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{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
⚫
{{Infobox Television episode
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
| title = Proshai, Livushka

⚫
| series = [[The Sopranos]]
⚫
{{Infobox television episode
| season = 3
⚫
| series = [[The Sopranos]]
| episode = 2
| image_size =
| guests= ''see below''
| airdate = March 4, 2001
| caption =
| length = 57 minutes
| season = 3
| production = 301
| episode = 2
| writer = [[David Chase]]
| director = [[Tim Van Patten]]
| director = [[Tim Van Patten]]
| writer = [[David Chase]]
| photographer = [[Phil Abraham]]
| photographer = [[Phil Abraham]]
| editor =
⚫
| episode_list = [[List of The Sopranos episodes|Episode chronology]]
| production = 301
| image = [[Image:Sopranos ep302.jpg|300px]]
| airdate = {{Start date|2001|03|04}}
⚫
| prev = [[Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood]]
| length = 57 minutes
⚫
| next = [[Fortunate Son (The Sopranos)|Fortunate Son]]
| guests =
⚫
| prev = [[Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood]]
⚫
| next = [[Fortunate Son (The Sopranos)|Fortunate Son]]
| season_article = The Sopranos season 3
⚫
| episode_list = List of The Sopranos episodes
}}
}}


"'''Proshai, Livushka'''" is the twenty-eighth episode of the [[HBO]] original series ''[[The Sopranos]]'' and the second of the show's third season. It was written by [[David Chase]], directed by [[Tim Van Patten]] and originally aired on March 4, 2001.
"'''Proshai, Livushka'''" is the 28th episode of the [[HBO]] original series ''[[The Sopranos]]'' and the second of the show's third season. It was written by [[David Chase]] and directed by [[Tim Van Patten]], and originally aired on March 4, 2001.


==Starring==
==Starring==
Line 35: Line 40:
* [[Steven R. Schirripa]] as [[Bobby Baccalieri]]
* [[Steven R. Schirripa]] as [[Bobby Baccalieri]]
* [[Robert Funaro]] as [[Eugene Pontecorvo]]
* [[Robert Funaro]] as [[Eugene Pontecorvo]]
* [[Katherine Narducci]] as [[Charmaine Bucco]]
* [[Kathrine Narducci]] as [[Charmaine Bucco]]
* with [[Nancy Marchand]] as [[Livia Soprano]]
* [[Nancy Marchand]] as [[Livia Soprano]]
* and [[Joe Pantoliano]] as [[Ralph Cifaretto]]
* [[Joe Pantoliano]] as [[Ralph Cifaretto]]


===Guest starring===
===Guest starring===
Line 43: Line 48:


