Writer: David Chase and Terence Winter
Director: John Patterson

Guest Stars:

Linda Lavin – Dr. Wendi Kobler
Carl Capotorto – Little Paulie Germani
Robert Funaro – Eugene Pontecorvo

Lola Glaudini – Agent Deborah Ciccerone (aka Danielle Ciccolella)

Dan Grimaldi – Patsy Parisi

Joseph R. Gannascoli – Vito Spatafore

Frank Pellegrino – Bureau Chief Cubitso
Matt Servitto – Agent Dwight Harris
Robert Desiderio – Jack Massarone
Max Casella – Benny Fazio

George Loros – Raymond Curto
Richard Maldone – Albert Barese

Arthur Nascarella – Carlo Gervasi

Raymond Franza – Donny K.
Will Arnett – Mike Waldrup
Danyelle Lahne Freeman – Misty Giaculo
Chris Hogan – Student Advisor
David Lomax – Laborer
Jeff E. Surawski – Swingin’ Neckbreakers
John Clark Jorgensen – Swingin’ Neckbreakers
Thomas Jorgensen – Swingin’ Neckbreakers

Music In This Episode (thanks to all the fans on the HBO Boards who help identify the songs):

Robert & Johnny – “We Belong Together” (Tony in Vesuvio)

Santana – “Jin-Go-La-Ba” (Chris, Patsy and Little Paulie together)

The Swingin’ Neckbreakers – “You” (live pereformance in Adriana’s club)
Fatback (a.k.a. The Fatback Band) – “I Like Girls” (Tony joins Silvio in the back room of the Bada Bing)

Radiohead – ‘Kid A” (closing)

The Esplanade Project has become everyone’s bread and butter, but Chris’ happiness over being made the acting Capo of Paulie’s crew is rather short lived. Silvio’s reaction when Chris joked about “getting wings in his hair” makes me think he feels Chris isn’t ready for the responsibility and Sil also seems confused that Tony is encouraging Chris’ “Napoleon thing.” Anyway, Patsy insists that Chris gave him the OK to boost the fiber optic cable when Tony gets pissed about it. When Patsy wants to jack the floor tiles too, since he thinks he should have become Capo and gotten the cushy no-show job, he gets the OK from Silvio… even though they both know Tony wants them to lay off. Sil explains that the whole matter away as a “misunderstanding” which Tony appears to be fine with, as long as he gets his cut, but he does register that Silvio is acting funny.

When Tony stops by Janice’s and spots Ralph’s tassled loafer he warns her that he’s trouble, but she goes back to the old story of her brother not wanting her to be happy. What Janice doesn’t know is that Ralphie’s “style” is more about brutality than Ralph Lauren. But after watching him clip his toenails in her bed I believe she’s finally starting to question what she sees in him. Ralph tells Vito (a stellar basketball opponent!) that he’s never met anyone like her before, but of course he’s also looking out for his career. He may well have met his match, for better or worse, because with her temper… well, Richie was a brute too and look what happened to him.

Hanging out at Adriana’s club, Danielle drops Mafia into the conversation and then picks up on Ade’s little “cash business” slip. It looks like Ade’s about to finally dish the dirt on Chris and the family business, but instead she tearfully confides that she had an abortion and may not be able to have children. Chris interrupts the exchange to present Ade with a georgeous Harry Winston diamond bracelet, in celebration of his promotion. However, when Tony comes down on him about not seeing “the big picture”, he starts shooting heroin again. Later, while doing some “primo” coke in the office of the club, Chris puts his hand on Danielle’s thigh and then claims she came on to him. Was it a crafty plan to get rid of Ade’s new pal? Well, it sure worked, and it shot four months of undercover work down the drain. The FBI’s only recourse is to haul her in and see if she’ll flip. Threatened with 25 years in jail for cocaine possession and the thought of what Tony will do if he ever finds out, poor Ade projectile vomits all over the conference table, and Agent Deborah Ciccerone.

Tony tells Dr. Melfi about Meadow slobbing around the house, and her lack of enthusiasm for anything. Melfi suggests she may be suffering from depression due to the death of her friend, and suggests a psychiatrist for her. Carmela and Tony try to present a united front when Meadow announces she decides she’s taking a year off to go to Europe with Misty, but Tony caves and tells her to do whatever she wants. Carm, hoping for an ally, insists that Meadow talk to Dr. Wendi Kobler first. That backfires because kooky Kobler encourages Meadow to take a break, and even offers to write her a letter to the University of Barcelona. This leads to another confrontation during which Meadow points out the pivotal role of the work ethic in their family and then refers to her father as “Mr. Mob Boss”. When Tony finally gets in her face, she backs down and darts out of the house. (Did you catch her magically changing hair during this? A bit sloppy if you ask me.) Tony and Carm are worried that she’s taken off for Europe, but instead she’s at Columbia registering for classes like “Morality, Self and Society” at the last moment. She should be able to make some interesting contributions to that one.

Meanwhile, Paulie seems to be weirding out, especially since the fellas are neglecting his dear mother, and you know even before next week’s preview that the 95 pound mole joke that Ralph made is gonna get back to Johnny Sack. There should be some fireworks in the next episode for sure. And what the heck is up with Carmela primping before opening to door for Furio?