'The Wire' and 'Treme'

I know a lot has already been written about how amazing the ‘The Wire’ is, but I feel like I have to add my voice to the chorus, because it is so profoundly wonderful.  ‘The Wire’ is the best television show I have ever seen.  I can’t imagine anything better.  The characters are real human beings, the dialogue is natural, the acting is phenomenal, the plots are well crafted.  Other shows may have accomplished this, perhaps not all at once, but this show is so honest and unflinching in its portrayal of the city of Baltimore, the fact that the creators have been able to shine a light on so much bullshit is perhaps a testament to HBO more than anything else.  Where else could you find a combination of excellent writing and story craftsmanship, powerful characters and the energizing freedom to speak the truth?  Network TV would have self-destructed before anything like that could have existed there, which is sad, because it puts the show in a category that is somewhat inaccessible to much of America-- and America needs to see this show.

‘The Wire’ is the end to platitudes.  After completing the 5th Season, I was somewhat depressed, not because it was over (I knew I could re-watch any of the episodes at any time and thoroughly enjoy myself and I HATE re-watching stuff), but because I felt hopeless about our ability to advance ourselves as human beings.  Every avenue of possible improvement-- the police department, the government, and the media-- seemed a corrupt and bureaucratic mess, mostly due to one reason: human beings are weak and selfish.  This weight, however, has been lifted upon further contemplation.  In the final season, we see play out several narratives that end in success.  It is these few humans, that manage to pull their lives together, despite all that goes on around them, that should leave an impression.  The violence and misery is the status quo for many.  Ignorance, selfishness, and total unawareness of our impact on the lives of others is the status quo for most of us.  On occasion, there is transcendence.  The rest of us, must just keep plugging on.

I do not have HBO, so I have been trying to figure out the best way to get my hands the first few episodes of ‘Treme,’ the latest from the creators of ‘The Wire.’  A show about New Orleans residents who attempt to rebuild their lives, homes and businesses after Katrina, ‘Treme’ also features some of my favorite actors from ‘The Wire’ including Wendell Pierce (Det. Bunk Moreland) and Clarke Peters (Det. Lester Freamon).  I am naturally very suspicious and I am worried that ‘Treme’ will not live up to the hype and won’t be as good as ‘The Wire,’ etc, etc.  I don’t want to get my hopes up, but I can’t help it.  I really am itching for something that can take the place of ‘The Wire.’  Here’s hoping that ‘Treme’ is habit forming.

Info about ‘The Wire’

Here are some links to Fresh Air interviews with various ‘Wire’ collaborators:

2006 Fresh Air Interview with Ed Burns, Baltimore Policeman and teacher
Terry and Ed talk about his work as a police and school teacher in Baltimore as an inspiration for the show.

2008 Fresh Air Interview with David Simon, Baltimore Sun Reporter
Terry interviews David Simon who talks about the year he and Ed spent hanging out with Gary McCullough.  Gary was the model for the character of Bubbles in the show.  David and Ed followed him for a year, while writing their book “The Corner,” which became an HBO miniseries.

2010 Treme Article with David Simon and Eric Overmeyer
David and Eric talk about the new show ‘Treme.’