Top 10 Funniest Moments from The Sopranos

Top 10 Funniest Moments from The Sopranos

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the times that this iconic HBO drama made us say “hehe.”

#10: Some Pulp

“Second Opinion”

We think it’s probably pretty fair to say that Tony and Carmela Soprano’s marriage has seen its share of ups and downs. Probably more downs, to be honest. This episode clearly illustrates, through a number of lenses, the struggles of their tempestuous relationship — in particular, their often-precarious financial situation. Overwhelmed by the pressure which seems to be closing in from all sides, Carmela loses her temper at Tony’s childish demand for more orange juice… specifically the kind that he likes. The insensitive incident only deepens Carmela’s resentment following a solo therapy session with Dr. Melfi; after that, the elderly, taciturn Dr. Krakower gets very real with her.

#9: Detective Mike Hunt

“Whoever Did This”

One of the rare “Sopranos” jokes that would work just as well on a major network, and it’s all thanks to a bit of incredibly crude wordplay as part of a mean-spirited prank pulled off by Joe Pantoliano’s Ralphie Cifaretto. The juvenile gag is the result of a brewing beef between Ralphie and Paulie, all stemming from a nasty comment the former had made about Johnny Sack’s wife — which predictably gets back to Johnny himself, via Paulie. Seeking revenge, Ralphie, Vito, and Eugene crank-call Paulie’s mother, Nucci, with Ralphie giving himself something of a… colorfully-named alter ego. We’ll let you figure the joke out.

#8: Whack Your Enthusiasm

“Where's Johnny?”

Uncle Junior’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and subsequent decline in mental health form an important part of the plotlines of “The Sopranos’' later seasons, and “Where’s Johnny?” goes a long way in bringing Corrado’s affliction to the series’ forefront. While idly watching television, Junior is shocked to see himself and Bobby arguing on the screen. Except… it isn’t. It’s Larry David and Jeff Garlin, also of HBO fame, but for the “Seinfeld” offshoot “Curb Your Enthusiasm” — who admittedly bear an amusingly close resemblance to the two. It feels worth noting that a plot point on a 2005 “Curb” episode focuses on David’s system for arranging his “Sopranos” DVDs, possibly a tribute to this episode’s hilarious shoutout.

#7: Artie Bickle

“Everybody Hurts”

We can’t believe that John Ventimiglia, the actor behind Artie Bucco, wasn’t Emmy-nominated for his mighty tragicomic performance in this episode. Bucco, trapped by a failed business deal and staring down the barrel of a loan from Tony, musters up his courage to confront his new nemesis, Jean-Philippe. However, instead of taking inspiration from “The Godfather,” “Goodfellas,” or any of the other films that his mobster friends idolize, Artie instead opts for a decidedly sub par impression of Travis Bickle, Robert De Niro’s unhinged “Taxi Driver” character. Realizing that said confrontation ends with Jean-Philippe tearing Artie’s earring out adds another layer of cringe comedy.

#6: Remembering Livia

“Proshai, Livushka”

It probably goes without saying that the irascible, miserable, one-of-a-kind Livia was not exactly the warm-and-fuzzy type. Livia passes away suddenly at the beginning of the third “Sopranos” season, and her extravagant wake at the Soprano family home could probably rank at #1 of the show’s most awkward moments. When Janice, Tony’s sister, pressures an uncomfortable group of mourners into eulogizing her mother, she gets a great deal more than she’d bargained for. A stoned Chris tries his best to chime in before Carmela and her father unburden themselves of the clearly ridiculous notion that Livia can be remembered fondly.

#5: South of the Border

“Boca”

The subject of this scene and psychiatry, according to Tony, are the two key factors that contributed to his mother Livia’s attempt to assassinate him — alongside Junior, her co-conspirator. The latter’s longtime comare Bobbi’s loose lips, in that case, are the smoking gun. She goes a step too far in oversharing about her and Junior’s “bedroom habits,” and panic spreads through the grapevine concerning the recently-appointed Junior’s ability to lead as acting boss of the DiMeo crime family. Once Carmela spills the beans to Tony, the tension already growing between the two threatens to boil over, as a supposedly innocuous trip to the golf course turns into the Roast of Corrado “Junior” Soprano.

#4: Satanic Black Magic

“From Where to Eternity”

One of the best displays of Paulie Walnuts’ eccentric behavior follows Christopher’s alarmingly close brush with death at the inept hands of Matt Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte. Still recovering, a woozy, heavily-sedated Chris tells Tony and Paulie about a nightmarish vision of Hell he experienced while unconscious. He caps it off with an ominous, beyond-the-grave transmission, supposedly from the deceased Brendan Filone and Mikey Palmice, the latter of whom met his end by Paulie’s hand. The deeply superstitious Paulie attends a seance in an attempt to dispel the warning. Unsurprisingly, Paulie’s devout faith is no match for the vengeful spirits.

#3: Notredamus

“For All Debts Public and Private”

Talk about a meeting of the minds. A running theme throughout “The Sopranos” is the decline of capitalism and the American empire, which sweet, simple Bobby attempts to, ah, ponder in his own unique way. What follows is an almost impressive display of ignorance, in which the future Mr. Janice Soprano confuses Nostradamus, Quasimodo, and Indiana’s University of Notre Dame. In typical “Sopranos” fashion, the scene serves as a beautifully subtle bit of character development for both Tony and Bobby. Maybe, after this scene, Tony understood how Dr. Melfi feels after one of his infamous malaprops.

#2: “You're Not Gonna Believe This…”

“Pine Barrens”

Routinely acclaimed as one of the series’ best episodes, “Pine Barrens” is, without a doubt, one of its funniest. That status is largely the result of Chrissy and Paulie’s odd-couple chemistry, and the increasingly absurd and bizarre circumstances they find themselves in. Unexpectedly forced to drive out to the titular New Jersey Pine Barrens, the mismatched duo quickly discover that they’re wildly out of their element. This is only emphasized when Paulie receives a garbled call from Tony, who warns them of the potential danger their target poses. Being that they’re so far out in the woods, Paulie’s cell phone reception is considerably weakened, and his resulting misinterpretation has since become one of the show’s most iconic lines.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Livia Starts a Fire, “46 Long”

A Sign That Tony’s Miserable Mother Is Ready for a “Retirement Community”

Bobby Is Shy, “...To Save Us All from Satan's Power”

What the Boss Wants, the Boss Gets

Unveiling Joey Peeps’ Tombstone, “Unidentified Black Males”

A Rather Unfortunate Miscommunication That Leaves Tony Speechless

Brushing Up on Leotardo Family History, “Stage 5”

Phil & Richie Aprile Could’ve Bonded over Their Shared Distaste for Dance Attire

Paulie’s Beef with Shoelaces, “Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood”

Maybe We Need a Separate List about All the Things Paulie Is Afraid Of?

#1: Chrissy's Intervention

“The Strong, Silent Type”

Usually an intervention for substance use is, well, a sober affair. But when Adriana’s beloved dog Cosette meets her end at the hand — er, uh, rear of a strung-out Christopher, the resulting sit-down goes about as well as you might expect. Even despite the family’s best efforts to stage an accurate intervention, going so far as to enlist a qualified mediator, the session almost immediately goes off the rails. This is, of course, to the audience’s benefit — we’re treated to, pound-for-pound, some of the funniest exchanges on the entire show. Who’d have thought that “sensitivity” wasn’t exactly Tony and the gang’s strong suit?

Which “Sopranos” moment made you laugh as hard as Tony in this scene? Let us know in the comments below! Anyway, four dollars a pound.