To celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Sopranos, HBO has launched an official TikTok for the iconic TV series. The account features a ‘Sopranos in 25’, which comprises super-condensed, 25-second recaps of all 86 episodes. While the marketing executives may have initially celebrated their brainstorming session where this idea was conceived, it seems that a portion of the fan base has reacted strongly against it, with a few going as far as labelling it “blasphemy”.
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The inevitable outcome of slicing apart one of the greatest small screen shows like salami could have been foreseen. Yet, it mirrors the times we live in. It’s no secret that our minds are overrun by doom scrolling—an incessant urge to seek solace in a dopamine-laden realm of dogs, attractive individuals, and more dogs, all within the confines of our smartphones.
Now, compound this phenomenon with the latest fixation on consuming entire shows or films in bite-sized morsels on social media. If I held sway as the world’s ruler, I’d banish this practice outright. Yet, here I am, ensnared by my device’s allure. Nevertheless, stronger people than I have risen up to protest this crime against the arts. Check out a collection of the best reactions below as reported by Dexerto:
- “This is NOT how a studio should celebrate one of their most successful shows ever”
- “Legitimately unsure if they’re capable of coming up with a worse sounding idea”
- “They really tryna appeal to Gen Z lol. Just accept their brains are fried and they’ll never understand the show’s greatness”
- “This is f**king blasphemy”
- “This is truly what David Chase intended when he created the show”
Others have theorised that HBO has done this to circumvent paying residuals to on-screen and behind-the-screen talent:
- “Remember folks, they dont have to pay residuals for content on TikTok”
- “Very nice, now let’s see how much they pay creatives for that”
- “Idk man sounds like a way to not pay actors their residuals”
While the TikTok account has received mixed reviews, Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max streamer has done fans a solid and released never-before-seen deleted footage as well as behind-the-scenes content. Free episodes of The Sopranos will also be available to sample through select cable partners, and the first two episodes from Season 1 will be thrown up on Max’s YouTube channel for free.
In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the premiere of “The Sopranos” in 1999, Variety reported that HBO has lined up an array of exciting events and experiences. Scheduled for January 10, these celebrations will include a highly anticipated cast reunion and various experiences for fans. One highlight is a series of exclusive fan screenings at Alamo Drafthouse, allowing aficionados to relive the magic of the show.
A particularly exclusive affair is the private “family dinner” organised by Max, bringing together the cast of in an undisclosed location. The venue will be transformed with thematic decor inspired by the series and a specially curated menu drawing from the show’s iconic dishes.
Reports from the entertainment outlet also revealed a host of other activations to mark the milestone. In various cities, pop-up sandwich stores and restaurants will offer Sopranos-themed dishes like Carmela’s Baked Ziti and Satriale’s Special Caprese, providing fans with an authentic taste of the Soprano family’s culinary world.
Moreover, Max is collaborating with Robert Iler and Jamie-Lynn Sigler for an exclusive 25th Anniversary edition of their podcast, Not Today, Pal. This special episode will delve into their experiences portraying Meadow and AJ featuring anecdotes and fan-driven discussions.
“’The Sopranos’ left an indelible imprint on the global entertainment culture and was instrumental in defining HBO as the destination for groundbreaking, award-winning programming,” said Zach Enterlin, executive VP of brand, content and creative of streaming marketing for HBO and Max. “The many ways we will honor this 25-year milestone will allow fans to celebrate the Soprano legacy and pay tribute to the characters that have had such an enduring impact.”
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