The Mob loves it.
Today's New York Post and New York Daily News report that members of a New Jersey organized crime family have been caught on tape discussing the show--and wondering aloud if they inspired the series.
"What characters. Great acting," reputed DeCavalcante family capo Anthony Rotundo gushed to alleged mob goon Joseph "Tin Ear" Sclafani on a tape recorded March 3 by the FBI.
The mobsters also think they're the inspiration for the series.
"Every show you watch, more and more you pick up somebody," Rotundo said, comparing characters to real-life people. "One week it was Corky. One week it was, well from the beginning it was Albert G."
Both Rotundo and Sclafani, along with several others, were recorded for several months by an undercover snitch. The recordings helped put away 41 alleged mobsters, including would-be TV critics Rotundo and Sclafani.
The Sopranos-related excerpts aren't exactly incriminating. Just funny:
Joseph Sclafani: Hey, what's this fucking thing Sopranos? What the fuck are they?
FBI Snitch: You ever watch it?
Sclafani: Is that supposed to be us?
Anthony Rotondo: You're in there. They mentioned your name in there.
Billy (last name unknown): "Watch out for that guy," they said. "Watch out for that guy."
Rotondo: Every show you watch...more and more you pick up on somebody. Every show.
Sclafani: Yeah, but where do they get this information from?
(Later in the conversation)
Billy: I'm telling you. You gotta watch.
Sclafani: So what they say?
Rotondo: Aren't they funny? I'm telling ya.
The real-life mobsters may be on to something. The HBO show, about a capo (James Gandolfini) caught between his mob family and his blood family, became a critical and cult hit upon its debut last January. The Gandolfini character, Anthony Soprano, is a middle-aged, overweight guy from New Jersey who hangs out in topless bars and claims to be in the construction business.
The real-life mobsters caught on the feds' tapes are middle-aged, overweight guys from New Jersey who hang out in an Italian restaurant and claim to work in construction.
Coincidence?
Only HBO knows for sure. And they're not talking.