====Also guest starring====
====Also guest starring====
{{Columns-list|2|
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Peter Riegert]] as [[Ronald Zellman|Assemblyman Zellman]]
* [[Peter Riegert]] as [[Ronald Zellman|Assemblyman Zellman]]
* [[Tom Aldredge]] as [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Hugh De Angelis|Hugh DeAngelis]]
* [[Tom Aldredge]] as [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Hugh DeAngelis|Hugh DeAngelis]]
* [[Suzanne Shepherd]] as [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Mary Pellegrino De Angelis|Mary DeAngelis]]
* [[Suzanne Shepherd]] as [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Mary Pellegrino De Angelis|Mary DeAngelis]]
* [[Alla Kliouka Schaffer|Alla Kliouka]] as [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Svetlana Kirilenko|Svetlana Kirilenko]]
* [[Alla Kliouka Schaffer|Alla Kliouka]] as [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Svetlana Kirilenko|Svetlana Kirilenko]]
* [[Vincent Curatola]] as [[Johnny Sack]]
* [[Vincent Curatola]] as [[Johnny Sack]]
* [[John Fiore (Actor)|John Fiore]] as [[Gigi Cestone]]
* John Fiore as [[Gigi Cestone]]
* [[Joseph R. Gannascoli]] as [[Vito Spatafore]]
* [[Joseph R. Gannascoli]] as [[Vito Spatafore]]
* [[Dan Grimaldi]] as [[Patsy Parisi]]
* [[Dan Grimaldi]] as [[Patsy Parisi]]
* [[George Loros]] as [[Ray Curto|Raymond Curto]]
* George Loros as [[Ray Curto|Raymond Curto]]
* [[Richard Maldone]] as [[List of characters from The Sopranos in the DiMeo Crime Family#Albert Barese|Albert Barese]]
* Richard Maldone as [[List of characters from The Sopranos in the DiMeo Crime Family#Albert Barese|Albert Barese]]
* [[Vincent Pastore]] as [[Pussy Bonpensiero]]
* [[Vincent Pastore]] as [[Pussy Bonpensiero]]
* [[Gregalan Williams]] as Reverend James, Jr.
* [[Gregalan Williams]] as Reverend James, Jr.
* Patrick Tully as [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Noah Tannenbaum|Noah Tannenbaum]]
* Patrick Tully as [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Noah Tannenbaum|Noah Tannenbaum]]
* [[Nicole Burdette]] as [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Barbara Soprano Giglione|Barbara Giglione]]
* [[Nicole Burdette]] as [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Barbara Soprano Giglione|Barbara Giglione]]
* [[Ralph Lucarelli]] as Cozzarelli
* Ralph Lucarelli as Cozzarelli
* [[Peter McRobbie]] as Father Felix
* [[Peter McRobbie]] as Father Felix
* [[Sharon Angela]] as [[Rosalie Aprile]]
* [[Sharon Angela]] as [[Rosalie Aprile]]
* [[Jason Cerbone]] as [[Jackie Aprile, Jr.]]
* [[Jason Cerbone]] as [[Jackie Aprile, Jr.]]
* [[Tim Gallin]] as Joseph Zachary
* Tim Gallin as Joseph Zachary
* [[Marcia Haufrecht]] as Fanny
* [[Marcia Haufrecht]] as Fanny
* [[Maureen Van Zandt]] as [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Gabriella Dante|Gabriella Dante]]
* Maureen Van Zandt as [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Gabriella Dante|Gabriella Dante]]
* [[Vito Antuofermo]] as [[List of characters from The Sopranos in the Soprano crime family#Robert "Bobby" Coniglio|Bobby Zanone]]
* [[Vito Antuofermo]] as [[List of characters from The Sopranos in the Soprano crime family#Robert "Bobby" Coniglio|Bobby Zanone]]
* [[Dimitri de Fresco]] as Young Man
* Dimitri de Fresco as Young Man
* [[Marie Donato]] as 2 to 5 / 7 to 9
* Marie Donato as 2 to 5 / 7 to 9
* [[Katalin Pota]] as Lilliana Wosilius
* Katalin Pota as Lilliana Wosilius
* [[Ed Vassallo]] as [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Tom Giglione|Tom Giglione]]
* Ed Vassallo as [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Tom Giglione Sr.|Tom Giglione]]
* [[Gary Evans (actor)|Gary Evans]] as FBI Tech #2
* Gary Evans as FBI Tech #2
* [[Frank Pando]] as [[Agent Frank Grasso|Agent Grasso]]
* Frank Pando as [[Agent Frank Grasso|Agent Grasso]]
* Carlos Lopez as FBI Tech
* Carlos Lopez as FBI Tech
* [[Michael Strano]] as FBI Agent
* [[Michael Strano]] as FBI Agent
}}
}}


==Episode recap==
==Synopsis==
[[Tony Soprano|Tony]] notices an article about a mob conflict involving his [[sanitation]] company in his morning paper. Later, he greets [[Meadow Soprano|Meadow]] and her friend from college, [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Noah Tannenbaum|Noah Tannenbaum]]. Tony and Noah initially get along and make small talk about film history, including Tony's favorite film ''[[The Public Enemy]]''. Unfortunately, after Meadow leaves the room and Noah mentions that he is half [[Jewish]] and half [[African-American|black]], Tony hurls [[racial slur]]s and warns him to stay away from his daughter. After Noah storms out of the house, Tony goes to the kitchen and sees a box of [[Uncle Ben's Rice]], triggering a [[panic attack]].
[[Meadow Soprano|Meadow]] and her friend from college, [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Noah Tannenbaum|Noah Tannenbaum]], watch ''[[The Public Enemy]]'', [[Tony Soprano|Tony]]'s favorite film. Tony arrives and converses with Noah privately. He subtly tries to determine Noah's ethnicity, and after several indirect questions Noah states that he is half [[Jewish]] and half [[African-American]]. Tony makes some offensive remarks and urges him to stop seeing his daughter. Noah swears at him and storms out. Still somewhat shaken from the encounter, Tony goes to the kitchen; he sees a box of [[Uncle Ben's Rice]], triggering a [[panic attack]].


Tony confronts [[Ralphie Cifaretto]], an ambitious and effective member of [[Richie Aprile]]'s crew, and [[Albert Barese]] about a sanitation dispute. He urges them not to start any more fires that may attract press attention. Instead, Ralphie has a man beaten up with baseball bats. Separately, [[Ray Curto]] meets his handler from the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]; he is 'cooperating'.
Tony visits his mother [[Livia Soprano|Livia]], in an attempt to set things straight and warn her not to talk to the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]. Her new aide, [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Svetlana Kirilenko|Svetlana]], tells Tony that she is making Livia fill out baby journals that [[Carmela Soprano|Carmela]] bought when the children were born. Tony is furious when he realizes Livia has never touched them, and tells her to do what she wants regarding his upcoming [[trial]] and leave him alone. Later that evening, Meadow confronts Tony about Noah's standoffish behavior. After smoking a cigar outside, he is met by Carmela, Meadow, and [[Anthony Soprano, Jr.|A.J.]], who inform him that Livia has died in her sleep.


Tony visits his mother [[Livia Soprano|Livia]] and asks her not to say anything to the feds about the stolen airline tickets. She seems to stonewall him. Exasperated, he walks out. That evening, Livia dies from a stroke. Later, Tony tells [[List of The Sopranos characters#Jennifer Melfi|Dr. Melfi]], "I'm glad she's dead." Then he bursts out that he is "a bad son".
As people begin to gather at the Soprano residence, Tony's sister [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Barbara Soprano Giglione|Barbara]] informs him that [[Janice Soprano|Janice]] will not be in attendance. He furiously calls her in [[Seattle]] and demands she be on the next plane to [[New Jersey]]. [[Ralph Cifaretto]], a member of Richie's crew, arrives at Tony's house along with [[Patsy Parisi|Patsy]], [[Vito Spatafore]], [[Gigi Cestone]], and [[Albert Barese]]. Tony confronts Ralph and Albert about the escalating sanitation dispute them. Ralph says "his crew" is in line for a business contract, and that he has been acting with as their ''[[caporegime|capo]]''. Tony warns him that he will be ''capo'' only at his behest, and orders Ralphie and Albert to end their conflict. Despite this, Ralphie and his associates later attack a man with baseball bats for interfering in his garbage business.


Tony's sister [[List of The Sopranos characters#Barbara Soprano Giglione|Barbara]] informs him that [[Janice Soprano|Janice]] will not be coming for the funeral. He furiously calls her in Seattle and orders her to be on the next plane; she inveigles him into paying the fare. At the [[funeral home]] Janice insists that, contrary to her wishes, Livia be given a lavish [[funeral]] and, exasperated, Tony agrees. In Livia's house, Janice hammers at the basement wall. At the funeral, still at the graveside, she has a dispute with Livia's caregiver [[List of The Sopranos characters|Svetlana]] about Livia's collection of records. Svetlana says Livia gave them to her; Janice orders her to give them back.
At the [[funeral home]], Janice insists that her mother be given a lavish [[funeral]] despite it not being in accordance with her mother's wishes. Later, she breaks into Livia's house, but scrambles when Tony unexpectedly arrives. They briefly admire a picture of a young Livia to be used at the service. Janice laments that the only mementos she kept of her children belong to Tony. Livia's [[wake (ceremony)|wake]] is attended by [[Adriana La Cerva|Adriana]], [[Christopher Moltisanti]], [[Furio Giunta]], [[Silvio Dante]], and [[Ray Curto]], who is revealed to wearing a [[Covert listening device|wire]] for the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]. The next day, after Livia's burial, Janice demands that Svetlana give back Livia's [[LP album|LP]] record collection, even though Livia gave the records to her before her death. Svetlana refuses.


Janice corrals everyone into a room to conduct a remembrance, against Tony's wishes. She plays Livia's favorite song, then calls on people in the room to speak their mind about Livia. Caving to Janice's pressure, Livia is [[eulogy|eulogized]] by [[Hesh Rabkin]], her friend [[List of characters from The Sopranos - Friends and Family#Fanny|Fanny]], and an intoxicated Chris. Meanwhile, Tony backs out of the room and goes outside, where he is confronted by an angry and drunk [[Artie Bucco]], who remembers Livia telling him about Tony's [[The Sopranos (episode)|torching of the Vesuvio]]. Artie goes inside and threatens to tell everyone about it, but a drunk Carmela interrupts him by saying that the eulogies are a "crock of shit". She says Livia was highly dysfunctional and did not want a funeral because she thought no one would come. Everyone else in the room seem to agree with Carmela.
At the post-funeral reception at the Sopranos' house, Janice, against Tony's wishes, corrals everyone into the main room for a ceremony of remembrance. With some reluctance, one or two people speak in memory of Livia. [[Christopher Moltisanti|Christopher]], stoned on [[marijuana]] and [[cocaine]], gives a rambling, unfocused speech. Tony slips outside, where he is confronted by an angry and drunk [[Artie Bucco]], who remembers Livia telling him about Tony's [[The Sopranos (The Sopranos episode)|torching of the Vesuvio]]. Artie goes back inside and seems ready to speak about it, but [[Carmela Soprano|Carmela]] and her father Hugh give their blunt perspectives on Livia. Carmela then upbraids Tony, Janice, and Barbara for ignoring their mother's wishes and having an elaborate funeral. Artie ultimately remains silent.


After everyone leaves, Tony sits in front of the television with a glass of [[liquor]] and watches a scene from ''The Public Enemy'' featuring the main character's mother joyfully preparing her home for her son's arrival from the hospital. Tony gets teary.
Afterward, Tony continues watching ''The Public Enemy'' and becomes emotional when the main character's mother joyfully prepares her home for her son's return, not knowing that he is dead.


==First appearances==
==First appearances==
The episode marks the first appearance of:
The episode marks the first appearance of:
*'''[[Ralph Cifaretto]]''': A high-ranking soldier in the former Aprile crew who pushes to be made captain of said crew.
*'''[[Ralph Cifaretto]]''': A high-ranking soldier in the former Aprile crew who pushes to be made captain of the said crew.
* '''[[Eugene Pontecorvo]]''': A well-liked associate and soon-to-be made man in the Aprile crew.
* '''[[Eugene Pontecorvo]]''': A well-liked associate and soon-to-be [[made man]] in the Aprile crew.
* '''[[List of characters from The Sopranos – friends and family#Noah Tannenbaum|Noah Tannenbaum]]''': A half-black, half-Jewish college student and potential boyfriend of Meadow's.
* '''[[List of characters from The Sopranos – friends and family#Noah Tannenbaum|Noah Tannenbaum]]''': A half-black, half-Jewish college student and potential boyfriend of Meadow's.
*'''[[Ronald Zellman]]''': Assemblyman for [[Newark, New Jersey]]'s Lower 8th Ward.
*'''[[Ronald Zellman]]''': Assemblyman for [[Newark, New Jersey]]'s Lower 8th Ward.
Line 100: Line 105:


==Title reference==
==Title reference==
* A Romanization of the [[Russian language|Russian]] «Прощай, Ливушка»: "Farewell, little Livia." Said in Russian, as a toast in Livia's memory by her caretaker, Svetlana.
* A Romanization of the [[Russian language|Russian]] «Прощай, Ливушка»: "Farewell, little Livia." Said in Russian, as a toast in Livia's memory by her caregiver, Svetlana.


==Production==
==Production==
* Although this episode aired second in season three, it was the first to be shot.
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Soprano liv cgi.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A [[Computer generated image|CGI]]-generated Livia in ''Proshai, Livushka'']] -->

