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Looking back at 'The Sopranos,' the godfather of prestige TV

James Gandolfini and Edie Falco in <em>The Sopranos</em>.
HBO
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James Gandolfini and Edie Falco in The Sopranos.

The Sopranos changed television. The HBO series was centered on mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a deeply flawed male antihero. That then- innovative approach cast a long shadow on television, but what really set The Sopranos apart was the fact that Tony was in therapy — a genius touch that granted viewers special access to his inner conflicts. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the show's premiere, so we're revisiting our conversation about the series.

Copyright 2024 NPR

Glen Weldon is a host of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. He reviews books, movies, comics and more for the NPR Arts Desk.
Aisha Harris is a host of Pop Culture Happy Hour.
Shea Vassar
Mike Katzif
[Copyright 2024 NPR]