Guy Walks Into a Psychiatrist's Office...

Infobox Television episode | Title = Guy Walks Into a Psychiatrist's Office...
Series = The Sopranos
Season = 2
Episode = 14
Guests= "see below"
Airdate = January 16, 2000 (HBO)
Production = 201
Writer = Jason Cahill
Director = Allen Coulter
Episode list = Episode chronology


Prev = I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano
Next = Do Not Resuscitate

"Guy Walks Into a Psychiatrist's Office" is the fourteenth episode of the HBO original series "The Sopranos" and was the first of the show's second season. It was written by Jason Cahill, directed by Allen Coulter and originally aired on Sunday January 16 2000.

Guest starring roles

* Jerry Adler as Hesh Rabkin
* Tom Aldredge as Hugh De Angelis
* Lillo Brancato Jr. as Matthew Bevilaqua
* John Fiore as Gigi Cestone
* Dan Grimaldi as Philly "Spoons" Parisi
* Oksana Lada as Irina Peltsin
* George Loros as Ray Curto
* David Margulies as Neil Mink
* Suzanne Shepherd as Mary De Angelis
* Chris Tardio as Sean Gismonte
* Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano
* Ed Vassalo as Tom Giglione

Episode recap

Several months after Mikey Palmice's execution and Livia Soprano's hospitalization, things are going back to some sort of normality once again. Tony Soprano begins to self-medicate as he is no longer receiving therapy from Dr. Melfi, who begins working out of a motel after being warned that her office is no longer safe. Christopher Moltisanti hires someone to take his stockbroker's licensing exam. Uncle Junior is in prison. Carmela Soprano continues to play the role of "housewife". Livia begins receiving physical therapy. Ray Curto continues to bring in the money for Tony as does Paulie Gualtieri and Silvio Dante who indulge in designer shoes and Bada Bing strippers. Tony continues to see his Russian comáre, Irina, and hides that he was out all night by doing a load of laundry. He then sneaks into bed and falls asleep. The following morning, as Tony goes to fetch the paper he sees a Buick Riviera sitting in his driveway. Tony starts to cautiously walk away, thinking this may be another hit, only to have Big Pussy emerge. Tony yells, "You've been gone all these months... and this is how you come back to me!?"

Tony and Pussy then go down to Tony's basement where they discuss Pussy's absence. Pussy tries to explain that he was in Puerto Rico for back therapy and medical assistance, and did not want to tell his wife, since he started dating his masseuse. He also no longer felt safe in New Jersey because of the impressions previously caused by Tony and his crew. Tony still does not trust Pussy completely and as he goes to hug him he pats him down. Pussy becomes offended at this but Tony pulls him in for another hug, a real one. At the Bada Bing, the associates welcome Pussy and Silvio entertains the group with impressions from "The Godfather".

Tony assigns former Junior Soprano crew soldier Gigi Cestone, who was brought over to Tony's crew after Tony took over as street boss because Tony knew he could control him, to take out active Junior Soprano crew soldier Philly "Spoons" Parisi after it was discovered Philly had been spreading rumors that Tony wanted his mother dead, which was actually true. Tony believed if Gigi performed the hit on a soldier from his own crew it'd look less obvious. Gigi puts on the pretense of returning home from a trip and has Paulie Gualtieri drop him off at the airport and is picked up by Philly. After Gigi gets all the specific details out of Philly, he shoots Philly twice in the head yelling "You big mouth fuck!". Tony calls Melfi on a pay phone informing her "it's over" and that she can come home.

Christopher is made the SEC compliance officer (actually the "head") of an investment firm and is pressuring people to push a new worthless stock, Webistics. When Christopher takes a "meeting" down the shore (with Adriana La Cerva), he places Matt Bevilaqua, a fellow stockbroker in charge. While Matt is doing his rounds with friend Sean Gismonte to make sure people are advising the purchase of Webistics, they discover one broker is not doing as he is told, and is providing general investment advice based on the needs of the customer. They proceed to pour hot coffee on him and beat him. The former manager tells them to break it up but is threatened by Matt to go back to his office. The following day, Tony receives a phone call from the firm stating that Christopher is not doing his job well and that two employees left because of an "incident". Tony tells Christopher to be careful, to wise up and to make himself available at the firm instead of being a "no-show".

