''The Sopranos'': Tony's gay issu |

HOW GAY IS VO OM THE SOPRANOS?
THAT GAY EPISO: HOW SAM MALONE SHOWED ACCEPTANCE IS MACHO ON ‘CHEERS’
WAS PHIL LEOTARDO GAY?
''THE SOPRANOS'': TONY'S GAY ISSU
MOB WIV AND "SWEETHEARTS" ADRIANA LA CERVA ADRIANA LA CERVAPLAYED BY: DREA MATTEOCHRISTOPHER MOLTISANTI'S GIRLIEND, AND LATER FIANCEE. ANIMAL MOTIFS: SHE IS ASSOCIATED WH ER AND, AFTER HER ATH, TS, AS A T STAR FIXEDLY AT CHRISTOPHER AT ONE POT. ASCEND EXTRA: QUE LERALLY, THE VERY FIRST EPISO SHE APPEARS FOR A FEW SENDS AS A HOSTS AT A RTRANT BEFORE GETTG A NAME EPISO 2 AND FALLY GETTG STORYL THE SEASONS AFTER THAT. BABI MAKE EVERYTHG BETTER: SHE'S A FIRM BELIEVER THIS, NVCED THAT IF SHE ULD HAVE CHILDREN, HER AND CHRIS'S RELATNSHIP WOULD CLEAR UP. THE FACT THAT SHE N'T HAVE THEM MAK ALL THE MORE TRAGIC. BREAK THE CUTIE: WHILE SOME OF THIS MAY CROSS OVER WH TOO DUMB TO LIVE, SHE UNRGO THIS ONCE SHE BE AN RMANT FOR THE FBI. ADRIANA IS JT A DIM, SWEET GIRL WHO WANTS TO HAVE CHILDREN WH CHRISTOPHER. CHRIS SPIRALS FURTHER TO DG ADDICTN, 'S REVEALED THAT SHE'S FERTILE, CHRIS BE CREASGLY PHYSILLY VLENT TOWARDS HER, THE FBI BE MORE AGGRSIVE TOWARDS HER PRSURG HER TO GIVG MORE AND MORE RMATN, AND ONCE SHE NFIS CHRIS AND TRI TO NVCE HIM TO N AWAY WH HER, HE CHOOS THE FAY OVER HER AND HAS HER KILLED. BUTT-MONKEY: SHE GO THROUGH SO MUCH DRAMA AND TRMA BEE OF HER TOXIC RELATNSHIP WH CHRIS. CANE COMPANN: HAS ONE HER DOG COSETTE WHO SHE ADOR. DISTRACTED BY THE LUXURY: A FG CHARACTERISTIC OF HER UP UNTIL SHE BE AN FBI RMANT. DOMTIC ABE: SHE'S BEEN ON THE RECEIVG END OF OM CHRIS A LOT OF THE TIME, WH HIM HTG AND CHOKG HER. DU MAG: DUE TO HER EXTREMELY GOOD LOOKS AND SOMEWHAT KD PERSONALY, SHE DRAWS A TON OF MALE ATTENTN. BIS CHRISTOPHER WHO GENUELY LOV HER SPE HIS ABIVE BEHAVR, ARTIE IS MADLY LOVE WH HER AS WELL. SHE GETS HER SHARE OF SEXUAL TENSN WH TONY AS WELL LATER SEASONS AND THE FBI AGENTS SPYG ON HER SCRIBE HER AS THE MOST WONRFUL BEG EXISTENCE. DUMB BLON: AT TIM VERY NAïVE AND SUPERFICIAL. IT'S EXAGGERATED WHEN SHE'S FORCED TO OPERATE WH THE FBI AND MAK JT ABOUT EVERY WRONG CISN POSSIBLE, EVENTUALLY LEADG TO HER ATH. ET TU, BTE?: TOWARDS "DANIELLE" AFTER LEARNG SHE'S AN FBI AGENT. NOTABLY, SPE FEELG MASSIVELY BETRAYED, ADRIANA IS STILL UPSET WHEN BE APPARENT A DIFFERENT AGENT WILL BE HER HANDLER. EVEN THE GIRLS WANT HER: THE FEMALE TENNIS PRO SHE AND CARMELA GO TO CERTALY SEEMS KEEN TO GET CLOSE TO HER. FATAL FLAW: HER LOVE FOR CHRISTOPHER. DPE HIS HORRIBLE AND OFTENTIM ABIVE TREATMENT OF HER, ADRIANA'S LOVE FOR HIM REMAS UNWAVERG AND SHE'S NVCED THAT THEIR RELATNSHIP N SURVIVE ANYTHG. SADLY, TURNS OUT THAT, IF GIVEN A CHOICE BETWEEN HER OR THE FAY, CHRISTOPHER WILL CHOOSE THE LATTER. FOIL: TO CARMELA SOPRANO. BOTH ARE ROMANTILLY VOLVED WH MOBSTERS THE NER CIRCLE OF THE SOPRANO FAY (CHRISTOPHER MOLTISANTI AND TONY SOPRANO) AND STGGLE TO RENCILE THE TEMPTATNS OFFERED BY THEIR LIFTYL WH THEIR OWN MORAL TEGRY. ULTIMATELY, ADRIANA IS TOTALLY PROMISED BY HER VOLVEMENT WH CHRISTOPHER, LEADG TO HER OWN MISE, WHEREAS CARMELA MANAG TO ACHIEVE A MORE MORATED PLICY ALTHOUGH A CERTA TERPRETATN