The Sopranos (season 3)
From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
| 250px
Region 1 DVD cover art
|
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Release | |
| Original network | HBO |
| Original release | March 4, 2001 – May 20, 2001 |
The third season of the HBO drama series The Sopranos began airing on March 4, 2001 and concluded on May 20, 2001, consisting of thirteen episodes. The third season was released on DVD in region 1 on August 27, 2002.[1]
The story of season three focuses on the relationship between Tony and his children — Meadow, as she begins her first year at Columbia University, and Anthony Jr., who is having behavioral troubles in high school. Tony's relationship with his aging mother, Livia, is brought to a head. Dr. Melfi experiences a horrifying personal trauma, but begins to make real progress in discovering the root causes of Tony's panic attacks. Also featured heavily are Christopher's rise in the mob when he becomes a made man, and Tony's extramarital affair with another one of Dr. Melfi's patients, Gloria.
Contents
Cast
- James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano (13 episodes)
- Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi (12 episodes)
- Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano (13 episodes)
- Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti (13 episodes)
- Dominic Chianese as Corrado "Junior" Soprano, Jr. (8 episodes)
- Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante (12 episodes)
- Tony Sirico as Paul "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri (12 episodes)
- Robert Iler as Anthony Soprano, Jr. (11 episodes)
- Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano (13 episodes)
- Nancy Marchand as Livia Soprano (1 episode; archive footage through digital effects)
- Drea de Matteo as Adriana La Cerva (9 episodes)
- Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano (8 episodes)
- Steve Schirripa as Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri (8 episodes)
- Federico Castelluccio as Furio Giunta (10 episodes)
- John Ventimiglia as Artie Bucco (7 episodes)
- Joe Pantoliano as Ralph Cifaretto (9 episodes)
- Robert Funaro as Eugene Pontecorvo (7 episodes)
- Kathrine Narducci as Charmaine Bucco (4 episodes)
Episodes
| No. overall |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 1 | "Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood" | Allen Coulter | David Chase | March 4, 2001 | 11.26[2] |
| Meadow enters college at Columbia University, A.J. continues to ignore authority, and Carmela starts taking tennis lessons. The FBI puts the Soprano residence under surveillance, but their plans are complicated when the house's plumbing ruptures. Patsy Parisi has revenge in mind over the death of his brother. | ||||||
| 28 | 2 | "Proshai, Livushka" | Tim Van Patten | David Chase | March 4, 2001 | 11.35[2] |
| Tony has an anxiety attack when he finds out that Meadow's new boyfriend, Noah Tannenbaum, is a Jewish African-American. The FBI wants Livia to testify against her son, but she dies before she can. Janice returns from Seattle to plan the funeral, and claim her inheritance. | ||||||
| 29 | 3 | "Fortunate Son" | Henry J. Bronchtein | Todd A. Kessler | March 11, 2001 | 8.37[3] |
| Tony makes a major breakthrough with Dr. Melfi in attempting to ascertain the trigger of his anxiety attacks. Christopher becomes a made man, though he bungles his first assignment. A.J. excels on his freshman football team, but unexpectedly passes out at practice after becoming defensive captain. | ||||||
| 30 | 4 | "Employee of the Month" | John Patterson | Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess | March 18, 2001 | 7.96[4] |
| Against Tony's orders, Ralph Cifaretto starts to introduce Jackie Aprile, Jr. to members of the family business. After being brutally attacked, Dr. Melfi contemplates asking Tony for a favor. | ||||||
| 31 | 5 | "Another Toothpick" | Jack Bender | Terence Winter | March 25, 2001 | 7.40[5] |
| Tony and Carmela's session with Dr. Melfi goes sour. Bobby Bacala, Sr. comes out of retirement to exact revenge on "Mustang Sally". Uncle Junior shares his cancer diagnosis with Tony. Meadow's relationship with her father has yet to improve, though she unknowingly does him a grand favor. | ||||||
| 32 | 6 | "University" | Allen Coulter | Story by: David Chase & Terence Winter & Todd A. Kessler and Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess Teleplay by: Terence Winter and Salvatore J. Stabile |
April 1, 2001 | 8.44[6] |
| A Bada Bing dancer involved with Ralph unexpectedly reaches out to Tony. Meadow's social life at college takes a sudden turn for the worse. Ralph's relationship with the Bada Bing dancer develops into a bad situation, and Tony interjects in a nonverbal manner. | ||||||
| 33 | 7 | "Second Opinion" | Tim Van Patten | Lawrence Konner | April 8, 2001 | 9.21[7] |
| Uncle Junior survives surgery to remove his stomach cancer. The ongoing borrowing of money from Tony by Pussy's wife (widow, though unbeknownst to her) begins to run Tony's patience thin. Carmela considers making a large donation to Columbia University. Carmela receives some startling advice from a recommended colleague of Dr. Melfi. Tony becomes concerned with the quality of Junior's cancer treatment. | ||||||
| 34 | 8 | "He Is Risen" | Allen Coulter | Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess and Todd A. Kessler | April 15, 2001 | 8.60[8] |
| Though Ralph feels that he is owed an apology, Tony instead bans him from Bada Bing. Meadow begins a serious relationship with Jackie Jr. Tony considers buying a new car. After another major disrespect, Tony disinvites Ralph, and Rosalie Aprile, to their Thanksgiving dinner. | ||||||
| 35 | 9 | "The Telltale Moozadell" | Dan Attias | Michael Imperioli | April 22, 2001 | 8.64[9] |
