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The Sopranoswas the king of modern cable television and remains revered even today. As a result, other shows have often referenced the hit series andThe Officeis no stranger to the same. The NBC sitcom premiered while the James Gandolfini series was still on air but lasted nine seasons in total with a majorThe Sopranosactor cameoing in the final season.
Given the lackluster reception of the series following lead actor Steve Carell’s departure, the cameo got lost in discourse over other aspects of the final season. As a result, the cameo feels wasted, especially since another earlier episode would’ve been more suitable for it. Here is everything you need to know about the forgottenThe Sopranoscameo inThe Office.
The Officewasted its bigThe Sopranoscameo by adding Michael Imperioli in the wrong episode
Actor Michael Imperioliplayed Christopher Moltisantiin the HBO seriesThe Sopranos. He later appeared as a guest star in an episode of the NBC sitcomThe Office. The twenty-first episode of season 9, titledLivin’ the Dream, introduces Sensei Billy, Dwight’s karate teacher, played by Imperioli.
The character is a fun one-off addition and Imperioli delivers a hilarious performance. The cameo came too late in the show’s run despite the episode receiving overall positive reviews. Instead, Imperioli would’ve been better served had he appeared in the season 6 episodeMafia.
In the episode, Michael Scott becomes convinced that insurance salesman Angelo Grotti is connected to the mafia. The episode’s premise could have served as a direct callback toThe Sopranosand Imperioli’s early stint as Christopher Moltisanti, a low-ranking captain of the DiMeo crime family.
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Moreover, it would’ve allowed Imperioli to play off the comedic genius of Steve Carell, who was still at his A-game. As a result, the cameo would’ve been more memorable as it would’ve been in context to Imperioli’s most famous role.
The Sopranosstar James Gandolfini was prevented from joiningThe Office
Imperioli’s appearance wasn’t the onlyThe SopranoscameoThe Officehoped to pull off. Instead, the sitcom hoped to generate plenty of hype by casting Tony Soprano himself asJames Gandolfiniwas eyed as a replacement for the outgoing Steve Carell.
During an appearance ontheTalking Sopranospodcast, Steve Schrippa revealed that NBC had hoped to cast Gandolfini in the hit sitcom. He said:
I think before James Spader and after Carell, they offered Jim — I want to say $4 million — to play him for the season, and HBO paid him $3 million not to do it.
From Schrippa’s words, it is evident that Gandolfini was approached as a potential replacement for Carell even beforeJames Spader was cast as Robert Californiaand saved the sitcom from plummeting.
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Schrippa added that Gandolfini considered the offer but the actor wasreportedlyunsure about being suitable for the show’s brand of comedy. Ultimately, Gandolfini did not sign on most likely due to HBO’s intervention. However, it would’ve been fun to see Gandolfini’s cameo during the interview for the regional manager position.
The Officeis streaming on Peacock.
Pratik Handore
Content Writer
Articles Published :1774
With a keen interest in comic book movies and blockbuster franchises, Pratik usually covers news and updates on the DCU, MCU, Star Wars, and more.A die-hard fan of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Pratik spends most of his time exploring different storytelling mediums that invoke a sense of wonder and adventure. Other filmmakers whose works have deeply influenced him include Alfred Hitchcock, James Gunn, and Guillermo del Toro.
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James GandolfiniMichael Imperioli
