For years, after the series finale of “The Sopranos” aired on HBO, fans were anxiously awaiting news about whether or not we’d get more stories in that world eventually. Well, if “The Many Saints of Newark” is any indication, perhaps you should be careful what you wish for, as ‘Sopranos’ creator David Chase is starting to prove he’s willing to milk his franchise for all its worth, even if it takes away the “specialness” of the original. You know, like using “The Sopranos” to help sell a Chevy.
Last night, during the Super Bowl, we were given a return to the world of “The Sopranos” in a new ad for the all-electric Chevy Silverado pickup truck. The car manufacturer was able to snag David Chase to direct a commercial featuring ‘Sopranos’ actors Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Robert Iler to recreate the classic opening of the TV show. Except for this time, instead of James Gandolfini driving a truck and smoking a cigar, you get Sigler driving a NEWER truck and NOT SMOKING a cigar. Exciting, right?
Now, the real question is whether or not the actors involved are just playing themselves or if they’re trying to play their characters, years after the death of their father. Regardless, it’s just a shameless way to sell trucks and make money off “The Sopranos” name. It’s crazy to think that, years after the aforementioned finale, we’d be talking about the creator of “The Sopranos” using his show to help sell trucks. But hey, here we are.
You can watch the new Chevy Silverado ad below, as well as the opening of “The Sopranos,” to compare and contrast: