There are no statistics available for this player Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here One such case occurs in “Employee of the Month” Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) enters the parking garage after work She attempts to escape her attacker but is shoved by him on the stairs and brutally raped The scene is hauntingly graphic and blunt.  Without any forbidding music or cut-away camera work viewers are forced to endure the intensity of the scene.  Due to a unfortunate loss in the chain of custody the police have no choice but to free her rapist she sees a picture of him where he has been named employee of the month.  There is a moment in her session with mob boss Tony Soprano where it is overwhelmingly clear to fans that she longs to tell him about the assault she suffered Melfi suggests Tony consider seeing a behavior modification therapist she has a dream where her hand is trapped inside a vending machine and her rapist is advancing towards her she comes to the realization: Tony Soprano is the dog coming to her defense Tony is concerned during their appointment when she begins to cry and goes to her he can tell by the silence that she is contemplating The internal struggle and eventual triumph of omission are crucial to Dr She knows her client and has been studying him for years Though she is not privy to all his business undertakings she is aware of his line of work and how their therapist-patient confidentiality agreement allows him a level of comfort which is often not awarded to him outside of the family setting.  So she knows that she’d only have to mention the name Jesus Rossi to Tony and she’d 'have her problem taken care of' She would effectively destroy the boundary between them stunting Tony’s growth that they were able to make during each session and jeopardizing her career for temporary gratification and an unfulfilling retribution If I’m willing to have Tony Soprano kill for me Do I have him murder a neighbour who owes me money If I tell him a store clerk was rude to me Other repercussions might have involved her being asked to repay the ‘favor’ because there is no true ‘help from the mafia' She also would have been a willing participant and accessory to a crime It is all these factors that led to Jennifer’s silence But it is also these factors that exist in the real world factors which women are forced to consider when put in a position of vulnerability Employee of the Month is chilling because like a large majority of the series Why did David Chase create a shocking storyline for a beloved character Though it is initially posited that Chase intended for the rape plotline to reduce Melfi to a victim in those final moments it is revealed that he did it to push her to confront a crisis of ethics and morality Her unwillingness to “take the easy way out” separates her from Tony Soprano and from the mafia.  Bracco herself was surprised by the writers’ decision for her character “When they told me they were going to do this ‘Why are you going to hurt Melfi?’ And David said and that’s because she doesn’t tell him.’...If she told him and then she could no longer be his doctor 1931 in Syracuse to the late Robert Melfi and Ada Meaker and Harold Melfi; and his sister Dorothea Dyer Mike John and Jason and Anthony; daughters and later married Irene and moved to Groton where they raised their children and fostered several children over 40 years Bill worked at Cortland Memorial Hospital where he retired after 20 years to stay home and help his wife with the children donations can be made to Hospicare at 172 E Advertise Here! “Alexa, Play X101 Always Classic” Cookie ConsentWe use cookies to improve your experience on our site Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website Statistics cookies collect information anonymously This information helps us understand how visitors use our website Marketing cookies are used to follow visitors to websites The intention is to show ads that are relevant and engaging to the individual user You can find more information about our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Thanks for visiting Thanks for visiting The Sopranos‘ actor Lorraine Bracco has opened up about her character’s “abrupt” ending in the popular TV series The actress portrayed the role of Dr. Jennifer Melfi, the psychiatrist of Mafia boss Tony Soprano (played by the late James Gandolfini). In an interview with The Independent Bracco discussed her character’s sudden ending In season six episode 20 titled “The Blue Comet” Melfi decides to sever her ties with with the mobster after being berated by her colleagues at a dinner party She served as Soprano’s therapist for the entirety of the series “I never did like the way he ended our session together,” Bracco told the outlet She also opened up about the character itself saying: “One of the things that was very important – and unusual – was that she was this very educated Italian woman So that was something that propelled me in creating her.” Bracco also discussed her character’s most controversial storyline in which she is raped and decides to not seek revenge via Tony Soprano I didn’t understand it at all in the beginning,” she explained I couldn’t even finish the script.’ And he said could you finish it and then call me back?’” ‘What the hell is going on here?’ And I realised it was the fork in the road of morality for Dr Melfi In other news, it was recently revealed that Gandolfini almost walked out on The Sopranos following a failed drugs intervention Speaking in new documentary Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos, HBO CEO Chris Albrecht recalled the actor’s struggles with substance abuse during production “We did an intervention with him at my apartment in New York,” he said “That was to try to get him to go to a facility for rehab and the ruse was that I was inviting Jimmy over so we could talk things through and kind of clear the air.” fuck this.’ And he walked out,” Albrecht added Back in June, the cast of The Sopranos reunited at the Tribeca Film Festival to mark the show’s 25th anniversary as well as the premiere of the documentary Meanwhile, Sopranos star Jamie-Lynn Sigler – who played Tony Soprano’s daughter Meadow on the series – recently revealed that Gandolfini quietly donated to MS charities in her name after she was diagnosed with the disease in 2002 The world’s defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking what’s new and what’s next since 1952 Don't have an account? Subscribe “Our goal is to help stakeholders understand the future of mobility.” Home › News Releases › Jeep® confirms next-generation Compass will be revealed in Europe; Production begins in Melfi Following the recent teaser of the all-new Jeep Compass the brand confirms the global reveal will take place in Europe this spring European production of the Next-generation Compass remains on track to begin this year in Melfi where the photos distributed today were taken The new Jeep Compass will offer an expanded powertrain lineup to meet the diverse needs and preferences of customers: e-Hybrid with all-wheel drive available on select models the Jeep Compass powers possibility with affordable Jeep® capability SOURCE: Stellantis Let us help you understand the future of mobility Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" and trends shaping the future of electric mobility Tickets for this in-person event are limited and trends shaping the future of the software-defined vehicle and trends shaping the future of autonomous mobility © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices Sydney Bucksbaum is a writer at Entertainment Weekly covering all things pop culture – but TV is her one true love She currently lives in Los Angeles but grew up in Chicago so please don't make fun of her accent when it slips out If there’s one thing most modern-day weddings are not there’s not much time left to sit back and enjoy your big day a new wedding venue that opened last year in Schuylerville And if you require even more relaxation during your wedding weekend Sacred also just so happens to be one of the area’s most luxurious holistic spas Abby Melfi fell in love with a guy on the East Coast and Abby and Anthony Melfi teamed up with partner Gary Gullo to buy GMP Farm a 100-acre horse rehabilitation facility located 20 minutes from the Spa City that’s complete with cold water therapy a vibration plate and several equine hyperbaric chambers “It’s basically a spa for horses,” says Melfi of the farm Sacred Spa and Wellness opened in August 2022 in a 10,000-square-foot converted horse barn That’s right: The horse stalls are now treatment rooms where Melfi and her team provide noninvasive medspa treatments including laser genesis microneedling and body sculpting as well as traditional spa offerings such as massages infrared sauna sessions and lash extensions While Sacred Spa is open to the public year-round it shines especially brightly during wedding season Couples can pamper their bridesmaids with massage treatments the day before the wedding or host a yoga class for their entire guest list the morning of Sacred offers guests discounted spa treatments whether the wedding is for 500 (hosted in Sacred’s horse arena) or 50 (hosted in the intimate eurociser building) and on-site hair and makeup services are just icing on the (wedding) cake ‘Why aren’t we sharing this with other people?’” Melfi says “It was a perfect setting for our love story The whole point of Sacred is that it’s a sacred journey.” Still not sure what a horse farm/wedding venue/spa hybrid looks like in practice it seems a trip to Schuylerville is in order The second ever Florida Man Games have come and gone with the returning champions from the inaugural games defending their title as the ultimate Florida men (and woman) The 2025 games featured a new competition involving a “Florida man baby daddy” mannequin a sports bra slingshot and a water balloon – which was the challenge that won team Hanky Spanky from St But the fun is far from over, the organizers confirmed that there’s a Florida Man Games TV deal on the horizon which could bring an added layer of excitement to the next edition of the games Here’s who took the winning shot at the Florida Man Games 2025 information about the games and what to know about the Florida Man Games' potential TV deal Returning champions win Florida Man Games a second timeAccording to the 2025 Florida Man Games organizer Pete Melfi this year’s events ended in “a dramatic finish that came down to the very last slingshot