Today is the twentieth anniversary of the premiere of The Sopranos. The series began airing on January 10th, 1999 and ended June 10th, 2007, lasting eighty-six episodes across six seasons. The show follows the New Jersey Soprano family, whose patriarch Tony is a prominent figure in organized crime, as they try to balance their normal lives with the crime and corrupting surrounding them.
Airing on HBO, the show became known for its violent actions, sexual content, and dark themes. It was immensely popular in the ratings and has gone on to be considered one of the greatest series ever made. It was nominated and won numerous awards. The series helped influence television producers to make shows centered around typically villainous characters and use long overarching stories that spanned seasons and series.
The series featured the talents of Robert Patrick as Tony Soprano's childhood friend David Scatino.