“13,000 people showed up… All Italians”: James Gandolfini’s The Sopranos was such a huge success that police had to intervene

Starring James Gandolfini, The Sopranos is one of the most iconic TV series. Following the life of an Italian-American mob boss balancing his criminal empire and family problems, the series captivated millions and became a cultural phenomenon.

Tony Soprano | Credit: HBO

One memorable moment was when the show’s popularity was so overwhelming that an open casting call drew a crowd of 13,000, with police having to intervene due to the huge crowd.

David Chase recalls the overwhelming response to The Sopranos’ open casting call

As The Sopranos celebrates its 25th anniversary, David Chase shares new insights into the show’s origins in Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos, telling intriguing stories about the show and its impact.

The Sopranos | Credit: HBO

The series creator reflected on such an incident in his interview with Empire, in which he discussed the series’ impact on the Italian-American community…