Wednesday, March 12, 2008

So I have a confession. I have never, ever been a fan of the popular HBO series, "The Wire". Over the past couple of years or so, I have had people try to convince me that I need to spend some time watching this show (mostly who were/are women in love with this man), because the acting and the directing was so damn good, and I tried to watch it, but it just never tickled my fancy for many reasons. One, when I think of television shows based on Baltimore, "Homicide, Life On the Street" is still the benchmark. Instead of the big screen movie feel that The Wire has, Homicide always had the feel of a stage play with great actors, great scenes and even better story lines sans the gratuitous violence. So that alone prevents me from REALLY getting into The Wire. Plus, when you REALLY think about what The Wire(and Homicide if I'm being honest)is based on, it is really kind of depressing. Parts of Baltimore just have the feel of Beirut, and the city (and federal really) government has failed the citizens, some of the citizens have failed themselves, and it can get depressing, and I don't need The Wire reminding me of that depression. But that's just me.

I had someone tell me that I am a hypocrite, because I watched the Sopranos every week while it was on, and that was just as violent, and to them I would say two things: 1)No one on the Sopranos looked like me, so its easier to look at it from an entertainment perspective as opposed to internalizing the nuances of it all. and 2)There was more gratuitious nudity in the Sopranos. That's a point that can never be overlooked. Now, all this being said, on Sunday I watched the series finale of The Wire, just so I could be hip and cool, when other folks were discussing it, and I was mad about how clueless I was. So now I have been sucked into starting from season 1, and learning all there is to know about this cult show But I will also order Homicide, just to appreciate and remember what my version of real tv is about.

Oh and just as a follow up to yesterday's story about client #9(who looks like former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher without the mustache), he still has not resigned, and odds are that he won't anytime soon. BUT, if he does, his successor is a blind, black man named David Paterson. There's a joke in here somewhere, put I am not smart enough to pull it out...that's what he said.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

welcome to the darkside..once u start season 1 you'll be sucked in till u see all the way up to season 5.

tia said...

*points & laughs*

i never understood ppl watching the end of a series only. when the last harry potter book came out, i rushed to read all the previous ones so i could be in the loop.

i do need to revisit the wire though bc there are a lot of things i forgot from seasons 1 & 2.

Miss. Lady said...

I feel you on the Wire Rashad. I tried watching it when they started airing it on BET and I could not get into it. Homicide, Life On The Streets will always be my show.

May be if I watch it from the very beginning it will grow on me.

Jazzy said...

Re: Client No. 9 - word on the street is that he will resign today...effective Monday.

Re: The Wire - I have never been a fan of Idris. EVERY woman adores him and since I am anti-most things popular, I automatically have to hate on him. I was glad he got popped!

You'll fall in love with it after watching back to back shows from season 1. When you catch up...like the rest of us...you'll be pissed that it's ended.

Unknown said...

I'm disappointed. I just knew you'd love the detailed writing. You know the creators of Wire are the same people behind Homicide. For me the difference is that the Wire adds the "what if we did this differently" angle. It also looked at multiple institutions more in depth. After the 1st season the gratuitous violence actually was minimal. But everyone doesn't have to like everything. I'd also add watching the Wire on BET is simply pointless. The Wire moves slow and you don't get caught in it after 1 or even 4 episodes.

It's also interesting to me that Homicide won awards while The Wire wins critical acclaim and no awards. Lastly Idris died two seasons ago and we ladies are still watching.

maxwellsmusze said...

i'm gonna have to go with opinionated diva on this one. i didn't get the hype over idris whatshisface and i also never really got into the wire. watched here and there but never faithfully. that's a bit too much violence for a late sunday night for me, myself, personally.

i cannot wait to get all the details on client #9. this should be good from the hooker's point of view.

Janelle said...

I too can't believe that you didn't watch The Wire from a writer's perspective. I must warn you though, initially you will think Season 2 is straight wack-juice but you will understand the need for season 2 in subsequent seasons.

And I must correct little tortilla. The Wire won ONE award. I believe it was from the Screenwriter's Guild and they won it this year. So from a creative standpoint, to be honored by your screenwriting peers has to feel better than an Emmy.

Papier Girl said...

wow idris elba! (is that how you spell his name?) Yow! That is one fine fine delicious specimen of a man. I totally stopped reading your post at your mention of him...sorry. **drools**

£ said...

i've never seen the wire, and have no desire to. Not because i don't think its well written or well acted, but because...well i don't know. *shrug*

Needless to say, there a great void in my pop culture lexicon. when conversation heads in that direction quickly excuse myself or get quickly embarrassed lol

redhotmama said...

i do not follow hype trains.
i dislike jordan, lebron, and amy winehouse post-frank.

i, too, once saw an episode of the wire, midseason 3, and wasn't impressed, but my bf got me started watching season 4, and i was hooked.

i think the educator in your veins will be the most appreciative and moved by season 4.
i would wake up the next morning, after watching an ep, wondering about the characters, worried about them.

i'm not gonna say anything else about the show, but i really doubt you'll be disappointed.

idris is quite sexy tho.

Jo said...

You never commented on the pic I sent you . . .what did you think?