Sopranos gay Vito must die!

He's a mobster, he's gay and the other mobsters want him dead.  So do sports bettors...and maybe even PinnacleSports.com (See Web Site Here) which initially offered betting odds on Vito to die first at 6 to 1.  He was the favorite and therefore features the smallest payout among the major characters to be listed for betting purposes.  But if you are one of those who has money riding on gay Vito, regardless of what you think of his "outing" and lifestyle, odds are you want him dead.

PinnacleSports.com (See Web Site Here) created odds on 18 regular characters of "The Sopranos" being the first to be killed off this season. Soprano family soldier Vito Spatafore would pay $6 for every $1 bet made.

"No other successful television program produces the suspense of "The Sopranos," where fans constantly speculate who'll be the next to 'sleep with the fishes,'" said Simon Noble of PinnacleSports.com prior to the HBO series premiere.  "It's rumored that Vito gets whacked while out of town on business; whether that's for his past sexual relations with another man or for a new beef is unknown."

When seen last week, Spatafore — nicknamed "Brokeback Goombah" by fellow Sopranos star Steven Schirripa — had left his wife and kids and checked into a hotel, where he pondered suicide after being spotted by wiseguys at a gay bar.

During Sunday's episode titled "Live Life Free or Die", Vito escapes to the state that flaunts that moto, New Hampshire, where he attempts to locate a cousin.  He's still packing - a loaded pistol - but is yet to use it on himself or anybody else. 

The episode itself featured some pretty hilarious dialog but was devoid of much else.  In fact, the show itself after an impressive start this season seems to be unraveling at the seems.  Plotlines, including this one, are all over the place.

But for gamblers, Vito offers the opportunity to make some quick bucks after PinnacleSports abruptly removed betting odds on the Sopranos prior to Tony Soprano being shot in the stomach by his demented Uncle Junior.  Tony, however, has a soft spot for Vito and his fate remains a mystery.  There is no indication that Vito will be knocked off during next week's episode so one of the other characters may beat him to the punch.

Fans of the HBO series were stunned last season when Meadow's boyfriend, Finn, saw a security guard sitting in the driver's seat of a truck -- and then Vito's head popped up.

The character of Vito Spatafore is played by Joseph R. Gannascoli.  Prior to acting, Gannascoli attended St. John's University for two years and majored in communications. He then learned culinary art and opened a restaurant, Soup As Art Restaurant in Brooklyn.  As an actor, Gannascoli has appeared in Ed Wood, Blowfish, Mickey Blue Eyes and 976-Wish. Gannascoli's television credits include 30 episodes of The Sopranos in a guest starring capacity and one episode of Law and Order. Prior to the start of Season 6 of The Sopranos, Gannascoli was promoted to series regular.

Gannascoli recently participated in the weight loss reality television program, Celebrity Fit Club and lost over 32 pounds.  That storyline has also figured into this season.  In fact, Vito is seen trying on some old pants that are not way too big in the opening minute of this season's premiere episode. 

This season, Vito has hung around the hospital while Tony Soprano was recovering from a gunshot wound, trying to ingratiate himself with Tony's wife while plotting with Paulie Walnuts to grab her cut of a big score. And he's chomped on carrots while prattling on about all the weight he's losing. (In real life, he's down to 260 from a high of 400 pounds.)

Now that the gay story line is heating up, Gannascoli is immensely pleased, in part because it was his idea to make Vito homosexual.

"I saw him as, like, a cross between Mike Tyson and Liberace," the 47-year-old Brooklyn-born actor told The Associated Press in an interview at his home. "I wanted to make him sort of in self-denial, self-loathing, a real gay hater."

Gannascoli's suggestion was inspired by the book "Murder Machine," about the Gambino family, which had an openly gay member also named Vito.

"They didn't bother him about it, because I guess he was good at what he did, which was chopping up bodies," Gannascoli said.

Gannascoli concedes that he had a self-serving motivation for making the suggestion: Breaking out of the pack.

"I thought that was a way of separating myself from the other actors, because I would have been in the background most of the time. You know, line here, line there, and nothing really substantial," said Gannascoli, whose character previously was best known for whacking Jackie Aprile Jr. "To really make an impact is all I can ask for."

He also thought it would create an interesting acting challenge. But even in a year that has seen "Brokeback Mountain" become a cultural phenomenon and Philip Seymour Hoffman win an Oscar playing Truman Capote, Gannascoli knows the reaction to Vito won't be all positive.

"I'm a Brooklyn guy. I was just in Brooklyn last night. And, you know, I had some real wise guys that look at me and they give me dirty looks. I've had guys, like, come after me in clubs," he said.

While conflicted over his sexuality, Vito is clear about climbing the Mob's corporate ladder. Now that he has been outed, the future is less certain. "Vito's a top earner, so he's valuable to Tony Soprano. But we'll see if Tony's got his back or he's got problems with him being gay," Gannascoli says.

Cast members and fans have ribbed Gannascoli but also respect him. "Playing gay is very courageous. Most guys wouldn't do it," Schirripa says. Gay rights activists applaud the role. "The mere existence of the character creates an interesting, complex story," says Neil Giuliano, head of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). "We hope the show delves more into his life and the reaction of Tony's crew."

Whatever befalls Vito, The Sopranos has been life-changing for Gannascoli, who got married and bought his first home on Long Island last year. His co-written novel, A Meal to Die For, arrived in January. The self-taught chef also launched a food line and is developing Foodfellas, a TV pilot, with ex-Sopranos star Vincent Pastore.
 

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Gambling911.com News Wire Staff

Originally published April 17, 2006 1:14 am EST