James Gandolfini
Sopranos, 30 Rock Top Emmys
Two locally filmed shows took top series honors at last night's Emmy Awards.
'The Sopranos' took home the Best Drama award, and creator David Chase and director Alan Taylor won for writing and directing.
But in a big upset, favorite James Gandolfini lost to James Spader of 'Boston Legal.'
'30 Rock' took home its single primetime award--but it was a big one: Best Comedy. During their acceptance speech Tina Fey thanked the show's 'dozens' of viewers and thanked NBC's Zucker for sticking with the show.
Altogether the program was its usual mix of bathos and strained humor. But in case you still feel like you missed, something, after the jump is the exhaustive, chronological account put out by the show's organizers. It has a similarly strange, incantatory charm to the show itself. read more »
Gallopin’ Gandolfini! As Sopranos Star Storms Past Press, Colleagues Praise His Performance in Coens’ New Comedy
The New York premiere of John Turturro’s Romance & Cigarettes at the Clearview Chelsea West Cinema on Thursday, August 30, looked some-thing like a Sopranos reunion. read more »
Tony’s Blackout
Sopranos Auteur David Chase Left a Majestic Wrap-Up, But His Onion-Ring Existentialism Causes a Panic—Where’s Dr. Melfi? It’s a Media Anxiety Attack! read more »
A.J. Soprano's Improbable Second Coming
!["What's wrong with you!"](http://www.observer.com/files/imagecache/article-teaser/files/ep83_05_web.jpg ""What's wrong with you!"")
Of all the characters--and of all the actors--still around for this last season of The Sopranos, David Chase has not only chosen, but has actually succeeded in doing something with A.J. (Robert Iler).
Long the afterthought of the ensemble, A.J.’s only memorable contribution to the series was when he got his eyebrows shaved off at some party in the city, while Iler’s only memorable contribution was when he pleaded guilty to mugging two fellow teenagers and marijuana possession..
Anyway, it is really surprising that A.J. has not only become the focal point to the second half of this season, but also appears to be the key to wrapping up the entire show in a nice big bow.
A.J., as the episode title tells us, is "the second coming." He’s Tony Soprano alright, but without any of Tony’s personality, menace or charisma. If there is a twist to these last episodes of The Sopranos, I’d say that is it.
And like the much-maligned Dominic Monaghan on Lost, Iler has actually shown himself to be quite an actor when given his chance in the spotlight. In a season filled with great performances—mostly from the usual suspects: Gandolfini, Falco, and Imperioli—Iler can stand proudly along side his cast mates. read more »
The Afternoon Wrap: Friday
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How Much For the De Kooning (Apartment)?
Lisa de Kooning's old U.E.S. apartment.
Back in November, Ms. de Kooning dropped close to $3 million on a Jane Street condo, nearby the old AbEx stomping grounds, as reported in The Observer.
Also, Sopranos star James Gandolfini once lived in the Greenwich Village building; that is, before he got divorced and sold the multi-unit pad to his ex-wife.
Certainly the de Kooning estate is doing alright these days, with sales of the master's works thriving. Last night, Christie's postwar and contemporary sale brought in over $143 million--with several de Kooning works in the mix. An untitled painting (1961) sold for $10 million, and Two Women (Study for Clamdigger) fetched $5.7 million. read more »
- Michael Calderone
