D-Girl (''The Sopranos'')
"D-Girl" | |
---|---|
The Sopranos episode | |
Episode no. |
Season 2 Episode 7 |
Directed by | Allen Coulter |
Written by | Todd A. Kessler |
Cinematography by | Phil Abraham |
Production code | 207 |
Original air date | February 27, 2000 |
Running time | 56 minutes |
Guest appearance(s) | |
see below | |
"D-Girl" is the twentieth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and is the seventh of the show's second season. It was written by Todd A. Kessler, directed by Allen Coulter and originally aired on February 27, 2000.
Starring
- James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano
- Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi
- Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano
- Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti
- Dominic Chianese as Corrado Soprano, Jr.*
- Vincent Pastore as Pussy Bonpensiero
- Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante *
- Tony Sirico as Paulie Gualtieri *
- Robert Iler as Anthony Soprano, Jr.
- Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano
- Drea de Matteo as Adriana La Cerva
- David Proval as Richie Aprile
- Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano
- and Nancy Marchand as Livia Soprano
* = credit only
Guest starring
- Jon Favreau as Himself
- Sandra Bernhard as Herself
- Janeane Garofalo as Herself
- Alicia Witt as Amy Safir
- Louis Lombardi, Jr. as Skip Lipari
- Toni Kalem as Angie Bonpensiero
- Arthur Barnes as Security Guard
- Stephen Bienskie as Hotel Clerk
- John Devlin as Assistant Director
- Dominic Fumusa as Gregory Moltisanti
- Andersen Gabrych as UTA Receptionist
- Bryan Matzkow as Hotel Manager
- Andrea Maulella as Michele Forman
- Jason Minter as Bellman
- Frank Pando as Agent Grasso
- Steve Porcelli as Matt Bonpensiero
- Elizabeth Reaser as Stace
- Asa Somers as Blaine Richardson
Episode recap
Tony and Carmela confront A.J. after he damages his mother's car while driving it without permission. When they lecture him on how he could have killed the girls in the car, A.J. remarks that "death just shows the absolute absurdity of life". He reveals that he has encountered the philosophy of Nietzsche, and even asks not to be confirmed because he says there is no God. Tony feels confused about A.J.'s sudden somber outlook and discusses it with Dr. Melfi. While Tony believes it is not normal to question faith, Melfi thinks that existentialist concerns are a natural phase of adolescence that was repressed by Tony's parents. Melfi then asks Tony how his disconnected relationship with Livia is taking a toll on the children. Tony does not answer, but dejectedly admits that A.J.'s concerns could be legitimate.
Tony turns to Big Pussy for guidance on A.J., since he is both A.J.'s godfather and confirmation sponsor. Big Pussy then takes A.J. and his own college-age son, Matt, to the batting cages, where the more educated Matt argues that philosophers such as Nietzsche or Sartre were often mentally disturbed or lacking integrity, and advises that he study theistic philosophers such as Kierkegaard. When A.J. tells his grandmother how he got in trouble, Livia dismissively concurs that life is meaningless and lonely, telling her grandson that everyone is destined to die alone.
Christopher rediscovers his interest in filmmaking. While having dinner with his cousin Greg, his fiancée Amy Safir invites Chris and Adriana to come on a film set. Adriana tells Chris that she believes in him, and has saved a copy of the screenplay he had previously discarded. Chris goes to the set alone and sits in on a film shoot starring Janeane Garofalo and Sandra Bernhard. When Janeane objects to the word "bitch" in the script, the director, Jon Favreau, has difficulty finding a suitable substitute. Christ suggests "pucchiacca" (Neapolitan slang for "cunt"), which is readily accepted by the impressed cast and crew.
