Man, I might be late to the game on this but I just discovered that Valentina, back in the mid/late 80s, played "Maria" on "Head of the Class."

Jesus H! I had a huge crush on her then... little did I know the best was to come...

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Matt Millheiser
[B]Man, I might be late to the game on this but I just discovered that Valentina, back in the mid/late 80s, played "Maria" on "Head of the Class."

Wow! Had no idea. Looks even better now than she did back then!

I just watched it, and I was thinking that Paulie and Christopher were gonna kill each other.

I really think that Christopher is on his way out. A shame, too. He's one of my favorite characters.

My guess is that Tony will have end up having to give the okay for Christopher's exit....

Nice how they have Buscemi already semi-fueding with Tony.

"I'm still the boss of this family!"
"You're crowding me."



Can't wait for next week

i forget the line, but did any one notice the really bad ADR line by DR Melfi as she's arguing with Tony. (the line sounded off and sounded recorded.)

I missed that....

Thier phone conversation sounded like a run through in the first week of rehersals.


...BTW, the episode blew, does this guy realise he's 20 episodes from wrapping up a hugely popular tv show?
A fu **ing bear!

Well I guess this episode affected my dreams. I dreamt that I had a pet bear in my backyard.

I liked the bear. I mean, clearly it was a transparent symbol for Tony, but it made a great parallel with the family of ducks at the beginning of the first season. In other words, I think Chase is in full realization that there's not many episodes left...

I agree....ducks in the first season, all is well and peaceful in the Soprano house.

Bear in the fifth season, the Soprano house is in shambles.

Just read in the paper that the premiere on Sunday had 10 million viewers. Three million less than last season's premiere. They blamed it on a March debut and not September.

The long layoff certainly hurt. I think they might have done better to start this in January, assuming it was ready, and hold back S&TC until late April.

And I'm supposed to care because?

Italians who talk with a tri-state accent I see every day. People like me need to see them DO SOMETHING to be entertained.

I'm thinking this season will be more violent than the last because of the bear as an omen/representation of Tony, but we shall see.

I thought Melfi's head was cgi'd on to the body in the frontal nude scene, it didn't seem to match the rest of her body.

I loved the scene with the waiter, it was a great way for the two of them to make up.

Although, the whole old school vs. new school thing was kind of done in season one (with junior and in season 2 or three with Richie), I'm hoping its not the main theme of the season.

First all, let me just say that the Caldwells have more deer and obnoxious teens than anything, but bears are not out of the question. Hell, nothing's out of the question in Essex County...

I got the feeling that Paulie was setting up Chris with that phone call? It seemed too... convenient.

Paulie still took the money from the waiter and could put blame on the kid if the heat gets turned up.

Tommy, I don't really have an answer for you. Is it possible this show isn't your thing? Many of the best episodes in the series aren't full of the characters doing something, so I can't understand what it was about this specific episode you didn't like.

I felt the same way. I think that Christopher must have been getting that vibe judging from his expression. It wouldn't surprise me if one of these two guys gets whacked by the other before the season's end.

Actually, I kind of doubt it...Paulie's been upset about somebody for most of the previous four seasons...it's more likely that these two have burried the hatchet with each other.

I have the feeling David Chase is setting up Christopher to take over the family by the end of next season...this is probably the first step.

A lot of people are speculating that Christopher is being groomed to take over at the end of the series. I believe that towards the end of this season Christopher will have to choose between risking his own life and saving Adrianna, most likely resulting in both of their deaths, or wasting Adrianna himself for the good of the family.
In all honesty, I actually see the latter more likely to happen. They way it's playing Christopher is starting to lose favor with some people, and making him kill Adrianna will be the ultimate test of his loyalty. This could lead to a set up in the final season where Christopher, put out because he had to kill his lady, offs Tony and takes over. Of course to do that Christopher needs to get his act together a lot more than it is now.

one of the radio stations in the area, had listed "odds" on who will get whacked this season, by a bookie (they were right about last year with Ralphie)

I would place odds on Christopher and Adrianna going out as a couple if it happens. It would be interesting if they get whacked during the act of sex.

act of sex....:Rotfl:

I'm going to rant on this for a second or two...

I loved the 'Pine Barrens' episode and the fact that we never see the Russian again somehow makes it better. If they did bring that character back, have the people here would be on about how they ruined the character and turned in a shoddy episode.

I like that we don't know what happen. And in the long run, there's really no point to knowing what happened to him.