shot of the night winning team Hanky Spanky was down by only one point toward the end of the games and got the points that won them the game in a new “Florida woman” challenge The task was to knock out a Florida man “baby daddy” (a mannequin) smoking a cigarette by using a sports bra slingshot and a water balloon with her final shot – and the final shot of the night – hit the mannequin in the ‘nuts’ and it slowly (fell) over giving them the three points needed to win,” Melfi wrote in an email to the USA TODAY Network in Florida What to know about The Florida Man Games Mechanical gator riding, lawnmower races and more The Florida Man Games is a silly and irreverent X Games-like athletic competition that gathers thousands of Floridians to watch teams from each region of the state compete in headline-worthy battles to test very unique skills you can find teams of Florida men and women competing in events like the "Evading Arrest Obstacle Course," "Weaponized Pool Noodle Mud Duels," a "Florida Sumo Cage Match and Beer Chug," "Human Beer Pong" and more — all to win $5,000 cash bragging rights and a snakeskin champions belt The 2024 inaugural Florida Man Games were held at Francis Field in downtown St with space for more attendees and tailgating "It's like six-times the size of the venue that we had last year and it's also got a big covered arena which is great,” Melfi told the USA TODAY Network in a call ahead of the 2025 games "The first thing I ordered (was) probably more bleachers and two jumbotrons Nobody is going to have a chance to say they didn't see the action," Melfi said In January 2025, Melfi teased that there will likely be another Florida man TV show inspired by the games as the organization is in talks with producers “There has been a lot of interest in making this a TV series; producers and studios have been calling since the day after the first event,” Melfi said in a January 2025 press release “I'm still getting calls from major production companies We're close to a deal with one of the best production companies around The likelihood that the Florida Man Games will be somehow made into a TV series is high What the TV show would be like has yet to be revealed but Melfi has a myriad of ideas on how this might play out: From a “Hard Knocks”-style docuseries following competitors' preparation for the games to a reality show “I think there are a lot of ways we could go with a TV show A docuseries where TV crews follow the competitors as they train leading up to the games,” Melfi said in the press release “A ‘Jacka**’ meets ‘Gladiators’ sports series These guys are all as real and as Florida as it gets so it makes a lot of sense that this would be one hell of an entertaining televised show.” In a February 2025 call with the USA TODAY Network Melfi confirmed the process of turning the irreverent competition into televised entertainment is panning out well so much big progress that I am legally obligated not to talk about it," Melfi said "But very big things are coming for the Florida Man Games Stellantis wants to raise capacity utilisation at Italian car plants The Jeep brand has previewed the next generation Jeep Compass with a design sketch of the new four-wheel-drive mainstream compact SUV the new Jeep Compass will be available in multiple powertrain options from fully electric to hybrid to internal combustion Jeep says the Compass will be the brand’s most globally available model and will debut in Europe with production beginning in Melfi before expanding production to North America and around the world in 2026 Stellantis has faced some criticism in Italy over lower levels of output from Italian plants in recent years Stellantis owns the ‘national champion’ Fiat brand and makes other Stellantis brand vehicles –  such as Jeep – at its Italian plants The Melfi plant makes Jeep Renegade as well as the Compass model but overall output at Melfi has fallen to under 100k units/pa Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis Jeep brand in Europe exceeds 100k sales this year Jeep brand sales in Europe so far this year The commercial results at the end of September 2024 show a volume of registrations of 100,700 units Of the nearly 50% of volumes registered outside of Italy France saw registrations nearing 9,000 units — up 61% increase compared to last year “The remarkable reception of the Jeep Avenger is a testament to our innovative spirit and the distinct appeal of our vehicles,” said Eric Laforge The Avenger has won orders with Italian government fleets such as the Fire Brigade Nominations are now open for the prestigious Just Auto Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation This is your chance to showcase your achievements Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network By clicking here, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and consent to us collection your details for the purposes of your enquiry This Sopranos plot thread was quite shocking As acclaimed as HBO’s The Sopranos is there are people who’ve taken issue with some of the storytelling decisions that creator David Chase and co some have chastised how Tony Soprano’s relationship with his longtime therapist Melfi actress Lorraine Bracco is part of that list of less-than-satisfied people Bracco recently