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
Johnny Cakes (The Sopranos) Johnny Cakes (The Sopranos) "Johnny Cakes" is the 73rd episode of the HBO original series "The Sopranos" and the eighth of the show's sixth season. Written by Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, and directed by Tim Van Patten, it originally aired on April 30, 2006. "* = credit only" Uninterested in his job or in going back to college, A.J. spends most of his time hanging out in New York nightclubs with his high school buddy Hernan O'Brien and his new friends, some of them underage girls. His club acquaintances are impressed with him because of who his father is.