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American Morning

Edie Falco Splits Time Between 'Sopranos' and Broadway

Aired September 18, 2002 - 9:44   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: A grand opening? Forget about it. Sunday night, the season premier of "Sopranos, " went huge. Thirteen million tuned in to catch up with Tony and the family making it HBO's most watched program ever. Edie Falco plays Carmella Soprano, the woman married to the mobster Tony. And with the fourth season of "The Sopranos" now well under way, she's keeping her night job too, on Broadway. Nonetheless, she got up early this morning for us.
Edie, great to see you.

EDIE FALCO, ACTRESS: Great to be here.

HEMMER: Good morning to you.

FALCO: Good morning to you.

HEMMER: What about these numbers on Sunday night?

FALCO: I don't know.

HEMMER: Thirteen and a half million people.

FALCO: Incredible. You know, I'm just informed of these things all of, you know, 10 minutes ago. So, I'm still sort of in shock. I mean, it's great. It's great.

HEMMER: In New York City more people watched this show Sunday night than they watched the Super Bowl.

FALCO: Well, how do you like that? The Super Bowl was on Sunday night?

HEMMER: As a matter of fact it is.

FALCO: Oh gosh.

HEMMER: Yes, last Sunday in January.

What do you think accounts for that? You have great writers and you've got wonderful actors on your show.

FALCO: Yes, wonderful actors and, you know, we have a very loyal following. It's hard to know what originally brought everybody to us. I really -- I don't know what the formula is. It's a family drama. You know, people, you know, have grown attached to the individuals involved, I guess.

HEMMER: You know, Sunday night was kind of tense.

FALCO: Was it?

HEMMER: A little bit.

FALCO: All right.

HEMMER: Really strung us out well. When you guys are cutting your scenes, do you have a sense at all for how it will play eventually when it hits the screen?

FALCO: Well, it usually plays pretty close to the script. You know, when I read it, you get -- I get a definite feeling of what's going to be going on. And whatever may go on while we're shooting it, it tends to come back to the feeling I had when I read the script. I mean that's all - David Chase overseeing all of it, so.

HEMMER: So I'm seeing you primp your hair, in what was the reflection from the oven in the kitchen on Sunday night?

FALCO: Yes. Go on.

HEMMER: A foreshadowing perhaps?

FALCO: I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't seen the first half.

HEMMER: A portending perhaps that Serio (ph) may come into your life? Out with it.

FALCO: Leave me be. No, I can't discuss anything that comes up in the future. You have to stay tuned.

HEMMER: Tony is burying stacks of cash in the poolhouse out back.

FALCO: Times are hard.

HEMMER: That it is. Let's talk about you.

FALCO: All right.

HEMMER: You are on Broadway.

FALCO: I am.

HEMMER: So not necessarily working two jobs but in essence you are.

FALCO: Yes.

HEMMER: Because the "Sopranos" returned to taping.

FALCO: Right.

HEMMER: You essentially are getting great reviews right now for "Claire De Lune."

FALCO: I'm thrilled. I'm thrilled about it. I -- you know, an opportunity like this doesn't come along so much, a chance to do a show that I've loved forever and to be on Broadway, something I couldn't pass on.

HEMMER: Do you get sick of the questions about getting naked in front of people?

FALCO: Funny you should ask.

HEMMER: You never thought I'd bring that up, did you?

FALCO: No, I thought you might, actually. But -- no, I don't get tired of them. It's a -- you know, it's an odd thing.

HEMMER: Is it -- odd. I would say.

FALCO: OK, go on. Go on.

HEMMER: Is it different to do it on film as opposed to a live audience?

FALCO: It is. I've actually been more -- it's been more nerve- wracking to do it on film, I don't know why. I think in the course of the play you're like telling a story. It has a beginning, a middle, an end. You really do feel alone. The audience is over there. It's different when you've got a camera crew like this.

HEMMER: Sure. Much more personal, I have to think.

