Did Tony Die in The Sopranos Finale?

https://tv.yahoo.com/news/did-tony-die-sopranos-finale-david-chase-finally-151700353.html

Quote:

The Sopranos has been celebrated for its ambiguous series finale, which left the fate of mob boss Tony Soprano unknown. But now creator David Chase has taken all of the mystery out of the revolutionary episode.

When Chase was asked if Tony's dead in an interview with Vox, he begrudgingly responded, "No. No, he isn't."

Other than mentioning that the infamous cut-to-black scene was inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's poem, "Dream Within a Dream," that's all the information Chase divulged about Tony's fate.

Though it must have been frustrating for Chase to only be asked this simple question rather than about many of the more interesting aspects of The Sopranos for years on end, we're glad he didn't go into more detail and wish he'd maintained his oath of silence completely. Ambiguity in television is OK and The Sopranos was the poster child for this type of destabilizing storytelling.

Update: Chase's publicist is now saying the answer was misconstrued and he's never given a definitive answer: http://m.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/...uestion-sort-of

With actor James Gandolfini dead, I think it would be pretty difficult to ever bring Tony Soprano back.

I think this is just to renew intrest in the show which is probably in syndication somewhere.

I used to watch re-runs of it on Sundays, on A&E network. But apparently its syndication ratings plummeted, and I haven't seen it aired anywhere for a year or so.

It's a great series, but I guess it reached a point of diminishing returns for those airing it.

Syndication tends to favor half hour sitcoms (trek is a notable exception) and especially disfavors serialized dramas.

There's some proof of what you're saying, G-man.

The 1985 Twilight Zone series was originally a one-hour show in its first run (as I recall, it lasted two seasons), and in that hour they'd generally have 2 or 3 different stories. But in syndication, they broke it into 30-minute programs.

That first season was great, by the way. The pilot episode, "Shatterday", was a Harlan Ellison story adaptation, starring a very young Bruce Willis in the first role I ever saw him in (pre-Moonlighting series).
Plus many other well-written episodes by Alan Brennert and other skilled writers. Harlan Ellison was a creative consultant or story editor for the first season. He disappeared the second season, as did much of the talent that made the first season so great.

I'm frankly amazed that Seinfeld (good as it is) is still in syndication. It's had incredible longevity in the current syndication market. I've noticed my other favorite, Everybody Loves Raymond, is on its last legs, airing very late at night. If it disappears completely, I'll pick it up in complete series DVD form.

Seinfeld is a show that, in a way, rewards repeat viewing. Raymond is not.

Raymond who loved bowling.

Everyone loves kung fu fighting.
Not everyone loves Raymond.

Chase slips, refers to "Sopranos" ending as Tony's "death scene."

“The Sopranos” creator David Chase accidentally spoiled the infamously cryptic series finale during a leaked interview for “The Sopranos Sessions,” his upcoming book celebrating the Emmy-winning HBO mob drama....

"I had that death scene around two years before the end … ”

Noticing his epic leak, co-author Matt Zoller Seitz chimed in: “You realize, of course, that you just referred to that as a death scene.”

“F–k you guys,” replied Chase upon realizing his blunder.

I used to love The Rockford Files back in the day, another show scripted by David Chase.

And Hill Street Blues.

Amazing how these two outstanding shows never got a chance in syndication over the last 35 years or so.

I remember "Rockford" in syndication by in the 80s.

The last I knew, the entire run of "Hill St" was on Hulu. I rewatched it in full a few years ago. Overall, it still holds up very well.

Yeah, Rockfor Files was popular in the day, and had a brief life in syndication in the early/mid 1980's.

Hill Street as I recall had a more brief life in syndication. I found it to be very realistic, and beautifylly understated and intelligent, all the ssubtle details were there, they didn't beat you over the head with the obvious, they rightly trusted their audience to be able to see what was going on.
My only complaint with Hill Street is that more happened in 2 or 3 episodes to these cops, than probably happened in 20 or 30 years of an actual patrolman's career. But still, a damn good series.