* Because of [[Nancy Marchand]]'s death, [[David Chase]] decided that Livia should die as well. Livia's final scene was created using [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] with previous sound clips and scenes featuring Marchand. The cost was approximately $250,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2001-02-28-sopranos.htm|title=Late 'Sopranos' actress virtually returns to show|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|date=February 28, 2001|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=May 18, 2016}}</ref>
* Because of [[Nancy Marchand]]'s death, [[David Chase]] decided that Livia should die as well. Livia's final scene was created using [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] with previous sound clips and scenes featuring Marchand. The cost was approximately $250,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2001-02-28-sopranos.htm|title=Late 'Sopranos' actress virtually returns to show|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|date=February 28, 2001|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=May 18, 2016}}</ref>
*
* This is the final episode in which Nancy Marchand is billed in the opening credits.
* [[Joe Pantoliano]] ([[Ralph Cifaretto]]), [[Steve R. Schirripa]] (Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri), [[Robert Funaro]] (Eugene Pontecorvo), [[John Ventimiglia]] (Artie Bucco), and [[Katherine Narducci]] (Charmaine Bucco) are now billed in the opening credits as part of the main cast, but only in episodes in which they appear.
* [[Joe Pantoliano]] ([[Ralph Cifaretto]]), [[Steve R. Schirripa]] (Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri), [[Robert Funaro]] (Eugene Pontecorvo), [[John Ventimiglia]] (Artie Bucco), and [[Kathrine Narducci]] (Charmaine Bucco) are now billed in the opening credits as part of the main cast, but only in episodes in which they appear.
* This is the final episode in which [[Nancy Marchand]] is billed in the opening credits. Perhaps to indicate this (and her unusual CGI appearance), her name is preceded by the word 'With'. During the first two seasons, it had been preceded by the word 'And' (which is now the case for [[Joe Pantoliano]]).
* David Chase had planned a major story line for the third season concerning Tony's efforts to patch things up with his mother to prevent her from testifying against him at his [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act]] trial. Nancy Marchand's death caused Chase to revise a large portion of the season. The idea of Livia's being made to testify was also mentioned at the FBI meeting in the preceding episode, "[[Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood]]".
* The episode was part two of a two-hour season premiere when it originally aired in 2001.
* The episode was part two of a two-hour season premiere when it originally aired in 2001.
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Sopranos pussy302.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Pussy is seen in the mirror at Livia's repast]] -->
* [[Vincent Pastore]] makes a cameo in this episode, when Tony opens a closet door and Pussy is seen in the mirror.
* [[Vincent Pastore]] makes a cameo in this episode, when Tony opens a closet door and Pussy is seen in the mirror.


==References to other media==
==References to other media==
* When Tony visits his mother, he brings her audiobooks of the novels ''The Horse Whisperer'' and ''[[Omerta (novel)|Omerta]]''
* When Tony visits his mother for the final time, he brings her audiobooks of the novels ''The Horse Whisperer'' and ''[[Omertà (novel)|Omertà]]''.
* Meadow goes upstairs to get her [[Barenaked Ladies]] CD, leaving Tony and Noah alone.
* The book read by the FBI agent in the surveillance van was ''The Internet for Dummies''.
* The book read by the FBI agent in the surveillance van was ''The Internet for Dummies''.
* The [[undertaker]] promises Tony that he will "use all [his] power, and all [his] skills" on Livia's behalf (presumably via cosmetics and embalming), Tony then tells him not to go overboard. This is a direct reference to ''[[The Godfather]]'', wherein Don [[Vito Corleone]] commands the undertaker Amerigo Bonasera to "use all of your power and all of your skills" to beautify his eldest son [[Sonny Corleone]]'s bullet-riddled corpse. The descending elevator camera angle used to introduce the undertaker is also taken directly from ''The Godfather''.
* Various clips from the 1931 gangster film, ''[[The Public Enemy]]'' starring [[James Cagney]], are featured throughout this episode.
* Various clips from the 1931 gangster film, ''[[The Public Enemy]]'' starring [[James Cagney]], are featured throughout this episode.
* A.J's doing school work on the poem "[[Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening]]" by [[Robert Frost]] and Meadow helps him by explaining that snow white represents death. AJ thinks that black represented death. On his desk is a black lamp the same type the FBI bugged Tony's basement.
* The shot of the undertaker from inside a descending elevator references the character [[Amerigo Bonasera]] in ''[[The Godfather]],'' as does the undertaker's reference to using "all of my power, all of my skill."
* Furio Giunta refers to the reality TV series ''[[Survivor (TV series)|Survivor]]'', saying that someone should point a gun at the winner and demand 25% of the prize money.


