Why Did Johnny Sack Call Off The Hit? | The Sopranos Explained

In The Sopranos, Tony Soprano's capo Ralph Cifaretto makes a joke about Ginny Sack, Lupertazzi underboss Johnny Sack's wife. When Paulie tells Johnny Sack, John is furious and demands to Carmine Sr that he sanctions a hit against Ralph.
When Carmine Sr refuses, John decides to go ahead with the hit anyway, but calls it off when he sees his wife Ginny stuffing his face with food. Johnny Sack and Ginny fight, and John calls of the hit.
Today, let's discuss why Johnny Sack decided to call off the hit against Ralph.

[@badbadleroybrown613]

"Like vito looks at security guards" 😂

[@prieterico]

I was laughing my ass off for a couple of minutes because of it lmao

[@daveowens271]

That was an amazing line, beautifully delivered! 😂

[@schmeltingaccident]

I knew that was coming!

[@RogueBoyScout]

​@@schmeltingaccident What, those couple of black guys?

[@schmeltingaccident]

@@RogueBoyScout no, JohnnyCakes

[@jackcristo1628]

I think when John realized Ginny was hiding her problems with food from him, he felt guilty. Like he hadn't been making it clear enough to her that he doesn't judge her weight. And by whacking Ralph for calling her fat, he'd be proving her fears true.

[@cynicaltheastrocreep4504]

Yeah, it was a very genuine and human moment. Like you can tell he actually loves his wife and he was letting his vanity get the better of him. But he realized it doesn't matter, HE doesn't see her that way.

[@KevinShaughnessy-mt9jt]

​@@cynicaltheastrocreep4504 So. It wasn't the unsanctioned hit of A. She was a who- ah & B. she hit me ? It has to be icing on the cake !

[@cynicaltheastrocreep4504]

@@KevinShaughnessy-mt9jt I think John was disgusted that Ralph beat the girl to death but what was he gonna do about it, and he was peak pragmatist in season 3.

[@5wheels178]

yeah I think this video is missing the point a little.

[@dylantyrrell9084]

Sexy take

[@KMacMerlin]

"The watermelon of his eye" got me 😂

[@jpmnky]

This whole situation made Johnny Sack my favorite character. At the end when he caught his wife with all that candy, dude really loved that woman.

[@travis8947]

She tried so haaahd

[@CollaredConsulting]

He liked a woman you can get your hands into

[@omargonzalez8809]

Ain't gonna front, Ginny always makes me laugh when she uses her go-to phrase with Johnny: John why are you yelling at me? John what did I do? 😂😂😂

[@beeemm2578]

Blood type?? Ragu

[@frenchsterr4708]

‘John looks at Ginny like Vito looks at security guards.’ LMAOOOOOOO

[@binghamtonblows]

All jokes aside, ginni is an absolute rock and the coupling of her and john is the absolute best in the show

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

It's a fascinating relationship. His loyalty to her is really interesting. Even when he gave the allocution, that was ultimately him choosing their financial security and over his loyalty to his oath.

[@ThisHandleWasTheOnly1Available]

Ginny's a rock alright - the rock of Gibraltar

[@binghamtonblows]

@@ThisHandleWasTheOnly1Available *queue up a rimshot*

[@j-rey-]

​@@ThisHandleWasTheOnly1Available I was trying to think of a joke, but I would only embarrass myself after this comment 😆

[@NickDDDD]

🤔

[@jaygee8039]

This guy's side witty remarks while giving commentary are hilarious lol

[@jt8696.]

Watermelon of his eye xD I'm surprised they didn't crack that one in the Bing back office.

[@DrJ-hx7wv]

Johnny is my favorite character and the original reason I watched the show. This is part of the reason why. I do think that Ginny manipulated John after he caught her in the basement, starting to cry over her weight.

[@Dickiemiller179]

He was a great character. Personally I liked Paulie as he was almost a microcosm of the mafia. He's not loyal, he's treacherous and self serving, exactly like most mafioso.

[@shahin5153]

@@Dickiemiller179you described the fundamental characteristics that are the typical standard of Mafiosos that are the rule not the exception

[@psychkosys]

John was my favorite as well.... I think he should have whacked everyone.

[@Tusc9969]

I think John took such offense to Ralph's joke because 1) people were disrespecting his wife when she was trying really hard to lose weight, but also 2) he was secretly angry that Ginny kept trying to lose weight (diet schemes, fat pills, etc) when he was okay with the way she looked (he says as much to Tony). I think the second thing was a bigger driver, and Ralph became a physical thing that he could focus his anger upon. So, when John catches Ginny eating junk food, they have an honest conversation in which he's able to explain that he loves her the way she is. She eventually accepts this and I don't think is seen doing diet activities again. Their argument in the basement effectively solves both of the things that made him angry in the first place. Once that happens, I think he's then able to more clearly see that he's indeed being, to quote Carmine, unreasonable.

[@Edfiki86]

I could read comments on the sopranos all day

[@johnnyjay6959]

I’m glad I read the comments first bc I was gonna say some of this. Great comment bro.

[@slydEvil35]

Was gonna say something similar but yours is much more articulate of the sacred AND the propane.

[@matthewpredmore6523]

Yep, I think you nailed it. Johnny Sack really loved his family .

[@gregoryporch8395]

Agreed. John was probably still offended by how his move to New Jersey prompted a chorale of fat jokes from Tony's crew a year before Ralph's dinner joke.

[@PaulRubino]

I don't think her weight mattered to Johnny. Johnny thought her weight mattered to *HER* and made *HER* unhappy, so Johnny was sensitive to the joke.

[@Lilyanna298]

I think that he genuinely saw her as beautiful, but hated the disrespect that the other men had towards her and him because of it. His anger towards Ralph wasn’t just about Ralph. It represented his worst fears about how she was talked about when he wasn’t around. In that moment in the basement he realised that he shouldn’t care and should always be proud of her, so let it go

[@retiredguy7273]

The still photographs that you used in this video with Johnny Sack are outstanding. I think they show what a great actor Vincent cortola was. The facial expressions just tell you so much of what he is feeling. Great vid by the way thank you

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

I was pretty impressed by that relationship in general. His devotion to his wife was pretty remarkable compared to the rest of the characters. Ultimately he even chose his family's financial security over his loyalty to the cosa nostra

[@Edfiki86]

You scared me man

[@danibravo5700]

Love the way you reference the shows best lines. We notice it and we appreciate it!❤

[@retiredguy7273]

Yeah that was really clever stuff!

[@travis8947]

@@retiredguy7273like you think he’s a clown or something?

[@retiredguy7273]

@@travis8947 no it was meant as a compliment. Nothing sinister

[@travis8947]

@@retiredguy7273 me too. Was making a Goodfellas reference trying to go all Joe Pesci on you

[@retiredguy7273]

@@travis8947 o man, great reference...and I missed it!

[@samk9258]

The one thing Carmine Jrs father taught me is a pint of ragu costs more than a gallon of gold.

[@forcemajeur.5138]

"You said you were going to stop uploading..." "KZbin is an ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCE"

[@erickennedy8534]

Johnny called off hit because , he felt guilty because she lied too him , and he realize she is addict just like him, realize he dose not try with his cigarette habit. They both do not pull their weight.

[@doctorr2]

I don't know if he should have called off the hit or not, but you had me lol-ing at the "unorthodox use of a cheese grater" line. That much, I do know.

[@TonyVerrazano]

The watermelon of his eye... lol, you're a savage.

[@Damidas]

Ginny having to take 2 trips just to haul ass to the basement 😂

[@geessaess1707]

She stabbed him in the heart. It’s just how much betrayal can he take.

[@smellsuperb1]

Sil and Gabriela had a great marriage, even though he had comarés she didn't bc she knew he had zero emotional attachment to them. We never get to see Carmine's marriage, but Johnny Sack definitely had the most complete and authentic marriage on the show.

[@doublem1975x]

If he took out Ralph it likely meant a civil war with Carmine and a beef with NJ. I don’t think he was willing to go there.

[@hiderz]

'Did he see the mole?' 💀

[@billslocum9819]

Johnny may have seen a parallel between her handling of her weight problem and his. She's sneaking down into the basement to gorge herself, he's arranging a murder. Both are abetting the problem with clandestine reactions rather than being open and accepting it is there and needs to be faced with accountability. Johnny was disappointed, but maybe he also saw in Ginny the same shadow impulse that he had, and recognized its destructive folly.

[@pikkon899]

I love how the explanation is given while cracking jokes about Gini's weight 🤣 She can't catch a break.

