"Proshai, Livushka" is the 28th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the second of the show's third season. It was written by David Chase and directed by Tim Van Patten, and originally aired on March 4, 2001.

Starring

Guest starring

Also guest starring

• Peter Riegert as Assemblyman Zellman • Tom Aldredge as Hugh DeAngelis • Suzanne Shepherd as Mary DeAngelis • Alla Kliouka as Svetlana Kirilenko • Vincent Curatola as Johnny Sack • John Fiore as Gigi Cestone • Joseph R. Gannascoli as Vito Spatafore • Dan Grimaldi as Patsy Parisi • George Loros as Raymond Curto • Richard Maldone as Albert Barese • Vincent Pastore as Pussy Bonpensiero • Gregalan Williams as Reverend James, Jr. • Patrick Tully as Noah Tannenbaum • Nicole Burdette as Barbara Giglione • Ralph Lucarelli as Cozzarelli • Peter McRobbie as Father Felix • Sharon Angela as Rosalie Aprile • Jason Cerbone as Jackie Aprile, Jr. • Tim Gallin as Joseph Zachary • Marcia Haufrecht as Fanny • Maureen Van Zandt as Gabriella Dante • Vito Antuofermo as Bobby Zanone • Dimitri de Fresco as Young Man • Marie Donato as 2 to 5 / 7 to 9 • Katalin Pota as Lilliana Wosilius • Ed Vassallo as Tom Giglione • Gary Evans as FBI Tech #2 • Frank Pando as Agent Grasso • Carlos Lopez as FBI Tech • Michael Strano as FBI Agent

Synopsis

Meadow and her friend from college, Noah Tannenbaum, watch The Public Enemy, Tony's favorite film. Tony arrives and converses with Noah privately. He subtly tries to determine Noah's ethnicity, and after several indirect questions Noah states that he is half Jewish and half African-American. Tony makes some offensive remarks and urges him to stop seeing his daughter. Noah swears at him and storms out. Still somewhat shaken from the encounter, Tony goes to the kitchen; he sees a box of Uncle Ben's Rice, triggering a panic attack. Tony confronts Ralphie Cifaretto, an ambitious and effective member of Richie Aprile's crew, and Albert Barese about a sanitation dispute. He urges them not to start any more fires that may attract press attention. Instead, Ralphie has a man beaten up with baseball bats. Separately, Ray Curto meets his handler from the FBI; he is 'cooperating'. Tony visits his mother Livia and asks her not to say anything to the feds about the stolen airline tickets. She seems to stonewall him. Exasperated, he walks out. That evening, Livia dies from a stroke. Later, Tony tells Dr. Melfi, "I'm glad she's dead." Then he bursts out that he is "a bad son". Tony's sister Barbara informs him that Janice will not be coming for the funeral. He furiously calls her in Seattle and orders her to be on the next plane; she inveigles him into paying the fare. At the funeral home Janice insists that, contrary to her wishes, Livia be given a lavish funeral and, exasperated, Tony agrees. In Livia's house, Janice hammers at the basement wall. At the funeral, still at the graveside, she has a dispute with Livia's caregiver Svetlana about Livia's collection of records. Svetlana says Livia gave them to her; Janice orders her to give them back. At the post-funeral reception at the Sopranos' house, Janice, against Tony's wishes, corrals everyone into the main room for a ceremony of remembrance. With some reluctance, one or two people speak in memory of Livia. Christopher, stoned on marijuana and cocaine, gives a rambling, unfocused speech. Tony slips outside, where he is confronted by an angry and drunk Artie Bucco, who remembers Livia telling him about Tony's torching of the Vesuvio. Artie goes back inside and seems ready to speak about it, but Carmela and her father Hugh give their blunt perspectives on Livia. Carmela then upbraids Tony, Janice and Barbara for ignoring their mother's wishes and having an elaborate funeral. Artie ultimately remains silent. Afterward, Tony continues watching The Public Enemy and becomes emotional when the main character's mother joyfully prepares her home for her son's return, not knowing that he is dead.

First appearances

The episode marks the first appearance of:

Deceased

Title reference

Production

References to other media

Music

Filming locations

Listed in order of first appearance: