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You are here: Home / Popular Culture / Wire Open Thread

Wire Open Thread

by John Cole|  January 6, 20084:36 pm| 56 Comments

This post is in: Popular Culture

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The Wire starts tonight.

And there was much rejoicing.

Shut up, Thymezone.

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56Comments

  1. 1.

    demimondian

    January 6, 2008 at 4:41 pm

    What’s The Wire?

  2. 2.

    myiq2xu

    January 6, 2008 at 4:42 pm

    I only get Uhf. Which channel is it on?

  3. 3.

    TheFountainHead

    January 6, 2008 at 4:42 pm

    Convince me this is exciting. On this I know nothing.

  4. 4.

    Ninerdave

    January 6, 2008 at 4:52 pm

    It’s a show about a thin piece of metal and all the wonderful uses for it.

  5. 5.

    TheFountainHead

    January 6, 2008 at 4:55 pm

    It’s a show about a thin piece of metal and all the wonderful uses for it.

    MacGyver is back on?

  6. 6.

    myiq2xu

    January 6, 2008 at 4:56 pm

    It’s a show about a thin piece of metal and all the wonderful uses for it.

    Please tell me they won’t be engaging in extrusion on television!

    What about the children?

  7. 7.

    airmail

    January 6, 2008 at 4:59 pm

    What’s The Wire?

    One of the smartest shows on T.V.

    Convince me this is exciting. On this I know nothing.

    It’s an HBO cop show based in Baltimore, but unlike most cop shows, it’s not so much about solving crimes as it is the inner city dynamics that create such environments. It’s a sociological crime series that fucking rocks.

  8. 8.

    calipygian

    January 6, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    When I grow up, I want to be a combination of Omar, Bunk, McNultey, Kima, Freeman and look like Daniels when I’m his age.

    Instead, I embody the worst features of first half of first season Prez and Valchek.

  9. 9.

    TheFountainHead

    January 6, 2008 at 5:09 pm

    It’s an HBO cop show based in Baltimore, but unlike most cop shows, it’s not so much about solving crimes as it is the inner city dynamics that create such environments. It’s a sociological crime series that fucking rocks.

    I lived in Baltimore for four years, and was always a Homicide fan, but never followed the Wire. How do they get around the WGA strike, or are these episodes already in the can?

  10. 10.

    LiberalTarian

    January 6, 2008 at 5:10 pm

    No sir, haven’t watched it. Maybe never will. I didn’t watch Law and Order until it had been on 10 years. Yeah, I come to the table slowly, if at all. Then of course, I gorge until I can’t move. Hey, moderation for other people, eh?

    Great line elsewhere on another topic:

    Call me a cynic if you must, but Obama is a politician. I’m not looking for politicians to be my friends, or to make me into a better person, or to give my life meaning. Hell, I’ve got beer for all three of those things.

    Beer. I love beer.

  11. 11.

    Laertes

    January 6, 2008 at 5:13 pm

    “How do they get around the WGA strike, or are these episodes already in the can?”

    If these episodes are airing now, the scripts have been done since long before the strike.

  12. 12.

    myiq2xu

    January 6, 2008 at 5:16 pm

    It’s an HBO cop show based in Baltimore, but unlike most cop shows, it’s not so much about solving crimes

    Oh, it’s like a real police department!

  13. 13.

    TheFountainHead

    January 6, 2008 at 5:21 pm

    Sounds like something I’ll buy on DVD ten years from now.

  14. 14.

    myiq2xu

    January 6, 2008 at 5:27 pm

    If you wait a while, you can watch the hit shows on cable where they will be on 20-30 times a day. Instead of waiting a week (or months) for the following episode, it’s on next.

    And you’ll never be heartbroken when a favorite show goes off the air.

    I wait until movies have been out on DVD for a month or two, then buy the used discs at Blockbuster.

    Once you adjust, they’re all new to you, and you know which ones were good and which ones Guilianied.

  15. 15.

    Dug Jay

    January 6, 2008 at 5:28 pm

    The advance word on the fifth and final season that begins tonight doesn’t sound as promising as prior years. It has something to do with an increased involvement with a Baltimoe Sun-type newspaper, homelessness and the old stand by, “corruption.” On the other hand the ending sounds credible what with the bulk of the cop unit taking up police assignments in Morgantown, West Virginia and slowly being bored to death.

  16. 16.

    TheFountainHead

    January 6, 2008 at 5:29 pm

    Not that this thread isn’t, like, riveting, but did anyone else catch Hillary voluntarily stepping in her own pile of doo doo?

  17. 17.

    calipygian

    January 6, 2008 at 5:29 pm

    I hate police and courtroom dramas. But I love The Wire. The only series that I think is even comparable in depth and story-telling is Deadwood. And Deadwood is gone.

  18. 18.

    louisms

    January 6, 2008 at 5:32 pm

    I re-subscribed to HBO on Directv just to catch the final season of The Wire. It’s the kind of show that actually justifies spending an extra $12 a month. The best cop show ever.

  19. 19.

    ThymeZone

    January 6, 2008 at 5:36 pm

    Love it, wouldn’t miss it.

  20. 20.

    louisms

    January 6, 2008 at 5:40 pm

    I wait until movies have been out on DVD for a month or two, then buy the used discs at Blockbuster.

    That’s actually an excellent way of watching such shows as The Wire. Alas, delaying gratification is difficult for me. But I sorta envy peole who can watch story-arc dramas at their own pace instead of having to wait a week for a cliff-hanger to resolve.

  21. 21.

    conumbdrum

    January 6, 2008 at 5:53 pm

    Best law enforcement show ever, bar none. Sad to see it end, but happy to know we won’t have to endure the slow, gurgling descent into mediocrity we got with Homicide (David Simon’s original series, great at first but ultimately wrecked by the network bean-counters.)

    Serious Wire addicts looking for an equally potent fix of TV goodness need to check out Simon’s previous project The Corner, a six-part HBO series based on a year Simon spent in a Baltimore ghetto ‘hood, getting to know the dealers, junkies, hustlers and citizens who lived there. Impeccably directed by actor/ex-con/son of Baltimore Charles Dutton, it’s a shattering experience… the most devastating indictment on the War on Drugs imaginable. (Plus you get to see Lance Reddick, who plays Major Daniels on The Wire, as a pathetic crackhead.)

  22. 22.

    Anne Laurie

    January 6, 2008 at 6:00 pm

    Netflix is my friend, since the Spousal Unit has religious objections to cable (he’s a devout cheapskate). It let me start watching HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET from the beginning, in order. Liked it so much I eventually bought the complete boxed set, all 90-something discs. Now I’m doing the same thing with THE WIRE, which is from the same team. By the time I’ve watched my way through the first four seasons of WIRE, I expect this fifth, final season to be coming out on DVD as well. I started my Netflix subscription because the local Blockbuster sole in-stock category seemed to be “Any Movie Ever Made by A Former SNL Cast Member”, but it’s been most useful to me as a way to watch more television. All hail Nu Meedya…

  23. 23.

    Literalreddy

    January 6, 2008 at 6:00 pm

    If you have On-Demand or something like it, you can see it before it airs on Sundays. I saw the first ep last night through this lovely feature.

  24. 24.

    calipygian

    January 6, 2008 at 6:09 pm

    I saw The Corner and pretty much wanted to slit my wrists afterwards. Don’t watch if you have any alcohol and sleeping pills in the house.

  25. 25.

    sparky

    January 6, 2008 at 6:21 pm

    isn’t it about time for another argument over whether the wire or the sopranos is a better show?
    or are we stuck reading the last thread on that topic?
    /looks under sofa for new life but finds none

  26. 26.

