensed broadcaster, Radio Caroline, a cornerstone of British radio history, has been denied by OFCOM the opportunity to secure a medium wave frequency from which to broadcast; regrets that as a result its devoted listeners are confined to listening to Radio Caroline via the internet and unable to enjoy its musical offerings in transit; and calls on OFCOM to exhaust all avenues in making the provisions available for Radio Caroline to celebrate its 50th birthday in 2014 by broadcasting on a medium wave frequency which, it appears, is unwanted by both BBC and commercial operators as a broadcast platform." [35]
International operations
This section needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed .
(June 2011)
The Netherlands
In January 2002, a Dutch Caroline-fan called Sietse Brouwer launched a Netherlands-based Radio Caroline in Harlingen , broadcasting on the northern Netherlands cable networks and largely independent of UK Caroline. Brouwer intended to obtain an AM frequency from the Netherlands authorities in 2003 when its medium wave frequencies were reallocated. However, Dutch Caroline failed to secure a high power AM frequency and the cable network service was discontinued because of lack of funds. The Dutch Radio Caroline then changed its name to "Radio Seagull" and now broadcasts on 1602 kHz every evening and on the internet, presenting a progressive rock format. From November 2009, Radio Seagull can be heard periodically on 558 kHz in London.[ citation needed ]
Spain
In Spain, a station broadcast during the summer 2009 on 102.7 MHz in the Costa Blanca from studios in Benidorm. The station had some success but stopped broadcasting due to lack of funding. Broadcasters included Tony Christian, Pawl "Hound Dog" Shanley, Dave Fox, Simon West, Dale Richardson and Peter D.
Mediterranean Riviera
The British Radio Caroline has a broadcasting partner on the French and Italian Mediterranean Rivieras. Presented under the name Caroline South, this operation provides weekend evening programmes for Radio Caroline which are also broadcast on local FM radio stations on the Riviera. Veteran Caroline DJs Grant Benson and Tom Anderson are among the presenters.
Ireland
Radio Caroline is broadcast in the Republic of Ireland on channel 927 on the UPC Ireland cable service in Dublin , Galway and Waterford .
Italy
In spring 2004, Radio Caroline contracted with RTL 102.5 to broadcast as part of the national DAB system in Italy where it can be heard in Rome , Milan , Turin , Bologna , Florence and Naples . Its programming is a mix of Caroline's UK-produced material and locally produced material.
New Zealand
See also: Radio Caroline New Zealand
In Timaru , an NZBC station, originally 3XC, later 3ZC, broadcast as Radio Caroline until 1995. The name was taken from "Caroline Bay", a popular recreation area nearby. [36]
In Palmerston , an organisation using the Caroline name, based in Tenerife, Spain, acquired a stake in Radio Puketapu in 2008, and was seeking wavelengths in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. [37]
References in popular culture
The Golden Age of Wireless album by Thomas Dolby , Track: "Radio Silence" - reference to a woman named "Caroline" and lamenting a lost love like an empty radio frequency.
Freeze Frame album by Godley & Creme , 1979, Track: "Get Well Soon" - reference to Radio Caroline.
Rock and roll track by Status Quo - "Waiting all the time to find radio plays on Caroline".
Pirate Radio track by Ska band The Toasters - Reference to Radio Caroline.
Hearthammer by Scottish Folk Rock band Runrig - "Lying under the covers, with the radio on. Settle down with Caroline as she sailed all summer long".
Walking down the King's Road track by Squire - Reached top 75 - "In a Chelsea drug store with some friends of mine, mini skirts, dolly birds and Radio Caroline".
The Goodies episode Radio Goodies , parodies the then-contemporary pirate radio stations but does not mention Radio Caroline.
The Boat That Rocked 2009 movie is set in 1966 and uses a vessel that is similar to the 1983 MV Ross Revenge, but according to the producer, the movie is pure fantasy.
Notes
^ It has to be remembered that the tuning of radios of the day was purely by sight and sound - i.e. no exact digital readout. This allowed a leeway between the frequency used and the channel announced on air. Stations in the UK, at this time, announced the wavelength in metres, not the frequency in kilohertz. The station preferred using a "9" as the last digit, in order to rhyme with its name.[ citation needed ]
See also
^ "Timaru" . Theradiovault.net. http://www.theradiovault.net/timaru.htm . Retrieved 2011-11-04.
^ Bill Campbell (2 August 2008). Radio Puketapu stakeholder has pirate past . Otago Daily Times. Allied Press Limited. http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/east-otago/16017/radio-puketapu-stakeholder-has-pirate-past . Retrieved 30 June 2011.
Further reading
Radio Caroline. Venmore Rowland. John. Landmark Press. UK. 1967 - The original book about Radio Caroline.
When Pirates Ruled The Waves. Harris, Paul . Impulse Publications, UK, 1968.
History of Radio Nord. Kotschack, Jack. Forlags AB. Sweden (Swedish). English version published in 1970 by Impulse Publications, UK.
From International Waters. Leonard, Mike - Forest Press. Heswall, UK. 1996 ISBN 0-9527684-0-2 - An encyclopedia about the history of offshore broadcasting until 1996.
The Beat Fleet: The story behind the 60's 'pirate' radio stations. Leonard, Mike. Forest Press. Heswall, UK. 2004 ISBN 0-9527684-1-0 .
Last of the Pirates. Noakes, Bob. Paul Harris Publishing, Edinburgh. 1984. ISBN 0-86228-092-3 - This book is written by an engineer and DJ who worked on the MV Mi Amigo during the last phase of life prior to sinking.
Butterfly upon the Wheel. Moore, Peter. Offshore Echo's. London, UK. 1992, ISSN 0150 2794 - Written by the station manager, this book recounts the adventures and struggles to keep Radio Caroline on the air.
Records at Sea - The Story of the Ross Revenge. Weston, Mike. Radio Caroline Sales . UK, 2002 - A detailed history of the MV Ross Revenge .
The Autobiography.Walker, Johnnie. Penguin Books. London, 2007. ISBN 978-0-14-102428-8 .
Ships in Troubled Waters. Harris, Nigel. MyWayPublishing. UK, 2009. ISBN 978-0-9563996-0-1 - This book details the author's long history with Radio Caroline.
Shiprocked - Life On The Waves With Radio Caroline. Conway, Steve. Liberties Press. Dublin, 2009 ISBN 978-1-905483-62-4 - This book tells the story of Steve Conway 's career with Radio Caroline in the late 1980s.
External links
| MV Mi Amigo |
Which famous concert venue is located at 881 Seventh Avenue, New York? | Radio Caroline & The British "Pirates" Part 2
So� In 1968 Radio Caroline was off the air, with both ships confined in Amsterdam docks by The Offshore Supply Company seeking $45000 in unpaid fees, which were never forthcoming. The Caroline organization attempted to get back on air by renting the services of MV Oceaan VII, a ship formerly used offshore England by Radio 270, but the deal fell through when the owners were threatened with legal action.
At this point it is worth including a little of the story of another 'pirate', Radio Northsea International, because of a brief connection with Caroline. Two Swiss entrepreneurs bought a ship they named Mebo from their surnames Meister and Bollier. They kitted it out as a radio ship before realizing it was too small, so renamed it Angela to act as tender for a larger 174ft ship Mebo II. The radio ship looked amazing, the sides being crazily painted in diagonal zigzag patterns of fluorescent red, yellow and green portraying a mid-ship explosion. Radio Northsea International began broadcasts in Dutch and English in January 1970 with a powerful 105kW medium wave transmitter, and was capable of simultaneously transmitting on Short Wave and FM too.
In March 1970, RNI moved from Holland to the British Essex coast due to greater popularity in England, in the absence of Caroline.
But the British Labour Government took a different view. In April 1970, they amazingly activated a powerful jamming station - an action not even carried out during World War II - to block RNI. RNI then changed frequency to 1230khz, 244meters, deliberately very close to Radio One on 247 meters, the BBC's pop music channel to 'replace' the pirate stations closed down by the MOA in 1967. 5 days later the jamming frequency changed to match, causing interference not just to RNI but also Radio One in southeast areas. It was ironic that the government was creating the very problems they had accused the 'pirates' of causing!
Things became very political. There was to be a General Election in Britain in June, and it was thought the opposition Conservative party was less against the 'pirates' and would stop the jamming, and help introduce land-based commercial radio stations, a welcome step towards an alternative to the BBC monopoly. In June, 5 days before the election, RNI broadcast as 'Radio Caroline International" and actively urged its listeners to Vote Conservative. Caroline's founder Ronan O'Rahilly headed a campaign on land.
No-one knows for sure how much influence the campaign had on the general election results - but it was the first time people aged 18-21 could vote, there was an unexpected 10% swing and the Conservative Party ousted Labour to run the country.
However, pirate radio fans were to be disappointed. The jamming didn't stop. Disheartened, the station reverted to its Radio Northsea International name and sailed back to the Dutch coast. The jamming stopped. It is possible British governments had other reasons for not wanting the pirates to exist, kept secret from the general public. It has been suggested by some that the government suspected RNI was using its powerful short wave transmitter (whose purpose otherwise was unclear) to send coded messages to unfriendly countries such as the then-existing East Germany, though such accusations are unproved.
Like Caroline, RNI had a chequered history in its brief 4-year life. RNI was a rival to Veronica in Holland and in September 1970 went off the air after Veronica paid Mebo a large sum of money. RNI remained at anchor, and returned to the air in January 1971. Late one night in May, RNI's engine room was fire-bombed. The fire was later extinguished and the station got back on the air. The raiders had come from the nearby Veronica ship in a zodiac rubber boat, hoping to force Mebo II to sail into Dutch waters for help and thus get impounded. Surprisingly, given that the events took place in International waters and beyond Holland's jurisdiction, Dutch authorities arrested and charged 5 men, including a Veronica director and an advertising manager. The 'gangsters' were all sentenced to one year in prison.
RNI continued broadcasting from off the Dutch coast until 31st August 1974 when Holland passed its own Marine Offences Act outlawing the pirates. Mebo II and MV Angela remained in dock in Rotterdam, Holland until 1977, when they sailed to Africa. They were sold to Libya to stand in for their land-based radio stations during refurbishment. In 1981 both ships, having no further use, were used for target practice by the Libyan Navy and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea!
Meanwhile, back with the Radio Caroline Story:
Following the Caroline/RNI connection, stories came out that Ronan O'Rahilly proposed Caroline Television. He would get two Super Constellation aircraft that would take turns flying in circles in international air space over the North Sea, transmitting TV to England. Nothing ever came of it: it was more typical Ronan hot air�
In May 1972 the original ship MV Caroline was auctioned in Holland for $4000, and was scrapped. MV Mi Amigo was also auctioned for scrap, or so it was thought. But it was bought for about $3000 by two members of a Free Radio organization wanting to restore it "as a Radio Museum", but in reality, wanting to get it back on air. With only a modest transmitter mast, it did so off the Dutch coast in October on '199' - initially announcing no station name, until 'Radio Caroline' was used in December.
There was a 'mutiny' on the Mi Amigo. Because the crew had not been paid, Captain van der Kamp arranged for the ship to be towed into Ijmuiden harbor, Holland, where it was impounded. Various legal wrangles ensued, but somehow they managed to get back to sea and on-air again mid January 1973. One 'hero' to play a huge part in Caroline's miracles was Peter 'Chicago', an engineer previously connected with the RNI ship. His expertise was to help Caroline on the air on many occasions, over many years.
