Journalism is a dangerous business. Just this week, a Forward editor found himself face to face with one of America’s best-known gangsters.

Managing editor Wayne Hoffman appeared Monday on “OutQ in the Morning.” The show is broadcast on Sirius satellite radio’s channel 106, which is aimed at gay listeners. He was there talking about his gay-themed debut novel, “Hard,” which was released earlier this month by Carroll & Graf. After Hoffman’s interview was over, however, he decided to stick around to meet the next guest: Joe Gannascoli, who played Vito Spatafore on HBO’s hit series “The Sopranos.”

Gannascoli chatted with Hoffman and the “OutQ in the Morning” hosts about his character’s recent coming out — and subsequent murder — on the show. The gay plotline was the (straight) Brooklyn-born actor’s brainchild, although he said it was show creator David Chase’s ironic idea to have Vito’s former friend Phil Leotardo come out of the closet — literally — to watch Vito get whacked in last week’s episode. And while Gannascoli said that he’s sorry to leave the successful series, he holds out hope that his groundbreaking role will earn him an Emmy.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Hoffman and Gannascoli share more than a spot at the same microphone. Gannascoli, too, recently published a novel, “A Meal To Die For: A Culinary Novel of Crime,” which he co-wrote with Allen C. Kupfer. The self-taught chef, who’s currently marketing his own line of pasta sauces under the brand name To Die For, packed a string of recipes into his mob-themed literary debut.

A few hours after their Sirius appearance, both Hoffman and Gannascoli saw their sales on Amazon spike. Hoffman’s book was ranked slightly ahead in the afternoon, but he knew better than to mention it — even to a man who only plays a gangster on TV.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount