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The Sopranos Season 6 Episode 8

Johnny Cakes

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9.0

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 4/30/06

A.J. seeks to upgrade his life and enjoys the perks of having the Soprano name. A real estate offer, and the saleswoman, tempt Tony. The increasing corporate presence in the neighborhood stymies Patsy's protection racket. Another's heroism at a fire impresses Vito.

Fan Episode Reviews (8)

One of the best episodes in a while.

10

By RealCrapper, Apr 02, 2011

Easily the best episode this season. So much happens: Vito accepting his homosexuality, Tony resisting temptation, AJ becoming Tony. While I watch the show religiously, I was starting to drift away a bit. I'm fully sucked back in.

A couple of minor gripes: Is it just me or did it just feel a bit cheesy that Julianna Margulies' character's name was Julianna? Also, Vito does not make a very natural gay guy. That was fairly uncomfortable watching him make out with the guy from the Village People next to the lake. Also, I started panicking when he took off his shirt thinking that Vito was going to take his shirt off too. Thank God that didn't happen. Some things are better left to the imagination...moreless
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Read this review for the facts

9.4

By blake1001, Apr 02, 2011

Ok, this was a very good episode, with a lot of facts to capture that will undoubtedly untwist at the finale.

I\\\\\\\'ve read the other reviews on here, I agree that A.J is turning into Tony.... but the reason for this is that he sees the perks and respect that his peers hold for his dad. AJ wants this for himself, the respect, the perks and the fear from others... hence this pushed him to attempt to stab Junior.

We see a new side to Tony here as well, he gets the chance to f*uck the real estate agent and turns her down at the last minute.

The Vito story was more build-up than anything else, he's getting wacked very soon! Maybe his new 'boyfriend' and their crew will stick up for him in a 'village-people vs The Mob' style beatdown.

Not much from Chris, Paulie and the others in this episode which was dissapointing. My previous predictions are carried forward:

- Terrorism strikes, I think the credit card guys are up to something

- The Black Rappers come back for Bobby after he shot one in the a$$

Still nothing on the suicide in the first episode, Paulie extorting the owners son of the garbage business etc. I look forward to all these loose ends being tied up for an explosive finale.

Blake.

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AJ is becoming Tony

8.9

By maxpower144, Jul 11, 2006

Isn't that the message of this episode? Especially when AJ starts to have the the panic attacks. Can it be more in our face?

Of course who would not expect a son to be like a father? Tony of course! He said this very thing in this episode, that he wants AJ to not follow in his footsteps.

One thing I liked was wHen AJ went to see Junior, he dropped the knife. This was completely in character that he be so impetuous and clumsy. Something also tells me that he is seeking his Father's approval, which is causing an inner turmoil for AJ right now.

The title Johhny Cakes is an analogy to all the "gaiety" that is going on in New Hampshire. Boy Vito is in the right place there! How many of those fire-fighters were coming across as homosexual?

I was looking for some excitemant for the Vito character in this episode, but I did not see the type of excitement I was looking for. I was hoping for gunplay "Sopranos style" and I got gunplay "Queer as Folk style". :(

Oh well maybe next week.

Overall, very entertaining.

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Whoa...

10

By EnterTheTekken, May 20, 2006

Brokeback Vito...Wow...

Anyways, this was the best episode of the season so far, blowing away Members Only and MrMrs. Johnny Sac Request. The symbolism and parallels David Chase ties in so perfectly were alive and well tonight.

First, it was good to finally see why they put Dominic Chianse's and Lorraine Bracco's name in the opening credits, even though Corrado only had 2-3 lines.

The "out-with the old, in with the new" parallel was my favorite. It shows the irony and hypocrisy of mobsters who shakedown hard-working business owners, yet get upset when corporations start eating up all the spots in the neighborhood. Similar to what happened in Las Vegas, where the mob ran nearly 90% of the gaming in the city, yet now the odds of you winning are lower now that corporations own them. It also spoke volumes of Patsy's already shaky relationship with Tony. With giving his twin and new moonroof, making him clean up the Gloria situation, passing him over for Christopher in "No Show", and now profiting from one of his livelihoods. Keep your eye on Patsy this season, as subordinates have been given arcs this year (Benny, Paulie, Eugene).

The other parallel was the fatherson apple from the tree scenes. Tony inside knows that A.J. is doing the exact same things that he did at his age, and its only a matter of time now before A.J. does something he and Tony will regret. There's only so many things he can keep from Carmella, too. I like the mention of the Godfather scene by A.J.

I am also glad that Tony didn't go through with the Juliana thing. It breaks up the monotony of Tony's infidelity, and shows how much he's changed since he moved back in in "Long Term Parking." I applaud the casting department of continuing Tony's psychological, Livia-influenced attraction to women. Notice how they are all dark-haired, sophisticated, intelligent women, yet they all possess some quality Livia has and Carmella doesn't (Melfi, Valentina, Gloria, Irina). Tony's getting pissed off over smoked turkey was him being stressed and confused over which type of woman he's attracted to, since he couldn't get it up for either one. Is it the usual dark-haired woman, or his own wife?

