Mr. Gandolfini’s untimely death is sad, and he certainly brought the world a memorable character. However, from the Wall Street Journal to USA Today to every corner of the Huffington Post world, the lionization of James/Tony is approaching that afforded Steve Jobs. The flags are at half-staff in New Jersey. Government buildings honoring a man whose fame was as a gangster? The Sopranos flummoxed the Barometer — bad language, violence, and an overdone theme. In a column when the series was running on HBO, the Barometer’s thoughts:
“Is it satire? Is it soap opera? Is it parody? Is it made-for-TV drama? The deadpan psychiatrist who treats Mr. Soprano has me perplexed – is she just a bad actress or is this the way psychoanalysis goes? If so, I’ve changed my opinion on therapy –
just the laughs from your analysts would be worth the hourly rate.  Edie Soprano, in the one episode I endured, fretted over sending her son to a military school where he would have exposure to guns. Brass knuckles, switchblades and neck wires that Dad has around the house are one thing, but when you start talking guns, well, you’ve crossed the line.
Did folks not see The Godfather? Do they not understand that the Mafia moral dichotomy has already been explored with better acting, cinematography and story line? Fredo was the ne’er-do-well son, Michael was the accomplished one. As Michael stands
as godfather for his nephew, he is having countless competitors killed, some with guns and some with politically correct weapons.
Did folks not see Married to the Mob, Mickie Blue Eyes, My Blue Heaven, or any Robert DeNiro film? If it is satire
or parody you’re looking for, these were better and with less violence and cleaner language.”
Why the fascination with a character whose New Jersey wealth came from crime? Snooki at least earns an honorable living from being shallow. Why the universal mourning? We haven’t seen Mr. Gandolfini in much of anything since The Sopranos ended, so it’s not as if a household presence has left us. The ubiquitous eulogies seem to spring from the same feelings that earned the show its following. We want to believe that no matter what behavior we engage in that we can all still be “good” people. Tony Soprano sought psychiatric help for his angst about his line of work. Actually, he wanted validation for his work because he couldn’t bring himself to give up the wealth and power. If he gave up what he was doing that was wrong, he had to face a reduction in income, a change in lifestyle, and the prospect of holding down a regular job. It wasn’t even clear if Mr. Soprano had any skills or training to get a job that did not involve threats, drugs, and homicide.
Folks watched The Sopranos for rationalizations — Tony Soprano was a way for us to say, “I’m not so bad,” “Sometimes it is just too difficult to give up what I know is wrong,” and “There’s some good in everyone.” There is right and there is wrong. Angst about doing wrong does not make it right. The good we do does not exonerate our misdeeds. You still have to right the course.
One more thought. Over the years the Barometer has witnessed pitch-fork frenzies when CEOs have engaged in accounting fraud, embezzlement, Ponzi schemes, and, in the case of Walmart, just building a store or two here and there.  Business people who cross ethical and/or legal lines are portrayed as Satanic. Interesting how evil that are portrayed to be when their missteps never involved murder. Still they had the Soprano life — families, comfortable incomes, and a great many philanthropic activities.   They probably shared Soprano’s angst. We hated them because, well they were bad. Funny how selective we are in our choices of idols.  Mafia okay, as long as you feel bad about it. Business, well, never an excuse. Judgment comes so easily, except when it comes to Cosa Nostra figures — those folks, well, they aren’t all bad.