reaffirmed her disdain for the conclusion of the storyline and revealed what she thinks happened to Dr Lorraine Bracco made her final appearance as Melfi on The Sopranos during its penultimate episode “The Blue Comet.” The installment sees the steadfast psychiatrist grappling with whether sociopathic patient Tony Soprano is using their “talk therapy” as a means to advance his personal dealings After examining the findings from a study on the matter Melfi cuts ties with Tony once and for all during their next session The New Jersey-based mob boss is subsequently left hurt by the surprising turn of events I was also not very happy the way David ended it 'How do you invest five years into someone's life and just walk away?' I said that’s a reasonable query that the Rizzoli & Isles alum posed to the prolific TV writer and producer and that’s coming from someone who didn’t mind how the Tony/Melfi relationship ended someone could theoretically argue that Melfi’s choice just reflects the unexpected and blunt nature of life at times the 70-year-old actress also revealed that she’s optimistic that Soprano and his doctor did cross paths again after the events of the show’s final episode: I think they bumped into each other in restaurants and stuff like that I think part of me wants to believe that she took a moment away from him and they got back together — back in therapy I Really Enjoyed HBO’s Sopranos Documentary, But There’s One Topic I Wish Would’ve Been Covered Erik SwannSocial Links NavigationSenior Content ProducerErik Swann is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend He began working with the publication in 2020 when he was hired as Weekend Editor edit and handle social media responsibilities over the weekend he also writes TV and movie-related news and helps out with editing and social media as needed He graduated from the University of Maryland where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism After shifting into multi-platform journalism he started working as a freelance writer and editor before joining CB He eats more pizza than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles One Change Ryan Seacrest Would Like To Make To Filming Wheel Of Fortune (That Makes Total Sense) As The Golden Bachelor’s Gerry Turner Moves Forward With New Romance He Weighs In On Possibly Getting Married Again But Sinners Remains An Absolute Powerhouse During the Rally 4 presentation event at Balocco Lancia not only announced the launch of the Ypsilon Rally4 HF but also the revival of the iconic Lancia Corse division it was confirmed that the next vehicle in Lancia’s revival will be produced at the Stellantis plant in Melfi marking Lancia’s return to this facility where the second generation of the Ypsilon was previously produced between 1995 and 2003 recognized as one of the Company’s centers of excellence was chosen for its high production quality and its strategic role in the transition towards electric mobility is a symbol of Italian craftsmanship and technological innovation Melfi has been a cornerstone of national and international automotive production blending Italian artistry with the most advanced manufacturing technologies The Lancia Gamma will be built in 2026 on the multi-energy STLA Medium reaffirming Lancia’s commitment to driving the transformation towards sustainable The decision to produce the new Gamma in Melfi reflects Stellantis’ commitment to promoting Italian-made products This decision not only strengthens Lancia’s connection to its Italian roots but also underscores the importance of investing in local territories to create innovative The new Lancia Gamma represents another step forward in the brand’s renaissance "The new Lancia Gamma represents a milestone in our journey towards the future It embodies our brand’s commitment to sustainability and high performance while celebrating the unmistakable elegance that has defined Lancia for decades By producing it at the historic Melfi plant we are strengthening our connection to Italy’s rich automotive heritage and advancing our vision for an electrified future Gamma will showcase the best of what Lancia stands for: innovation and a relentless pursuit of excellence" said Luca Napolitano the Melfi plant has long been a key player in global automotive production and is currently responsible for producing the Jeep Compass and Jeep Renegade With its highly automated production processes and a strong focus on sustainability the plant will continue to play a pivotal role in Stellantis' electrification strategy LinkedIn Lancia Instagram Lancia Facebook Lancia X Lancia YouTube Lancia During yesterday’s Stellantis roundtable with Minister Adolfo Urso at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy Stellantis Chief Operating Officer for the Enlarged Europe region reaffirmed the Group’s unyielding commitment to Italy and its industrial and social fabric the Stellantis COO emphasized the leading role to be played by Lancia the brand is currently going through a Renaissance in terms of new models and an internationalization process which is sure to firmly reestablish its presence on the premium market Stellantis reaffirmed its promise to produce the new Lancia Gamma at its Melfi plant starting in 2026 Recognized as one of the company’s