Steve Schirripa & Michael Imperioli

Who is Steve Schirripa & Michael Imperioli?

Steve Schirripa & Michael Imperioli is a guest on the Joe Rogan Experience.

Topics and Timestamps

• 01Steve Schirripa and Michael Imperioli discuss their experience working together on The Sopranos and their chemistry as cast members
• 02The actors talk about the challenges of playing complex, morally ambiguous characters in prestige television
• 03Discussion of how The Sopranos changed television and influenced modern drama storytelling
• 04Steve and Michael share behind-the-scenes stories from the set and their relationships with other cast members
• 05The conversation touches on the evolution of their careers post-Sopranos and other projects they've worked on
• 06Both actors reflect on the cultural impact of The Sopranos and why it still resonates with audiences today
• ▶Steve and Michael discuss their first experiences working together on The Sopranos set0:15:30
• ▶Conversation about the character development and complexity required to play mobsters convincingly0:35:45
• ▶Michael and Steve share behind-the-scenes stories about filming major dramatic scenes0:58:20
• ▶Discussion of how The Sopranos changed television and set the standard for prestige drama1:15:00
• ▶Both actors reflect on the lasting cultural impact and fan reactions to the show1:45:30

The Show

Joe sits down with two legendary cast members from The Sopranos, Steve Schirripa and Michael Imperioli, in what becomes a nostalgic dive into one of television's most influential series. The episode captures the easy rapport between these two actors who spent years working together on the show that basically invented prestige TV as we know it.

The conversation centers on what made The Sopranos different and why it worked so well. These guys were part of something genuinely groundbreaking where you had antiheroes, complex moral ambiguity, and storytelling that treated TV like it was cinema. They talk about how playing characters like Bobby Baccalieri and Christopher Moltisanti required understanding these guys weren't just villains, they were fully realized people with motivations and depth. Michael and Steve both emphasize how the show's writing allowed them to explore nuance in ways most TV at that time simply didn't.

There's genuine warmth when they reminisce about being on set together and the dynamics with other cast members. These weren't just people reading scripts, there was real community there. They discuss how David Chase's vision pushed everyone to be better, to dig deeper into their characters, and to understand that television could be art. The impact this had on their careers can't be overstated either. Post-Sopranos, both navigated how to work in an industry that would forever see them through the lens of that show, and they seem comfortable with that legacy rather than resentful of it.

Joe keeps the conversation flowing naturally, and there's plenty of laughs mixed in with the more thoughtful moments about craft and storytelling. What comes through is genuine respect for what they created together and understanding of why people still talk about The Sopranos nearly two decades after it ended.

Best Quotes