Tony Soprano Similar testimonials were included by his co-stars and colleagues; Bryan Cranston stated that his "Breaking Bad" character, Walter White, would not have existed without Tony Soprano. Tony Soprano quickly became a pop culture icon during the show’s run. In an article for the "Los Angeles Times", Chris Lee referred to Tony Soprano as a “cultural sensation” who became the “unlikeliest of sex symbols.” On the importance of Gandolfini’s performance, Lee stated: “He forever rejiggered television's fascination with morally challenged antiheroes and less-than-physically-perfect protagonists.” Mark Lawson of "The Guardian" praised Gandolfini for his “towering central performance” as Tony Soprano, writing: “The
University (The Sopranos) University (The Sopranos) "University" is the 32nd episode of the HBO original series "The Sopranos" and the sixth of the show's third season. The teleplay was written by Terence Winter and Salvatore J. Stabile from a story idea by David Chase, Terence Winter, Todd A. Kessler, Robin Green, and Mitchell Burgess. It was directed by Allen Coulter and originally aired on April 1, 2001. "* = credit only" At the Bada Bing, Tony receives homemade datenut bread from one of the strippers, Tracee, in gratitude for helping her out with her sick son. Tony graciously refuses the gift, partly because