Neighbor Radio Veronica's ship ran aground in a storm in April: Caroline did a deal and filled in as both Caroline on '199' and Veronica on '259' (actually 253m, 1187KHz). The deal brought in valuable funds, enough to pay for a new transmitter mast, a 180ft aluminium square-section lattice type painstakingly constructed out at sea, taking three months. Throughout its life, Mi Amigo lost its transmitter mast in bad storms several times. Replacements ranged from a simple tubular 'pole' to a lattice of triangular or square cross-section. This latest 'Veronica-funded' one lasted only a few months. The next and final mast (as it turned out) was built on land and again erected out at sea. It had originally been intended for yet another offshore pirate, Radio Atlantis, and stories vary regarding how Caroline came to get it�
There was a lot of 'swapping around' of radio organizations around this time. At various times Mi Amigo was home for others including Radio Atlantis and Radio Mi Amigo. Radio Seagull was created to provide an album format, popular on USA progressive rock stations, and became Radio Caroline again in February 1974. This format is now synonymous with Caroline, still calling itself "Europe's first album station".
At the end of August 1974 Holland fell in line with many other European countries and passed its own Marine Offences Act, outlawing the radio ships. Radios Veronica, Atlantis and Northsea International all closed down. Caroline, not for the first time, boldly continued, moving their offices to Spain, and the ship back to the outer Thames estuary, England, to escape any possible Dutch authorities 'raid'. They moved anchorage several times seeking a suitable spot avoiding danger to shipping, while mainly staying equidistant between the counties of Essex and Kent, east of London.
Radio Caroline and the Dutch service Radio Mi Amigo continued broadcasting from MV Mi Amigo for a further four years, but not without incident. Several times they suffered broken anchor chains in storms and drifted, usually onto sandbanks. Their biggest fear was to drift inside British territorial waters, whereupon the ship could be legally seized and impounded. For some years a huge ex-oil-drilling-rig anchor, attached to an equally mighty chain, was installed on a steel girder slide on one side of the ship, to enable rapid deployment should they find themselves drifting. But often they did not realize they were.
In November 1975 Mi Amigo's anchor chain broke again and they drifted onto Long Sands sandbank. A few days later a ship was sent out to tow them off, then left them at a different anchorage than normal. The crew assumed they were safely back in international waters and went back on air, but they were mistaken. The ship was raided by British police and four people, the Captain, engineer Peter Chicago, and two DJ's Simon Barrett and Michael Lloyd, were taken ashore and subsequently charged and fined.
While the authorities were now starting to get serious about this pirate, at least the RAF were easier-going. They enjoyed 'buzzing' the ship at extremely close range, especially when someone was already scared stiff while at the top of the mast carrying out repairs. Their rescue helicopter was called out on several occasions. One was when engineer Peter Chicago went fishing in a dingy, but couldn't get back when its engine failed. Caroline called the Coastguard to report "someone in a rubber dingy" and the RAF helicopter came out and hoisted him up. When they asked, he had to tell them he'd come from the Mi Amigo. Instead of taking him to land (and probable arrest) they kindly dropped him back on the ship! It made their paperwork easier�
Actions against anyone assisting Caroline escalated. In 1976 an ordinary Radio Caroline fan, John Jackson-Hunter, was prosecuted and imprisoned for 60 days for displaying a Radio Caroline sticker in his car. In Liverpool three men were given suspended sentences of 90 days in prison plus $750 costs each, also for displaying Caroline car stickers.
This editorial assistant, Dave Reid, went on an organized boat trip from the small harbour of Brightlingsea to visit Mi Amigo in August 1976. We circled the ship a few times, and pitched up and down alongside for a while.
As we returned to Brightlingsea, we were intercepted by the Essex police launch "Watchful" that came alongside and boarded us. They turned out to be officials from the Government's Home Office. They had presumably been tipped off about our trip and set about interviewing each of us regarding our actions that day. They seemed to take particular interest in one young chap, and then in the trip organizer, David Hutson, who admitted throwing over a few pop record play requests and letters onto the Mi Amigo.
With hindsight, we decided that the first young man must have been a Home Office "plant" who infiltrated our trip to witness any illegal goings-on. Full facts came to light later. Gary Skull was a detective constable from the Police Headquarters Drugs Intelligence Section. He pretended to be an 'anorak' (affectionate term for a visiting pirate radio fan, from the weatherproof jackets they always wore) and got on the trip list, and talked with everyone on the boat telling them he was a free radio fan with the name 'Simon Martin'.