Tony then receives a phone call from Carmela, who informs him that his long-gone sister, Janice, has resurfaced and is looking for a place to stay. Perturbed, he invites Janice to stay but knows that when she leaves he will be "$5,000 lighter". Tony suggests to Carmela that they have a big family reunion with Tony's younger sister, Barbara Giglione, and all of the children. He makes it clear that Livia is not to be invited.

While driving, Tony has a panic attack and runs off the road. He is not hurt as his airbag deployed after he runs into a barricade. He meets with another psychiatrist to discuss his panic attacks and his mother. The psychiatrist tells Tony that he recognizes him and has seen "Analyze This", and informs him that he is not taking new clients at this time.

Tony talks with Janice about Livia and that he never wants her spoken of in the Soprano house again. Janice understands what is going on but will continue to see Livia and possibly occupy her house. Tony tells her that it is not possible since he is selling the house. Janice tries to convince him not to but goes unheeded. Tony and Carmela are soon asked to the house by a realtor who informs them that Livia's house was vandalized. Carmela then asks when Tony is getting back into therapy and tells him that her parents will be coming to the party as well. It is revealed that Carmela's parents avoided gatherings where Livia would be present, due to rude comments Livia had made to them.

At the party, everyone seems to be in good spirits except for Tony, who is angered about his mother and Carmela asks the question once again, "When are you getting back into therapy?" Tony states that he does not know but that he has been self-medicating. Carmela then suggests that he go have a good time with his friends and family and not worry about Livia. Tony does so and continues to joke around with Pussy. Meanwhile, Janice and Barbara are talking about Tony's handling of the situation. Janice thinks that no one is going to get their fair share from the house but Barbara believes that Tony is handling the situation very well and that he will give them both their fair share.

The following morning at a diner, Tony tries to apologize to Dr. Melfi, who is extremely upset that she could not help another patient who committed suicide. Tony feels bad but tries to ask her if he can come back, or for a referral. She tells him to get out of her life and not to expect a referral, and he leaves the diner. Tony then goes home to have lunch with Carmela, who is surprised that he is home early. It seems he is trying to become closer to his wife

First appearances

* Janice Soprano (also known as Parvati Wasatch): Tony's sister, who resurfaces after a 20-year absence while living in Seattle, Washington.
* Barbara Soprano Giglione: Tony's younger sister, who lives in Brewster, New York.
* Hugh De Angelis: Carmela's father.
* Mary De Angelis: Carmela's mother.
* Matt Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte: Stockbrokers at Christopher's firm who are looking to get themselves recognized by the Soprano family.
* Gigi Cestone: a soldier in the Junior Soprano crew.
* Neil Mink: Tony Soprano's attorney and confidante.

Deceased

* Philly "Spoons" Parisi: killed by Gigi Cestone for spreading rumors that Tony likes to "fluff his mother's pillows". Dan Grimaldi would later return to the series as Philly's twin brother, Patsy.

Production

*Drea de Matteo (Adriana La Cerva) and Aida Turturro (Janice Soprano) are now billed in the opening credits.

*After Silvio Dante does his The Godfather impression ("Our true enemy has yet to reveal himself"), there is a quick cut to Big Pussy, further foreshadowing doubts on his disappearance.

Title reference

* The episode's title is intended to be the beginning of a joke (for example, "Guy walks into a bar and..."). It refers to Tony's therapy sessions.

Music

* After the opening credits, the episode shows the status of all the major characters, over scored by Frank Sinatra's "It Was a Very Good Year".
* The song played over the end credits is "Time Is on My Side" by Irma Thomas.
* Song played during the Sil Godfather prank in the Bing is "Nod Off" by Skeleton Key.
* When the Soprano family is barbecueing, Andrea Bocelli's "Con te partirò" is playing in the background.

Reference to other media

Phillip Parisi's death is a reference to The Godfather where Paulie Gatto is shot and killed in the drivers seat of a car because of his role in the attempted murder of Vito Corleone.

*Before the Hit, the hitmans wife yells at him to not forget the canoli (The Godfather)