OF THE SERI FALE LEAV HER WH A HARSHER END. THEY ALSO ELUCIDATE THE DIFFERENC BETWEEN CHRISTOPHER AND TONY AS ROMANTIC PARTNERS. WHILE BOTH MOB WIV ARE NTUOLY TEMPTED BY THE WEALTH AND POSSSNS AFFORD TO THEM BY THEIR ROMANTIC VOLVEMENT WH MOBSTERS, ONLY CARMELA SOPRANO IS SHOWN TO STGGLE MEANGFULLY WH THE MORAL IMPLITNS OF HER MATERIALISM. ADRIANA, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS NEVER SHOWN TO STGGLE MORALLY WH OR NY HERSELF THE VAR NTRABAND AND CLANSTE OPPORTUNI CHRISTOPHER PROVIS TO HER. WHILE CARMELA IS RELATIVELY FORTUNATE TO BE MARRIED TO TONY, WHO TAK AN ACTIVE TERT ENSURG THAT CARMELA REMAS SOMEWHAT LEGALLY SAFE OM HIS ACTIVI, CHRISTOPHER MOLTISANTI TAK NO REAL STEPS TO SEPARATE ADRIANA OM HIS ILLIC ACTIVI, GIVG HER A STAKE THE CRAZY HORSE (A PRODUCT OF ILLEGAL GAMBLG AND EXTORTN STILL ACTG AS A SE OF MOB ACTIVY), ENABLG HER DG HABS, AND HIMSELF FLICTG VLENCE UPON HER. CARMELA NEVER BE PERSONALLY VOLVED THE CRIMAL LIFTYLE WHICH SUPPORTS HER LIFTYLE, WHEREAS ADRIANA EVENTUALLY BE A PARTY TO A CRIMAL NSPIRACY THE CRAZY HORSE BEE OF THE LACK OF SEPARATN BETWEEN CHRISTOPHER'S CRIMAL LIFTYLE AND HER OWN. WHEREAS MOTHERHOOD IS A SOURCE OF PET THE DOG AND PERSONAL REMPTN FOR CARMELA SOPRANO, AN CINT ADRIANA'S PAST MEANS THAT SHE IS VERY UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO BEAR A CHILD. ALSO NOTEWORTHY IS THAT TONY SOPRANO'S CHILDREN ARE A SOURCE OF PET THE DOG FOR HIM AS WELL, WHEREAS CHRISTOPHER HAS NO SUCH FAIAL OBLIGATNS TO ADRIANA, AND TH HAS NOTHG RTRAG HIM OM DULGG HIS SUBSTANCE ABE AND ABG HER (IMPLYG THAT TONY MIGHT NOT BE ALL THAT DIFFERENT IF NOT FOR THE FACT THAT HE HAS CHILDREN WH CARMELA). ADRIANA HOLDS THE OTHER MOB WIV NTEMPT, SEEG THEM AS LACKG WILLPOWER AND BEG TOTALLY PENNT ON THEIR HBANDS. SHE IS PROUD OF HAVG GROWN UP WH THE JERSEY FAY, HER MOTHER BEG THE SISTER OF JACKIE AND RICHIE APRILE; THE OTHER MOB WIV HAD MUCH MORE TENUO NNECTNS TO THE MAFIA GROWG UP. SHE IS UNABLE TO FORM MEANGFUL BONDS WH ANY OF THEM AND LACKS A SUPPORT SYSTEM OUTSI OF CHRISTOPHER, MA EVEN WORSE THANKS TO BEG FORCED TO WORK WH THE FBI. BY NTRAST, CARMELA SOPRANO AND THE OTHER MOB WIV HAVE THEIR OWN MUNY, SUPPORTG EACH OTHER AND REMAG NTACT EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NO LONGER PARTNERED WH THEIR MOBSTER HBANDS (E.G. ROSALIE APRILE THROUGH BEREAVEMENT, ANGIE BOMPENSIERO AFTER BIG PSY "GO TO WNS PROTECTN", AND CARMELA HERSELF DURG HER SEPARATN OM TONY). AND WHILE CARMELA NEVER REALLY NSIRS OR TRI LEAVG TONY, SPE HER MORAL ISSU AND THE CREASG DANGER OF HIS LIFTYLE, A REALLY TRI TO LEAVE WH CHRIS AND ENDS UP BEG KILLED FOR . GOOD GIRLS AVOID ABORTN: IN HER PAST ADRIANA GOT PREGNANT BY SOMEONE SHE SCRIBED AS AN ASSHOLE AND GOT AN ABORTN, BUT THE PROCRE LEFT HER BARREN OR AT LEAST VERY UNLIKELY TO RRY ANOTHER PREGNANCY TO TERM. SHE HID THIS OM CHRISTOPHER UNTIL HER GUILT MA HER NFS, AND CHRISTOPHER DID NOT TAKE THE NEWS WELL (AT FIRST), WHICH MIGHT LOOK LIKE A FORM OF KARMA HOUDI WARRANTY FOR GETTG THE ABORTN THE FIRST PLACE. GUILT-RIDN ACPLICE: TO THE FBI, ALTHOUGH SHE HAS NO SIRE TO HELP THEM PAST A CERTA POT. JAYWALKG WILL RU YOUR LIFE: BEG VOLVED A E RG ISN'T QUE "JAYWALKG", BUT 'S FELY MORE D THAN THE TORTURE AND MULTIPLE MURRS SEEN ON THE SHOW. NEVERTHELS, 'S WHAT GETS HER RECED BY THE FBI AS AN RMANT, FORCED TO RMG ON EVERYBODY HER LIFE, LEADG HER TO AN EMOTNAL AND PHYSIL BREAKDOWN, AND HER ATH. ALSO, A VERSN WH GETTG AN ABORTN. SHE EXPLAS THAT SHE WAS AN ABIVE RELATNSHIP, WHICH LED HER TO GETTG AN ABORTN THAT WENT WRONG AND LEFT HER UNABLE TO NCEIVE. WHILE 'S UNLIKELY THAT WOULD'VE WORKED OUT THE WAY SHE WANTED, ADRIANA REMAS NVCED THAT HAVG CHRIS'S CHILD WOULD HAVE SOLIDIFIED THEIR RELATNSHIP AND FIXED ALL THEIR ISSU. LIVG EMOTNAL CTCH: CHRISTOPHER N BE ABIVE TO HER WHILE ALSO G HER TO SUPPORT HIM. LOVE MARTYR: ULTIMATELY DI OUT OF HER LOVE FOR CHRIS. HER LOVE FOR HIM WAS SO UNWAVERG THAT NEVER REALLY OCCURRED TO HER THAT IF ASKED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HER OR THE FAY, CHRIS WOULD CHOOSE THE LATTER. MAFIA PRCS: SHE'S THIS AND TO A MUCH GREATER EXTENT THAN CARMELA SCE SHE GREW UP A FAY THAT WAS WELL GRAED WH THE DIMEO CRIME FAY WHILE CARMELA ME OM A CIVILIAN BACKGROUND. MALE GAZE: THE MERA OFTEN LGERS ON HER FANTASTIC PHYSIQUE. IN ONE EPISO, AN FBI AGENT OGL HER AND HER TENNIS ACH, WHO BOTH WEAR TIGHT, SKIMPY OUTFS AND HAPPEN TO BEND OVER AT THE SAME TIME. MEANGFUL NAME: LA CERVA MEANS "THE ER" ITALIAN. IN HER FAL SCENE, SHE GETS SHOT THE WOODS WHILE CRAWLG ON ALL FOURS. MISTAKEN FOR CHEATG: THANKS TO TONY'S REPUTATN FOR PHILANRG AND A MYRIAD OF MORS SPRKLED , EVERYONE (CLUDG THE FEDS) BELIEV THAT THE R ACCINT HAPPENED BEE ADRIANA WAS BLOWG TONY AT THE TIME. CHRISTOPHER RPONDS BY BEATG THE SH OUT OF A (WHILE SHE'S ALREADY BANGED UP OM THE ACCINT, NO LS!) AND THROWG HER OUT OF THEIR HOME, AND HE ONLY LMS DOWN AFTER TONY NEARLY KILLS HIM OVER THE MISUNRSTANDG AND GETS THE DOCTOR TO VERIFY THAT HER JURI DON'T RRPOND TO THE ACCATNS. EVEN WORSE IS THAT AFTER HER ATH CHRISTOPHER STILL BELIEV SOME GREE THAT TONY AND ADRIANA HAD AN AFFAIR, NSIRG HIS POWER FANTASY MOVIE HE WROTE THE CHARACTERS RRPONDG TO THEM HOOKG UP. THE MOLE: AFTER UNWTGLY BEIENDG AN UNRVER FBI AGENT NAMED DEBORAH CICCERONE, SHE IS ERCED TO BEG AN RMANT. IT EVENTUALLY ENDS BADLY, WH TONY ORRG SILV TO WHACK ADRIANA. MORTON'S FORK: SHE IS H WH A PARTICULARLY HARD ONE ONCE THE FEDS TCH UP TO HER. SHE N FACE UP TO 25 YEARS PRISON FOR HER PART AN ILLEGAL E RG, OR BEE AN RMANT AN FBI OPERATN TO TAKE DOWN TONY. SHE UNSUCCSFULLY AND TRAGILLY TRI TO TAKE A THIRD OPTN BY ATTEMPTG TO GET CHRISTOPHER TO FLIP ON TONY AND GO TO WNS PROTECTN, WHICH EVABLY ENDS WH HER BEG KILLED. MS. FANSERVICE: NARY A SCENE AT HER PLACE GO BY WHOUT HER BEG DOWN TO HER UNRWEAR. SHE EVEN BE THIS -UNIVERSE TO THE FBI STOOG TASKED WH SURVEILLG HER, AS WELL. NEVER A SELF-MA WOMAN: PARTIALLY FIED, SHE REF TO BE THE TYPIL MAFIA HOEWIFE AND SETS UP AND MANAG "THE CRAZY HORSE" CLUB. BANKROLLED BY THE MAFIA, THE MOBSTERS GRADUALLY TURN TO A LEGIMATE BSMEN'S SOCIAL CLUB. NICE GIRL: FOR A MOB WIFE, A IS A FAIRLY IENDLY, GOOD-NATURED PERSON. THIS WORKS AGAST HER WHEN THE FBI E TO GET AN AGENT SI BY STRIKG