Bennett times seven

IF David Chase hadn’t pulled the plug to bring “The Sopranos” to a close, the first order of business in the next season might have been Tony’s order for a group hit on the cast members of “Jersey Boys” for their would-be serenade of the HBO series during Sunday’s Emmy telecast. But even “T” couldn’t grouse about the seven trophies heaped on the evening’s other Italian American nominee named Tony -- Anthony Dominick Benedetto.

“Tony Bennett: An American Classic” collected three Emmys during the telecast. On top of the four creative Emmys handed out earlier in the week, that made the 81-year-old Tony the awards’ most prodigious winner this year. Director Rob Marshall called the NBC special his 80th birthday present for Bennett, then said that working on it became a gift from Bennett.

“This man is the best director I’ve ever met,” Bennett said backstage. “Rob is my favorite director. We worked almost 3 1/2 weeks on this project.” “Actually,” Marshall injected, “almost two months.”

The Emmys capped a year of presents for the singer, who also performed a duet during the telecast of “Stepping Out” with Christina Aguilera.

Earlier this year he won two Grammys for his 80th birthday project, “Duets: An American Classic,” released last summer and pairing him with an array of pop music luminaries.