[@JamieOGman]

1: She was a Whoaaah. 2: He. Hit. Me!

[@joseyeastwood]

The thing i always thought about was how did the actress who played Ginny Sac feel about all the horrible jokes about her size because even though we all know it was a show she had a problem with it obviously in real life.

[@davethomas543]

Commenting before I watch. I think Johnny realized just what it would mean to kill Ralph. Carmine was old school and disobeying him so outrightly , would of been dealt with old school. All over a joke that if it wasn't his own wife , he probably would of at least chuckled at.

[@zitherzon2121]

Johnny was finally forced to admit to himself, "Yes, I am a chubby chaser."

[@al2931]

John was supposed to stop smoking and he didn’t.

[@aaronrowell6943]

When he says you do know what you've done it must have hit him like a ton of bricks that basically Ginny literally risked his life over this. However, there's so much emotion in this I don't think it's a situation of he's just being selfish it is that he actually does care and then it was a wrong decision that if he would have been killed it would have hurt her more than anything else that made him so pained

[@eliwhaley4804]

'the watermelon of his eye" 🤣

[@localfatty4364]

Jesus dude you have the great sopranos videos. I love all the subtle remarks you make that mix in so well with the videos

[@izuela7677]

I think his confrontation with Ginny simply let the steam out of his rage. He wasn't able to revel in it anymore. And now with a cooler head, he could accept that it wouldn't be worth the fallout to continue.

[@KingBeatsOPS]

6:48 “It was his wife, the watermelon of his eye!”😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@phillipnewallo6548]

"Her body was mad ripe... Rubenesque"

[@panspermiapancakes]

Johnny may not care about his wife's weight, but it would be difficult not to be offended when a group of your peers (to some extent, his underlings) are laughing at her expense. His wife is an extension of himself, and Ralph felt comfortable enough to disrespect them both. His pride was hurt. He called off the hit because he realized she wasn't even trying. When he was under the assumption she was putting in tons of effort because her weight supposedly bothers her, to hear someone disrespect her, put a rage in him. Finding out she's not even trying, but also hiding it from him, felt like another betrayal of trust. He doesn't care about her weight, and finding out that she doesn't care either because she was sneaking candy, allowed him to put things into perspective more. If she doesn't care, why should he? What Ralph did was still offensive (and hilarious for the viewers) but it also could have ended very badly for Johnny if the hit had went through like planned. Knowing his wife wasn't trying was enough to realize he was making a very dangerous move for no reason. Ironically, Ralph deserved to die and got was coming to him eventually, but it was ultimately Tony (Ralph's actual boss) that puts him down.

[@mattwallace6873]

" The watermelon of his eye" SOMEBODY GET THIS GUY A DRINK!

[@thebandit6886]

I actually worked for the real life brother of Ginny Sack. He owns small pizzeria in NJ and has tons of Sopranos memorabilia! The place is called Borino’s Pizza.

[@free2chill727]

"like Vito looks at security guards..." 🤣

[@rickykeim2005]

He Called off the Hit because He found Ginny stuffing her Face with Candy Bars when she thought he was Gone. He was hellbent on Defending her because he thought she was genuinely trying to Lose weight and just failing but when He saw Her Sabotaging herself it wasn't so important anymore.

[@specialagentorange4329]

This

[@Joplas99]

This ignores all the love and values displayed on screen, but ok

[@roomservicetaco]

Excellent essay, as always. Spot on.

[@LarryLeeMoniz]

Great analysis! There were a few times I was thinking that I would bring something up I was sure you wouldn't touch on... but you did!

[@johnpenley]

Another great breakdown on characters. Your good at this 👍

[@Vincent_Napolitano]

John, what would you say to a piece of Ralph's company? John? Just thin about it at least...

[@TheOriginalDJMrVee]

Love the channel. Especially the opening! 😂Keep up the great work analyzing what is arguably the best show ever created for TV, Your banter is🔥

[@user-jw2hv6go8k]

When John saw his wife in the basement wolfing down on those candy bars, he came to a realization : Carmine was right, and it is all indeed about money. With Ralph gone, the money he brings in from construction is gone and it would become difficult to keep Ginny in Butter Brickle

[@paulstrathern4309]

08:53 'unorthodox use of a cheese grater...' Wait... what?! What was Ralph doing with a cheese grater. I watched every episode but I missed that little tidbit. Or is it one of those things that I probably don't wanna know about?!

[@j-rey-]

When Valentina is trying to sleep with Tony, but he doesn't want to because Ralph has already had sex with her, she tells him that Ralph doesn't have sex the way normal people do. She was mad at Tony for rejecting her, so she wanted to f*ck Ralph to get back at him, but all Ralph wanted to do was have her rub his d*ck raw with a cheese grater 🤣... so, yeah... you didn't want to know.

[@adamweisshaup]

Tony was banging one of Ralph's gumars and she said he would make her.. Umm.. use it on his family jewels.

[@hogbone7]

" Johnny looks at Ginny likes Vito looks at security guards" I am deceased

[@BennyFazioRoxxSoxx8448]

Good analysis of this situation, I never really thought about it like that !

[@shawnking7868]

"her body was mad ripe!" 😂😂😅😂😂

[@rickowenkennedy]

With the sole exception of your pronunciation of "Mafia" you provide the best and most entertaining breakdowns on the Net. Thanks for your great work!

[@billmoran3219]

Jonny would have never known about the joke had it not been told to him by Paulie dropping a dime on Ralphies joke. In a sense it caused the whole downfall of them all .

[@retiredguy7273]

Paulie was ultimately a worm and a snake to me.

[@qwerty52676]

Another part of the reason for the hit was that he couldn't let it be known that guys could get away with disrespecting him in that way. In that life losing respect is a big step toward being overtaken by the next guy in line. He only had to act here because Paulie made it known to him. He overheard Tony's crew joking about her earlier but was able to deny knowing by pretending he didn't hear so he wouldn't have to react strongly to what they said and still maintain respect

[@D2attemp]

The Watermelon of his eye 😂😂😂 I’m dead

[@eagleman1542]

There was dysentery in the ranks when everyone realized that Johnny Sack didn't have the makings of a varsity athlete.

[@ResistanceQuest]

One of your best videos in a time ❤

[@OriginalGateKeeper]

Ralph was a made guy. Remember, John complained and there was a sit down. They decided to "fine" Ralph. If John would have ignored it and whacked him, John could be whacked too.

[@zareththealchemist8982]

I got the "taking two trips" joke about Jennie hauling was. Good one CR. 😂

[@AlilineConsortium]

Great content my dood. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@wavingwaters6107]

2:42 this subtle slip-in of the “two trips to haul ass” joke is truly worthy of a mention

[@Yabuheru]

Great analysis!

[@ValensBellator]

I thought he had a moment of realization after their touching moment of connection that their life together could end due to the hit, and he chose her over his honor.

[@Johno731]

With the success of Better Call Saul and the fanfare that Sopranos receives I can't understand why they haven't done a prequel series, either in the 60's or 10 years prior to Tony taking over.

[@Constable.Chauvin]

remember the many saints of newark? it's not going to be good

[@mappingshaman5280]

Because half of the actors are dead now, including tony, paulie, Carmine, Phil, Butchie, johnny boy, etc so doing 10 years before the series wouldn't work. Even more actors like dominic chianese let's be honest they could croak even tomorrow. Mark Margolis highlights how much of an issue this is: he died a year after the better call saul finale. Imagine if we didn't get anymore scenes of hector salamanca in the last season of better call saul. As for going to the 60's, they tried that with TMSON and failed epically.

[@Johno731]

@@mappingshaman5280 Many saints had all the makings of a great series the film should have been the intro into the new series. The film was a mess, but I did like the cast for a 60s/70s series.

[@goodyeoman4534]

Chocolate bar: put down on docking station.

[@blimy01maynard30]

I know people don't go for the Little Carmine secret genius theory. I don't think Little Carmine started his plan until Rusty was killed. The war was over and there was no beef but they killed him anyway. Carmine knew it was Phil and Tony so he made his plans to take out both of them. This was made easier with the help of Butch.

[@gustavusadolphus6097]

I believe that Carmine knew how people perceived him and used it to his advantage.

[@greywakez]

People don't go for it because it does a disservice to his "settling down" ending.

[@gregoryporch8395]

John kept his memory long and saved his revenge for the end of Carmine Lupertazzi's life.

[@johnnymoondog9474]

No more weight remarks, CineRanter. They're hurtful, and they're destructive.

[@PuchoPuchiePuchito]

Johnny Sack did ask to wrap up a lobster for Ginny fattazz

[@JesTheBarber]

"John looks at Jenny the way Vito looks at security guards"😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@SkyBaum]

N0t only did Furio have the hots 🔥 for Carmella, but he would have also jumped on Ginny. Did everyone miss it?? 'I lik3 a woman you can hold onto' 😂 #SkyBaum

[@seanburton6904]

You got the best breakdown s my guy. Do power next

[@cwells7285]

great video. i have watched this show for 20 years and have always been kinda hazy about this whole storyline but now i get it.

[@2ENONIT]

Great analysis, made me think

[@adamweisshaup]

Speaking of notifications, I hear KZbin is getting a 90lb bell removed off its ass!

[@B0xlife1]

Ginny sack "Mad Ripe"

[@ronaldbanks-mw2ou]

Cool video. Can I send you Bread to thank you for this video?

[@adamgoldsteintv]

There should have been a Johnny sack Jr

[@adamweisshaup]

Right. Brainless the 2nd.

[@TarasWilson]

Agreed

[@stephenduckham9736]

He'd have been spoilt by Ginny, which is essentially AJ. All of the kids in the show show how life has moved on. They are entitled and don't have the upbringing of a Henry Hill.

[@axiomaddict]

Just imagine he went through with the hit, everything goes south, meaning bloodshed, then months later he’s looking for a tool or something, and finds her stash.

[@remimk]

great video

[@jasonkoch3182]

Had to clean off my screen when the "the way Vito looks at security guards" line was said.

[@seansmith7462]

If John went ahead and killed Ralph then carmine probably would have killed him for disobedience

[@seannaamani121]

Ginny had a whole corner-store stashed in the laundry room.

[@mtg1470]

I think he realized she did it to herself. She only has her self to blame for people judging her

[@Ukraineaissance2014]

John the snowman was a great character iteration

[@businesssecretsofthepharao8901]

Brilliant video as ever, however i think you are due a challenge. How about a “why you are wrong about Livia Soprano video”

[@billyhodges7194]

I have noticed that nobody in any channels comments about this fail to mention that at the Bing, almost everybody makes a crack about her weight

[@aaronrowell6943]

Oh my imagine Ginny hauling ass, scary. But for real though, revisiting these vids, and it is a reminder that at the end of the day the reason why we love these characters in the show so much is because they are very human. In the show about mobsters and murder, the best scenes are simple ones between Fathers and sons, husbands and wives.

[@DarkReaperK97]

No more weight remarks Cineranter. They're hurtful and destructive

[@Steve-fi1jp]

What were the repercussions of Tony killing Ralph?

[@KittySnicker]

Yeah Johnny’s love for Ginny is endearing

[@tysontschauner6142]

The look on his face when he busts her is fantastic

[@markoutwithmark]

"The watermelon of his eye." 🤣

[@MrSheckstr]

I disagree…… the reason he called of the hit has NOTHING to do with his love for his wife, or the betrayal of trust she had done….. he called it of because , for the most part , Jonny Sac is a very level headed cold blooded individual…. But in this moment he realizes how much he CAN be manipulated when the subject is his wife …. He wife HAD been manipulating him….. and PHIL had manipulated him by telling him about what Ralph has said …. Thats why he called of the hit….. because the same guy who was trying to arrange a transfer, had arranged this feud to knock of one of his competitors….. maybe both….

[@MFgabesylar3030]

Johnny Sacks is easily one of the most hot headed guys on the show?! And this is one example of many.

[@captaindowntown7851]

Phil? You mean Paulie.

[@machomusprime50]

The watermelon of his eye 😂😂😂😂

[@icaanul]

It has nothing to do with whether he cared about her weight. It was about people around him insulting his wife. No man wants to know people around him are insulting his wife. Cmon

[@robertroland529]

Ralph had a reputation for being difficult to deal with. John should have gone to Tony. In the end, it was Tony who took Ralph for the race horse he destroyed for the insurance money. Best fight Tony had got into, other than his loss to Bobby.

[@roncur]

This was phenomenal.

[@6610stix]

I think it boils down to Johnny Sack being a borderline psychopath. Ralph already rubbed Johnny the wrong way and this added insult was just a small catalyst but was enough to spark his already violent tendencies.