A Hit Is a Hit

"A Hit Is a Hit"
The Sopranos episode
Episode no. Season 1
Episode 10
Directed by Matthew Penn
Written by Joe Bosso
Frank Renzulli
Cinematography by Phil Abraham
Production code 110
Original air date March 14, 1999
Running time 53 minutes
Guest appearance(s)

see below

"A Hit Is a Hit" is the tenth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos. It was written by Joe Bosso and Frank Renzulli, directed by Matthew Penn and originally aired on March 14, 1999.

Starring

* = credit only

Guest starring

Also guest Starring

Episode recap

Paulie, Chris, and Big Pussy kill a drug dealer as a warning to his organization to stay away from the ports in Newark, which is DiMeo family territory. They steal cash from the scene, a big score that Tony states should be used legitimately, such as an investment in an IPO. Tony gives Dr. Bruce Cusamano, his neighbor and family physician, a box of Cuban cigars as a gift for his referral to Dr. Melfi. Cusamano invites Tony to play golf with him at his country club, to which Tony hesitantly agrees. Later, at a barbecue with Cusamano and his friends, Tony looks for stock tips. Carmela receives one from one of the wives, and invests in the company. The stock soon splits 3-for-1 and Carmela is pleased.

However, Tony comes to regret the trip, when Cusamano's friends pester him for stories about life in the Mafia. He tells them a made-up story about John Gotti's fondness for a certain kind of ice cream truck, which they are enthralled by. Later, Tony discusses the incident in therapy with Dr. Melfi, saying he felt used for the amusement of others. He recalls bullying a high school classmate, Jimmy Smash, who had a speech impediment due to a cleft palate and later turned to a life of crime. Taking a cue from The Godfather Part II, Tony fills a parcel with sand and asks Cusamano to hold on to it, letting them fearfully assume it contains drugs.

During a night out with Adriana in New York, Chris' racist comments draw the attention of rapper Massive Genius. When it appears there might be violence, a cop tells Massive's friend, Orange J, that Chris is an associate of the Soprano crew. Massive dispatches Orange J to invite Chris and Adriana to a party at his mansion in Englewood Cliffs. There, Chris and Massive talk business. After the encounter, Adriana proposes that she should pursue a career as a music producer. Chris agrees to put up finance a demo for the band Visiting Day, whose singer, Richie Santini, is Adriana's ex-boyfriend.

The demo recording progresses slowly as Adriana and Richie argue, eventually leading Chris to beat Richie with his own guitar. Chris takes the demo to Hesh, who has a history in the music business and feels that the song has no potential. Massive claims to be impressed, but he seems more interested in Adriana than in the music. When Chris angrily notes this to Adriana, she accuses him of trying to hold her back and storms out. Later, during a sit-down with Hesh, Chris claims that Massive is a relative of a deceased artist with whom Hesh once worked and claims Hesh owes $400,000 in royalties to the artist's mother. When Hesh refuses to pay, Massive threatens to sue. Hesh then threatens a counter-suit over the unauthorized sampling by Massive's record label of a song that Hesh's label still controls, leaving them at loggerheads. As Massive fumes over the impasse, Tony and his crew comment on the irony of modern-day celebrities like Massive being idolized as "gangsters."

First appearances

Deceased

Title reference

Other cultural references

Music

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