Two Tonys - Production

Production

• The new addition to the series writing staff begining with season 5, Matthew Weiner, plays the Mafia expert on the news broadcast who introduces the new gangster characters. Previously, series writers Terence Winter and David Chase also had their cameo appearances on the show, as Dr. Melfi's patient and a man in Italy, respectively.
• Steve Buscemi joins the main cast as Tony Blundetto and is now billed in the opening credits although he doesn't appear in this episode other than in the form of photographs during the "Class of '04" news report. Buscemi previously directed two Sopranos episodes - "Pine Barrens" in season 3 and "Everybody Hurts" in season 4 - and he continues to direct for the show alongside acting.
• Jamie-Lynn Sigler is billed as "Jamie-Lynn DiScala" during this season, due to her marriage.
• The character of Sophia Baccalieri in now played by a new actress, Miryam Coppersmith, who replaced Lexie Sperduto from season 4.
• Toni Kalem, who plays Angie Bonpensiero on the series, becomes a story editor for the show starting with this episode. She will also write an episode, "All Happy Families...."
• This episode is the first season opener wherein Tony is not featured picking up The Star-Ledger at the foot of his driveway. Instead, Meadow runs over the newspaper with her car.
• The preface to an April 10, 2002 Star-Ledger article titled "Jersey mob soon to get infusion of old blood: Lawmen are wary as jail terms end" reads: "(EDITOR'S NOTE: Sopranos' creator David Chase revealed that the story arc of Season 5 was inspired by a Star-Ledger article on the RICO trials of the '80s. We've combed our archives and believe this may be the article he was referring to.)