6 Behind-the-Scenes ‘Sopranos’ Facts That May Surprise You

The HBO series debuted on January 10, 1999 The Sopranos has gained a cult following over the years. From James Gandolfini’s portrayal of Tony Soprano to the sayings and phrases we can’t help but incorporate into our everyday language (“If you want respect, give respect.”), the New Jersey crime drama seems to gain a new generation of fans every year.

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On September 7, Smart Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos premieres on HBO and streams on Max. The two-part documentary tells the story of the visionary behind the show and how the series came to be.

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Check out six fun facts about it here The Sopranos that you may not have been aware of.

1. Much of the series is inspired by the life of creator David Chase.

“For years everyone has been telling me “You should write a show about your mother and yourself — she was so candid,” Chase said in the trailer for Smart Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos. Additionally, Dr. Melfi’s character was based on Chase’s real-life therapist. He even revealed to Rolling Stone That she wrote him an overview of the family after the series had run for a few seasons, with many of the characters eventually behaving as she had predicted.

2. The real Sopranos house is located in North Caldwell, New Jersey — and a few other locations in the series are actual NJ landmarks.

That’s right, folks! The exterior shots of the Soprano mansion for the hit show are of a real house in northern New Jersey. People from all over the country have made the pilgrimage to take a photo outside the famous abode, and to this day, there’s a good chance you’ll see a car drive by. In 2019, the home was listed for sale for $3.4 million.

There are several other locations throughout New Jersey that have become part of the show’s history. For example, the exterior shots of Bada Bing, the strip club where Tony and his crew do much of their business, are actually Lodi, New Jersey’s Satin Dolls.

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3. Lorraine Bracco almost played a different character.

Although he was initially considered for the role of Carmela, Bracco revealed to Vanity Fair in 2012 that after her role in Good guys (1990), she wanted something other than a “Mafia girl, girl, woman, mistress, daughteras she was constantly told.

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4. The booth that Tony sits in in the final scene of the series was recently auctioned.

The stand in the Bloomfield, New Jersey ice cream parlor where Tony Soprano may or may not have met his end recently sold at auction for more than $82,000. Proceeds will go toward renovating the business.

5. Adriana’s interpreter started with a different role.

We love her for her iconic style and personality, and many of us still mourn her tragic fate, but Drea de Matteo almost didn’t bring the character of Adriana La Cerva to life. Instead, she had a small role as a hostess in the first episode. Fortunately, things worked out the way they did, and the rest is history.

6. It was the first drama series to specifically win an Emmy.

After being nominated a total of five times, The Sopranos won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series in 2004, becoming the first cable series to win the award.

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