From the Bridgewater Courier News

'THE SOPRANOS' COMES TO A CLOSE
Local fans say they'll miss the family

By BOB CONSIDINE
Staff Writer

When it comes to location and "The Sopranos," Bridgewater can't compare to Belleville, Flemington has nothing on Fort Lee and Peapack-Gladstone most certainly isn't Paterson.

In fact, you'd have to go back to the first season of the HBO show to recall a time a scene has been shot around Central Jersey. (Anyone remember a troubled cop friend of Tony Soprano jumping off the Morris Goodkind Bridge on Route 1 between Edison and New Brunswick?).

Yet, tonight, there will be countless locals absolutely glued to their can't-miss show for one last time.

"The Sopranos," the captivating and sometimes controversial series about ever-tormented gangster Tony Soprano and his dysfunctional family and friends, is offing itself after 86 episodes. The episode airs at 9 p.m. And for most of their diehard fans, predicting what creator David Chase has in store for the final episode is the only thing preventing the sorrow over the shows ending.

"I think it's going to be missed big time," said Mike Impellizeri of Manville. "The show had a knack of exposing human behavior. Even if there were exaggerated instincts that most of us wouldn't act upon, it was still human behavior and it was very compelling."

And it was also very New Jersey -- no matter what part you happen to be from.

"You go to California and everything is kind of sterile or part of a national chain," said Sue Sadik, the creator of www.sopranosue.com, who is regarded by cast and crew members of the show as its No. 1 fan." But here, it's local. It's a deli your grandfather built when he first came over and his son was expected to take it over when he was old enough. That's New Jersey."

Viewing rites

Since 1999, Impellizeri was like many "Sopranos" fans that absorbed the show ritualistically. Every Sunday night at 9 p.m., he'd watch it with wife Meg and any combination of their three sons -- Nick, Pat and James. (Don't worry about the age thing. His youngest is 17 years old).

And from the home, conversation about the show would flow into work for the following week.

"It's got that local flavor," said Glenn Krzywicki, a co-worker of Impellizeri with the United States Postal Service district office in Edison. "The characters remind me of people who know people who know people. Everybody knows somebody from the show."

It was the show's relatability that helped boost business for Soprano's Pizzeria in Bridgewater. Whether staying for a slice or picking up to bring home, customers are treated to pictures and scripts hanging on the wall, all signed by cast members.

And so begins the easy segue into conversation about the show.

"A lot of people call up and ask for Tony," said owner John Galati. "Or we get, 'Do you know where Big Pussy is?' It's all kind of silly stuff, but it's always fun."

Galati, from Middlesex, has even fashioned a schedule for himself so he and his employees can watch the show for which his restaurant is named.

"Oh, I'm off on Sunday," Galati said with a laugh. "But we're open from 12 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, so everyone can go home and watch it."

Galati's viewing party usually includes his wife, Melissa, and good friend Rocco Greco from Bound Brook.

"The show coming to an end is definitely a bummer," he said. "You feel like a piece of you is gone because you're so used to watching it every week.

"But I don't see them ending the show with Tony dying because, if he does, how are they going to do a movie?" he added.

The show has similar impact for Somerset Patriots president and general manager Patrick McVerry. Every Sunday, he and wife, Angela, get the kids to bed in time so they can take in the show in peace and quiet. Then the talk starts up at work for the rest of the week.

"I'm so excited to watch the finale because I've followed it for so many years," McVerry said. "It's just like you're finishing a book."

"The ironic thing is you find yourself amazed that you find a character like Tony so endearing," he added. "Yet the truth of the matter is he's a heartless killer. The writing and acting is such that you tend to overlook that and just see the problems of the everyday man. It's intriguing. He's a guy you can relate to, but then you can't relate to him."

Inside out

The show's charm is not lost on cast members, many of them who hail from New Jersey or New York.

Actor and director John "Cha Cha" Ciarcia has had parts in everything from TV shows such as "Taxi" and "Who's The Boss?" to the movie "Goodfellas." But it's the lines he gets as Albie Cianflone -- an associate of Tony antagonist Phil Leotardo -- in the final two seasons of "The Sopranos" which are recited back to him the most.

"I think the show goes right alongside 'The Godfather,' " Ciarcia said. "It has become probably the greatest television show in the history of television. It was done in almost a soap opera-type fantasy, but it was not like watching a soap opera. Every episode is like a new movie.

"The writing is great," he added. "The direction is great. The cast is great. There are no flaws with the show."

Ciarcia said the show's popularity also went beyond regional impact because of Tony Soprano's character.

"Everyone loves the anti-hero," he said.