| "The Telltale Moozadell" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sopranos episode | |||
.jpg) Furio Giunta confronts Rocco De Trollio | |||
| Episodeno. | Season 3 Episode 9 | ||
| Directed by | Dan Attias | ||
| Written by | Michael Imperioli | ||
| Cinematography by | Phil Abraham | ||
| Production code | 309 | ||
| Original air date | April 22, 2001 (2001-04-22) | ||
| Running time | 55 minutes | ||
| Episode chronology | |||
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| The Sopranosseason 3 | |||
| List of episodes | |||
"The Telltale Moozadell" is the 35th episode of the American crime dramaThe Sopranos and the ninth of the show's third season. It was written byMichael Imperioli and directed byDan Attias. It originally aired in the U.S. on April 22, 2001, onHBO.
Nine years after its debut, interest in this episode increased due to online views of a scene including pop singerLady Gaga, then credited as Stefani Germanotta.
* = credit only
A.J. and some friends break into their high school one night and go swimming. Some of them break into a teacher's office, throw supplies into the pool, and smash the trophy case. The police trace a custom pizza left at the scene to them. There is a conference between the school principal and the football coach, andTony andCarmela with A.J. The Sopranos are surprised, and Carmela is angry, that A.J.'s punishment is going to be suspended because of his improved academic performance, and because it is in "his best interest – and the team's" for him to continue playing football. The principal says that any punishment should now be decided by the parents; they ground A.J. for a month with extra chores, such as cleaning the gutters.
Carmela is delighted with the large sapphire ring Tony gives her for her birthday. She later asks, "Is there anything you need to tell me?"
Tony is teased, provoked, thrilled, and fascinated byGloria. At her request, he takes her to the zoo, and they have sex in the deserted reptile house. In a hotel room, undressing him, she is thrilled to find his gun. She says ironically, "Mr. Waste Management!" At her next session withDr. Melfi she speaks of her happiness. Melfi asks about the man's voice she heard when Gloria last phoned her; Gloria seems offended and answers evasively. Melfi reminds Gloria that she attempted suicide when her last relationship failed. At Tony's next session he says that he had a very successful week and gives Melfi a bonus on top of his regular payment. She tries to refuse it, but he insists. She knows she is being lied to.
Carmela has begun to approve ofJackie Jr. as a romantic partner forMeadow, as he is helpful around the house and bonds with A.J., mentoring him in football. In a heart-to-heart with Tony, Jackie promises that he will work hard. Later, Tony runs into him at an illegal casino and angrily rebukes him, saying emphatically, "If you're spending time with my daughter, I want the best from you."
TheSoprano family takes over a nightclub.Christopher tellsAdriana that she will be the owner/manager. She renames it "Crazy Horse." On the club's opening night,Matush is caught dealingecstasy in the bathroom and thrown out. Jackie tells Matush that he and Chris are associates. He asks Chris to let his friend Matush continue dealing inside the club; Chris dismisses him. Jackie then tells Matush that Chris permits him to deal outside the club. He does so and is badly beaten up byFurio and his men. At home, Jackie asksRalphie for a "piece" and, without much questioning, Ralphie gives him a.38 revolver.
Television Without Pity graded the episode with a B+.[3]: 1 Its review compared the scene of the police interrogating the pizza restaurant workers to a parody ofDragnet.[3]: 5
In his 2002 bookThe Sopranos on the Couch: Analyzing Television's Greatest Series,Brock University professor Maurice Yacowar considers Verbum Dei's decision to avoid expelling A.J. for vandalizing the swimming pool a "dangerous gift" that "defines the school as...self-serving".[4]
In 2010, interest in this episode increased due to aYouTube clip of the scene featuringLady Gaga, then aged 15 and credited under her real name Stefani Germanotta.[1][5][6]
