On a brisk Saturday morning in Little Italy, tourists still snap photos outside the Mulberry Street storefronts that once doubled as Tony Soprano’s haunts. More than two decades after its debut, ‘The Sopranos’ remains a touchstone for New York’s creative class—and this week, the city’s television insiders are revisiting its legacy as a new generation of prestige dramas jostle for attention.

At Silvercup Studios in Long Island City, where much of the HBO classic was filmed, the echoes of the show’s influence linger. Writers from newer New York-based series—think ‘Succession’ and the latest streaming hits—cite ‘The Sopranos’ as their creative north star. “It wasn’t just about mobsters, it made New York a character,” said Maya Sanchez, a showrunner whose own Brooklyn-set drama is up for awards this season. “That’s our blueprint.”

This week’s poll of top TV critics, published Thursday, underscores what many in the industry have long whispered: ‘The Sopranos’ didn’t just raise the bar for storytelling, it redefined what viewers expect from city-based dramas. The show’s willingness to linger in diners, therapy offices, and suburban driveways gave later series permission to slow down and dig deep into character.

On Friday night in Astoria, a packed bar hosted a screening of the pilot episode, complete with themed cocktails and cannoli. “It’s tradition,” said bartender Sal Romano. “Every fall, people want to relive the early days—before streaming, before bingeing, when Sunday nights meant something.”

As autumn settles over the city, the shadow of Tony Soprano still looms large. For New York, the show’s true legacy might be less about mob lore and more about how it taught television—and the city itself—to embrace its contradictions, one episode at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did ‘The Sopranos’ influence New York-based television dramas?

‘The Sopranos’ influenced New York-based dramas by making the city itself a character and redefining expectations for storytelling and depth in television.

Where was ‘The Sopranos’ primarily filmed?

‘The Sopranos’ was filmed largely at Silvercup Studios in Long Island City.

How do current New York showrunners view ‘The Sopranos’?

Current New York-based showrunners, like Maya Sanchez, cite ‘The Sopranos’ as a creative blueprint for their own work.

What traditions have emerged among fans of ‘The Sopranos’ in New York?

A bar in Astoria hosts annual screenings of the pilot episode with themed cocktails and cannoli, and tourists still visit Mulberry Street storefronts featured in the show.

What lasting impact did ‘The Sopranos’ have on television storytelling?

The show is credited with giving later series permission to slow down, focus on character development, and raise the bar for city-based dramas.

Editorial Transparency. A first draft of this story was produced with AI-assisted writing tools, then reviewed for accuracy and tone by the named editor before publication. More on our process: Editorial Policy.