centers of excellence the iconic factory was chosen for its superior production quality and its strategic role in the transition towards electric mobility The model will be built on Stellantis' Medium platform which allows for flexibility in different powertrain configurations hybrid and internal combustion engine versions adding that this will also promote its affordability The start of production of the new Jeep Compass should help Stellantis lift which has been hit in recent months by weak market demand and plant reconfigurations to launch new models Production at Stellantis Italian plants fell more than 30 percent in the first nine months of the year Annual production in the country is now below 500,000 vehicles in 2024 Stellantis will also start production of a new model under the premium DS brand in early 2025 and other new medium-sized vehicles are also planned to be manufactured in the following years The automaker also said it will extend production of the new Jeep Compass to North America and other markets in 2026 STELLANTIS : Soft Q1 performance in line with expectations guidance suspended amid tariff uncertainty Tariff Uncertainty: Some Automakers Scrap Guidance Monday - Friday 9am-12pm / 2pm-6pm GMT + 1 All financial news and data tailored to specific country editions You are using an outdated browser. Upgrade your browser today or install Google Chrome Frame to better experience this site Obituaries Pennsylvania19060DE: (302) 792-8485PA: (610) 485-6200 paganofh@gmail.com Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page GIRARD — After 35 consecutive years of serving Girard outgoing Mayor Jim Melfi will be leaving office at the end of the year Melfi began his career in politics in January 1989 when he was appointed as city treasurer Melfi ran for mayor and has led the city for the past 24 years “I know of no one who is even close to that many years of service here,” Melfi said He was defeated for the first time in the Nov 7 general election by Girard Board of Education member Mark Zuppo “I always wanted to make the community better,” he said “I have a bachelor’s degree in economics so that helped me as treasurer Everybody who grows up in their hometown has ideas of how to make their town better the city had its own income tax department and he oversaw the collection of $4 million in 8,000 accounts was mayor of Girard in the 1980s and his father and this encouraged him to work for the city Melfi decided in the late 1990s to seek the mayor’s position so he could have a direct hand in making the city better “It is hard to be in this position for 24 years and not have your fingerprints on every corner of the community,” Melfi said Melfi said the city was in fiscal emergency for 10 years which “was a catastrophic financial collapse of the city.” He noted the city was ambitious in the 1990s widening Route 422 and building the new municipal justice center “Those three projects put the city in financial emergency,” Melfi said Melfi said necessary changes were made in city government to emerge from fiscal emergency and make the city more efficient The workforce was cut in numbers and he implemented changes to the way the city did business “Just when we were working to get out of fiscal emergency “Then there was a recession and tax revenues were down There was a lot of anguish for the city those 10 years We did emerge from fiscal emergency in 2011.” Vallourec then expanded into Girard and Melfi said he knew that would be important for the city Melfi said the plan was to form a joint economic development district for Vallourec and share the income tax between Girard and Youngstown “We knew this would be a huge benefit to Girard But then there were issues that arose,” he said noting Youngstown officials wanted the property annexed into their city city law director Mark Standohar and auditor Sam Zirafi for being instrumental in aiding the city to make sure it received its fair share of money Various projects were completed during Melfi’s time in office new soccer fields and other additions that brought familes to the park additional properties were acquired adjacent to the Girard City Cemetery to create more lots A mausoleum and collabarium also were built including the $7 million Mid Rise Center on Washington Avenue “The city was in desperate need of senior housing We wanted to have a facility we could be proud of I convinced Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority that the city needed this and would support it,” Melfi said He said the Ohio Leatherworks property was a battle that lasted for “20 years of litigation.” “We realized the city could not obtain grant money unless we owned the property,” Melfi said “We later acquired the title to the property We then acquired grants to test the soil to see where it was bad.” The Ohio Leatherworks had been closed since 1969 “We all ran down to watch the fire,” he said “Who would have imagined 50 years later I would be the mayor when the city was able to get the property.” Other projects include a $21 million addition at the water treatment plant Sewer rates have not been raised since 2017 31 with “every fund in the black and apositive total balance in all the funds of $11 million by year’s end.” “When you run the city like a business You can