Craig Baldo Reveals the Truth Behind the Sopranos Finale

Craig Baldo: Comedian, Writer, Superhero. Oh, and he's also the host of The Drink at Work Show, but you already knew that. Baldo has started up a new blog with his writing partner Albertina Rizzo and it's devilishly funny. You can check them out regularly here.

Craig's latest post divulges the mystery behind the creation of the Sopranos: it was penned by a sorority girl.

Sopranos Contest Winner

I want to congratulate Ashley Bellingham, a sophomore at Auburn University, for winning the “Write the Last Scene of The Sopranos” contest. This spring, HBO offered aspiring writers the chance to show off their chops in this nation-wide contest to find America’s next David Chase. I caught up with Ashley who was tanning on the roof of her Alpha Phi sorority house.

CB: Hi Ashley.
AB: You’re blocking my sun.
CB: Sorry. What inspired you to write the last scene for The Sopranos?
AB: It’s my boyfriend’s favorite show. And Coleman’s not even Spanish.
CB: You mean Italian?
AB: Ewww no.
CB: Okay. So why did you end The Sopranos in a diner?
AB: ONION RINGS! Diners have the best onion rings.
CB: Why onion rings? What were you saying?
AB: Onion rings.
CB: Fair enough. And what about the song choice?
AB: Are you kidding me? “Don’t Stop Believin’” is the best song ever. Courtney, Lindsey and me know all the words.
CB: But why put it at the end of The Sopranos?
AB: Uh hello? It’s a happy song.
CB: The Sopranos isn’t necessarily a happy show.
AB: It is now.
CB: And the car parking? Did you…
AB: Oh god I can’t parallel park for shit, so I wanted what’s her name, the daughter, to be trying and trying to park her car. Cuz that’s life.
CB: It certainly is. I felt a lot of tension in that final scene. How did you go about creating it?
AB: The black guys.
CB: Right. Now tell me about the very end. The action stops suddenly and we cut to black.
AB: Actually, I had a different idea for an ending. As the big fat guy, the dad, eats the last onion ring, the song “Pour Some Sugar on Me” comes on the jukebox, balloons fall from the ceiling with a banner that says “Crime Doesn’t Pay!” and all the characters who died in previous episodes come back and wave to the camera. Then they bow. Fade out.
CB: Riveting. So why not that?
AB: Well actually, Greek Week had just started and I never really finished writing the scene cuz I had too many spirit posters to make for the girls. I just sent it in unfinished. I guess they liked it.
CB: Yeah, I guess they did.