The Wire (HBO)

About The Wire (HBO)

'The Wire' is an American crime drama television series that aired on HBO from 2002 to 2008. At its heart, the show is a police procedural set in Baltimore, Maryland. But, beyond this, it is a critical examination of contemporary societal problems in the US, particularly the urban decay found in underprivileged urban neighborhoods. Each season of The Wire introduces different facets of the city of Baltimore, ranging from the illegal drug trade, the seaport system, the city government and bureaucracy, education and schools, and the print news media.

Making / Production

The series was created by former crime reporter David Simon, who wrote many of the episodes and used his experiences as a police reporter for the Baltimore Sun as inspiration. Simon hoped the show would change the manner of storytelling in police dramas by portraying the societal structures within which crime and poverty occur.

Actors

• Dominic West as Detective James 'Jimmy' McNulty. His performance was lauded by critics for his portrayal of a driven yet flawed detective.
• Idris Elba as Stringer Bell, a drug kingpin aiming for legitimacy. Elba's portrayal of this complex character is widely considered a breakthrough role for him.
• Michael K. Williams as Omar Little, a stick-up man who robs drug dealers. His character, known for his street justice and signature whistle, is one of the show's most memorable characters.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The show used a lot of local actors and residents from Baltimore, lending to its authenticity.
• Despite being hailed as one of the greatest series of all time, it never won an Emmy for Outstanding Series during its run.
• The character of Omar Little was included in Barack Obama's list of favourite television characters.

Awards

Despite not ever winning the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series, 'The Wire' managed to win several other awards. In 2004, Wendell Pierce won the Black Reel Award for Best Actor for his role as Detective Bunk Moreland. In 2007, Andre Royo won the Asian Excellence Award for Outstanding Supporting Television Actor for his performance as Bubbles, a local junkie.

Quotes

• "It's all in the game, yo. All in the game." - Omar Little
• "The game is rigged, but you cannot lose if you do not play." - Marla Daniels
• "You come at the king, you best not miss." - Omar Little

Music, Soundtrack

• The theme song "Way Down in the Hole" was performed by different artists in each season.
• The show frequently used music that emanates from a source within the scene, such as a radio or a jukebox.
• A multitude of the show's characters were named after songs or musicians, from Omar Little (after Don Omar) to Billie Holiday.