UP A IENDSHIP. PET THE DOG: A LERAL EXAMPLE. SHE ADOR HER DOG COSETTE AND IS ABSOLUTELY VASTATED WHEN CHRIS KILLS HER BY STG ON HER WHILE HIGH. STRS VOM: DURG HER FIRST MEETG WH THE FBI, SHE VLENTLY THROWS UP ALL OVER THE TABLE WHEN THE AGENTS START PRSURG HER TO OPERATE WH THEM UNR THREAT OF PRISON TIME AND/OR HAVG TO TELL TONY THAT SHE BROUGHT AN FBI AGENT TO HIS HOME. TOO DUMB TO LIVE: AFTER NVCG HERSELF THAT CHRISTOPHER WOULD CHOOSE HER OVER THE FAY AND GO TO WNS PROTECTN SHE FALLS FOR AN OBV TRAP SET BY TONY THAT LEADS TO HER BEG EXECUTED BY SILV. TRAGIC DREAM: THAT SHE AND CHRISTOPHER WILL GET MARRIED AND LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER. HER BELIEF IS SO STRONG AND DOOMED THAT LEADS TO HER ATH AND SHE STILL DON'T WAVER OM . TRMA CONGA LE: DEAD DOG, JUNKIE/ABIVE BOYIEND, SER TTAL AND HEALTH PROBLEMS, AND CRIMAL CHARG AROUND THE RNER. POOR A NEVER TCH A BREAK. UGLY GUY, HOT WIFE: SHE WOULD NORMALLY BE WAY OUT OF CHRISTOPHER'S LEAGUE WERE HE NOT A MOBSTER. IT'S ACKNOWLEDGED DIALOGUE AND A BIG SOURCE OF HIS JEALOY AND SECURY THAT DRIV HIS ABIVE BEHAVR. YANRE: BORRLE. SHE'S VERY POSSSIVE OVER CHRISTOPHER AND FENDS THE BEATG SHE RECEIV AT HIS HANDS WH THE NOTN THAT SHE'D HAVE KILLED HIM HAD THEIR ROL BEEN REVERSED AND HE'D BEEN DRIVG TO GO GET HIGH WH ANOTHER WOMAN. THAT SAID, HER SEXUAL TENSN WH TONY WAS AN ONGOG THG AND DID NOT BEG WH THIS CINT. KELLI LOMBARDO/MOLTISANTI KELLI LOMBARDO/MOLTISANTIPLAYED BY: CARA BUONOCHRIS' GIRLIEND AND EVENTUAL WIFE SEASON 6. FOIL: TO ADRIANA. A WAS OUTSPOKEN, AGGRSIVE, PENNT, AND WILLG TO STAND UP TO CHRISTOPHER; KELLI IS MORE RERVED, LS NFINT, AND DISPLAYS NO AMBN BEYOND SUPPORTG CHRIS AS HIS STAY-AT-HOME WIFE. A WAS BARREN, BUT LOVED BY CHRIS THE MIDST OF A STCTIVE RELATNSHIP THAT BROKE HIM AND DOOMED HER; KELLI GIV CHRIS A FAY, BUT THEY WERE WED MORE DUE TO PRICE AND OBLIGATN ON HIS PART THAN LOVE, AND WHATEVER THEY SHARE DON'T SUFFICIENTLY MOTIVATE CHRISTOPHER TO STOP DULGG HIS EVENTUALLY FATAL DG HAB. NARRATIVELY, A WAS AT THE HEART OF A SIGNIFINT STORYLE AND HAD SOME AGENCY BEYOND "CHRISTOPHER'S GIRLIEND", WHILE KELLI NEVER GROWS BEYOND A SATELLE CHARACTER. HAPPILY MARRIED: ONLY ON KELLI'S SI AS SHE SEEMS QUE NTENT HER MARRIAGE TO CHRISTOPHER AND, OUTSI OF HIS CHEATG, DON'T SUFFER OM THE DOMTIC ABE THAT HE PUT ADRIANA THROUGH. CHRISTOPHER, HOWEVER, SE THIS AS AN AWFUL WEDD LIFE AS HE N'T FD HIM TO FEEL REAL LOVE FOR KELLI AND ONLY MARRIED HER BEE HE GOT HER PREGNANT. LAW OF INVERSE FERTILY: CHRIS FEELS NO GENUE LOVE FOR KELLI. IN HER FIRST SCENE, SHE CLAR THAT SHE'S PREGNANT AND HE MARRI HER ON A WHIM. THIS IS SHARP NTRAST TO ADRIANA, WHO WAS BARREN AND LOVED BY CHRIS. BON POTS THAT KELLI HERSELF WASN'T HAPPY WH FDG OUT SHE GOT PREGNANT AND WAS GOG TO LL THE ABORTN CLIC BEFORE CHRIS PROPOSED TO HER. MAFIA PRCS: DOWNPLAYED, AT LEAST PARED TO A. SHE BENEFS OM CHRISTOPHER'S CRIMAL ACTIVI, BUT CHRIS TELLS HIS MISTRS THAT KELLI DON'T KNOW WHO HE REALLY IS — IMPLICLY, WHAT HE REALLY DO. NICE GIRL: SHE'S ACMODATG, NON-NONTATNAL, QUE SHY AROUND THE SOPRANOS, AND PLETELY FERENTIAL TO CHRIS. REPLACEMENT