BIG TALK: The FCF meets Joe Gannascoli, aka Vito from The Sopranos
Earlier this week, Joe Gannascoli, perhaps best known for his role as Vito in the Sopranos, joined The FCF to preview the Super Bowl 2012.
The FCF: What’s your ideal method of preparing sofrito?
JG: I sort of do my own version which is garlic and onions which I use in a lot of my dishes especially pasta, be it with olive oil or sauces, but I like the combination of garlic and onions. I’m not even sure what’s in a sofrito, I think I’ve looked it up a couple of times but is there any green in that? Is there any cilantro in that?
The FCF: I have to say I don’t know, it’s not my question. But if you don’t know, you don’t know.
JG: OK, I’m an Italian…
The FCF: So any tips for making ziti?
JG: No tips, it’s not a big dish of mine. That’s kind of like lasagne, baked ziti, most of the time you get it it’s shit. It’s dry, it’s not really good. I would say add ricotta and sauce so it’s creamy but enough sauce so that it’s not dry.
The FCF: OK, what are your main dishes.
JG: I was a saucier, I like making sauces. I like making meat dishes and pastas.
The FCF: Any sauce tips?
JG: No. I try to stay away from… make natural reductions… veal stock, turkey stock, fish stock as a base for a sauce.
The FCF: Any other cooking tips?
JG: No shortcuts, use the best ingredients you can from scratch. Not saying I always make my own stock, there are some good stocks out there.
The FCF: What would you say is the ideal time and intensity for frying onions?
JG: Wow, you’re really going hard with the cooking questions. You’re asking me the heating intesntity? Is he talking about farenheit? I like to sweat my onions to bring out the caramelisation to bring out the natural sugars in a slow sautee. I try not to crowd them so they don’t steam but I don’t know, 12-20 minutes on a low to medium.
The FCF: What’s your favourite dish?
JG: Linguine with crab sauce.
The FCF: Is there anything special about how you make it?
JG: Nothing out of the ordinary. It takes a long time, you bring the sweetness out of the crab.
The FCF: Were you involved in the foodie aspect of the Sopranos? The second time that I watched it, I watched it with my girlfriend, and it always used to piss her off as she’d be hungry after watching it.
JG: Never. Only in my last season I got to do a little cooking. I don’t think they were aware I was a chef to show my knife skills.
The FCF: Do you follow soccer at all?
JG: I don’t. I try to get into it, especially around World Cup Time. It’s a beautiful game when they’re passing and you see a move develop and they actually get a shot on goal but that rarely happens, it gets broken up. If that happens a lot more, from one guy to another guy to another guy to another guy to another guy to put a shot up for a header or put a shot on header that would be beautiful but it doesn’t happen enough.
The FCF: Do you have a recipe for Johnny Cakes?
JG: No I do not.
The FCF: Does anyone?
JG: I’m sure it must be on the internet, it’s a white corn panckae. I’m sure it’s just white cornmeal, milk, eggs, you know baking powder baking sugar, mixed together. That’s it.
The FCF: Do you generally research your roles?
JG: I haven’t had big enough roles to research. If I was playing someone true to life or a certain person, you know, I haven’t had the opportunity to do that.
The FCF: Did you research the role of Vito?
JG: Not really, I mean, how do you research guys who are conflicted, sort of bisexual, attracted to men, I was a chef in a total gay restaurant I’ve been around gays in the New Orleans cooking scene. Do I know what goes on in their inner conflicts or their inner lives? Not really. Hard to say I researched it.
The FCF: When you shot Jackie Jr did you feel any personal attachment in your role, was there any effect, did you feel bad about shooting Jackie Jr or was it just work?
JG: It was just work. I mean he was my cousin in the show. You know at that point it’s a big moment, the final hit of the season. It was a big moment and I was happy to do that. It was sort of quick when it happened, but it was pretty cool.
The FCF: Did you have any experience of wiseguys growing up?
JG: Yes, many. I was in Brooklyn and grew up a lot around wiseguys and I saw that first hand.
The FCF: Did it have any influence on your life or how you played the role?
JG: Not really – it was a life that I didn’t want to get into. I knew that.
The FCF: Did you know people who did?
JG: Yes
The FCF: Did it work out badly for them?
JG: Yeah some, some disappeared or wound up in jail. That life eventually leads to that.
The FCF: Do you have any particular favourite lines/episodes/characters?
JG: I like a lot of Uncle Junior epsiodes, when he’s in the bathtub, slips and goes “your sister’s cunt”. That’s a term we say a lot in Brooklyn. I hear a lot of great lines. Who’s that talking or who do I hear? That’s maybe Jackie Jr. That was great.
The FCF: Did you expect Vito to become such a central character?
JG: Well, after I suggested that storyline to them. There was a book I was reading called Murder Machine. I sort of knew it was going to take off.
The FCF: When you suggested it did it go down well straight away?
JG: No it was in season five, the middle of season five there was a reference to me having a wife and then they said after the security guard we’re not going to touch on it this year but be ready for next year.
The FCF: Did you suggest it directly to David Chase?
JG: No, I suggested it to a writer.
The FCF: Did that happen a lot, members of the cast suggesting ideas?
JG: I don’t think it happened a lot. I think David Chase said that the only idea that he used was mine.
The FCF: What effect did it have on your life?
JG: I was able to get a book published. Becoming a huge storyline in one of the greatest shows ever. The whole point of it was supposed to translate into getting more work which has yet to happen, and may never happen. I’m ok with that, as long as I can support my family. Being a central character on one of the greatest shows of all time is pretty good.
The FCF: That sounds fine.
JG: So many fans in England, you think someone would bring me over for a fucking movie.
The FCF: Yeah, I’ll tell them. I have a friend who makes films, I’ll tell him…
JG: Yeah, tell him to wake the fuck up.
The FCF: Was losing weight part of the storyline or something you did?
JG: Something I did. I got heavy as a chef, and you need to take it off.
The FCF: There’s that great scene, where someone talks of Weight Watchers before and way before – is it Paulie?
JG: Yeah me and Bacala. That’s Paulie Walnuts.
The FCF: Are you friends with any of the people from the show?
JG: They were all at my wedding but we don’t see too much or talk too much anymore.
The FCF: Did any of the cast know how the series was going to end?
JG: I don’t think so.
The FCF: How do you think it ended?
JG: I thought it was brilliant.
The FCF: What do you think happened?
JG: I think that you know if he had been a rat, if he’d got killed or got arrested, it would have disappointed somebody. So he had to leave it that with people’s own interpreations and no one really ever knows. That door just closed after so many years with Tony.
The FCF: Do you think that it was set up in such a way that there were so many people in the final scene who could have come in and killed Tony. There was the guy outside in the car… according to some people in the next scene that we don’t see, someone was going to kill Tony. You don’t think that?
JG: No I don’t think that was going to happen.
The FCF: How was it working for David Chase?
JG: I didn’t really see much. You know, er. There was a little interaction. I guess you want to do a good job …
The FCF: Even when he was directing?
JG: Yeah. He didn’t direct that much, either.
The FCF: Was that because other people were directing the show or because you didn’t need direction?
JG: Well other people directed other episodes. Not really much direct interaction.
The FCF: What was it about The Sopranos that was so special?
JG: It was dark humour. It wasn’t just a mob show it dealt with different themes. Many everyday problems that Americans have and regular guy trying to have a family, kids growning up, infidelty, psychological issues. The way it was beautifully written, going against the grain with casting choices just rolled up.
The FCF: How do you feel it compares to other shows and art forms, like novels and films and plays?
JG: Well, you know. You keep looking for that next show like it.
The FCF: Did you watch The Wire?
JG: I was extremely extremely impressed with. Just happened to have a little get together it with a friends who’s a rapper, and Michael Kenneth WIlliams was there who was Omar, who is in Boardwalk Emprire. I loved Omar. We had that get together and we played gay characters on HBO. I think he’s going to work for a long time.
The FCF: Do you think there’s a relationship betwen something like The Sopranos and novels? You might say with the way HBO make their dramas series it’s overriden film as a medium. What you get in a season of The Sopranos gives much more depth than a movie that lasts two hours.
JG: I’m not sure I understand, so I’m going to pass on that.
The FCF: Do you have a favourite Vito scene or episode?
JG: When Finn comes out of the portapotty.
The FCF: And a favourite non-Vito scene or episode?
JG: When Tony and Carmela, when Tony punches the wall behind, the back-and-forth in season five.