    SM

    January 6, 2008 at 6:25 pm

    The Corner was slow and depressing. I enjoyed Homicide. The Wire seems to be like Homicide except with HBO, a much bigger budget, and a glossy finish.

  27. 27.

    calipygian

    January 6, 2008 at 6:31 pm

    Wire V. Soprano: Its a tie.

    And they are different shows.

    And Deadwood is better than both of them.

  28. 28.

    ThymeZone

    January 6, 2008 at 6:37 pm

    The Weir is a great dam show.

    :)

  29. 29.

    jprice vincenz

    January 6, 2008 at 6:37 pm

    The Wire is the closest thing to a visual novel on television, and unlike Twin Peaks it has a social conscience. Not as funny as Sopranos (the best show on television, ever), but best on television right now.

  30. 30.

    bwaage

    January 6, 2008 at 6:45 pm

    The opening scene from the first episode of the season is probably one of my favorite scenes in the series. There’s also a great scene at the newsroom where the characters essentially debate the show, especially the 4th season. They even go so far as to mention wanting something ‘dickensian’, an obvious nod to several reviews of the show.

    I don’t want to ruin anything for the people who haven’t seen it yet, but regarding the end of the second episode: OMGWTF

    I saw The Corner and pretty much wanted to slit my wrists afterwards. Don’t watch if you have any alcohol and sleeping pills in the house.

    I’ve heard the same thing from just about everyone who has seen it. My basic understanding is that it makes The Wire look like an episode of Pushing Daisies in comparison… I love The Wire but I’ve avoided The Corner because it sounds entirely too bleak, like watching the depressing parts of Bubbles’ storylines (basically the final episodes of any season, dude can’t catch a break) for the whole series.

  31. 31.

    louisms

    January 6, 2008 at 6:48 pm

    The Wire, Sopranos, Deadwood, all among the best tv shows ever.
    But HBO doesn’t have a monopoly of great shows. Showtime’s Dexter is in the same league. So is Battlestar Gallactica. And Buffy The Vampire Slayer still has no equal IM(not so)HO.

  32. 32.

    JGabriel

    January 6, 2008 at 6:55 pm

    Sparky:

    isn’t it about time for another argument over whether the wire or the sopranos is a better show?

    I have only one word in response to that feud: Buffy.

  33. 33.

    Shabbazz

    January 6, 2008 at 7:18 pm

    >> The Weir is a great dam show.

    Careful — John is a Bobby fan! Now that he’s turned back into one of them Librul Hippie DemoNcRats, he’s liable to run off selling grilled cheeses on RatDog tour!

    “Fatty BJ grilled cheeses, brah! As seen in Dupree’s Diamond Blogroll, yo! What the f*ck, it’s only a buck!”

  34. 34.

    Jake

    January 6, 2008 at 7:21 pm

    Damn Anne Laurie, I wish I didn’t know the producers of Homicide and The Wire were one in the same. [struggle with temptation.

    Oh well, we have a deal in my place. In exchange for ignoring the majik talking box (no accidents involving baseball bats/hammers/the window), I don’t have to pay 1/2 the sat. bill. [/struggle with temptation.

  35. 35.

    louisms

    January 6, 2008 at 7:21 pm

    JGabriel, I’m thrilled to find another Buffy fan here. a middle-aged guy, I’d always felt that BTVS wasn’t really intended for my demographic, and I pretty much ignored it during it’s run, only to discover it a couple of years ago. Within 3 months, I’d bought and devoured all 7 seasons, as well as all 5 seasons of the spin-off Angel. Great writing, great characters, the perfect mix of drama and comedy, there’s never been anything like it.

  36. 36.

    mantis

    January 6, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    HBO is putting the new episodes up on On Demand a week ahead of time. I watched the first episode on Monday. Looks like the new newsroom theme is going to be very interesting.

  37. 37.

    srv

    January 6, 2008 at 8:03 pm

    Argh. Why can’t HBO and Netflix do a rebroadcast deal…

    Maybe ppGaz will burn them for me.