FLAT CHARACTER: FOR ADRIANA, THOUGH THEY NEVER MEET PERSON. KELLI IS PORTRAYED AS A FLAT, FAIRLY DULL CHARACTER AND CHRIS DON'T LOVE HER. ADRIANA IS A FAR MORE PLEX CHARACTER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO HAVE CHILDREN. SATELLE LOVE INTERT: NEVER REALLY EVOLV BEYOND JT BEG CHRISTOPHER'S GIRLIEND AND WIFE. SHRKG VLET: SHE ACROSS AS THIS HER FEW APPEARANC, PECIALLY WHEN ALG WH THE FAY SHE MARRIED TO. UNEQUAL PAIRG: CHRISTOPHER FEELS NO REAL LOVE FOR HER AND MARRI HER CHIEFLY BEE HE FEELS A MAN SHOULD HAVE A FAY. AS TIME GO ON, HE REFLECTS THAT EVEN THIS N'T SPIRE ANY LOVE FOR KELLI WH HIM. HER IMPLIED IGNORANCE OF WHAT HE DO FOR A LIVG ALSO RERC THE APATHY HE HAS FOR THE RELATNSHIP. FOR ALL THAT, KELLI DISPLAYS NO TONOMY OUTSI OF THEIR RELATNSHIP AND PENDS ON HIM TO SUPPORT HER. TRACEE TRACEEPLAYED BY: ARIEL KILEYA STRIPPER AT THE BADA BG, AND GIRLIEND TO RALPH. ABIVE PARENTS: SHE BURNED HER YOUNG SON WH CIGARETT AND THE KID WAS TAKEN BY SOCIAL SERVIC. SHE IMPLI THIS WAS DUE TO HER BEG ON THE UNKD END OF THIS TROPE, TOO. BULLYG A DRAGON: SHE SE F TO SULT AND SMACK RALPH, A DANGERO GANGSTER. IT DON'T END WELL. BUXOM BETY STANDARD: TONY NOT THAT, UNLIKE MOST STRIPPERS AT THE BG, SHE HAS NO NEED FOR BREAST IMPLANTS. CEL AND UNUAL DEATH: RALPH BEATS HER TO ATH THE PARKG LOT OF THE BG, WHILE SHE'S PREGNANT WH RALPH'S CHILD, NO LS, WHO WOULD NTT THAT POT LATER. DISPOSABLE SEX WORKER: THE MOBSTERS' APATHETIC REACTN TO HER ATH, WH RALPH SUFFERG NO IMMEDIATE NSEQUENC, EMPHASIZ THAT THEY SEE ALL THE GIRLS WORKG THE BG AS SUCH. DISPOSABLE WOMAN: HER ONLY ROLE THE STORY IS TO CREATE A RIFT BETWEEN TONY AND RALPH OVER HER ATH. IT ALSO SERV TO REMD THE DIENCE THAT THE MOBSTERS THEY ARE ROOTG FOR ARE SOCPATHIC THUGS. HOOKER WH A HEART OF GOLD: ZIGZAGGED. TONY SE HER AS AN NOCENT, AND SHE REMDS HIM OF MEADOW. HOWEVER, SHE'S ALSO A PROSTUTE, A NEGLECTFUL MOTHER WHO LEAV HER CHILD WH HER MOTHER TO HANG OUT WH HER MOBSTER BOYIEND FOR DAYS AT A TIME, AND A ADBEAT WHO CLAIMS TO BE SICK WHILE NOT EVEN LLG TO WORK FOR SEVERAL DAYS. IT'S ULTIMATELY LEFT AMBIGUO AS TO WHETHER HER CLUMSY TERACTNS WH TONY WERE NAIVE ATTEMPTS TO BE IENDLY OR IF SHE'S LIBERATELY TRYG TO CLIMB THE GOOMAH LADR. HUIATN CONGA: MOST OF HER TIME ONSCREEN. TRMA CONGA LE ALSO APPLI. KILL THE CUTIE: UNFORTUNATELY, AT THE HANDS OF RALPH. THE MISTRS: RALPH'S. TECHNILLY SHE IS JT A SWEETHEART AS SILV POTS OUT SCE RALPH IS DIVORCED. NO-HOLDS-BARRED BEATDOWN: HER MISE. ONE-SHOT CHARACTER: GETS A ONE-EPISO A DEATH THE LIMELIGHT. PUBCENT BRAC: ALTHOUGH SHE'S 20, HER BRAC MAKE HER SEEM EVEN MORE YOUNG AND NOCENT TO TONY. REMEMBER THE NEW GUY?: IN HER ONLY EPISO, SHE'S TABLISHED TO ALREADY BE RALPH'S GIRLIEND AND TO HAVE HAD AN TERACTN WH TONY. SLEEPG WH THE BOSS: IT'S IMPLIED THAT SHE'S TRYG TO SEGUE TO THIS WH TONY, WHO IS UNTERTED , AH, "BEG IENDS" WH A WOMAN WHO'S BEEN WH RALPH. SMALL ROLE, BIG IMPACT: PLAYED WH. RALPH AND OTHERS NSIR HER A DISPOSABLE SEX WORKER, BUT TONY IS SHAKEN BY HER MURR AND TO SPISE RALPH FOR , CREATG A LASTG ENMY WHOSE NSEQUENC WILL AFFECT THE ENTIRE CRIME FAY. WHEN TONY SNAPS AND MURRS RALPH AFTER THE PIE-O-MY CINT, THE EMOTNAL OUTBURST HE LIVERS MID-FIGHT ULD JT AS EASILY BE APPLIED TO TRACEE'S ATH AT RALPH'S HANDS. PERHAPS TO DRIVE THE POT HOME, TONY SE HER PICTURE AT THE BG AT THE END OF THAT EPISO. THROUGH HIS STOMACH: SHE BAK SOME BREAD FOR TONY AS THANKS FOR A FAVOR, BUT SEEMS TO WANT TO E TO GRATIATE HERSELF TO HIM. ROSALIE APRILE ROSALIE APRILEPLAYED BY: SHARON ANGELAWIFE OF THE LATE JACKIE APRILE SR. A GOOD IEND OF CARMELA'S; THEY SEEM TO HAVE A STANDG LUNCH DATE AT VUV, AND SHE SHOWS UP WHENEVER CARMELA OR HER FAY IS TROUBLE. CARM OFTEN TURNS TO HER FOR ADVICE. AFFABLY EVIL: THE IMMORALY OF MARRYG A MOB BOSS ASI, ROSALIE IS UALLY QUE PLEASANT AND A VERY GOOD IEND TO CARMELA. BTAL HONTY: DON'T MCE WORDS WHEN DOLG OUT NEED ADVICE TO CARMELA ABOUT SENSIVE MATTERS, LIKE TROUBL WH TONY AND AJ, NOT TO MENTN CARM'S EXTRAMARAL ROMANTIC ENTANGLEMENTS. BUTT-MONKEY: LOS HER HBAND, THEN HER BROTHER--LAW, THEN HER SON, THEN RALPH, WHO LEAV HER FOR JANICE — ALTHOUGH BY ALL ACUNTS, LOSG RALPH WASN'T MUCH OF A LOSS. CASSANDRA TTH: WARNS CARMELA, WHO TAK PSE, BUT ULTIMATELY DO NOT MEANGFULLY TERNALIZE ROSALIE'S WARNG, THAT HER PROTECTIVE BUT PERMISSIVE PARENTG STYLE TOWARDS ANTHONY JR. PUT HIM AT RISK OF FACG THE SAME FATE AS JACKIE JR. IT ALMOST DO, TWICE. CARMELA TURNS OUT TO BE ENTIRELY BLD TO AJ'S PLAN TO ATTEMPT TO KILL JUNR, AND ALSO IS PLETELY UNAWARE OF ANTHONY JR.'S SUICI ATTEMPT. IN BOTH S, IS ONLY TONY'S TERVENTN THAT KEEPS AJ OM WDG UP FERAL PRISON OR AD. DETERMATOR: ONE OF THE MOST STRONG-WILLED CHARACTERS, SPE EVERYTHG SHE GO THROUGH SHE ENDS UP STANDG TALL THE END. THE RELIABLE ONE: TOWARDS THE END OF THE SERI CARMELA PANICS AND ALMOST N'T HANDLE TONY TELLG HER THAT SHE HAS TO GO TO HIDG BEE THERE'S A TARGET ON HIS BACK, ROSALIE IS THERE AND STEPS UP WH A BRAVE FACE ASKG TONY IF THERE'S ANYTHG SHE N DO TO HELP HIM OUT. THE RIVAL: ROSALIE UNKNOWGLY FELL TO THIS ROLE WHEN CARMELA AND SHE WERE BOTH "WOOG" FATHER INTTOLA WH FOOD. GNY SACRIMONI GNY SACRIMONIPLAYED BY: DENISE BOROWIFE OF JOHNNY SACK. BIG BETIFUL WOMAN: SHE'S THE BUTT OF JOK FOR MOST OF THE MOB GUYS, BUT JOHN SCRIB HER AS "RUBENQUE" AND SHE IS NATURALLY ATTRACTIVE. BIG GIRL: THIS PUTS HER AT THE CENTER OF MANY JOK. BREAK THE CUTIE: IT'S HARD NOT TO FEEL SORRY FOR GNY SACK BY THE END OF THE SERI. GENERATN XEROX: HER DGHTER ALLEGRA HAS A SIAR FIGURE. AVERTED WH CATHERE WHO IS VERY TH. HAPPILY MARRIED: SHE ENJOYS A GOOD MARRIAGE WH JOHNNY, WHO STAYS FAHFUL TO HIS WIFE, UNLIKE ALL THE OTHER MOBSTERS (EXCEPT BOBBY BACLA). HUIATN CONGA: SHARED WH HER HBAND. MORALY CHA: GNY IS EVEN THE IMPET THAT MAK JOHNNY LL OFF THE H ON RALPH. MORALY PET: JOHNNY'S REFAL TO CHEAT ON HER AND GENUE LOVE FOR HER SERV TO SHOW HIS MUCH SOFTER SI. PATTY LEOTARDO PATTY LEOTARDOPLAYED BY: GERALDE LIBRANDIPHIL LEOTARDO'S HARRIDAN OF A WIFE. HAPPILY MARRIED: PERHAPS HER ONLY REEMG QUALY AS A HUMAN BEG IS HER GENUE LOVE FOR HER FAY. SHE TLY DO LOVE PHIL AND IS HORRIFIED WHEN HE IS SHOT ONT OF HER, BEFORE HER CHIEF NCERN IS FOR HER FANT GRANDCHILDREN. HETERONORMATIVE CSAR: WHEN VO IS OUTED AS