Tony's last supper-all but eclipsed the other great conclusionįrom earlier in the season. Were gathering in a Bloomfield diner for what may or may not have been Plug on his creation by cutting abruptly to black just as the Sopranos The outrage evoked by the ambiguity of Chase's choice of anĮnding to the series-in a now-famous maneuver, the creator pulled the She implores Phil to punish the "gay in our family,"ĭeclaiming from her bathroom sink, that "Vito has to be made toįace his problems squarely." Only on The Sopranos does pillow-talk The New York family, Patty Leotardo, who calls for Vito's head when The central conceit of the series: family can be fatal, and within thisĬrime/family overlap, it's actually the wife of the acting boss of Who are just as ruthless as their "made" men. Vito for disgracing the family name, and the scheming sisters and wives, The gangster gushes: "I love you, Johnny Cakes." Like ourĪnti-hero Tony Soprano, Vito faces two forms of family that are equallyįerocious: the thugs that comprise the Di Meo crime family, angry with Preparing a home-cooked meal of pork chops and vinegar peppers for Jim, "I gotta have some of those Johnny Cakes!" he exclaims,īellying up to the counter for another short stack. Staying longer than originally planned after tasting those Johnny Cakes. "Vincent" (a sportswriter from Scottsdale), but winds up Vito flees to New Hampshire, checks into a B&B as Tony isn't laughing, however, when one of his "topĮarners" jumps ship after being spotted inside a gay bar in Pop-culture you're after, The Sopranos had it all. Our noses in it." If it's self-referential, postmodern
Later, he tells his psychiatrist that today's TV shows "rub System." Tony echoes his wife's sentiment when, two seasons "gay stuff" is pervading not just TV but "our educational "ship's florist" while an irate Carmela cries that this Memorable complaint that "It's over for the little guy,"Īs in "There goes the neighborhood." In season 4, Tony andĬarmela Soprano are shocked to learn that Anthony Jr.'s high schoolĮnglish teacher is teaching Melville's Billy Budd as a "gayīook" Tony jokes that Billy Budd must have been the
For example, a failed attempt by Tony'sĪccountant, Patsy Parisi, to shake down a local Starbucks produces his Sold separately.) The Vito-Johnny Cakes affair was, however, just theĬulmination of creator David Chase's exploration of the darklyĬomic collision between old-world, Italian family values and new-world, (Given the $200 price tag, though, a moreįrugal alternative might be to purchase the final season alone, still
Sadly, Costelloe's death coincides with the release of TheĬomplete Sopranos (from HBO Video), a 33-disc box-set that spans all six The only male extramarital lover (or goomah) kept on the side by one of
His other contribution to the series is that Johnny Cakes will remain Seldom seen within the cruel and criminal vortex that is The Sopranos. In exchange afterĮxchange with Gannascoli, Costelloe brought a warmth and sincerity Jim's heroic deeds as a volunteer fireman. In a remarkable case ofĪrt imitating life, in the 2006 episode entitled "JohnnyĬakes," Vito falls not only for the pancakes that make Jim a localįavorite-"fucking delicious," sighs Vito-but also for Gannascoli told The New York Post (12/25/08). "I enjoyed all the time I ever spent with him," Vito Spatafore with whom Costelloe shared a number of love scenes) were At the funeral mass on ChristmasĮve, costars Steve Buscemi and Joe Gannascoli (who played the lovable The 47-year-oldĪctor and former New York City firefighter shot himself late last year Gay-positive, and perhaps most crucial, story line. TV series (1999-2007) lost an important player in the show's most "Johnny Cakes" Witowski on The Sopranos, fans of the landmark
WITH THE DEATH of John Costelloe, the actor who played Jim APA style: Remembering 'Johnny Cakes' of the Sopranos.Remembering 'Johnny Cakes' of the Sopranos." Retrieved from
MLA style: "Remembering 'Johnny Cakes' of the Sopranos." The Free Library.