He had witnessed the trip organizer, Dave Hutson, handing over newspapers and mail to the guys on Mi Amigo. Skull also stated Hutson was wearing a Caroline badge, which was promoting the station, forbidden by the 1967 Marine Offences Act.
Hutson, 27, appeared at Southend on Sea Magistrates court in January 1977 - after which peaceful protests were made outside by Free Radio supporters (including this assistant!) with banners - alongside ex-commando Arthur Ord, 68, tender boat owner. Ord had a former conviction for taking a passenger off the radio ship.
Miss Jeraine Roberts, for the prosecution, told the court that following an advertisement for boat trips to view the MV Mi Amigo, Gary Skull posed as a passenger aboard Ord's boat. She said each of the 12 passengers bought a 15p Radio Caroline badge, offered by Hutson. Alongside the Mi Amigo, Hutson threw passenger's requests for records on board, plus newspapers and letters.
Neither Hutson nor Ord could afford a lawyer. Both pleaded 'guilty' to the charges, contravening sections of the Marine Offences Act. Each was fined 125 Pounds with 20 Pounds costs. "The fines were met with gasps and groans from the public gallery, where Free Radio Supporters had gathered" a newspaper reported. Hutson said afterwards "You can do burglary and get less. I don't see what we have done wrong".
In January 1979, the old ship sprang a leak and a lifeboat was called to rescue the crew. Caroline returned to the air in April. The first record played was Fool (If You Think It's Over), by Chris Rea, dedicated to the British Home Office.
Dave Reid's Mi Amigo Trip 2 - May 1979
A group of us left Brightlingsea harbour in Essex in a small motor launch in May 1979 to reach the MV Mi Amigo moored in international waters near the Thames Estuary. Playing it cool during the voyage, lest there be a spy in our midst (having happened before), organizers Georgina and Albert Hood kept their cards close to their chests until they got to know their passengers better� only when we arrived, and the sea conditions allowed, did they reveal that we'd actually be able to board the ship, outlawed by the British Government's Marine Offences Act of 1967.
I took photos of all areas, including the messy accommodation (but then you have to consider these guys were a 'band on the run'), the galley (with new supplies� where did they come from?) and, the emergency chain and anchor on its slipway on one side of the ship.
In theory the ship had engines, but in practice it was many years since they had worked or known to have worked. The chances are that they couldn't have been relied upon in an emergency. They also had a spare generator fixed on the open deck, to back up the main generators down in the hold along with the transmitters. Keeping the station on the air was important, to earn the advertisers' money, which kept the whole project going. Just.
We all returned to shore well satisfied. It's been alleged that exchanges of crew
We all returned to shore well satisfied. It�s been alleged that exchanges of crew personnel sometimes took place amidst these harmless enthusiasts' pilgrimages� Of course I couldn't possibly comment� To assist an unauthorized radio station in any way, would have been against the Law, after all.
Dave Reid's Mi Amigo Trip 3 - June1979
I went on another Caroline visit from Brightlingsea with a fresh set of fans, but this time the elements were not so kind, and the seas became just too rough to come alongside Mi Amigo. We had a few titbits, things that we wanted to donate before leaving�. We tried to toss a few across the gap, loaves of bread, cans of beans, until a wiser person suggested we stop before breaking a window, or cause bodily injury. In the end we had to sail home before the weather became any worse. It had been nice to meet the Mi Amigo again. I wasn't to know that it would be for the last time ever�.
The 59-year-old MV Mi Amigo's incredible luck finally ran out on 19th March 1980. The anchor chain broke in a force 10 storm, and the ship drifted ten miles onto another sandbank. That action didn't initially cause the sinking. The ship had been at sea constantly without any dry-dock repairs or serious hull maintenance for many years, and the hull thickness had rusted down to only a few sixteenths of an inch in places. The constant storm-lashing rocked the ship back and forth on the sandbank, finally breaking through the lower hull, causing terminal leaks.