GAY, PATTY CLAR HIM IMMORAL ON RELIG GROUNDS AND LLS HIS HOMOSEXUALY AN UNFIVABLE S. IN PARISON, PHIL'S ANGER AGAST VO SEEMS MORE BASED ON HOW HE IS HIS --LAW AND BEG WORRIED ABOUT HOW HAVG A "FANOOK" THE FAY IS GOG TO REFLECT ON HIM. THE CROWNG EXAMPLE IS PERHAPS WHEN PATTY V A RIGHT-WG PROTTANT REVEREND WHO CLAIMS TO BE AN EXPERT "CURG" HOMOSEXUALY TO DO A TALK AT HER CHURCH GROUP, SPE NSIRG HERSELF A PROPER CATHOLIC. HOLIER THAN THOU: PATTY IS EXTREMELY SELF-RIGHTEO AND OFTEN MAK A BIG SHOW OF HER VOTN TO CATHOLICISM. IF SHE N FD SOME WAY TO PUT A RELIG SP ON HER PLATS, SHE WILL. OBNOX ENTLED HOEWIFE: PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHG PATTY DO IS EHER BOSSG OTHER PEOPLE AROUND OR PLAG AT LENGTH ABOUT OFTEN EXTREMELY PETTY THGS. KAREN BACLIERI KAREN BACLIERIPLAYED BY: CHRISTE PEDIBOBBY BACLIERI'S WIFE. A DEATH THE LIMELIGHT/SATELLE CHARACTER: HER CHARACTER IS TRODUCED ONLY TO BE KILLED A FEW EPISOS LATER. HAPPILY MARRIED: IMPLIED, SPE HER LTLE SCREEN TIME SHOWG D DISCSNS WH BOBBY. GABRIELLA DANTE GABRIELLA DANTEPLAYED BY: MREEN VAN ZANDTSILV'S WIFE. HAPPILY MARRIED: SHE AND SILV HAVE A GOOD RELATNSHIP, SPE HIS FILY. I WAS QUE A LOOKER: ACRDG TO TONY. LADY MACBETH: A VERY D FORM. WHEN TONY IS THE HOSPAL AFTER BEG SHOT BY JUNR, SHE ENURAG SIL TO NSIR TAKG OVER AFTER TONY IS GONE. THAT SAID, SHE NEVER ADVIS HIM TO HURRY THE PROCS ALONG—MERELY TO THROW HIS HAT TO THE RG WHEN THE SUCCSN CRISIS HS. ANGIE BONPENSIERO ANGIE BONPENSIEROPLAYED BY: TONI KALEMSAL "BIG PSY" BONPENSIERO'S WIFE. DOMTIC ABE: HER MARRIAGE IS NOT A HAPPY ONE. FALLEN-ON-HARD-TIM JOB: WORKS A SUPERMARKET TO MAKE ENDS MEET AFTER PSY GETS RETIRED. THIS RERC CARMELA'S ANXIETY ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO HER WH TONY GONE. TONY LATER TAK PY ON HER AND GIV HER A JOB AT HER HBAND'S R SHOP, WHERE SHE BE QUE A SUCCSFUL MANAGER. FOIL: TO THE OTHER MOB WIV, PARTICULARLY CARMELA. WHILE THE RT OF THE GROUP RELI ENTIRELY ON THEIR HBANDS AND ASSOCIAT TO PROVI FOR THEM, ANGIE MANAG TO SUPPORT HERSELF WH THE R SHOP AND TURN TO A SUCCSFUL BS. BT SHOWN WHEN CARMELA SHOWS OFF HER NEW PORSCHE TONY BOUGHT HER, ONLY TO BE STUNNED WHEN SHE SE ANGIE DRIVG A NEW CORVETTE SHE BOUGHT WH THE MONEY SHE EARNED HERSELF. HOEWIFE: INIALLY, SHE LATER WORKS AT HER HBAND'S R REPAIR SHOP. LOAN SHARK: SHE STAYS ENOMILLY AFLOAT WH THE R SHOP AND BE A SILENT PARTNER TO OTHER LOAN SHARKS OF THE FAY. MANIPULATIVE BASTARD: DOWNPLAYED EXAMPLE: SHE WAS ABLE TO MANIPULATE TONY TO GIVG HER THE R SHOP AND LET HER KEEP BY PLAYG ON HIS GUILT FOR KILLG SAL. ONE OF THE GUYS: HER PORTRAYAL THE LATER PARTS OF THE SERI AS SHE BE MORE CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WH THE MOBSTERS THAN ANY OF THE OTHER WIV. SHE EVEN SHAR THEIR TASTE FOR BLACK LEATHER JACKETS. WORKAHOLIC: BE ONE AFTER TAKG OVER THE R SHOP, TO THE POT SHE ONLY STAYS AT THE MOB WIVE LUNCH FOR BRIEF PERDS SO SHE N GET BACK TO WORK. WRENCH WENCH: THE LATER SEASONS SEE HER TAKE OVER PSY'S R SHOP TO SUPPORT HERSELF AND HER SONS. MUCH TO EVERYONE'S SURPRISE, SHE EXCELS AT THE JOB AND 'S IMPLIED 'S EVEN MORE PROFABLE UNR