  38. 38.

    norbizness

    January 6, 2008 at 8:06 pm

    I heard that Season 5 is adding yet more cast members to the expanding set: a group of reporters at David Simon’s old haunt, the Baltimore Sun (he was working there when he followed the Homicide Department for one year, which led to the book/series Homicide). I won’t pay for it; although I up caught up, having watched Season 4.

    I’d say #3 is still my favorite, although they’re all excellent in their own way.

  39. 39.

    Chuck T

    January 6, 2008 at 8:08 pm

    myiq2xu, it’s on UHF, but a little while after Wheel of Fish.

  40. 40.

    myiq2xu

    January 6, 2008 at 8:22 pm

    myiq2xu, it’s on UHF, but a little while after Wheel of Fish.

    Cool, right before Town Talk!

  41. 41.

    Randy Paul

    January 6, 2008 at 8:31 pm

    Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit, can’t wait to see Clay Davis.

  42. 42.

    Punchy

    January 6, 2008 at 8:39 pm

    OT:

    Bigger Bullshitter–George Bush or Roger Clemons.

    Discuss.

  43. 43.

    Anne Laurie

    January 6, 2008 at 8:48 pm

    Bigger Bullshitter—George Bush or Roger Clemons.

    Twin sons of different mothers.

  44. 44.

    jprice vincenz

    January 6, 2008 at 8:54 pm

    Love what you all are writing here in this thread. The Wire: I loved the first season–barksdale and bell organization–and the second season (union) was also great. The Wire is more than Dickensian (which is a worthy end in and of itself nowadays). It’s visually captivating when it holds shots for minutes on end with downtown Baltimore as the location. Really, check it out, if possible, from the first season onward, watching the list of characters grow and grow.

  45. 45.

    Krista

    January 6, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    Showtime’s Dexter is in the same league. So is Battlestar Gallactica. And Buffy The Vampire Slayer still has no equal IM(not so)HO.

    Just caught Dexter for the first time — watched the first two episodes, and am still not quite sure what to think. The mystery is appealing, and I am interested in finding out what happens. But Dexter himself…I just don’t enjoy watching HIM.

    BSG, on the other hand… When the hell is the new season starting anyway? I’m suffering serious withdrawal.

  46. 46.

    conumbdrum

    January 6, 2008 at 9:31 pm

    I saw The Corner and pretty much wanted to slit my wrists afterwards. Don’t watch if you have any alcohol and sleeping pills in the house.

    I love The Wire but I’ve avoided The Corner because it sounds entirely too bleak

    Oy, you people… depressing content is a pathetic reason to avoid great art. This is why foreign films are so often better than the American equivalent – because of U.S. audiences demanding a upbeat ending, no matter what. Even Hollywood fluff like Risky Business or Little Shop of Horrors had their endings changed to make the yahoos in the audience feel good. What the hell’s wrong with a good cry after watching a movie or television show, long as those tears are honestly earned? My girlfriend and I caught the exquisite Soviet film Ballad of a Soldier last week… we were both weeping by its conclusion, and felt wonderfully fulfilled by the experience.

    Jesus. If Vittorio DeSica made The Bicycle Thief tomorrow, the studio suits would scream “Too depressing!” and have him tossed off the premises.

    (Sorry about the rant… I work in a store that sells DVDs, and have heard the “too sad” complaint a few hundred times too many.)

  47. 47.

    JGabriel

    January 6, 2008 at 9:49 pm

    I’m thrilled to find another Buffy fan here. A middle-aged guy, I’d always felt that BTVS wasn’t really intended for my demographic, and I pretty much ignored it during it’s run, only to discover it a couple of years ago. Within 3 months, I’d bought and devoured all 7 seasons, as well as all 5 seasons of the spin-off Angel. Great writing, great characters, the perfect mix of drama and comedy, there’s never been anything like it.

    Damn, that’s exactly my story too.

