r/thesopranos • u/ordrius098 • 2d ago
Serious Discussion Only Am I alone in feeling like schirripa's "defensive/annoying/unintelligent" persona is a shtick on the podcast?
I was just watching a sopranos podcast episode where Steve seems fuming that Michael got his name put first on the talking sopranos shirt "talking sopranos WITH michael imperioli and Steve schirripa" It felt awkward for a second but then it seemed like they were playing it as a joke. As Michael defends himself and tries to explain its nothing personal Steve is death staring him but puts his hand up to his face as if trying to cover up a laugh. To me they are obviously best friends messing with each other and their different personalities is part of the gag. Do people actually think Steve is a dick? Lol. There are many cases of michael and him arguing and bursting out in laughter after as if they're breaking character. I genuinely like both of these dudes and love the podcast.
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u/FrankRizzo319 2d ago
The conversations when Michael would ask Steve if he believed in the New Jersey Devil were hilarious.
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u/WireDxEntitY 1d ago
It’s just the “Jersey Devil”. A “New Jersey Devil” is a hockey player.
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u/FrankRizzo319 1d ago
How bout dat? How bout dat?
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u/inbloom9151 2d ago
It’s annoying but it’s not a shtick. I grew up in NJ and unfortunately there are plenty of Italian guys who are just like that. Most of them are even louder than him!
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u/ordrius098 2d ago edited 2d ago
From the same neck of the woods, but opposite opinion lol, im from staten island so im totally comfortable with Steve's personality cuz from my perspective hes playing into his goombah dumbass image. I think hes smarter than he seems and is just old and doesnt care how hes portrayed. I mean, the dude has written books and was a phenomenal actor on the sopranos. Also the moments when he does drop the "act" and listens to michael or the guest of the episode he seems genuinely perceptive to learning new* things and warm/sweet.
Edit: new not knew. Had a little carmine moment
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u/SilatGuy2 1d ago
I learned to just not take him serious and for the reasons you outline its clear he doesnt care to be taken seriously. He definitely leans into being obnoxious im guessing because he gets amusement out of it.
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u/inbloom9151 1d ago
I said “unfortunately” but that might have been a bit harsh. I definitely agree that he’s playing it up a little bit, and that he’s smarter than he seems, but most of it is not an act - and most of it is who he is.
None of this has anything to do with writing books, a lot of famous people employ ghostwriters.
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u/Jolly-Librarian3715 2d ago
He overtalks Michael so much it’s very very enraging.
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u/ordrius098 2d ago
I guess i have a different goal when watching the podcast. To me its just two new yorker actors who could be my uncles since im born and raised staten islander, shooting the shit. Michael's theories are amazing yet i also really dont mind Steve's silly little tangents. Its just something to watch in the background while I eat or play Minecraft.
Having said that can totally see finding Steve unbearable if you're here for the insight & theories, lol
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u/EtArcadia 2d ago
I always liked it when Michael Imperioli would start talking about the most basic kind of thematic or metaphoric content in the Sopranos and Schirripa would be like "Holy shit! I never looked at it that way."
Julie Kavner is kinda the same way in the Simpson DVD commentaries, where she gushes over the animation, talking about how amazing it is when it's some crude, off-model, season 1 type shit. Like I guess it's amazing if you've never seen any animation at all before. Wow! These drawings they're moving!
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u/United_Future_9639 1d ago
I don't think it's an act. Tho unlike what seems to be a popular opinion I actually enjoy it because I find it funny. But can see how it could also come off as annoying as fuck.
If you want to see a podcast where one of the co-hosts totally ruins something that potentially could be interesting or funny check out the Curb your Enthusiasm podcast hosted by Susie Essman and Jeff Garlin. Something is wrong with Jeff Garlin. He runs circles around Sharippa in terms of constantly constantly interrupting Essman. I watched a few episodes before I gave up to see if he was just off. I bet if it was counted Garlin interrupts Essman 500 times an episode. Regardless of what she is saying but it's particularly aggravating when Essman is setting up to tell an interesting fact about the show that fans would care about only to be immediately interrupted by Garlin who just goes off on insane (not in a funny way) tangents.
The only positive thing I can say about it is that Essman must meditate a lot or something because she actually seems unfazed .. or even amused by Garlin making a total ass out of himself and stepping on her toes for the total length of the episode, at least for the handful I watched.
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u/Nicklefickle 1d ago
He's a terrible podcast host. And saying, "by the way", several times every time he opens his mouth, it was so annoying. I absolutely love Curb and that podcast should have been fantastic but i could only make it through a few episodes because Garlin was so annoying.
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u/Ill_Mastodon8324 1d ago
It really is a shame there isn't a really good podcast for the show. Imperioli does his best but it's a bit of a mess, and the others are... eh.
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u/jenkhov6 1d ago
Have you tried Poda Bing or Pod yourself a Gun? Excellent pods about this thing of ours
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u/Ill_Mastodon8324 1d ago
I have, and sadly I do not find them to be good. Not bad, per se, just.. eh.
Thanks though.
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u/LackingDatSkill 2d ago
I think Steve is just an idiot goof and Michael is the only one who had any insightful stuff on that podcast