'In Conversation with the Sopranos' examines why we root for a murderer. See it in Phoenix

It’s been 16 years since Steve Schirripa filmed his final episode of “The Sopranos,” playing Bobby Baccallieri – or to those who knew him best and tuned in every Sunday, Bobby Bacala.

But like Silvio Dante quoting Michael Corleone from “The Godfather: Part III” before him, just when he thought he was out, they pull him back in.

In 2020, Schirripa launched a podcast called "Talking Sopranos" with his co-star Michael Imperioli, who played Tony Soprano’s impulsive "nephew," Christopher Moltisanti.

A year later, HarperCollins published a book the two co-hosts had written called “Woke Up This Morning: The Definitive Oral History of the Sopranos.”

Now, Schirripa and Imperioli are headed to Phoenix with Vincent Pastore, who played Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero, for "In Conversation with the Sopranos." A live show hosted by comedian Joey Kola in which the actors share their favorite anecdotes from the HBO series that continues to define them.

What is 'In Conversation with the Sopranos'?

“We've been doing it for years and it's evolved tremendously,” Schirripa says.

“We show clips from the show, the three of us. We answer questions and tell, all comedy-driven, funny, behind-the-scenes stories. Every show is different. Because it's kind of loose on stage. So things come up. And, you know, it's a lot of fun. It's very funny. We talk about how Paulie Walnuts, him and Grandpa Munster are the only two people in the world with that hairdo, so that kind of thing.”

They talk about James Gandolfini, the beloved star of “The Sopranos,” at length, although Schirripa calls him Jim, not James.

“We talk about how we got the jobs, our audition process, how we found out we were getting killed off and everything in between,” Schirripa says. “Michael tells some very funny stories. And then we do a Q&A with the audience. So if you ever want to ask the Sopranos something, that's your chance.”

How Sopranos cast members launched a podcast in a pandemic

Schirripa and Imperioli launched the podcast during the pandemic. Not on purpose, though.

“It just so happened that when we were starting, the pandemic hit almost exactly the same time,” he says. “Then we discovered Zoom.”

They went through all 86 episodes of “The Sopranos,” scene by scene, not only sharing their own memories but interviewing cast members, writers, producers, directors, stunt people, costume people and casting people.

“And was very, very, very successful,” he says.

“To our surprise, because we didn't know what the hell we were doing. And now it's on HBO Max. And we also have a New York Times bestseller, 'Woke up This Morning.' That all spun off from the podcast.”

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Steve Schirripa had to watch 'The Sopranos' repeatedly for podcast

Neither one of them had watched the show since it went off the air, so there was a certain amount of getting reacquainted with the show involved.

“I used to watch it every Sunday night like everybody else,” Schirripa says.

He did the deepest of deep dives, rewatching each episode three times.

“Because listen, the fans know more about the show than I do,” he says, with a laugh. “I had forgotten so much. So I would watch it and take notes, watch it and take notes, stop, go, stop, go. Then, I would watch it for enjoyment before we went on the air. And it was fantastic. Fantastic.”

It was nothing like watching the show when it originally aired.

“When I was so close to it and shooting it, you know, you're worried about so many different things, right?” Schirripa says.

“I'm studying my lines. They’re gonna kill me off. What about this? What about that? All that crap. But now you look back from a distance. I'm also older, and I presume and hope and know I'm a better actor. I've become a better actor over the years with experience. But it was incredible.”

He found himself remembering lunch with Gandolfini and recalling where each individual scene was shot.

“I had also forgotten how funny the show was,” he says. “I mean, sometimes just flat-out hilarious. Also, I can't see anyone playing the roles except for the people who wound up playing the roles.”

Why 'The Sopranos' is such a big deal to this day

One thing that fascinates Schirripa is the thought that there's a whole new generation (or two) of “The Sopranos” fans.

“With streaming, there's more people watching the show now than watched it on Sunday nights when there was 11 million people had HBO back then,” he says.

“That is amazing. And now it's literally all over the world. When we did the podcast, we got Australia, UK, massive audiences. Saudi Arabia, Israel, on and on and on. There's kids that were too young to watch it, now they're in their late teens, in their 20s, and they're watching it and the show holds up as if it was written yesterday, except for the cars and the computers. Maybe the phones.”

It's a very complicated show,” he says. “It's not an easy, breezy show to watch and you go, ‘Oh this is great.’  On the surface? A bunch of wise guys in the strip club, they kill people. That's not it at all. It's a very smart, complicated show.”

'A lot of people see themselves' in Tony Soprano and Carmela

As to the enduring nature of the show’s appeal, Schirripa credits the fact that “the writing, first and foremost, is incredible,” but also the idea that a lot of people see themselves in these characters.

“Tony Soprano, yes, he was a murderer,” Schirripa says. “Bad guy. Did a lot of bad things to not just other mob guys. To innocent people, all right? Cheated on his wife, did drugs, gambled, killed people, ordered people killed.

"Yet? For some insane reason, the audience is rooting for this guy. The guy is basically a serial killer. And they're rooting for him, right? It was a show about a family. And I think it's a show about America and capitalism.”

He pointed to Tony’s wife, as played by the amazing Edie Falco.

“Carmela, she's religious, she goes to the priest, but yet she wants every ring, every fur coat. Edie Falco was brilliant. And Carmela was kind of a very manipulative, evil character. She didn't kill people. But she took and took and took and took, you know?”

He loves doing these "In Conversation with the Sopranos" events because they get to talk about these things but also because he gets to hang with his old castmates as though they’re outside the butcher shop sipping espresso with Tony again.

“We haven't had a clunker yet,” he says. “People go away happy. And that makes me happy. It really does. You see the response. People watch the show over and over. During the pandemic, it was like the No. 2 watched show. It's kind of a good feeling to be part of this. I didn't enjoy it as much doing it as when you step back from it 16 years later.”

Details: "In Conversation with the Sopranos" is at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 22, at celebritytheatre.com.

Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @EdMasley.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sopranos cast bringing 'In Conversation with...' to Phoenix. How to go