Movie News

Tony Soprano suffers ratings slump

Tue 14 Mar 2:00 PM

Despite its avid fanbase having to wait two years for new episodes, ratings for the final series of The Sopranos were a little disappointing in the US.

Viewing figures for the first episode in the sixth series of the HBO Mafia drama were down a massive 25% compared with the fifth-season premiere.

As for the reviews, they were mixed: "The first 50 minutes sucked," said fan Nicolas Dantuono.

"They made you wait too long. I've been watching it since it started. I do the same thing every year, I can't wait. Then it comes back, and you say, 'Oh come on, they made you wait for this?'"

But Steve Pruso told the New York Daily News :"It was a great start...When you make people wait that long, you've got to come back with a bang."

Many fans believe the entire sixth series is going to be told in a series of flashbacks as many 'dead' characters have already reared their heads again.

After these 12 episodes, a further eight 'bonus episodes' will follow in January 2007, to wrap up all the loose ends, creator David Chase revealed.