Renowned television creator David Chase, known for his groundbreaking show The Sopranos, has recently expressed his dismay over the state of the television industry. Chase believes that the golden age of television, which he helped usher in, has come to an end after 25 years. In an interview with The Times, Chase revealed his concerns about executives pushing for shows that are easily digestible and not too complex, catering to viewers' desire to multitask while watching.

Chase, now 78 years old, reflected on the past two decades of scripted TV and stated, "That was a 25-year blip...I'm not talking only about The Sopranos, but a lot of other hugely talented people out there who I feel increasingly bad for." He further expressed disappointment, claiming that the industry is regressing to a time when commercials were prominent and that he has already been asked to "dumb down" his upcoming project.

The Sopranos, which aired from 1999 to 2007, became a cultural phenomenon and served as a catalyst for other critically acclaimed shows such as Mad Men and Breaking Bad. The series finale, which generated intense debate, still remains a topic of discussion almost two decades later.

Chase believes that the demand for easily digestible content stems from the audience's increasing tendency to multitask and divert their attention to their smartphones. He questioned the motive behind this shift, asking, "Who is this all really for? I guess the stockholders?," implying that the content is being tailored to suit financial interests rather than artistic integrity.

Expressing his concerns for the future of the industry, Chase remarked, "As the human race goes on, we are more into multitasking. We seem to be confused and audiences can't keep their minds on things, so we can't make anything that makes too much sense, takes our attention, and requires an audience to focus." He also lamented that streaming executives' priorities are exacerbating the situation, stating, "It is getting worse. We're going back to where we were."

Chase's words come as the 25th anniversary of The Sopranos' premiere approached. Despite this milestone, Chase referred to it as a funeral, symbolizing the end of an era when critically acclaimed shows dominated television screens.

HBO, the network responsible for The Sopranos, recently announced the release of an exclusive 25th Anniversary Collection, including over five hours of new content. The collection will feature 15 deleted scenes, with three never-before-released, and over five hours of behind-the-scenes featurettes, accompanying the entire six-season run available for streaming on Max.

David Chase's candid remarks serve as a reminder of the evolving landscape of the television industry and raise valid concerns about the future direction of storytelling and creativity in the medium. As the industry evolves and streaming platforms gain prominence, it remains to be seen if the demands of stockholders and shifting audience preferences will continue to shape the landscape of television programming.