FALCO: Yes, it does feel that way.

HEMMER: I read where you have essentially worked very hard to overcome anxiety attacks.

FALCO: Yes. Yes, I mean --

HEMMER: Do they still come?

FALCO: No, not at all. Not in many, many years, but everybody I know and love has gone through periods of anxiety. Everybody I know who has been pursuing a career in the arts. It's a very difficult life to have chosen. And 15 years ago, when I was going through this, there were a lot of rough times, you know, wondering what the heck I was doing with my time, myself, my life.

HEMMER: I think you described it one time as driving down a highway and then seeing what? A semi-tractor trailer cross over?

FALCO: This is actually how my brother described it once. I thought it was perfect. It crosses the divider, and it's coming at you and then you stay like that for five hours.

HEMMER: Wow.

FALCO: Bad. Very bad.

HEMMER: Is it true though that before you really hit it big on "The Sopranos" that you could not afford cable television?

FALCO: I was on "Oz" and and I couldn't afford cable. Terrible. But yes, that's all taken care of.

HEMMER: Listen, best of luck. I -- you know, the series is getting great reviews right now--

FALCO: Yes, I'm thrilled.

HEMMER: And just continues to gain more and more momentum. One thing I wanted to know. On Sunday night there is a reference to the World Trade Center. You lived in New York City.

FALCO: Right.

HEMMER: You tape across the river in New Jersey. Was there much discussion as to how that dialogue was going to fit into this?

FALCO: No, there wasn't discussion with the actors. I know there was discussion amongst the writers. And it was important to them and I understood to make reference to it. It was impossible to just ignore this huge, huge event.

HEMMER: Will we see more of that, do you think?

FALCO: I think so. I think it comes into play throughout the whole season as it does the lives of everybody right now.

HEMMER: Indeed, so true.

FALCO: Yes.

HEMMER: Great to see you.

FALCO: Great to be here.

HEMMER: Best of luck.

FALCO: Thank you.

HEMMER: Edie Falco, "Sopranos." Carmella on Sunday night.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired September 18, 2002 - 9:44   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: A grand opening? Forget about it. Sunday night, the season premier of "Sopranos, " went huge. Thirteen million tuned in to catch up with Tony and the family making it HBO's most watched program ever. Edie Falco plays Carmella Soprano, the woman married to the mobster Tony. And with the fourth season of "The Sopranos" now well under way, she's keeping her night job too, on Broadway. Nonetheless, she got up early this morning for us.
Edie, great to see you.

EDIE FALCO, ACTRESS: Great to be here.

HEMMER: Good morning to you.

FALCO: Good morning to you.

HEMMER: What about these numbers on Sunday night?

FALCO: I don't know.

HEMMER: Thirteen and a half million people.

FALCO: Incredible. You know, I'm just informed of these things all of, you know, 10 minutes ago. So, I'm still sort of in shock. I mean, it's great. It's great.

HEMMER: In New York City more people watched this show Sunday night than they watched the Super Bowl.

FALCO: Well, how do you like that? The Super Bowl was on Sunday night?

HEMMER: As a matter of fact it is.

FALCO: Oh gosh.

HEMMER: Yes, last Sunday in January.

What do you think accounts for that? You have great writers and you've got wonderful actors on your show.

FALCO: Yes, wonderful actors and, you know, we have a very loyal following. It's hard to know what originally brought everybody to us. I really -- I don't know what the formula is. It's a family drama. You know, people, you know, have grown attached to the individuals involved, I guess.

HEMMER: You know, Sunday night was kind of tense.

FALCO: Was it?

HEMMER: A little bit.

FALCO: All right.

HEMMER: Really strung us out well. When you guys are cutting your scenes, do you have a sense at all for how it will play eventually when it hits the screen?

FALCO: Well, it usually plays pretty close to the script. You know, when I read it, you get -- I get a definite feeling of what's going to be going on. And whatever may go on while we're shooting it, it tends to come back to the feeling I had when I read the script. I mean that's all - David Chase overseeing all of it, so.

HEMMER: So I'm seeing you primp your hair, in what was the reflection from the oven in the kitchen on Sunday night?

FALCO: Yes. Go on.

HEMMER: A foreshadowing perhaps?

FALCO: I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't seen the first half.

HEMMER: A portending perhaps that Serio (ph) may come into your life? Out with it.

FALCO: Leave me be. No, I can't discuss anything that comes up in the future. You have to stay tuned.

HEMMER: Tony is burying stacks of cash in the poolhouse out back.

FALCO: Times are hard.

HEMMER: That it is. Let's talk about you.

FALCO: All right.

HEMMER: You are on Broadway.

FALCO: I am.

HEMMER: So not necessarily working two jobs but in essence you are.

FALCO: Yes.

HEMMER: Because the "Sopranos" returned to taping.

FALCO: Right.

HEMMER: You essentially are getting great reviews right now for "Claire De Lune."

FALCO: I'm thrilled. I'm thrilled about it. I -- you know, an opportunity like this doesn't come along so much, a chance to do a show that I've loved forever and to be on Broadway, something I couldn't pass on.

HEMMER: Do you get sick of the questions about getting naked in front of people?

FALCO: Funny you should ask.

HEMMER: You never thought I'd bring that up, did you?

FALCO: No, I thought you might, actually. But -- no, I don't get tired of them. It's a -- you know, it's an odd thing.

HEMMER: Is it -- odd. I would say.

FALCO: OK, go on. Go on.

HEMMER: Is it different to do it on film as opposed to a live audience?

FALCO: It is. I've actually been more -- it's been more nerve- wracking to do it on film, I don't know why. I think in the course of the play you're like telling a story. It has a beginning, a middle, an end. You really do feel alone. The audience is over there. It's different when you've got a camera crew like this.

HEMMER: Sure. Much more personal, I have to think.

FALCO: Yes, it does feel that way.

HEMMER: I read where you have essentially worked very hard to overcome anxiety attacks.

FALCO: Yes. Yes, I mean --

HEMMER: Do they still come?

FALCO: No, not at all. Not in many, many years, but everybody I know and love has gone through periods of anxiety. Everybody I know who has been pursuing a career in the arts. It's a very difficult life to have chosen. And 15 years ago, when I was going through this, there were a lot of rough times, you know, wondering what the heck I was doing with my time, myself, my life.

HEMMER: I think you described it one time as driving down a highway and then seeing what? A semi-tractor trailer cross over?

FALCO: This is actually how my brother described it once. I thought it was perfect. It crosses the divider, and it's coming at you and then you stay like that for five hours.

HEMMER: Wow.

FALCO: Bad. Very bad.

HEMMER: Is it true though that before you really hit it big on "The Sopranos" that you could not afford cable television?

FALCO: I was on "Oz" and and I couldn't afford cable. Terrible. But yes, that's all taken care of.

HEMMER: Listen, best of luck. I -- you know, the series is getting great reviews right now--

FALCO: Yes, I'm thrilled.

HEMMER: And just continues to gain more and more momentum. One thing I wanted to know. On Sunday night there is a reference to the World Trade Center. You lived in New York City.

FALCO: Right.

HEMMER: You tape across the river in New Jersey. Was there much discussion as to how that dialogue was going to fit into this?

FALCO: No, there wasn't discussion with the actors. I know there was discussion amongst the writers. And it was important to them and I understood to make reference to it. It was impossible to just ignore this huge, huge event.

HEMMER: Will we see more of that, do you think?

FALCO: I think so. I think it comes into play throughout the whole season as it does the lives of everybody right now.

HEMMER: Indeed, so true.

FALCO: Yes.

HEMMER: Great to see you.

FALCO: Great to be here.

HEMMER: Best of luck.

FALCO: Thank you.

HEMMER: Edie Falco, "Sopranos." Carmella on Sunday night.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com