The Sopranos: Paulie Walnuts’ Black-and-Blue Givenchy Tracksuit

Tony Sirico as “Paulie Walnuts” Gualtieri on The Sopranos (Episode 1.13: “I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano”) Vitals Tony Sirico as “Paulie Walnuts” Gualtieri, mob enforcer and Army veteran New Jersey, Fall 1998 Series: The Sopranos Episode: “I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano” (Episode 1.13) Air Date: April 4, 1999 Director: John Patterson Creator: David Chase Costume Designer: Juliet Polcsa WARNING! Spoilers ahead! Background One of my closest friends recently started watching The Sopranos for the first time, and our conversations as she makes her way through the first season inspired me to revisit the signature style of my all-time favorite series. Her progress toward the season finale reminded me of one of my favorite sequences, balancing the show’s casual brutality with equally casual absurdity. After a season spent making life difficult—and more obnoxious—for New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, Uncle Junior’s scuzzy consigliere Mikey Palmice (Al Sapienza) finds his morning jog turned into a…