The next day over lunch, Chris discusses his screenplay with Jon and Amy, and relates a story about a mobster's violent encounter with a transsexual. Jon and Amy ask questions about the mob and appear impressed and respectful of Chris. Later, Chris and Amy have sex in a hotel room. When having dinner with Carmela and Tony, Chris storms out of a restaurant when Adriana and Carmela pressure him about marriage. An upset Adriana says she supported Chris on his screenplay, unknowingly revealing to Tony that Chris is not focusing on family business. Chris then visits Amy at her hotel for another night of sex.
The next morning, Amy decides that she and Chris should end their relationship. Chris finds a draft of Jon's screenplay in her room and learns learns that he used the anecdote Chris had told him in confidence. An irate Chris searches for Favreau, only to find that he has already returned to California. When he approaches Amy, she adopts a strictly businesslike attitude and says that Hollywood has lost interest in mob films. Furious, Chris denounces her as a "fucking d-girl", prompting her to curse him and storm off.
Big Pussy is forced by the FBI to wear a wire at A.J.'s confirmation and the reception at Tony's house. Hours before the ceremony, Pussy has a violent confrontation with Angie, causing Matt to break up the fight. After the ceremony, A.J. is caught smoking marijuana with two teens in his garage, further dismaying his parents. A.J. then storms to his room, where Big Pussy tells him his father is a good man. An increasingly emotional Big Pussy tells A.J. the story of his deceased sister and how Tony always stayed with her in the hospital until her death. After Pussy hugs A.J., the FBI's reception of signals from his wire becomes troublesome.
Tony gives Chris an ultimatum: either leave now to follow his calling or stay in the family and seek no other distractions. Chris thinks it over on the front steps of Tony's house and re-enters the premises, indicating his pledge of loyalty to Tony and the family. A.J., along with his family and their priest, gather for a picture. When Tony asks where the godfather is, a distraught Big Pussy is revealed to be sobbing alone in the bathroom as the FBI agents listen in.[1][2]
Title reference
The episode's title is a shortened title for "development girl", used mostly in the film and television industry.
Cultural references
- The plot device involving Jon Favreau's interest in writing a screenplay for a mafia movie is echoed in his actual 2001 film Made, which focuses on the exploits of two would-be wiseguys assigned to a job in New York City. Three cast members of The Sopranos appearing in this episode (Vincent Pastore, Federico Castelluccio, and Drea de Matteo) also play supporting roles in Favreau's film.
- Christopher refers to the 1971 comedy The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight when Favreau talks about his passion to make and star in another film about "Crazy Joe Gallo."
- Amy reminds Christopher that Mickey Blue Eyes (which starred Vincent Pastore and five other Sopranos cast members) is an example of another mob movie that failed to live up to its advance billing.
- Adriana tells Amy and John that she enjoyed Favreau's 1996 film Swingers, with Vince Vaughn.
- When Carmela and Tony express concern about AJ's existentialist pronouncements, Meadow quotes Mme de Staël: "One must choose in life between boredom and suffering.”
- When Christopher relates the story of the transwoman whose lover threw acid in her face after becoming intimate and learning that she was actually transsexual, Amy recalls the 1992 film, The Crying Game.
- Amy relates Maslow's hierarchy of needs to Christopher before becoming intimate with him.
- When Amy tells Christopher they were wrong to have begun a relationship and Christopher responds that he really liked her, Amy observes that the mood has become rather "William Inge".
- The final scene between Christopher and "d-girl" Amy takes place in the offices of a real-life talent agent David DeCamillo, who happens to represent Janeane Garofalo, who plays herself in this episode. Coincidentally, in 1997, Garofalo appeared in a Law & Order episode also entitled "D-Girl."
Music
- The song played over the end credits is "Vedi, Maria", by Emma Shapplin.
- When Chris, John, and Amy sit down at the pizza shop, the song played is "Swingtown" by the Steve Miller Band which is then followed by "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac.
- Other music included in this episode "Tasty Pudding" by Chet Baker, "Shaolin Satellite" by Thievery Corporation, "Voulez-Vous?" by Arling & Cameron and "Caught My Mind" by Pushmonkey.