TV chiefs begged The Sopranos mastermind David Chase to change a contentious scene in the show's early days, but he stood firm, risking the series' future.
The groundbreaking American crime saga The Sopranos first hit screens in January 1999 and continued its reign on HBO for 86 episodes until 2007. The series is notorious for its high body count, with 88 deaths, as well as numerous plot twists, gangland battles, and exceptional performances from its cast.
The new documentary Wise Guy David Chase and The Sopranos, created by documentarian Alex Gibney, offers an intimate look into the mind of The Sopranos' creator, David Chase, featuring exclusive interviews and never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage.
The opening instalment of the two-part docuseries shines a light on the mob drama's inaugural season, focusing on how Tony's initial on-screen killing caused a stir and led to calls from HBO executives for a script overhaul.
In the pivotal episode titled College from the first season, we see mob boss Tony Soprano escorting his daughter Meadow on college tours in Maine. It's during this trip that Tony believes he recognises Fabian "Febby" Petrulio, an ex-DiMeo family associate turned informant now in witness protection.
After confirming Febby's new identity "Fred Peters" and his whereabouts through Christopher Moltisanti, tensions escalate when Febby realises Tony is on his trail, nearly leading to a deadly confrontation at the motel where Tony and Meadow are staying.
The next day, Tony surprises Febby at his office with a chilling "Good morning rat" before strangling him with a wire. Despite Febby's desperate pleas for mercy and his insistence that he spared Tony's life at the motel, Tony proceeds to murder him without hesitation.
Reflecting on the episode's early discussions, David Chase revealed: "When they saw the fifth episode, HBO said you have created one of the most dynamic characters in television history and you're going to blow it all."
HBO executive Chris Albrecht expressed his concerns, stating: "I brought it up in the script and the answer (from David Chase) was 'you're going to feel differently when you see it'. And then when we saw it, it was even more troublesome than I thought in the script."
David Chase recalled Albrecht's reaction: "Chris says 'I'm seeing it now and how gruesome it is and we're going to lose everything. People are going to hate him'."
Former HBO president Carolyn Strauss weighed in on the debate: "Could you have a criminal, a killer, as your lead? Can you have an anti-hero in the lead and that was the big debate."
Albrecht further explained his reservations: "My big objection was that the audience was really going to not like Tony and that we hadn't earned that yet. I mean, this was just the fifth episode."
David Chase revealed the symbolism behind the critical scene and emphasised its importance in convincing viewers of Tony Soprano's authenticity as a mafia figure. He said: "I said 'Chris - think about it. He's up there in Maine and he sees this rat. He's a captain in a mob group. If he doesn't kill this guy, people will lose faith or interest in him completely."
Chase recalled how Chris bought into the rationale for Febby's murder but suggested tweaks to render Febby a "more menacing figure" who deserved his fate. To achieve this, Chase introduced the tense moment when Febby aims his gun at an oblivious Tony escorting a drunken Meadow to their motel room.
College has since been lauded as not only one of the best episodes in The Sopranos but also as one of television's greatest episodes.
This particular segment solidified its place in television history, with James Manos Jr. and David Chase winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series.
Edie Falco, who played Carmela, earned both her first nomination and win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series due to the episode's acclaim.
Viewership surged following the episode, heralding The Sopranos as a trailblazer and setting the scene for future complex anti-hero narratives such as Breaking Bad, Dexter, and Peaky Blinders among others.
Fans can relive the magic with a two-part documentary scheduled for broadcast at 10pm on Sky Documentaries Sunday, September 8, with catch-up options subsequently available.
