Production
- This is the first of only two episodes directed by series creator, David Chase. The other is the series finale, "Made in America". Although this episode is titled "The Sopranos" on the DVD release and reruns on A&E, it was referred to as "Pilot" when originally aired. Pre-production commenced in the summer of 1997, 1½ years before the series debuted on TV. During this year break, James Gandolfini gained 60 pounds for the role of Tony and underwent voice coaching.
- Siberia Federico and Michael Santoro play Irina and Father Phil respectively. For future episodes, these roles were recast with Oksana Babiy and Paul Schulze.
- The pork store used as a meeting place is Centanni's Meat Market, a real butcher shop in Elizabeth, New Jersey. However, because the shop had a steady business and because local business owners were annoyed with the incidental effects of having a television production being shot on a weekly basis, HBO acquired an abandoned location in Kearny, New Jersey which became Satriale's Pork Store for use in future episodes.
- While touring Green Grove, the theme to The Rockford Files can be heard coming from the television. David Chase was a writer/producer for The Rockford Files for many years.
Read more about this topic: The Sopranos (episode)
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“... if the production of any commodity necessitates the sacrifice of human life, society should do without that commodity, but it can not do without that life.”
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