The final episode of “The Sopranos” airs a week from Sunday on HBO, and smart Publicity Hounds aren’t wasting time wondering if Tony Soprano will flip—or get whacked.
Instead, they’re figuring out ways to generate publicity by piggybacking onto this story.
The Washington Post called the show, wrapping up its sixth season, “the television landmark that leaves other landmarks in the dust.” So expect significant coverage in the next nine days.
Here are some ways to get in on the action:
—Major Italian-American organizations have universally condemned the show for its racism, violence and misogyny. In 2001, a New Jersey congresswoman, backed by 16 colleagues, proposed that the House chastise producers of shows like “The Sopranos” for depicting Italian-Americans as criminals. In 2002, an Illinois court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the American Italian Defense Association that claimed the program wrongly portrays most of the ethnic group as mobsters. OK, Sopranos-haters. Are you glad it’s finally over?
—I cover my eyes when somebody gets whacked or bludgeoned. But some fans love every gory detail. We know what exposure to extreme violence does to kids. But what does it do to adults? Experts, weigh in with your opinion.
—Somewhere, Sopranos fans are hosting a party on Sunday night, June 10, to celebrate the final episode. If your guests are coming dressed as their favorite character, the media will love the story. (Invite me, and I’ll curl my hair and come as Janice, complete with the Rolling Stones tongue tatoo.) Why not invite a local media person who loves the series to cover the party? Can’t convice your local TV station to jopin you? Shoot your own video early in the evening, and drop it off at the station in enough time to make the 10 or 11 o’clock news. Sunday is a notoriously slow news day. Some stations will even let you upload video to their website. Don’t forget YouTube.
—Foodies, what has “The Sopranos” done for an appreciation of Italian-American cooking? How about sharing some of your great recipes with food writers? (See “Publicity Tips for Restaurants, Chefs & Foodies.”)
—One of the most intriguing parts of the show are the scenes of Tony Soprano in his psychiatrist’s office. Therapists, does the show portray therapy accurately?
I love the show. Sunday nights will never be the same.
I’ve never watched the show but here’s some things from water cooler talk i’ve heard about the show that maybe helps with publicity angles.
Do we know exactly where this show takes place?
If not, how about a contest to vote on the best
town Soprano?
Food.
Is there a top ten list somewhere of the
Best Soprano dishes of all time?
This could be a cookbook of the best dishes that have appeared on the show.
Does the show have a large international fan base?
How about a dictionary book on….How To Say Ba Da Bing In 50 Foreign Languages
It could have all the famous quotes and slang of Soprano’s translated into various languages.
How about a self help book written in character by Tony Soprano’s therapist, call it.. The Secret To The Ba Da Bing
Have their been recurring roles for pets in the show?
Book, Top Ten Pets For The Made Man!
I have been watching this show for 7 plus years and I will say and I hope that others will also state that a fantastic series was degraded tonight with a absolutely horendious finale. How can you expect after all this time for fans to be even moderately pleased – no not even that it was terrible. It was an insult to fans to end this series like this – an outrage. Jerico is going to go 7 more episodes and it had a far greater last show than this embaressment.
Once a true fan but diasapointment can’t even describe this OUTRAGIOUS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was our feeling, exactly.
We were screaming at the TV set: “What the hell kind of an ending was THAT?”
“The best series in TV history just leaves everybody hanging? How lame.”
“What an insult. Almost as though David Chase said ‘Up yours.'”
Saw a nice parody of Sopranos where Vince Mcmahon(WWE wrestling) got “whacked” on his wrestling show and now he has star celebs coiming out badmouthing him after they think he’s dead.
Wonder if any others will piggyback this thing.
How about campaigns where the Afflac Duck or the Gecko get “whacked” or everyone thinks so but really they’ve been put into a Price Protection Program, going underground because their competitors are so upset about their low prices they put a hit on them.
Then let the Gecko or Afflac Duck resurface by putting out underground vidoes calling for the destruction of high prices.
Anyway might be interestign to see who else can parody this since the show’s ending has caused a lot of public outcry.
Anyone know if Holsten’s Old Fahion Ice Cream Parlor in Bloomfield, NJ coming out with t-shirts like,
I Got Whacked At Holsten’s Old Fashion Ice Cream Parlor
I Got Made At Holsten’s Old Fashion Ice Cream Parlor
Cops Welcome At Holsten’s Old Fashion Ice Cream Parlor
Tony Says Meet Me At Holsten’s Old Fashion Ice Cream Parlor
Ice Cream Whacks Boredom At Holsten’s Old Fashion Ice Cream Parlor
Whack A Ice Cream Cone At Holsten’s Old Fashion Ice Cream Parlor