Luxury Lounge
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| “Luxury Lounge” | |
|---|---|
| The Sopranos episode | |
 |
|
| Episode no. | Season 6 Episode 72 |
| Guest stars | see below |
| Written by | Matthew Weiner |
| Directed by | Danny Leiner |
| Production no. | 607 |
| Original airdate | April 23, 2006 (HBO) |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Live Free or Die" | "Johnny Cakes" |
| Episode chronology | |
"Luxury Lounge" is the 72nd episode of the HBO original series, The Sopranos. The episode was written by Matthew Weiner and was directed by Danny Leiner. It was the 7th episode for the show's sixth season. It originally aired on April 23, 2006.
Contents |
[edit] Guest starring
- Edoardo Ballerini as Corky Caporale
- Max Casella as Benny Fazio
- Frankie Valli as Rusty Millio
- Ben Kingsley as Himself
- Lauren Bacall as Herself
- Suzanne Shepherd as Mary De Angelis
- Elizabeth Bracco as Marie Spatafore
- Denise Borino as Ginny Sacrimoni
- Lenny Venito as James "Murmur" Zancone
- Maureen Van Zandt as Gabriella Dante
- Arthur Nascarella as Carlo Gervasi
- Manuela Feris as Martina
- Alicia Lorén as Eden
[edit] Episode recap
The hit on Rusty Millio comes to fruition when the "tailors" from Italy arrive and execute the diminutive capo and his driver, Eddie Pietro, in the driveway of Rusty’s house. After a brief excursion of shopping and sightseeing, the "tailors" catch the next flight home.
At Vesuvio’s, Phil Leotardo and Tony Soprano host a joint celebration as the books are opened for two new members: Gerry Torciano and Burt Gervasi. The event is not without tension, as Phil rants about his disgust at his still-missing cousin-in-law Vito Spatafore, and many people seem unsatisfied with the food and service. Phil speaks favorably of a new competitor to Vesuvio's, 'Da Giovanni,' and informs Artie Bucco he should check it out. After the meal Chris, Tony and Carlo discuss the lack of progress in the search for Vito, and Chris asks permission to pursue his movie venture.
Tony reluctantly attends a meal at Da Giovanni to celebrate Phil's grandson's confirmation. Marie Spatafore is there with her children, who are being teased about their homosexual father. Carmela sings the restaurant's praises and discusses what she thinks is wrong with Nuovo Vesuvio. Privately, Phil approaches Tony to thank him on Johnny Sack's behalf for the hit on Rusty. Tony expresses his distrust for the acting boss by denying involvement, which Phil graciously accepts as cautiousness.
Christopher and Little Carmine travel to Los Angeles to meet with a reluctant Sir Ben Kingsley, who they want to play the boss in their "The Ring meets The Godfather" film project. Away from his AA sponsor, Christopher partakes in drinking, drugs, and a hooker named Eden, before calling for Murmur to come out and help him get back on the wagon.
At the meeting with Kingsley, the Oscar-winning actor seems unimpressed and uninterested with their project. He interrupts them to speak poolside to Lauren Bacall, who states she is in town to be a presenter at an awards show. When she mentions the gifts associated with presenting, Sir Ben remembers he has a walk-through scheduled in the "luxury lounge" (a room set-up with free gifts handed out to celebrities). Christopher and Carmine tag along with Kingsley, and Christopher becomes quite interested in finding out how he can get some of the swag.
Artie has a new Albanian hostess, Martina. After he sees her pawing Benny at the bar, Artie tells her he cannot help expedite her green card process anymore. Benny questions the way Artie treats Martina, leading to a near confrontation between the two.
We learn a little more about Mohammed and Ahmed's credit card number scheme with Chris' crew. We see Murmur making rounds for Chris that include buying credit card details from the Teitlemann's hotel and delivering numbers to the Bada Bing regulars. Murmur offers to give them cloned plastic cards, but they tell him their operation is Internet-only.
Vesuvio's financial woes continue when Artie gets a visit from American Express investigators. They inform him someone has been stealing credit card numbers from his customers and they are suspending his service as a precaution. After a particularly emotional staff meeting, he learns Martina has been helping Benny steal the credit card numbers from the restaurant. Artie goes to Benny's house in the middle of the night in a fit of rage and delivers a beating that puts the mobster in the emergency room.
Tony tries to patch things up between Artie and Benny, lecturing the two on how they both were at fault. He invites Charmaine and Artie onto the Stugots with him and Carmela, and lectures an unreceptive Artie. He gives the bloodthirsty Benny a direct order at Satriale's, stating, "you don’t shit where you eat, and you really don’t shit where I eat."
Benny’s parents have their anniversary dinner at Vesuvio at Tony's behest, and Artie makes a tableside visit during their meal. While asking if he can get anyone another drink, Artie makes a veiled comment referencing Benny's "activities" with his former Albanian hostess. Benny follows him into the kitchen and violently forces Artie's right hand into boiling pot of tomato sauce.
Before leaving Los Angeles, a masked Christopher mugs Lauren Bacall outside of an awards show, stealing her gift bag. When he gets home, Christopher offers Tony his taste of the stolen goods, but Tony is more concerned with Christopher's lack of focus. He partially blames Christopher's absence for the Artie-Benny fiasco, stating that perhaps if he was around to keep a handle on his crew it never would have happened.
Tony has dinner at Vesuvio with Carmela and Mary, but Hugh is absent due to his feud with Carmela. Tony urges Artie to enter therapy, telling him he goes about "in pity for himself". Artie responds with hostility, and Tony also tells him people do not like his table-side chatter. Tony suggests Artie stay in the kitchen for a start.
Charmaine seats two customers just before closing time at Vesuvio's. Artie tells Charmaine to tell the two guests they will have to eat whatever he makes them, since the staff has left for the evening. Artie follows Tony's advice, staying in the kitchen and preparing a rabbit dish from his father's hand-written cookbook.
[edit] Deceased
- Rusty Millio: viewed as a threat to the Lupertazzi Family's stability.
- Eddie Pietro: collateral damage from the Millio hit.
[edit] Title reference
- Christopher and Little Carmine follow Ben Kingsley through a celebrity luxury lounge where many free gifts are offered to celebrities.
[edit] Trivia
- Creator David Chase makes a cameo as a passenger on the plane during the last scene.
- The scene in which a group of senior citizens enter Artie's restaurant, after he had to lower restaurant's standards and start offering two-for-ones, is a reference to the similar scene in "Casino", where we see the similar group of senior citizens enter the casino, after narrator mentions how standards have fallen in Las Vegas.