The FCF: Were any of your scenes especially difficult? How did you find the guy-on-guy stuff?
JG: The kissing scenes, of course. Wanted them over as quickly as possible, especially with his moustache.
The FCF: How did you go about your acting? Was there any method you used to get into character?
JG: Just try to seem as real as possible, and subtle. No method really.
The FCF: Did you watch The Sopranos before you were in it?
JG: Yes.
The FCF: How did you get the role?
JG: I went to an audition. I was in season one as a different character, that’s pretty rare. Pretty cool. So I did an audition.
The FCF: Onto the Superbowl, what’s the difference between the Giants and the Pats?
JG: The Giants are the better team, first off.
The FCF: I was talking in terms of their character.
JG: Characterwise.
The FCF: In England, certain football teams have certain personalities in their players and the way they’ve played over the years…
JG: I mean they’re very blue collar, the coach is very blue collar, they’re not like superstars. They’re regular guys. Brady might be a bit of pretty boy. They’re from the towns in the northeast, they’re rugged. In that respect they’re not very difrernt. The Giants have better players and how they [the Pats] are favourites I have no idea.
The FCF: Are there any differences in fan culture?
JG: They’re hardcore passionate fans. The Boston fans are very cynical, being Red Sox fans before they won it all. They’re very typical, there’s a huge rivalry. We beat them [the Pats] once already, when they were undefeated, that was big, and I think we’re gonna beat them again. 38-24. I think 24 might even be too much.
The FCF: Was the Superbowl in 2007 the best game you’ve ever seen?
JG: Yeah, 100%. I‘ll never see a run like that, beating an undefeated team, that will never happen again.
The FCF: With a QB who can’t really throw that well…
JG:Who can’t?
The FCF: In 2007 Eli didn’t have such a great year…
JG: He didn’t have a year with big numbers like Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees. Even [Tom] Brady. I mean, He threw forwards 5,000 yards. And he is remarkable with turnovers, and against the 49ers he took a tremendous beating and didn’t shy away. In 2007, Brady had his ass kicked and he’s going to have his ass kicked again.
The FCF: Is the opportunity to beat the Pats in the Superbowl worth the risk that you might lose?
JG: No, I’ve been around enough to know no game is a walk.
The FCF: No, I’m saying against any other team, losing wouldn’t matter so much because they’re not rivals.
JG: Losing to them, the only thing worse would be losing to the Jets.
The FCF: You hate the Jets more?
JG: I used to like the Jets, I don’t like their coach. The only teams I hate are Philly and Dallas.
The FCF: Why do you hate them?
JG: Because Dallas was great, and they stuck it to the Giants. The Philly fans…and it’s just natural that you hate Dallas. And they’re America’s team.
The FCF: Yeah, I can see why the America’s team thing would wind people up. So what is it about football and the Giants that’s so appealing?
JG: To me? You only get sixteen games each year. You gotta wait a week for the next match. Baseball you play a hundred and sixty-two a year, you lose you get it back the next day. Hockey, it’s gruelling you get eighty-two games. Basketball, I’m not that big a fan, but football is a total team sport. Football is special to get to that one game. And it’s only one game, it’s not a best of, so that’s pretty cool.
The FCF: Do you follow other sports?
JG: Yeah, the Yankees, the Rangers, hockey. I’m obsessed with golf.
The FCF: You love golf?
JG: Yeah I play golf – every morning, I walk the course.
The FCF: Do you have a handicap?
JG: This is going into my fourth full year. I had a double hip replacement right after the show. Once I had that done I could start playing. So I’m low 90s high 80s. Last year I hit 85 consistently. I don’t go by handicap, I don’t keep it. I want to be 86-84 this year. I want to keep getting better.
The FCF: Is there anything you’re working on now like actingwise, foodwise, anything like that?
JG: Just keeping busy with different things. My cigars, my ashtrays, pretty cool, been doing well. Hopefully get auditions and go out and work.
Visit Joe’s Joe Soup website, where you can check out his sauces, ashtrays, humidors and plenty more.
Competition time: to win a pair of tickets to the official NFL Superbowl party, sponsored by Chrysler and at the O2 Arena, please email in your favourite Sopranos quotation to writers@thefcf.co.uk. We’ll pick one at “random”.
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