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Pie-O-My (The Sopranos episode)
Encyclopedia
"Pie-O-My" is the forty-fourth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos
and was the fifth of the show's fourth season. It was written by Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess
, directed by Henry J. Bronchtein
and originally aired on October 13, 2002.
some of the winnings for picking the winning strategies. Tony grows fond of the horse, eventually referring to it as "our girl", in direct contrast to Ralph, who brusquely instructs the trainer – speaking of the jockey
– to "tell that midget
not to go easy with the whip". As Ralph continues to give Tony a "taste" of the prize earnings, Tony's growing expectation of an increasing share of the winnings creates tension between the two.
Carmela
asks Tony to invest in some stock
and sign papers for a life insurance trust
. Tony's accountant advises against the life insurance trust since it would be advantageous to Carmela only in the instance of Tony's death. When Tony eventually relents and gives permission to purchase the stock, she angrily announces that it has already split
and they've missed their chance.
Adriana La Cerva
is unhappy that her rock club, the Crazy Horse, is now being used as a meeting place for various mob associates. This has not gone unnoticed by her FBI handlers, who continue to press her for information. She also grows extremely paranoid that her activities as an informant will be discovered, although in reality, no one has an inkling of the truth.
Janice Soprano
takes an interest in Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri
. She interferes in a conversation between the new widower and JoJo Palmice, then gives the dinner that JoJo had made for Bobby to Junior Soprano
. In trying to get closer to Bobby, Janice takes credit for Carmela's lasagna
and also counsels him to put his grief behind him by focusing more on his work. After she tells him that Junior is counting on him, Bobby pulls himself together and completes a neglected task for Junior: meeting with a union shop steward to intimidate him into changing his vote in an upcoming election.
Meanwhile, when Junior catches the report of his court appearance on TV, he is displeased by the unflattering likeness painted by the courtroom artist
. During the next day's proceedings, he fixes the artist with an intimidating stare.
With veterinarian
's fees for Pie-O-My piling up, the vet refuses further treatment until he is paid. Ralph, however, refuses to take action when the horse becomes sick during the night, passing along Tony's number; Tony rushes to the stables and settles the bill. Tony tells the vet he'd better hope the horse "makes it" before going into the stall to sit with the animal, where he comfortingly strokes her neck, telling her that everything will be all right.
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
and was the fifth of the show's fourth season. It was written by Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess
Mitchell Burgess
Mitchell Burgess is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer. He worked extensively on the HBO hit-series The Sopranos. He was a creator and executive producer for Blue Bloods. He frequently works with his wife Robin Green.-Career:...
, directed by Henry J. Bronchtein
Henry J. Bronchtein
Henry J. Bronchtein is a director, producer and production manager on the HBO television series The Sopranos.-Background:Henry Bronchtein was born and raised in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, New York and attended New York City Public Schools...
and originally aired on October 13, 2002.
Guest starring roles
- Jerry AdlerJerry AdlerJerry Adler is an American theatre director, production supervisor and a television and film actor.Adler was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Pauline and Philip Adler, who was a general manager of the Group Theatre...
as Hesh Rabkin - Tony DarrowTony DarrowTony Darrow is an American actor.Darrow was born Anthony Borgese and grew up in the East New York section of Brooklyn. Darrow had plenty of opportunity to observe would be mobsters and their attitudes while growing up in his neighborhood in Brooklyn. As a child, Tony was gifted with a great...
as Larry Boy Barese - Matthew Del NegroMatthew Del NegroMatthew Del Negro is an American actor. He was born in Mount Kisco, New York as the youngest of three children. He is a graduate of Boston College, where he played Division I lacrosse. After graduating, he began to study acting, and after appearing in several minor commercials and independent...
as Brian Cammarata - Robert FunaroRobert FunaroRobert Funaro is an American film and television actor. Funaro is best known for the role of Eugene Pontecorvo in the Emmy Award-winning television series The Sopranos...
as Eugene Pontecorvo - Joseph R. GannascoliJoseph R. GannascoliJoseph R. Gannascoli is an Italian-American actor and celebrity spokesman most notable for his portrayal of Vito Spatafore on the HBO series, The Sopranos.-Early life:Joseph R. Gannascoli was born and raised in Brooklyn....
as Vito SpataforeVito SpataforeVito Spatafore, Sr., played by Joseph R. Gannascoli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a member of the DiMeo Crime Family and a subordinate of Tony Soprano. He was married to Marie Spatafore with two children, Francesca and Vito, Jr., and was a closeted homosexual... - Lola GlaudiniLola GlaudiniLola Glaudini is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Elle Greenaway on the hit CBS series Criminal Minds, and for her role as Agent Deborah Ciccerone on the award winning HBO series The Sopranos....
as Agent Deborah Ciccerone - Dan GrimaldiDan GrimaldiDaniel "Dan" Grimaldi is an American actor who is known for his roles as twins Philly and Patsy Parisi on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Career:...
as Patsy Parisi
- David CopelandDavid CopelandDavid John Copeland is a former member of the British National Party and the National Socialist Movement, who became known as the "London Nail Bomber" after a 13-day bombing campaign in April 1999 aimed at London's black, Bangladeshi and gay communities.Over three successive weekends between 17...
as Joey Cogo - Arthur J. NascarellaArthur J. NascarellaArthur J. Nascarella is an American actor who has appeared in dozens of films, most often playing a mobster or police officer. Among his notable film credits include a corrupt cop in Cop Land , a hypocritical ambulance captain in Bringing Out The Dead and a fed-up casino boss in The Cooler; he has...
as Carlo Gervasi - Pie-O-My as herself
- Richard PortnowRichard PortnowRichard Portnow is an American actor known for such films and television shows as Barton Fink, Se7en, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, The Spirit, Law Abiding Citizen, Private Parts, Fallen Arches, Double Down, Spring Break '83, The Sopranos, Hannah Montana and Boston Legal.-Life and career:A...
as Harold Melvoin - Michele SantopietroMichele SantopietroMichele Santopietro is an American actress of Italian and German descent. She is probably best known for her recurring character JoJo Palmice on HBO's critically acclaimed series The Sopranos, from seasons 1 through 4...
as JoJo Palmice - Matt ServittoMatt ServittoMatt Servitto is an American actor, probably best known for his role on The Sopranos as FBI agent Dwight Harris. He also appeared on all 3 seasons of the Peabody Award-winning series Brotherhood as Rep. Donatello and had a guest appearance on Sex and the City as Carrie Bradshaw's editor...
as Agent HarrisDwight HarrisSpecial Agent Dwight Harris, played by Matt Servitto, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is an FBI agent assigned to Tony Soprano's case... - Karen YoungKaren Young (actress)Karen Young is an American actress.Born in Pequannock Township, New Jersey, Young studied at Rutgers University. After graduation she moved to New York City and became an actress, appearing in such films as 9½ Weeks, Jaws: The Revenge, Daylight, Mercy and Hoffa. Her ex-husband is Tom Noonan...
as Agent Sanseverino
Episode recap
Ralph Cifaretto's racehorse, "Pie-O-My", wins a couple of races and makes a lot of money. Ralph gives Tony SopranoTony Soprano
Anthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely...
some of the winnings for picking the winning strategies. Tony grows fond of the horse, eventually referring to it as "our girl", in direct contrast to Ralph, who brusquely instructs the trainer – speaking of the jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
– to "tell that midget
Midget
A midget is a short person with relatively average bodily proportions in comparison with other human beings. The term is often improperly used to describe a person with the medical condition dwarfism. The two terms are often used synonymously because both terms originate as words defining small...
not to go easy with the whip". As Ralph continues to give Tony a "taste" of the prize earnings, Tony's growing expectation of an increasing share of the winnings creates tension between the two.
Carmela
Carmela Soprano
Carmela Soprano née DeAngelis, played by Edie Falco, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the wife of Mafia boss Tony Soprano and the program's most prominent female character.-Character biography:...
asks Tony to invest in some stock
Stock
The capital stock of a business entity represents the original capital paid into or invested in the business by its founders. It serves as a security for the creditors of a business since it cannot be withdrawn to the detriment of the creditors...
and sign papers for a life insurance trust
Life insurance trust
A life insurance trust is an irrevocable, non-amendable trust which is both the owner and beneficiary of one or more life insurance policies. Upon the death of the insured, the Trustee invests the insurance proceeds and administers the trust for one or more beneficiaries...