    But add consistent development of themes, characters, and metaphors to that mix. Lots of shows mix drama and comedy, but nothing I’ve seen has done the other stuff as well as Buffy did.

    Deadwood probably came nearest (except that HBO didn’t let them finish the damn story), with Angel a close second.

  48. 48.

    JGabriel

    January 6, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    Sorry, when talking about Deadwood, I should have: Fucking HBO cocksuckers didn’t let then fucking finish the fucking story.

  49. 49.

    myiq2xu

    January 6, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    Television Comedy peaked with Soap.
    Cop shows –Dragnet.
    Medical drama – Dr. Kildare.
    Prime time drama – Dallas.

    Network T&A – Charlie’s Angels.

    And as for sports – Roller Derby

  50. 50.

    calipygian

    January 6, 2008 at 10:17 pm

    Fucking HBO cocksuckers didn’t let then fucking finish the fucking story.

    BWAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!

    Cocksucker!

  51. 51.

    Pooh

    January 7, 2008 at 2:47 am

    Man, is it just my expectations, or the fact that the world has been rendered in sufficient detail that we understand the full width and breadth of the fuckedupness, but EP 501 started in a real dark place as far as I’m concerned, and if it starts here, how low can it go?

  52. 52.

    canuckistani

    January 7, 2008 at 10:39 am

    Really liked Deadwood, absolutely loved Rome.
    Never saw the Wire.

    wrt Deadwood, I’ll never think of bbq pork in a chinese restaurant the same way again.

  53. 53.

    beedee

    January 7, 2008 at 10:50 am

    One of the finest scenes from the show, in which 90% of the dialogue is the word Fuck. Best show on television, ever.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbsnSVM1zM

  54. 54.

    Chuck T

    January 7, 2008 at 5:24 pm

    Deadwood was absolutely fantastic storytelling, in any medium, and the way that vulgarity was elevated to an art form was priceless. Truly wonderful television.

    The Wire, though… that’s fucking EPIC. I got into it because of George Pelecanos and Dennis Lehane (and if you like mystery and don’t read them, you really should start), and was immediately drawn in to the whole story. Besides, every time I hear McNulty mutter, “Fuck did I do?” I can’t help but laugh.

    And don’t get me started on Omar. Omar’s the man.

  55. 55.

    Crza

    January 7, 2008 at 6:41 pm

    I love me some Deadwood, but HBO did pulled the plug too early and I think it hurt the show at the end. A large part of the third season felt kind of clumsy and rushed.

    David Milch’s dialogue all by itself can do a lot to disguise a show’s problems, but not even he could make the theatre troupe interesting. (Outside of Langrishe, who was only interesting because Brian Cox is THAT entertaining.) Again, this might only be because there’s so much more to their story that the show never got to portray, but I spent a lot of time in season three wondering what was the point to all those characters.

    The Wire, on the other hand, is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen on TV, straight up. It helps that HBO committed to producing the entire series, and that several years ago, Simon and Burns envisioned it only lasting five seasons. Chances are they’ll wrap things up as neatly as is possible for a show of this nature.

    For all that I’m angry at HBO for prematurely cutting off Rome, Carnivale and Deadwood, I’ll forever love them for The Sopranos and The Wire.

  56. 56.

    mclaren

    January 8, 2008 at 1:05 am

    Calling The Wire “a cop show” is like calling Beethoven’s piano sonatas “Viennese background music.” By the second season, the majority of the characters in the show aren’t cops, and most of the show isn’t about police or crimes. By the fourth season, at least a third of the show takes place in Mayor Carcetti’s office, and at least another third in Balitmore middle school classrooms.

    The Wire is just great drama. It invokes cop show tropes once in a while because David Simon realizes that Americans are so infantile and so shallow you can’t hook ’em on really great drama unless you throw in some gunfights and drug deals. It’s like waving a bright shiny toy in front of a baby while giving him a vitamin.

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