charge less and you don’t have to raise taxes,” he said property maintenance has become more difficult as he tried to make sure neighborhoods looked nice and were maintained which helped keep neighborhoods looking nice I wanted it done for the community,” he said “It could have been a corner lot with high grass or debris and I wanted it cleaned up.” Melfi said the most difficult event of his 24 years as mayor was the loss of police officer Justin Leo in October 2017 “There was nothing more difficult for the city than the loss of Justin Leo I will never forget that evening,” Melfi said who have turned such a tragedy into a positive for the entire city The Leos have established scholarships and Justin’s memory is everywhere Leo was killed while responding to a call for help He died in surgery after being shot in the chest by Jason Marble while responding to a domestic violence call at 408 Indiana Ave Melfi said he took very little time off as mayor “Very few times a year could you come here on a business day and not find me,” he said will spend more time with their three children children and family for their support during his time as mayor “When you are the child of the mayor Melfi said he also credits Safety Director Jerry Lambert who has served with him for all the years he has been mayor “The city could not have succeeded as much as we have without support from Jerry He has been a calming force all the time,” he said AUSTINTOWN — The drizzle and overcast skies over the Mahoning Valley set the mood as members of the Youngstown .. Copyright © 2025 Eastern Ohio Newspapers, Inc. | https://www.vindy.com | 240 Franklin Street SE, Warren, OH 44482 | 330-841-1600 | Terms of Service We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money Henrietta (DeStefano) Melfi, 91, of Liverpool, passed away peacefully Friday, June 5, 2015 at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She was born in Syracuse, the daughter of the late John and Stella DeStefano. Henrietta was an avid bowler and was a... View Obituary & Service Information The family of Henrietta (DeStefano) Melfi created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Available by phone 24/7 (315) 451-9500 Copyright © 2025 Thomas J. Pirro Jr. Funeral Home. All Rights Reserved. The therapy scenes in The Sopranos are vital “I think those scenes made the show,” said the late James Gandolfini, who played Tony Soprano, in a 2004 interview “They were kind of like the ancient Greek chorus which allowed the audience to experience what the character was experiencing I think these scenes let you into Tony’s head bringing him a little closer to the audience.” This is why I suspect there’s a different reason people don’t love Dr. Melfi: She is us and we are her. The relationship she has with Tony mirrors our own relationship with him. Dr. Melfi meets Tony for the first time in the show’s opening scene, it’s also the first time we meet him. She doesn’t need a cutscene to know he’s lying when he assures, “We had coffee”; she knows he’s a mobster just like most of us who knew it was a show about a mob boss before tuning in As the show goes into an off-season hiatus the therapy scenes are the ones where we really get to know Tony “Apparently what you're feelin' is not what you're feelin' and what you're not feelin' is your real agenda.” I suspect that creator David Chase’s real agenda with the therapy scenes (aside from the fact he also went through years of therapy to deal with issues with his mother) is to funnel commentary about the show’s relationship to its audience Melfi is the exact type of person who’d pay for an HBO subscription in the 2000s Tony calls out Melfi’s fascination with him noting most professionals would walk across the street to avoid someone like him During a session with her therapist and colleague Dr saying she’s both thrilled and disgusted by what she might hear from Tony but it can also be downright nasty to watch a stripper beaten to death or heartbreaking seeing your favorite character get the Miller’s Crossing treatment in the woods Kupferberg and his oversized water bottle is no one’s favorite though his initial dismissal and later prodding interest in Tony reminds me of my own father who never watched the show (he hates on screen violence) but was keenly aware of the hype around it and would always ask me about it Jason—whose smart aleck responses are reminiscent of Meadow—embodies the show’s defenders Melfi has an outburst at a restaurant with a smoker who we’ve seen expertly manhandle restaurant patrons Gandolfini’s charismatic performance has this same influence on many viewers you’ll never eat cold cuts out of the fridge or flip out when the delivery guy forgets your motherfuckin’ goddamn orange peel beef without thinking of Tony ever again The most harrowing Mefli plotline occurs in the Season 3 episode “Employee of the Month,” when she is brutally raped after the police let her rapist go on a technicality Melfi flirts with the idea of sticking Tony on her attacker This is the ultimate Melfi moment: The audience is tempted to root for her to follow through This is the fantasy of having a Tony in your life I speak only for myself when I say this, but if someone got away with raping my wife/daughter/mother/sister and I happened