HER THAN EVER WAS UNR HER HBAND. MARIE SPATAFORE MARIE SPATAFOREPLAYED BY: ELIZABETH BRACVO'S WIFE AND OF PHIL LEOTARDO. THE BEARD: TO VO, ALTHOUGH SHE DON'T KNOW . FRIENDLY ENEMY: INDIRECTLY, AS SHE DON'T KNOW THAT PHIL IS AN ENEMY. SHE'S A IEND OF PHIL'S WIFE (AND A RELATIVE OF PHIL HIMSELF) AND IS ON VERY GOOD TERMS WH THE LEOTARDOS, BUT TO PHIL THIS IS IRRELEVANT. REAL-LIFE RELATIVE: PLAYED BY ELIZABETH BRAC, REAL-LIFE SISTER OF LORRAE BRAC (DR. MELFI). TA FRANC TA FRANCPLAYED BY: VANSA FERLOA FORMER STRIPPER AT BADA BG! AND LATER SWEETHEART TO "LTLE" PLIE GUALTIERI. HAS A TYPE/ALL GIRLS WANT BAD BOYS: SHE DAT "MTANG" SALLY INTILE, LATER "LTLE PLIE" GUALTIERI, AND SHAMELSLY FLIRTS WH CHRIS, ALL MEN WH TI TO THE MAFIA.GOOMAHS
JOE GANNASLI DISCS HIS LIFE DURG AND SCE PLAYG GAY MOBSTER VO SPATAFORE ON ‘THE SOPRANOS’

HOW GAY IS VO OM THE SOPRANOS?

* vito is gay episode *

In 2004, the Season 5 episo "Unintified Black Mal", is disclosed to viewers Vo is fact homosexual after he is seen performg fellat on a secury guard early one morng at the Esplana nstctn se by Meadow's boyiend, Fn De Trol. Vo at the gay bar. Later, that eveng while makg a llectn at a gay bar, two Lupertazzi Fay associat, one named Sal Iaccuzzo, saw Vo dancg provotively wh a gay man.

The Iaccuzzo character was based on real-life Gambo Crime Fay po Matthew Lanniello, who was known to extort and own several nightclubs New York Cy that tered to homosexual clientele. Vo claimed that his homosexual behavr had been ed by meditn. Lupertazzi crime fay boss Phil Leotardo, a vilent homophobe, mand Vo's ath, so Tony quietly arranged for Carlo Gervasi to make a h on Vo.

THAT GAY EPISO: HOW SAM MALONE SHOWED ACCEPTANCE IS MACHO ON ‘CHEERS’

On June 27, 1969, a police raid on a Greenwich Village gay bar lled the Stonewall took a surprisg turn when patrons cid was time to fight b…" class="ember-view * vito is gay episode *

It was later revealed that Vo was found wh a pool cue stick his rectum, a msage that he was killed bee of his homosexualy. Phil Leotardo later told Vo's wife, Marie, that her hband was probably killed by two homosexual transients Vo had picked up at a bar. Of all the embarrassg moments the characters of this seri have experienced, none n have been more shameful than the disvery that Vo Spatafore, one of Tony's most loyal men, is gay.

WAS PHIL LEOTARDO GAY?

As you might remember, the fat hoodlum was a gay bar the prev episo, wearg an all too obv leather outf, and got ught by two low-level, word is out on the streets, and the reactn is practilly unanimo: the poor son of a b*tch should get clipped. Bis, he claims, there's no actual proof, asi om the two guys' ttimony, that Vo really is homosexual (Chris's rponse: "What, we actually have to see him take the ass?

That life will be the foc of the next few episos, and the fact that this bloodls subplot works is all due to Gannasli, whose reful performance is away om the overblown "gay gangster" ritur seen Guy Rchie's films. The subtle wrg and expert actg (not to mentn a few mercils gay jok) make as worthwhile as any other story of the show.