The crew - consisting only of 4 DJs and one canary (named Wilson after former Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson) - were taken off the ship by lifeboat from Sheerness in Kent. They were probably unable to apply the usual repair method, of pouring concrete into the lower hold leak, as it was likely to be behind the existing concrete poured there years before as ballast to improve rough-weather stability.
The Mi Amigo sank in only 8-16 feet of water. Its contents were never recovered, including an invaluable and unique vinyl record collection. The 160-foot square-cross-section steel lattice transmitter mast fell down 6 years later. Records have since been reportedly washed up on Essex beaches.
Radio Caroline was gone.
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In February 2007 which Welsh town was twinned with Timbuktu in Africa? | About
About
opzini binarie siti truffa How did a small town in the Welsh borders come to be twinned with an ancient seat of learning on the edge of the Sahara?
In 2007, Timbuktu began the search for a UK community with which to establish a partnership. Hay eventually beat off competition from around the UK to be chosen as Timbuktu’s twin, recognising a shared love of the written word and the special resonance between the two communities. Hay2Timbuktu (H2T) was officially formed, with a vision to:
“gather the people of Timbuktu and Hay-on-Wye to share, exchange and celebrate our unique character, resourcefulness and goodwill to the mutual benefit and enrichment of our two communities”
Understanding and respecting difference is an underpinning principle of Hay2Timbuktu. Our link with “The South”, with a city in one of the poorest nations in the world, will bring a global dimension to ourlives here in Wales.
Hay2Timbuktu is founded on the firm belief that we must reach out to Africa in order to strengthen our own community and to help safeguard the often fragile way of life of our partners in The South. This is very much a two-way process, and we have much to learn from one another. But we believe that through goodwill, sustained commitment and genuine friendship our two communities will prosper together.
http://swazilandforum.com/?n=opzioni-binarie-di-tutti-i-titoli-del-ftsemib opzioni binarie di tutti i titoli del ftsemib
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Who plays George Carter in the 2012 film ‘The Sweeney’? | BBC News - Hay-on-Wye wins UN award for Timbuktu health work link
Hay-on-Wye wins UN award for Timbuktu health work link
Timbuktu is one of the poorest cities in Mali
A town famed for its literary festival has won a United Nations-endorsed award for its work with pregnant women in the African city of Timbuktu.
Hay-on-Wye in Powys was twinned with the city in Mali in 2007.
Hay2Timbuktu was set up to help people in the country and with just £4,500 1,000 women have received free antenatal advice and drugs.
Staff at a GPs' surgery in Hay are now raising money to buy a motorcycle for a midwife in Timbuktu.
Medics4Timbuktu, a sub group of Hay2Timbuktu, said the Powys town had won two UN gold star communities awards in the categories of health and livelihoods.
The group funded free antenatal classes and drugs for women at a Timbuktu health clinic after raising money.
'Spin off'
Families in Mali have to pay for healthcare and as a result few pregnant women use the city's clinics, said Dr Julie Grigg, who is a GP in Hay and part of Medics4Timbuktu.
Dr Grigg added: "The health group has had some really impressive results improving access to antenatal care - from 300 to 1000 in one year - and as a spin off a big increase in the number of women giving birth with a qualified birth attendant.
"This should hopefully lead to a reduction in the death rate for mums in Timbuktu.
"We also gave away free iron and folic acid supplements and provided people with health education about HIV and Aids, the importance of washing your hands before eating and other basic hygiene issues."
The project has also been featured on a radio programme in Timbuktu.
Motorcycle
"No-one has televisions in Mali, but everybody listens to the radio, so we were able to get our message across in a programme," added Dr Grigg.
Staff at her surgery are now busy raising money for a motorcycle for a midwife.
"In Mali, a woman cannot leave the house for 40 days after giving birth. It's a cultural issue," said Dr Grigg.
"By buying a motorcycle a midwife will be able to visit mothers at home."
The Wales Council for Voluntary Action, which co-ordinates the gold star awards, confirmed Hay had been successful.
The awards will be presented to Hay2Timbuktu, and to other groups from Wales working overseas, at a ceremony in Cardiff on St David's Day.
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