The Sopranos season 1
A critically acclaimed debut season of a crime drama series.
The first season of the crime drama *The Sopranos* premiered on HBO between January and April 1999. It centers on Tony Soprano, a capo in the DiMeo crime family, who begins seeing therapist Dr. Jennifer Melfi after experiencing a panic attack. The season explores his fraught relationships with his mother, Livia, and his uncle, Corrado "Junior" Soprano, who enters a power struggle with Tony following the death of crime boss Jackie Aprile. Tony's daughter, Meadow, starts to realize what her father does for a living as she prepares for college, while his nephew, Christopher Moltisanti, works on a screenplay about his criminal life and waits to become a made man. Junior's scheming also pulls Tony into a plot against his childhood friend, restaurateur Artie Bucco.
The season won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama and the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for the episode "College." James Gandolfini and Edie Falco each won Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards for their performances. The main cast includes Gandolfini as Tony, Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Melfi, Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano, Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti, Dominic Chianese as Junior Soprano, Vincent Pastore as "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero, Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante, Tony Sirico as Paulie Walnuts, Robert Iler as A.J. Soprano, Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano, and Nancy Marchand as Livia Soprano. The season was released on VHS and DVD in North America in December 2000, and on Blu-ray in November 2009. Critics widely praised it, with a Metacritic score of 88 out of 100 and a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviewers highlighted the show's blend of comedy and drama, its detailed character work, and Gandolfini's performance.
Quick Facts
- Season Number
- 1
- Starring
- James Gandolfini / Lorraine Bracco / Edie Falco / Michael Imperioli / Dominic Chianese / Vincent Pastore / Steven Van Zandt / Tony Sirico / Robert Iler / Jamie-Lynn Sigler / Nancy Marchand
- Num Episodes
- 13
- Network
- HBO
- First Aired
- 1999-01-10
- Last Aired
- 1999-04-04
- Episode List
- List of The Sopranos episodes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The season follows Tony Soprano, a capo in the DiMeo crime family, as he navigates his criminal life and family relationships. His daughter Meadow becomes aware of her father's true profession while preparing for college, and his nephew Christopher attempts to write a screenplay about his criminal life while awaiting becoming a made man. Due to Junior's plotting of an assassination, Tony becomes embroiled in a plot against childhood friend Artie Bucco, a restaurateur.
The season was released on VHS and DVD in North America on December 12, 2000, and on Blu-ray on November 24, 2009. The main cast includes James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi, Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano, Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti, Dominic Chianese as Junior Soprano, Vincent Pastore as Big Pussy Bonpensiero, Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante, Tony Sirico as Paulie Walnuts Gualtieri, Robert Iler as A.J. Soprano Jr., Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano, and Nancy Marchand as Livia Soprano.
Reader's Guide
The first season of The Sopranos established a new benchmark for television drama, receiving wide acclaim with a Metacritic score of 88 out of 100 and a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised its detailed character work, riveting suspense, and blend of comedy and drama. James Gandolfini's performance as Tony Soprano was widely hailed, with Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker praising his 'magnificently shrewd, wary performance.' The season won the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for the episode 'College.' James Gandolfini and Edie Falco received numerous accolades, including winning both Golden Globe Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards. The season's exploration of family, mortality, and ambition, as noted by the Deseret News, resonated with audiences and critics alike, cementing its legacy as a landmark in serialized storytelling.
Did You Know?
- The first season aired on HBO from January 10 to April 4, 1999.
- James Gandolfini and Edie Falco both won Golden Globe Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards for their performances.
More in Characters & Personalities
Elsewhere in The Sopranos
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