to be friends with Tony Soprano, I, too, would make a humble request to him on the day of his daughter’s wedding Let’s be honest though: Most of us are more like Melfi’s sheltered ex-husband who never killed anyone and doesn’t have the balls to live the life Tony does many moments where Tony physically intimidates Dr This is the reality of having someone like Tony in your life The theory of Dr. Melfi acting as the audience stays true until the very end. After being chastised by her colleagues for continuing to treat a criminal sociopath she suddenly cuts Tony off in the penultimate episode. Fans on Reddit even questioned why she ended things “so abruptly.” Perhaps Chase was telegraphing a hint to the audience because the same exact thing has repeatedly been said about the show’s iconic controversial finale—the show ends abruptly Melfi grumbles at Tony as he covers subjects they’ve covered many times She sounds like a fan who’s grown weary of the repeating plotlines a new season with a new mistress that’s just like the old mistress a new wrinkle in family dynamics that echo the old wrinkles It was time to end the sessions because it was time to end the show As beloved as The Sopranos is, I understand many fans don’t appreciate the meta-commentary the Dr. Melfi character provides. Most people are more entertained watching the crew busting balls or plotting hits. They probably think of the therapy scenes the same way as Tony, like taking a shit. Though, like Dr. Melfi, I prefer to think of it like childbirth. 'The Sopranos' Turns 25: Ranking The Iconic Characters, From Worst To Best You're Not Serious People: 'Succession’ Season 4 Episodes, Ranked By entering your email, you agree to receive customized marketing messages from us and our advertising partners. You also acknowledge that this site is protected by reCAPTCHA, and that our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply United StatesUnited KingdomAustraliaCanadaComplex ChineseCOMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Brian Hodges (left) with Olivia C’deBaca and Gabbi C’deBaca download the restaurant app Blackbird at Millers All Day on James Island on Aug is seen at Millers All Day on James Island on Aug Customers at Millers All Day download the restaurant loyalty app Blackbird after their meal on James Island Friday Paddy Coker slices a tomahawk steak before delivering to the window at Marbled & Fin on June 12 in Charleston Marbled & Fin’s kitchen display screens help chefs and expeditors by eliminating the need to count items manually Leon's Oyster Shop and Little Jack's Tavern Blackbird is currently being used by more than two dozen Charleston restaurants Most restaurateurs believe technology gives them a competitive advantage in the crowded dining sector according to a new study by the National Restaurant Association Parker Milner is the Food Editor of The Post and Courier He is a Boston College graduate and former professional hockey player who joined The Post and Courier after leading the Charleston City Paper's food section Brooks Reitz realized technology could help address "pain points" in the restaurant industry when the reservation platform Resy was introduced in 2014 The only previous options were OpenTable or pen and paper said the restaurateur behind Leon’s Oyster Shop Resy spoke a more modern language than the now 26-year-old OpenTable which counts more than 55,000 restaurants on its platform across the globe After Resy came modern day point-of-sale systems — Toast and Square, among others — plus other new reservation platforms like Tock and Seven Rooms Industry leaders grew accustomed to using technology to book tables and close tabs the use of computers and programs mostly stopped there A decade after Resy’s debut, about 75 percent of operators believe technology can give them a competitive advantage in the crowded restaurant sector, according to a new study by the National Restaurant Association This coupled with data showing that more than 60 percent of diners prefer a traditional service to one incorporating technology has Reitz taking a cautious but enthusiastic approach to the new digital developments "It’s been exciting but a challenge to learn these systems." Reitz introduced a new platform named Blackbird at his restaurants this year The blockchain-powered loyalty program — adopted by more than two dozen Charleston establishments this summer — is just one example of how technology apps and artificial intelligence are already changing how restaurants are run How could this impact the diner in the future I pick up my phone and tap the Too Good To Go icon I press down on the Maman logo and order the "Baked Goods Surprise Bag" for $5.99 I’m given a pick-up window between 5:45 and 6 p.m I’m unwrapping a white bag filled with one plain croissant two stuffed croissants and a cheddar scone Just one of those items would normally have cost at least $5 at this Washington The app that helped me purchase the mystery bag — Too Good To Go — allows businesses to reduce waste by selling food that’s left over at the end of the day The company has saved more than 11 million meals from going to the landfill since its 2016 launch in Copenhagen said Too Good To Go’s North American public relations head Sarah Soteroff The for-profit