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Teary 'Sopranos' Creator on Lawsuit: Fuhgeddaboudit

Emotional Chase defends creation against ex-judge after a cut

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 19, 2007 8:55 AM CST

(Newser) – "Sopranos" creator David Chase took the stand in a New Jersey courtroom yesterday and testified that hearing he was being sued over his hit TV series made him want to cry, E! News reports. A retired judge who took Chase on a tour of wiseguy hangouts, many of which wound up in the show, is suing Chase for a cut of the profits.

Chase told the court that the mob saga was based on his love of the TV series "The Untouchables," his experiences growing up in New Jersey, and his own family—"''The Sopranos' is me. My mother, my uncles. It was my life"—and that when he heard that Robert Baer was claiming to be the show's co-creator, he was poleaxed. Baer says he was promised a job on the show if it took off. Other witnesses played down the value of Baer's contribution.

Sopranos creator David Chase, center, watches production of the series outside the fictional Satriale's pork store in Kearny, N.J., in this March 21, 2007, file photo.(AP Photo/Mike Derer, File)
"Sopranos" creator David Chase, center, watches production of the series outside the fictional Satriale's pork store in Kearny, N.J., in this March 21, 2007, file photo.(AP Photo/Mike Derer, File)   (Associated Press)
Actors Tony Sirico, center left, who plays Paulie Walnuts and James Gandolfini, right, as Tony Soprano, shoot a scene from The Sopranos, outside the fictional Satriale's pork store in Kearny, N.J. Satriale's pork store was mentioned during a trial in Trenton, N.J., Friday, Dec. 14, 2007, where Robert...
Actors Tony Sirico, center left, who plays Paulie Walnuts and James Gandolfini, right, as Tony Soprano, shoot a scene from "The Sopranos," outside the fictional Satriale's pork store in Kearny, N.J. Satriale's...   (Associated Press)
Sopranos creator David Chase leaves after court proceedings at the Clarkson S. Fisher Federal Building and Courthouse Wednesday Dec. 12, 2007, in Trenton, N.J.  A federal jury was told Wednesday that Chase got help in developing HBO's Emmy-winning mob drama and owes a former municipal Judge Robert Baer for...
"Sopranos" creator David Chase leaves after court proceedings at the Clarkson S. Fisher Federal Building and Courthouse Wednesday Dec. 12, 2007, in Trenton, N.J. A federal jury was told Wednesday that...   (Associated Press)
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