Final run extended to nine episodes, begins April 8

LOS ANGELES -- The last ride for "The Sopranos" is still scheduled for this spring, but creator David Chase couldn't quite let go with eight episodes.

As such, HBO has added a ninth episode to the show's final run, which also now has a definite premiere date: Sunday, April 8. "Entourage" will also return that night, wrapping up its third season with eight episodes.

For those of you marking your calendars, then, that's 86 days until Tony (James Gandolfini) and Co. grace the screen again.

When the show left off last June, the Soprano family was celebrating Christmas and things seemed to be going rather well: Tony seemed to have reached detente with Phil Leotardo (Frank Vincent), Carmela's (Edie Falco) spec house was back on track and AJ (Robert Iler) had both a job and a girlfriend.

The show's history suggests, though, that good times aren't meant to last. On the minus side of the ledger, Christopher (Michael Imperioli) has relapsed into heroin use and begun an affair with a fellow addict (Julianna Margulies) tensions between the New York and New Jersey crews linger, and there are those two mysterious guys who hang out at the Bada Bing.

As for "Entourage," it will resume with Vince (Adrian Grenier) having fired his agent Ari (Jeremy Piven) and struck out on his own. The show has been picked up for a fourth season, which is likely to premiere later in the year.