A compelling and innovative television writer, David Chase has created distinctive programs since the 1970s, each reflecting his edgy humor and psychological realism. These critical essays examine Chases television writings, placing particular emphasis on how his past works have shaped and influenced the current cultural phenomenon of HBOs The Sopranos, and studying Chases use of identity, community, and place in defining his on-screen characters. Topics explored include Chases constructs of the urban L.A. environment in The Rockford Files, the portrayal of hybridized American archetypes in Northern Exposure, and the interpretation of sexual identity/masculinity in The Sopranos. An appendix containing complete episode guides for The Rockford Files, Northern Exposure, and The Sopranos is also included.