. Tony's accountant advises against the life insurance trust since it would be advantageous to Carmela only in the instance of Tony's death. When Tony eventually relents and gives permission to purchase the stock, she angrily announces that it has already split
Stock split
A stock split or stock divide increases the number of shares in a public company. The price is adjusted such that the before and after market capitalization of the company remains the same and dilution does not occur. Options and warrants are included....
and they've missed their chance.
Adriana La Cerva
Adriana La Cerva
Adriana La Cerva played by Drea de Matteo, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is the long-time girlfriend and, later, fiancée of Tony Soprano's protégé, Christopher Moltisanti.-Character history:...
is unhappy that her rock club, the Crazy Horse, is now being used as a meeting place for various mob associates. This has not gone unnoticed by her FBI handlers, who continue to press her for information. She also grows extremely paranoid that her activities as an informant will be discovered, although in reality, no one has an inkling of the truth.
Janice Soprano
Janice Soprano
Janice Soprano Baccalieri, played by Aida Turturro, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. She is Tony Soprano's elder sister. A young Janice has appeared in flashbacks, played by Madeline Blue and Juliet Fox.-Biography:...
takes an interest in Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri
Bobby Baccalieri
Robert "Bobby Bacala" Baccalieri, Jr., played by Steve R. Schirripa, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a Capo and later the acting underboss of the DiMeo Crime Family, as well as Tony Soprano's brother-in-law...
. She interferes in a conversation between the new widower and JoJo Palmice, then gives the dinner that JoJo had made for Bobby to Junior Soprano
Junior Soprano
Corrado John Soprano, Jr., played by Dominic Chianese, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Usually referred to as "Junior" or "Uncle Jun", he is the mentor and surrogate father for capo Tony Soprano. A younger Corrado sometimes appears in flashbacks and is played by Rocco...
. In trying to get closer to Bobby, Janice takes credit for Carmela's lasagna
Lasagna
Lasagna is a wide and flat type of pasta and possibly one of the oldest shapes. As with most other pasta shapes, the word is generally used in its plural form lasagne in Italy and the U.K. Traditionally, the dough was prepared in Southern Italy with semolina and water and in the northern regions,...
and also counsels him to put his grief behind him by focusing more on his work. After she tells him that Junior is counting on him, Bobby pulls himself together and completes a neglected task for Junior: meeting with a union shop steward to intimidate him into changing his vote in an upcoming election.
Meanwhile, when Junior catches the report of his court appearance on TV, he is displeased by the unflattering likeness painted by the courtroom artist
Courtroom sketch
A courtroom sketch is an artistic depiction of the proceedings in a court of law. To prevent distractions and preserve the privacy of those participating in court proceedings, cameras are not allowed in courtrooms in many jurisdictions...
. During the next day's proceedings, he fixes the artist with an intimidating stare.
With veterinarian
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
's fees for Pie-O-My piling up, the vet refuses further treatment until he is paid. Ralph, however, refuses to take action when the horse becomes sick during the night, passing along Tony's number; Tony rushes to the stables and settles the bill. Tony tells the vet he'd better hope the horse "makes it" before going into the stall to sit with the animal, where he comfortingly strokes her neck, telling her that everything will be all right.
First appearances
- Agent Robyn Sanseverino: The F.B.I. agent assigned to handle Adriana.
Title reference
- Ralph Cifaretto's racehorse, "Pie-O-My", wins a couple of races and makes a lot of money.
Music
- "My Rifle, My Pony and Me" by Dean MartinDean MartinDean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
and Ricky NelsonRicky NelsonEric Hilliard Nelson , better known as Ricky Nelson or Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor...
from Rio Bravo. - "The Gift that Keeps on Giving" by DeicideDeicide (band)Deicide is an American death metal band formed in 1987. Their first two albums, Deicide and Legion, are ranked second and third place in best-selling death metal albums of the SoundScan era.-As Amon/Carnage :...
from their album Insineratehymn.