James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) promotes Iraq documentary

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http://tv.yahoo.com/show/31119/news/urn:newsml:cp.org:20070713:TV-95781040__ER:1

James Gandolfini promotes Iraq documentary; stays silent on 'Sopranos'
By BILL BRIOUX July 13, 2007 at 10:39 am

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (CP) - Think Tony Soprano is about to spill the beans about that "Sopranos" finale?

Fuggedaboutit.

James Gandolfini, who, as Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, may - or may not - have been rubbed out in the controversial finale of the series, stared down reporters on Day 3 of the semi-annual TV critics press tour. The imposing actor, who even put in an appearance Thursday night at HBO's press party at the trendy W Hotel, managed to say virtually nothing about the shock ending that had fans of the series buzzing a month ago.

Gandolfini made it clear that he wasn't here to talk about "The Sopranos." He was here to promote "Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq," premiering Sept. 9 in Canada on the Movie Network and Movie Central.

The searing, hour-long documentary features 10 men and women who, in some cases, barely survive being wounded in action.

HBO asked Gandolfini to serve as interviewer for the special after learning that the "Sopranos" star, through the USO, had paid a visit to the troops.

"I went to Iraq because I was playing this tough guy on TV, and I guess I wanted to go meet a few real ones or something like that," the typically reticent actor told reporters.

Meet them he did. He was joined on stage at Thursday's HBO press conference by five of the wounded soldiers who took part in the special. They had sustained serious injuries. As Cpl. Jonathan Bartlett succinctly put it, there were "12 functioning limbs" between the five soldiers at the session.

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