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Matthew Weiner has been in the television business for several decades now, involved in several high-acclaimed projects. While his initial journey as a writer was filled with struggles, he soon found a strong footing when he got on boardThe Sopranos. While James Gandolfini was the major highlight of the show, Weiner, with his creativity and innovation, left no stone unturned.
But during his time on the Gandolfini starrer, he also hadMad Menin his hands. While the latter also created its own magic on the screens, Weiner avoided its production during the same time asThe Sopranos. Given that, this clash between one of the most sought-after shows on television would have been a major blow commercially.
The Reason Behind Matthew Weiner’s Decision to Steer Clear ofThe SopranosandMad MenClash
Matthew Weiner’s journey to showbiz has seen remarkable growth filled with several pivotal moments. He was once a struggling screenwriter who traveled to New York to pursue his writing dream. However, the not-so-glamorous lives of strugglers in the city scared him, and he went back to Los Angeles to attend film school.
But soon he started getting projects that shaped his true talents, and with his hard work and passion for the art, he soon began being recognized in the industry. One of the most important projects in his life was David Chase’sThe Sopranos. The showrunner was so impressed with Weiner’s talents that he got him on board theJames Gandolfiniproject.
On the other hand, Weiner also had the idea forMad Menat the same time. TheJon Hamm-starring show was a remarkable success and is still considered one of television’s most popular shows. However, viaIndie Wire,Weiner spent almost six years trying to sell the show.
This happened during the same time he was working as a writer and executive producer onThe Sopranos. When he finally did manage to sellMad Men, he was in no hurry to start production on the project. In the same interview, he added,“I arranged that I could finish The Sopranos,” as he didn’t want to miss the conclusion of what he considered“the greatest television show ever.”
“I don’t watch it”: The Sopranos isn’t the Only Show David Simon Name-Dropped When asked What Inspired The Wire
However, his reasoning for not starting production ofthe Hamm starrerwas also due to the fact that he didn’t want a clash betweenMad MenandThe Sopranos. This makes complete sense, given the popularity of the Gandolfini starrer at the time. This decision likely helped avoid potential negative impacts on the ratings of both shows, as well as potential commercial losses.
David Chase’s Original Finale Plan forThe Sopranos
Only a few television endings have sparked as much debate asThe Sopranos.While some viewers loved the open-ended finale, but others felt it lacked closure. Interestingly, David Chase, the show’s creator, originally had a different ending in mind. Thisalternate endingmight have been just as controversial, showing that no matter how the show concluded, strong opinions were inevitable.
In the final episode, Tony and his family are at a diner. As they sit down, a suspicious-looking person is seen in the background. Just as Tony’s daughter, Meadow, is about to enter, the screen abruptly goes black.
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For over fifteen years, fans have been guessing about the meaning of this ending. But in an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Chase answered these very questions. He added:
Because the scene I had in my mind was not that scene. Nor did I think of cutting to black. (Chase said) I had a scene in which Tony comes back from a meeting in New York in his car. At the beginning of every show, he came from New York into New Jersey, and the last scene could be him coming from New Jersey back into New York for a meeting at which he was going to be killed.
Yes, Tony was intended to be killed. David Chase planned this from the start while developing the final episode. The screen cutting to black was meant to signify his death and what follows in the narrative.
You can watchThe Sopranoson Max.
Sakshi Singh
Articles Published :1436
Sakshi Singh has written over 1,300 entertainment articles, mostly about Netflix shows and reality TV. She’s spent the last two years covering everything from surprise engagements to shocking eliminations and previously wrote for Essentially Sports in their Netflix Junkie division. A self-proclaimed reality TV addict, Sakshi has watched all 48 seasons of Survivor and never misses a new dating or competition series. She loves watching how strangers meet, fall in love, team up, or betray each other - it’s the mix of strategy and drama that keeps her hooked. When she’s not glued to a reality show, she’s usually watching a crime thriller or tracking the next big streaming hit.
