The Happy Wanderer

"The Happy Wanderer" is the 19th episode of HBO's The Sopranos, airing on February 20, 2000, as the sixth installment of the second season. Frank Renzulli wrote the episode, John Patterson directed it, and the main cast includes James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Dominic Chianese, Vincent Pastore, Steven Van Zandt, Tony Sirico, Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Drea de Matteo, David Proval, Aida Turturro, and Nancy Marchand, with John Ventimiglia guest starring.

In the episode, Tony Soprano tells Dr. Melfi he feels angry at everyone without understanding why, even wanting to hit her and the cheerful strangers he sees. Uncle Junior reveals that Tony’s father had a deceased brother named Ercole, whom Junior describes as "slow," and that Tony’s father left a package of money to Livia. Tony feels uneasy seeing Livia at a funeral and later at Meadow’s high school cabaret night.

Tony’s former classmate Davey Scatino, who runs a sporting goods store, has a son Eric who is Meadow’s classmate and her duet partner for the cabaret. Davey, a compulsive gambler, repeatedly asks Tony to include him in gambling, but Tony refuses, aware of Davey’s addiction. Davey owes Richie Aprile $8,000 and is barred from Richie’s poker game until he pays. Knowing Tony now runs the high-stakes "Executive Game" previously held by Junior, Davey shows up uninvited and asks to join. Tony agrees and lends him $5,000. Davey initially wins, and the game continues through the night while Tony sleeps.

When Tony wakes, Christopher tells him Davey is down $45,000 after talking his way into more loans. Richie enters, sees Davey playing, and attacks him, breaking up the game. Tony tells Richie he cannot collect his debt from Davey until Tony collects his own. Janice encourages Richie to stand up to Tony. Davey tries to appeal to Tony as a friend, but Tony dismisses him. After Davey misses the first payment deadline, Tony goes to his office at the store and beats him. Davey then takes his son Eric’s SUV under a pretext and gives it to Tony as partial payment. Tony gives the SUV to Meadow, but she recognizes it as Eric’s and tearfully refuses it. At the cabaret, Eric backs out of the duet at the last minute, leaving Meadow to perform a solo, which she had wanted.

First appearances include Vito Spatafore, Richie’s nephew and crew member; David Scatino, Tony’s childhood friend and compulsive gambler; and Dr. Ira Fried, a player in the Executive Game who treats erectile dysfunction and performs emergency surgeries for mob injuries. Tom Giglione, Sr., Tony’s brother-in-law’s father, dies after falling off a roof. The title refers to a "happy wanderer," a carefree person Tony despises.

Joseph R. Gannascoli appears as Vito for the first time, though he had a brief uncredited role as a bakery customer in the first season episode "The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti"; he wouldn’t be a main cast member until Season 6. Tony Sirico’s real-life older brother Carmine plays the nameless dealer in Richie’s small-stakes poker game, with his few lines spoken off camera.

Cultural references include Junior comparing Ercole to Hercules and George Raft; Silvio, agitated during a losing poker night, yells about Matt Bevilaqua sweeping crumbs and references the TV show Hazel; when Eric drops out of the duet, Meadow sings "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic, and Paulie jokes about Viagra raising the real Titanic. Tony mentions Gary Cooper to Dr. Melfi, and Melfi quotes Carlos Castaneda, whom Tony mistakes for a prizefighter.

Music includes Schubert’s "Gretchen am Spinnrade" sung by Gudren; a Muzak version of "Spinning Wheel" by Blood, Sweat & Tears; "Down" by Stone Temple Pilots; "Sun and Moon" from Miss Saigon; "Love Is Strange" by Mickey & Sylvia; "Tequila Sunrise" by Eagles; and a closing-credits version of "The Happy Wanderer" by Frankie Yankovic. Filming locations include Clifton High School, Washington Middle School, Ramsey Outdoor in Paramus, and sites in Newark, Wayne, Fair Lawn, North Caldwell, Belleville, and Long Island City. James Gandolfini won his first Primetime Emmy for this episode.