| Though Tony and Rosalie are delighted, Carmela harbors reservations over the developing relationship between Meadow and Jackie Jr. Tony's latest extramarital relationship heats up. On Carmela's birthday, A.J. and friends vandalize school property, after which he is placed on probation. Christopher assumes ownership of a nightclub and makes a gift of the establishment to Adriana. | ||||||
| 36 | 10 | "...To Save Us All from Satan's Power" | Jack Bender | Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess | April 29, 2001 | 8.44[10] |
| As Christmas looms near, Janice offers to cook the dinner. Tony comes across an old Santa Claus costume, prompting him to reminisce about Christmas 1995. Bobby Bacala is enlisted to play Santa Claus at Satriale's annual party. Jackie Jr. starts to walk down the wrong path, and Tony tries to set him straight. | ||||||
| 37 | 11 | "Pine Barrens" | Steve Buscemi | Story by: Tim Van Patten & Terence Winter Teleplay by: Terence Winter |
May 6, 2001 | 8.79[11] |
| A standard collection goes horribly awry for Paulie and Christopher as they end up lost in the snowy Pine Barrens of South New Jersey. Tony's relationship with Gloria starts to go south, as does that of Meadow and Jackie Jr. | ||||||
| 38 | 12 | "Amour Fou" | Tim Van Patten | Story by: David Chase Teleplay by: Frank Renzulli |
May 13, 2001 | 5.81[12][lower-alpha 1] |
| Tony asks for advice on his relationship with Gloria from Dr. Melfi. Carmela and Gloria cross paths. With Meadow a thing of the past, Jackie Jr. and friends decide to take an ill-fated shot at earning some respect. | ||||||
| 39 | 13 | "Army of One" | John Patterson | David Chase & Lawrence Konner | May 20, 2001 | 9.46[13] |
| Tony gives Ralph the responsibility of deciding the fate of Jackie Jr. A.J. is expelled, and his parents disagree over whether or not to send him to military school. Before he can be sent anywhere, it is discovered that A.J. inherited a distinctive trait from his father. Adriana makes a new friend with a hidden agenda. | ||||||
- Notes
- ↑ Denotes individual program numbers were not available so household viewers are listed instead.
Reception
Reviews
The third season of The Sopranos received widespread critical acclaim, garnering a score of 97 out of 100 on Metacritic.[14] Caryn James of The New York Times cited the show as a pop-culture phenomenon and stated, "Even measured against insanely high expectations, the series is as good as it has ever been."[15] The Los Angeles Times lauded the series as the "elitist of the elite," adding: "...The Sopranos resurfaces once more as a superbly written and executed hybrid of popular entertainment and high art, offering up its own Golden Age of TV."[16] Detroit Free Press commended the series creator, David Chase, and singled out the show's writing and acting for praise: "The Sopranos, even as series creator David Chase changes pace this season from power struggles to family matters, is still as good as television gets: wonderfully written, superbly acted, always unpredictable."[14]
Awards and nominations
- Nomination for Outstanding Drama Series
- Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (James Gandolfini) (Episode: "Amour Fou")
- Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Lorraine Bracco) (Episode: "Employee of the Month")
- Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Edie Falco) (Episode: "Second Opinion")
- Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Dominic Chianese) (Episodes: "Another Toothpick" + "Second Opinion")
- Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Michael Imperioli) (Episodes: "Fortunate Son" + "Pine Barrens")
- Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Aida Turturro) (Episodes: "Proshai, Livushka" + "Employee of the Month")
- Nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (Annabella Sciorra) (Episode: "Amour Fou")
- Nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Steve Buscemi) (Episode: "Pine Barrens")
- Nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Allen Coulter) (Episode: "University")
- Nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Timothy Van Patten) (Episode: "Amour Fou")
- Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess) (Episode: "Employee of the Month")
- Nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (Lawrence Konner) (Episode: "Second Opinion")
- Nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (Frank Renzulli, David Chase) (Episode: "Amour Fou")
- Nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (Terrence Winter, Timothy Van Patten) (Episode: "Pine Barrens")
8th Screen Actors Guild Awards
- Nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (Entire Cast)
- Nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (James Gandolfini)
- Nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (Lorraine Bracco)
- Nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (Edie Falco)
- Nomination for Best Drama Series
- Nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series (James Gandolfini)
- Nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series (Lorraine Bracco)
- Nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series (Edie Falco)
- Nomination for Best Drama Series
- Nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series (James Gandolfini)
- Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series (Edie Falco)
Writers Guild of America Awards 2001
- Nomination for Best Drama Episode (David Chase) (Episode: "Proshai, Livushka")
- Nomination for Best Drama Episode (Mitchell Burgess, Robin Green) (Episode: "Employee of the Month")
- Award for Best Drama Episode (Timothy Van Patten, Terrence Winter) (Episode: "Pine Barrens")
Directors Guild of America Awards
- Nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Steve Buscemi) (Episode: "Pine Barrens")
- Award for Program of the Year
- Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama (Tied with The West Wing)
- Nomination for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Drama (Edie Falco)
- Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Drama (James Gandolfini)
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
