it's been so long....

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cable network HBO on Friday said it will produce eight bonus episodes of its hit mob drama "The Sopranos" to air from January 2007 in a surprise move likely to delight fans of hot-tempered crime boss Tony Soprano.

The much-anticipated sixth season of "The Sopranos," scheduled to debut in March 2006 with 12 episodes, was expected to wrap up the often violent and darkly comic saga of Tony and his family, although creator David Chase had hinted that viewers might not have to say goodbye just yet.