As for Vince, er, I mean Vito. Our auteur is experiencing what I like to call Chase favoritism. Basically speaking, the focus on Vito is built to conflict with Tony. Just like Richie, Ralphie, and Blundetto. Something will happen to Vito, and it won't sit well with Tony. All season, the crew's sidestories have been constructed to instill doubt into Tony (Eugene's suicide, Paulie's mother problems, Silvio's leadership ability, Christopher's ventures in the business, and next week, apparently something with Bobby.) For those saying this season is boring, there's a huge pot of venom brewing and ready and waiting to explode in the last 3 episodes, like it always does.

Great episode tonight

1010.

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Tony sells one of his companies to Jamba Juice and makes a pass at the sexy real-estate agent, Vito continues his romance with Johnny Cakes, and AJ attempts to wipe out Uncle Junior but chickens out leading to a powerful father-son chat.moreless

8.0

By MargetisMan414, May 17, 2006

Although it doesn't move fast at all, to be perfectly honest it's pretty damn slow at moments, this is a powerful episode that is great in it's own way. I didn't like the Julianna Margulies playing the Jamba Juice worker plot-line, but we learn a lot about AJ in this episode. After dropping out of High School, AJ gets a job at Blockbuster where he screws around with his wasteland friends and spouts the f-word every five seconds. At night he goes out to clubs and gets f-d up, and charges up bills of $1830 on his father's credit card. His friends always want to talk about his dad, and ask about his uncle Junior who shot Tony. He replies, "Yeah. I guess I might be having to whack him." AJ gets it into his mind he has to kill Uncle Junior, and packs a knife with him to go to the Nursing Home. In a scene resembling the Fredo dropping the gun scene from The Godfather, AJ goes to looney bin armed and sees Junior. Junior let's out a nice gesture to AJ, and AJ realizes how much he loves him, and drops the knife on the ground. He is attacked by security guards where his dad picks him up from the police station. They have a powerful and pivotal talk where Tony tells him he isn't a ganster, the godfather is just a movie and AJ is a good guy and shouldn't act tough. They kiss and make up. Vito is having fun with Johnny Cakes and starts up a relationship with him, while back in New Jersey a character we usually don't see much of, Patsy Parisi, tries to pressure a local Starbucks for protection money, and is surprised it doesn't work. It moves slow, but there are some little moments that really make the episode. My Rating: 8/10.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Dominic Chianese	Corrado "Junior" Soprano
Edie Falco	Carmela Soprano
James Gandolfini	Tony Soprano
Lorraine Bracco	Dr. Jennifer Melfi
Michael Imperioli	Christopher Moltisanti
Robert Iler	Anthony Soprano, Jr.

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Julianna Margulies	Julianna Skiff	Guest Star
John Costelloe	Jim Witowski	Guest Star
Vincent Piazza	Hernan O'Brien	Guest Star
Peter Bogdanovich	Dr. Elliot Kupferberg	Recurring Role
Elizabeth Bracco	Marie Spatafore	Recurring Role
Artie Pasquale	Burt Gervasi	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (3)
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- At the beginning of this episode, when A.J. tells his parents he is selling his drums for living expenses, his hair is short. In one of the next scenes where A.J. and Tony are fishing, his hair is long. Then in his next scene his hair is short again and stays that way for the rest of the episode.
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- When A.J. receives the bill for $1,890 at a nightclub, the time stamp on the receipt shows 2:34PM.
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- The episode title comes from the name given to pancakes made with cornmeal that Vito orders at the local diner in New Hampshire.
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QUOTES (5)
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- Vito: Sometimes you tell a lie for so long that you don't know when to stop.
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- Tony: (at the Bing) How'd you know to find me here?
  Julianna: I'm a real estate agent.
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- Tony: What am I supposed to do? Put out an APB 'cause a guy takes it up the ass?
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- Caputo: You hear? Goddamn juice place movin' in here.
  Patsy: What Jews?
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- Silvio: Jason Masucci was down in Tampa visiting his mother—thought he saw Vito in a Jenny Craig. Turned out to be some other fat piece of shit.
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NOTES (2)
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- Music: "Tic Tic Tac" by Os Garotos do Rio; "Freedom Sound" by Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm; "Sunny Came Home" by Shawn Colvin; "Mi Dia Bonito" (Mark Pistel Remix) by Latin Soul Syndicate; "E Talking" by Soulwax; "Like This" by Mack Ten (featuring Nate Dogg); "Family Affair" by Mary J. Blige; "He Ain't Even Cold Yet" by Gretchen Wilson; "Ready 2 Wear" by Felix the Housecat; "I Fall" by Lisbeth Scott; "New Light of Tomorrow" by Husky Rescue; "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town" by Ray Charles
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- Though credited, Steven R. Schirripa, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Aida Turturro do not appear.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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