The Sopranos (The Sopranos episode) The Sopranos (The Sopranos episode) "The Sopranos", also known as "Pilot", is the first episode of the HBO television drama series, "The Sopranos", which premiered on January 10, 1999. It was written and directed by the series creator and executive producer David Chase. New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano passes out while barbecuing. Tony's collapse is diagnosed as a panic attack, leading to his referral to psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi. Tony is initially uncooperative, but soon tells Dr. Melfi a story about a family of ducks which nested in his swimming pool. He goes over tensions between Carmela and Meadow over a
Eloise (The Sopranos) grabs Tony by the shirt front and appears barely able to restrain himself from shoving him into the spinning tail rotor. Furio tells the baffled Tony he was standing too close to the blades. The next day, Furio does not appear to pick up Tony when expected, and Carmela and Tony learn he has abruptly returned to Italy. When Rosalie suggests Tony might have taken action against Furio, Carmela becomes distraught and is later seen crying alone. Paulie's mother Nucci gets into a minor car crash with her friend Minn. Later, Paulie has lunch with Nucci, Minn, and Cookie, and