Peter King: ‘Woke up this morning . . .’

“The Sopranos” revolutionized television entertainment when it made its debut on HBO in 1999, and continued through 2007. On the surface, it was an organized-crime story centered on a mob guy in New Jersey named Tony Soprano. Below the surface, however, “The Sopranos” explored new levels of the complexity of human nature.

Yes, Tony Soprano was a monster capable of vicious brutality. But he was also an upper-middle-income family man living in suburbia with a wife, Carmela, and two children he truly loved. Sure, he had his goomba, but he genuinely cared about and provided for Carmela, and would say hardly a bad word about her. He was a doting father who would take his daughter, Meadow, to visit prospective college campuses while taking time out along the way to murder someone who had crossed him. All in a day’s work.

Then there was Tony’s mother, who had also plotted to kill him. Underlying all these contradictions was the reality that this vaunted tough guy and super stud was in therapy with Dr. Melfi, who treated him for anxiety and depression.

There was also a supporting cast of rogues and characters that would cause anyone anxiety. Big Pussy was Tony’s loyal friend, who turned out to be an FBI informer — a “rat.” Tony killed him, and dumped his body off the family boat so he could swim with the fishes. Bobby Bocola was an overweight killer who could play Santa Claus, and got himself shot to death in Trainland, the model train store on Sunrise Highway in Lynbrook.

Christopher, Tony’s young protégé, killed his girlfriend, Adriana, when he found out that she, too, was an informer. Paulie Walnuts smothered his mother’s friend to death with a pillow when she caught him stealing her money. Uncle Junior was an aging mob leader and family patriarch who was capable of casual cruelty.

Recently, my wife, Rosemary, and I went to the historic Patchogue Theater for the Performing Arts to see “In Conversation With the Sopranos,” with Steve Schirripa (Bobby Bocola), Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti) and Vincent Pastore (Big Pussy), who reminisced about their experiences on the show and answered questions from the capacity crowd. The audience was made up of real people — middle-income Long Island families, many of whom, no doubt, had moved out here from New York City. Listening to the questions they asked, you’d conclude that they must have watched and rewatched every “Sopranos” episode.

Schirripa is a good friend and a truly great guy, totally down to earth. I’d met Imperioli and Pastore when they did a similar show with Steve about six years ago in Westbury. Both are very talented but regular guys.

The show was terrific, with the trio discussing how they got their parts and their opinions of the other actors. James Gandolfini — Tony Soprano — was the glue that made “The Sopranos” work so well, and was extremely generous and always supportive. Dominick Chianese (Uncle Junior) was an exceptional actor and a totally mild-mannered gentleman off screen. Tony Sirico, who played Paulie Walnuts, was a psycho on and off screen but a loyal friend.

Particularly funny was Pastore’s story about how a real-life mob-connected restaurant in the Bronx had proudly displayed his framed photo on the wall — but because the show depicted him as a “rat,” the picture was taken off the wall and destroyed.

Their presentations were terrific, as was the question-and-answer session. They had a great rapport with the audience. After the show I met briefly with them, and told them “The Sopranos” would never grow old. Schirripa and I said we’d connect again soon. I’m looking forward to it.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.