Life ‘The Sopranos,’ launched 20 years ago, made TV hip and New Jersey cool January 4, 2019 Jim Beckerman, North Jersey Record Comments Off on ‘The Sopranos,’ launched 20 years ago, made TV hip and New Jersey cool "The Sopranos," the HBO comedy-drama about a New Jersey mafia family, premiered Jan. 10, 1999, ushering in a new golden age of television.