Back in 2004, David Chase's iconic mob family drama The Sopranos took home the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. Alongside that, and the inimitable Edie Falco's win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, co-star Michael Imperioli also took home a coveted prize that evening — even if it later ended up in the garbage.
Speaking with Rolling Stone for interview series The First Time, Imperioli recalled the night he won his Emmy for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Christopher Moltisanti, the "nephew" of James Gandolfini's Tony Soprano on the HBO classic.
"We were up all night, because like I said, we won best show," he said. "By five in the morning, we were drunk out of our minds. My wife and I go back to our room. We get in bed, she says, 'You know what, you won this Emmy, everybody you know, kissing your ass, gushing all over you. I'm not impressed.' She said, 'If you had any balls you'd take that statue and throw it in the garbage.'"
He continued: "I was pretty drunk, and I was like, 'Fuck this thing,' and I take the Emmy, throw it in the garbage. We go to bed, pass out until like noon. She wakes me up and is like, 'Why don't you call room service, get some coffee and some breakfast. I'm like, 'OK.' She goes, 'Oh. Don't forget to take your Emmy out of the garbage pail.'"
Elsewhere in the interview, Imperioli talks about meeting Martin Scorsese, crashing a car with Gandolfini on the set of The Sopranos, buying his first record and more. See the full interview here.
Speaking with Rolling Stone for interview series The First Time, Imperioli recalled the night he won his Emmy for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Christopher Moltisanti, the "nephew" of James Gandolfini's Tony Soprano on the HBO classic.
"We were up all night, because like I said, we won best show," he said. "By five in the morning, we were drunk out of our minds. My wife and I go back to our room. We get in bed, she says, 'You know what, you won this Emmy, everybody you know, kissing your ass, gushing all over you. I'm not impressed.' She said, 'If you had any balls you'd take that statue and throw it in the garbage.'"
He continued: "I was pretty drunk, and I was like, 'Fuck this thing,' and I take the Emmy, throw it in the garbage. We go to bed, pass out until like noon. She wakes me up and is like, 'Why don't you call room service, get some coffee and some breakfast. I'm like, 'OK.' She goes, 'Oh. Don't forget to take your Emmy out of the garbage pail.'"
Elsewhere in the interview, Imperioli talks about meeting Martin Scorsese, crashing a car with Gandolfini on the set of The Sopranos, buying his first record and more. See the full interview here.