company also helps restaurants make a few extra bucks on goods that would have otherwise been thrown away More than 25 cities in the U.S. have access to Too Good To Go Soteroff estimates the app will be live in the Palmetto State within the next year From reducing waste to streamlining restaurant operations technology is infiltrating nearly every part of the sector Lowcountry restaurateurs have started to rely on two other apps to hire employees ShiftNow connects individuals searching for work with businesses in need of help similar to the Gigpro tool that was launched a few years ago Both businesses were founded in Charleston ShiftNow enables restaurants to post open shifts and select the best candidate from a network of qualified "shifters" who undergo a one-on-one vetting process Individuals seeking hourly opportunities can browse for available openings in their area and get matched based on their experience Gigpro made headlines in 2019 when Ben Ellsworth celebrity chef Sean Brock and several others in the dining industry developed and released the app Gigpro is available in 28 markets across 12 states and has helped fill about 350,000 work shifts over the past few years The local business recently closed a $16 million funding round that includes a new lead investor and its prior backers The financing will help the King Street startup build up its online employment marketplace which takes direct aim at perhaps the most chronic day-to-day issue for an industry that has struggled with high turnover and attrition rates through good times and bad New tech is also helping local owners enhance efficiency in the kitchen The modern diner isn’t interested in waiting for extended periods in between courses, said Geno Dew, general manager of East Bay Street newcomer Marbled & Fin That’s one of the reasons why the Charleston restaurant's owners installed kitchen display screens ahead of its June opening The touch screens help their chefs and expeditors — air-traffic controllers directing orders to and from the kitchen — by eliminating the need to count items manually Expeditors don’t have to mess around with physical paper tickets and the restaurant’s chefs can simply tap a button when a dish is complete Not all technology has been well-received. QR code fatigue has fully set in at restaurants across the country leading many to ditch the scannable menus in favor of traditional paper lists that don’t require a screen the highly scrutinized field of artificial intelligence is being introduced to brick-and-mortar businesses Companies like Slang.ai use AI to help answer the phones and help customers make bookings is helping restaurants manage the tasks diners don’t see: budgeting The technology helps Thurston and his team organize ingredients and automate recipes based on available inventory; and when the price of a good increases It’s been essential in managing the problematic supply chain who is also among the Charleston restaurateurs to implement the restaurant loyalty application Blackbird Blackbird attempts to connect restaurants with its most loyal guests giving restaurants the power to reward them with perks such as free appetizers or advanced access to reservations guests are asked to download the app and find a Blackbird tag which looks like a hockey puck and is placed near the register door or tables at most Charleston restaurants Tapping "Check in" and scanning the tag records a patron's restaurant visit a fungible token that serves as Blackbird’s on-platform form of currency offered free Champagne and burritos to Blackbird users last month while Millers All Day’s rewards include a complimentary cinnamon roll or half mimosa flight Thurston said the app has helped the restaurant connect with customers "on a new level." Tina Schuttenberg of Kwei Fei and Beautiful South said the app has been a dream scenario for the restaurants she owns with her husband Blackbird users unlock various perks at the two Chinese-inspired restaurants from a number to text for reservations to free appetizers and visits from the kitchen staff Blackbird could help restaurateurs address another one of those pain points Reitz — the restaurateur from Leon’s The main area where full-service customers would like technology to improve their dining experience is with payment according to National Restaurant Association research Reitz said Blackbird could eventually be capable of processing payments faster This could help mitigate the rise in credit card processing fees that restaurants are starting to pass along to customers in the form of an extra 3 to 4 percent charge Reitz thinks technology could assist restaurateurs with marketing content an employee handles his restaurants’ accounts on social media which are relatively inactive when compared to peers "AI specifically is interesting to me; to put a sheen on something we might be generating or help get it us across the finish line," Reitz said the tools that we’re being given in what traditionally is a very anti-tech business." Reach Parker Milner at 843-830-3911. Follow him on X @parkermilner_. Subscribe to CHS Menu newsletter News tips/online questions: newstips@postandcourier.com Delivery/subscription questions: subserve@postandcourier.com Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: