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Bada-bing to you
In court today to force 'Sopranos' star to show up
By Toni Fitzgerald
HBO is whacking back. The network that made James “Tony Soprano” Gandolfini a star is incensed at the actor for filing a suit last week seeking to void his fifth-season contract.
Rather than sending a return message via severed horse head, HBO is doing what any ticked off American employer does – it’s counter-suing.
In response to Gandolfini’s suit, filed last week, HBO will file suit today claiming breach of contract. The network claims that Gandolfini’s absence from the series would cost an estimated $100 million.
The bigger problem is that, with a March 24 start date looming, "The Sopranos'" fifth season could be in danger. If its star doesn't report, filming can't begin.
At this point, some at HBO seem ready for Tony to sleep with the fishes. Network chairman Chris Albrecht compared Gandolfini’s suit to a declaration of war.
He and other HBO suits are rumored to be so angry over the suit that they want Tony written out of “The Sopranos.” Preventing that is series creator David Chase, who says the show would not survive the loss of the main character.
According to HBO, the two sides already were discussing a pay raise for Gandolfini from his current $400,000 per episode when the first suit was filed. The actor reportedly wants $1 million per episode for the 13-show season, while HBO offered $800,000.
Gandolfini claims that his contract calls for HBO to inform him of a new season within 10 days of its commission, and that the network did not fulfill this stipulation for season five.
He says he heard about the new season through a June 2001 Wall Street Journal article. The network answers that the article was not a viable source, and did not set the contract clock running.
Gandolfini also claims that his contract is illegal under California labor laws, because it will extend beyond the legal seven-year limit once the series has finished filming.
HBO has pointed out that Gandolfini lives in New York City and is not bound by California law even though the series is filmed there.
Friday HBO called the lawsuit frivolous. The network hasn’t abandoned that stance – but it wants to ensure that Gandolfini will actually show up on the set March 24.
Production of season five had already been delayed to accommodate Gandolfini’s movie filming schedule.
Gandolfini’s “Sopranos” castmates recently renegotiated their salaries after a season in which the show earned its best-ever ratings.
Sunday Gandolfini and co-star Edie Falco won best actor honors at the Screen Actors Guild awards.
March 11, 2003© 2003 Media Life
-Toni Fitzgerald is a staff writer for Media Life.
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