‘Sopranos’ who’s who: From A.J. to Artie

updated 7:21 p.m. ET March 7, 2006

NEW YORK - It was June 2004 when “The Sopranos” last aired. That’s 21 long months since Tony Soprano sat down on Dr. Melfi’s couch; nearly two years since anyone said “Christophah” quite like Adriana; a virtual eternity since we gazed on Paulie Walnuts’ silver locks.

With the familiar faces (except, um, Adriana) returning Sunday for the sixth season of the HBO drama, viewers could be forgiven for lapsing on who’s who. To help prepare for that encroaching drive down the New Jersey Turnpike, here’s a lineup of “the family.”

Tony Soprano: He’s the kind of guy who names his boat “The Stugots.” He’s got brass ones, but the acting boss of the family also constantly questions his own ruthlessness. Though he began therapy for panic attacks, he reveres, as he often says, the strong silent type — “like Gary Cooper.” He cheats on his wife and has the hots for his therapist. He can whack somebody while visiting colleges with his daughter, and be thrown into boyish daydreaming by a flock of ducks. He’s a modern day Hamlet with a gun, and you should know who he is.

Carmela Soprano: Interesting taste in men: likes mobsters, high school teachers and men with ponytails — a veritable triumvirate of hotness. But after two seasons centered on Carmela’s separation from Tony, she’s taken him back, thanks largely to a new beach-front house. She knows enough about what her husband does to know she doesn’t want to know. Complicated? She thrives on it.

Meadow Soprano: Tony’s little girl, no matter her having recently graduated Columbia University and gotten engaged. Her fiance: an aspiring dentist named Finn. Yes, that’s right, an aspiring dentist named Finn. The romance clearly doesn’t fit the family and has all the makings of something that will crash and burn. Meadow is a burgeoning beauty who has used her brains to escape her family. Whether she’ll remain the one uncorrupted product of Tony’s life will be something to watch for. If not, Tony can fuhgeddabout any peace of mind.

A.J. Soprano: Tony will get no such satisfaction from his son. The whining pip-squeak is too encased in comfy suburbia for mob life and too dimwitted for anything beyond a third-rate college. So what job does A.J. want? Party planner! Marone!

Corrado “Junior” Soprano: Junior ran Northern New Jersey before Tony took over, and he still is a figurehead. Call it mafia royalty. He’s due for a retrial (the first trial was thrown out after jury tampering), and has been slowly losing his wits to old age. He and Tony’s mother, Livia, earlier conspired to have Tony killed. Tony knows who was behind the failed attempt and swore off his mother before she died; he’s been more forgiving of Junior. Nevertheless, hopefully, we’ll get to hear Junior sing one more time — as he did beautifully on the season two finale.

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