The hit crime drama “The Sopranos” sent ripples throughout television culture, first on its 1999 debut broadcast on HBO, and second when it came to streaming service HBO Max in 2020, solidifying its place as a multigenerational classic.
For Long Islanders who have an interest in Sopranos’ thrills and legacy, Merrick resident Andrew Jedlicka will bring four of the show’s stars to Bellmore.
Jedlicka is the founder of The Andrew Frank Group, a consulting firm managing several actors who starred in the primetime drama.
“A Night With The Sopranos” will feature Robert Funaro, Jason Cerbone, Dan Grimaldi, and a fourth mystery guest from the show at the Bellmore Movies and The Showplace on Nov. 21, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
“It’s always a great time when I reunite with Robert, Jason, and the mystery guest, and have an opportunity to talk about my characters,” Grimaldi said in a statement to the Herald. He played the twin characters Patsy and Philly Parisi on the show.
Cerbone played Jackie Aprile Jr. on the show in his early 20s — at the time, he had already watched the first season of the show and was excited to join the cast.
“I was getting to join this world that I was already a huge fan of,” he said. “The whole journey was pretty overwhelming at first… I feel very lucky to be a part of this show and to have that in my life, to have these cast members that I get to spend a lot of time with and do these events with, it has actually been fantastic.”
“I'm looking forward to fans of the show being able to hang with us, for us to tell some fun stories that maybe people wouldn't normally get to hear about, and answer some questions they may have,” he continued. “I love that back and forth interaction with them.”
The show’s second wave of popularity occurred in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, when many people staying at home had opportunities to explore classic shows on streaming services.
“People were just inside all the time,” Funaro said, “a couple of generations really caught up with Sopranos.”
Funaro played the role of Eugene in the Sopranos and has starred in the Oscar-winning film The Irishman as well as American Gangster. When he is off the set, audiences follow along with his homecooked recipes on social media.
“As Dan Grimaldi says, ‘it's the gift that keeps on giving,’ being on The Sopranos,” Funaro said. “I don't think any of us realized the gravitas in the aftermath of the popularity of it… I think everyone on The Sopranos is very personable and courteous, and appreciative of popularity, and I think it's a great way to give back.”
The Emmy award winning show celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. The show connected with different generations because it captured something anybody can relate to, according to Funaro: the challenges of social pressure and personal standards, all packed into a clever script with powerful performances.
A large part of The Sopranos’ identity is Italian American culture.
“People recognize the Sunday dinners,” Funaro said. “There's baked ziti and all those great Italian traditions.”
Sunday dinner has become an important part of Funaro’s projects; in collaboration with Jedlicka and author James McCusker, the trio created “HomeMade,” born from a shared passion for bookmaking, fine cuisine, and The Sopranos. The book features eight family recipes and also features his favorite personal stories while working on The Sopranos.
“Through Robert's cooking, through his stories in this book, we really want to bring Sunday dinners back,” Jedlicka said.
Jedlicka connected with the cast members during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, discussing business ventures they were passionate about and making them into a reality — perfumes, cigars, sauces and books.
“It's just a privilege to not only work with them, but to bring this event to Long Island,” Jedlicka said.
After the event in Bellmore, the group is considering making similar shows elsewhere in the country.
JD Sarantakos of JD’s Productions and the Andrew Frank Group present the event. Tickets are available on Eventbrite, general admission at $40 to $50, and VIP tickets at $100, granting special merchandise, front row seating, and exclusive access. To register, visit BellmoreMovies.com.
To learn more about similar projects and events, visit @andrewfrankgroup on Facebook and Instagram.
