The Sopranos is a show.
Carmela Soprano ( née DeAngelis ) , played by Edie Falco , is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos . The Sopranos is an American crime drama television series created by David Chase . The series features Tony 's family members , mafia colleagues and rivals , in prominent roles and story arcs , most notably his wife Carmela ( Edie Falco ) and protégé Christopher Moltisanti ( Michael Imperioli ) . After the pilot was ordered in 1997 , the show premiered on the premium cable network HBO in the United States on January 10 , 1999 , and ran its six seasons with 86 episodes to June 10 , 2007 . Anthony John `` Tony '' Soprano is a fictional character and the protagonist in the HBO television drama series The Sopranos , portrayed by James Gandolfini .