Chat with Robert Iler of HBO's The Sopranos

HBO presents

April 1, 2001

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Tina: Is this the last season for "The Sopranos?"

Robert Iler: No, definitely not. There is definitely going to be a 4th season, and now there is talk going around about a 5th.

Boy Called Elsa: Do you think you are famous enough? I mean you are on "The Sopranos!" Why does James Gandolfini get so much press?

Robert Iler: I think just because the same as in any show---the star of the show gets all of the press, he is the most important person on the show, and he gets the most air time. I think that's the reason. Every show that you watch, the person who has the lead role really gets the most press.

Johnny Boy: Hey, A.J. What is it like working with Jamie-Lynn Sigler on the set? She is hot!

Robert Iler: She's really cool! I've known her for just over three years, now. She is a really cool person. She is a really good friend. Even when we are not working, I spend time with her. She just got an apartment in Manhattan. When we are not working, I go to see her, and we hang out. She is really cool

Bill Blaze: Does A.J. get into any big trouble this season?

Robert Iler: Yeah. That's really like a phase. As episodes go on, from, basically, episode 9 to the season finale, they show me getting into a lot of trouble.

Joey Soprano: Why did you faint at the end of that one episode at football practice?

Robert Iler: I don't know if I'm allowed to say. A lot of people are saying that it's because I am going to have panic attacks just like my father.

Maq Man: Would you like your character, A.J., to become involved in the 'family business'?

Robert Iler: Yeah. I think that would be a really good, not only plot line, but just a chance for me to get to act more in the show. I think following in his father's footsteps is what this character is going to do.

Mr. Negativity: Have you been involved in any other shows or movies besides "The Sopranos?"

Robert Iler: As I said earlier, I just did a movie called "Tadpole." Before "The Sopranos," I did a movie called "Tic Code," and it was with Gregory Hines and Polly Draper. Working on that was great. That was right before "The Sopranos." Right before "The Sopranos," all of the work I did was commercials, of which I did about eight. I did one voice over, and then I did Saturday Night Live--just a walk by. Even though I was just a walk by, there is something different about doing a live show.

Jim: How many episodes are already completed?

Robert Iler: The whole third season, so that's 39 episodes.

Star Brite: What do you think is going to happen with Meadow?

Robert Iler: I don't know if I can say what I think, because I know.

Big Fan: What was your most difficult scene, so far?

Robert Iler: Actually, it was a scene that is coming up in the season finale, so I can't talk about it. It was kind of like the whole 13th episode was challenging. Also, with scenes that have already been aired, I think it was the second season when I start talking about dictators and that kind if thing. I went back and read stuff about it, and that was kind of challenging.

Boy Called Elsa: Did you always want to be an actor, or did you fall into show business?

Robert Iler: I kind of fell into it. When I was six, I was walking down the street. Some guy came up to me and asked me if I'd like to try modeling or acting. I was with my father. He didn't take the guy seriously, so we didn't call him for a while. And one day, my mother called him. Ten years later, he is still my manager.

Soprano Fan: Should we expect to see A.J. play a bigger role in the 'waste management' business?

Robert Iler: I don't know. I don't know what I'm allowed to talk about, but I think he is still a teenager, and I think they will still leave him with teenager things to deal with, as of now.

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