== Music ==
== Music ==
* The song played over the end credits was "[[I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles]]" by [[Les Paul]]. That song is also prominent in ''The Public Enemy'', which Tony watches in this episode.
* The song played over the end credits is "[[I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles]]" by [[Les Paul]]. That song is also prominent in ''[[The Public Enemy]]'', which Tony watches in this episode.
* "Eyeless" by [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]] can be heard playing in A.J.'s room.
* "Eyeless" by [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]] is played in A.J.'s room.
* An organ rendition of [[Remo Giazotto|Remo Giazotto's]] ''[[Adagio in G minor]]'' is playing during Livia's wake.
* "Shake It (Like You Just Made Bail)" by [[Shawn Smith]] can be heard while Christopher, Adriana, and Furio take drugs before the wake.
* "Shake It (Like You Just Made Bail)" by [[Shawn Smith (musician)|Shawn Smith]] is played while Christopher, Adriana, and Furio take drugs before the wake.
* The song played by Janice on the stereo, in honor of her mother, is "If I Loved You" by [[Jan Clayton]], from the original Broadway cast recording of ''[[Carousel (musical)|Carousel]]''.
* The song played by Janice on the stereo, in honor of her mother, is "[[If I Loved You]]" by [[Jan Clayton]], from the original Broadway cast recording of ''[[Carousel (musical)|Carousel]]''.
* The song playing at the start of the episode when a firebomb is detonated in the garbage truck is "[[I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)]]" by [[Grand Funk Railroad]].
* The song playing at the start of the episode when a firebomb is detonated in the garbage truck is "[[I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)]]" by [[Grand Funk Railroad]].

== Filming locations ==
Listed in order of first appearance:<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Sopranos location guide - Filming locations for|url=https://www.sopranos-locations.com/season-3/episode-2/|last=Ugoku|website=www.sopranos-locations.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref>

* [[Paterson, New Jersey]]
* [[North Caldwell, New Jersey]]
* [[Verona, New Jersey]]
* [[Belleville, New Jersey]]
* [[Totowa, New Jersey]]
* [[Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery]] in [[Jersey City, New Jersey]]


==References==
==References==
Line 132: Line 147:
==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.hbo.com/the-sopranos/episodes/3/28-proshai-livushka/index.html "Proshai, Livushka"] at [[HBO]]
*[http://www.hbo.com/the-sopranos/episodes/3/28-proshai-livushka/index.html "Proshai, Livushka"] at [[HBO]]
*{{imdb episode|0705273}}
*{{IMDb episode|0705273}}
*{{tv.com episode|the-sopranos/proshai-livushka-46361}}


{{The Sopranos}}
{{The Sopranos}}


[[Category:The Sopranos episodes]]
[[Category:The Sopranos season 3 episodes]]
[[Category:2001 American television episodes]]
[[Category:2001 American television episodes]]
[[Category:Television episodes about funerals]]
[[Category:Television episodes about funerals]]
[[Category:Television episodes written by David Chase]]
[[Category:Television episodes directed by Tim Van Patten]]

Latest revision as of 05:59, 4 January 2025

"Proshai, Livushka"
The Sopranos episode
Episode no.Season 3
Episode 2
Directed byTim Van Patten
Written byDavid Chase
Cinematography byPhil Abraham
Production code301
Original air dateMarch 4, 2001 (2001-03-04)
Running time57 minutes
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood" 		Next →
"Fortunate Son"
The Sopranos season 3
List of episodes

"Proshai, Livushka" is the 28th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the second of the show's third season. It was written by David Chase and directed by Tim Van Patten, and originally aired on March 4, 2001.

Starring

[edit]

Guest starring

[edit]

Also guest starring

[edit]

Synopsis

[edit]

Meadow and her friend from college, Noah Tannenbaum, watch The Public Enemy, Tony's favorite film. Tony arrives and converses with Noah privately. He subtly tries to determine Noah's ethnicity, and after several indirect questions Noah states that he is half Jewish and half African-American. Tony makes some offensive remarks and urges him to stop seeing his daughter. Noah swears at him and storms out. Still somewhat shaken from the encounter, Tony goes to the kitchen; he sees a box of Uncle Ben's Rice, triggering a panic attack.

Tony confronts Ralphie Cifaretto, an ambitious and effective member of Richie Aprile's crew, and Albert Barese about a sanitation dispute. He urges them not to start any more fires that may attract press attention. Instead, Ralphie has a man beaten up with baseball bats. Separately, Ray Curto meets his handler from the FBI; he is 'cooperating'.

Tony visits his mother Livia and asks her not to say anything to the feds about the stolen airline tickets. She seems to stonewall him. Exasperated, he walks out. That evening, Livia dies from a stroke. Later, Tony tells Dr. Melfi, "I'm glad she's dead." Then he bursts out that he is "a bad son".

Tony's sister Barbara informs him that Janice will not be coming for the funeral. He furiously calls her in Seattle and orders her to be on the next plane; she inveigles him into paying the fare. At the funeral home Janice insists that, contrary to her wishes, Livia be given a lavish funeral and, exasperated, Tony agrees. In Livia's house, Janice hammers at the basement wall. At the funeral, still at the graveside, she has a dispute with Livia's caregiver Svetlana about Livia's collection of records. Svetlana says Livia gave them to her; Janice orders her to give them back.

At the post-funeral reception at the Sopranos' house, Janice, against Tony's wishes, corrals everyone into the main room for a ceremony of remembrance. With some reluctance, one or two people speak in memory of Livia. Christopher, stoned on marijuana and cocaine, gives a rambling, unfocused speech. Tony slips outside, where he is confronted by an angry and drunk Artie Bucco, who remembers Livia telling him about Tony's torching of the Vesuvio. Artie goes back inside and seems ready to speak about it, but Carmela and her father Hugh give their blunt perspectives on Livia. Carmela then upbraids Tony, Janice, and Barbara for ignoring their mother's wishes and having an elaborate funeral. Artie ultimately remains silent.

Afterward, Tony continues watching The Public Enemy and becomes emotional when the main character's mother joyfully prepares her home for her son's return, not knowing that he is dead.

First appearances

[edit]

The episode marks the first appearance of:

Deceased

[edit]

Title reference

[edit]
  • A Romanization of the Russian «Прощай, Ливушка»: "Farewell, little Livia." Said in Russian, as a toast in Livia's memory by her caregiver, Svetlana.

Production

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  • Because of Nancy Marchand's death, David Chase decided that Livia should die as well. Livia's final scene was created using CGI with previous sound clips and scenes featuring Marchand. The cost was approximately $250,000.[1]
  • Joe Pantoliano (Ralph Cifaretto), Steve R. Schirripa (Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri), Robert Funaro (Eugene Pontecorvo), John Ventimiglia (Artie Bucco), and Kathrine Narducci (Charmaine Bucco) are now billed in the opening credits as part of the main cast, but only in episodes in which they appear.
  • This is the final episode in which Nancy Marchand is billed in the opening credits. Perhaps to indicate this (and her unusual CGI appearance), her name is preceded by the word 'With'. During the first two seasons, it had been preceded by the word 'And' (which is now the case for Joe Pantoliano).
  • The episode was part two of a two-hour season premiere when it originally aired in 2001.
  • Vincent Pastore makes a cameo in this episode, when Tony opens a closet door and Pussy is seen in the mirror.

References to other media

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  • When Tony visits his mother for the final time, he brings her audiobooks of the novels The Horse Whisperer and Omertà.
  • Meadow goes upstairs to get her Barenaked Ladies CD, leaving Tony and Noah alone.
  • The book read by the FBI agent in the surveillance van was The Internet for Dummies.
  • Various clips from the 1931 gangster film, The Public Enemy starring James Cagney, are featured throughout this episode.
  • A.J's doing school work on the poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost and Meadow helps him by explaining that snow white represents death. AJ thinks that black represented death. On his desk is a black lamp the same type the FBI bugged Tony's basement.
  • The shot of the undertaker from inside a descending elevator references the character Amerigo Bonasera in The Godfather, as does the undertaker's reference to using "all of my power, all of my skill."
  • Furio Giunta refers to the reality TV series Survivor, saying that someone should point a gun at the winner and demand 25% of the prize money.

Music

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Filming locations

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Listed in order of first appearance:[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Late 'Sopranos' actress virtually returns to show". USA Today. Gannett Company. February 28, 2001. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  2. ^ Ugoku. "The Sopranos location guide - Filming locations for". www.sopranos-locations.com. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
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