"The Wire" (2002) TV series 2002-2008

User Rating:

9.7/10   

Creator:

David Simon

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

2 June 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

Rules change. The game remains the same. (third season)

Plot:

Baltimore drug scene, seen through the eyes of drug dealers, and law enforcement.

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Ghetto | Drug War | Labor Union | Drug Dealing

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 9 wins & 35 nominations

Cast

Dominic West	...	Det. James 'Jimmy' McNulty / ... (60 episodes, 2002-2008)
John Doman	...	Dep. Comm. for Operations William A. Rawls / ... (60 episodes, 2002-2008)
Wendell Pierce	...	Det. William 'Bunk' Moreland (60 episodes, 2002-2008)
Lance Reddick	...	Lt. Cedric Daniels / ... (60 episodes, 2002-2008)
Deirdre Lovejoy	...	Asst. State's Atty. Rhonda Pearlman (60 episodes, 2002-2008)
Sonja Sohn	...	Det. Shakima 'Kima' Greggs (60 episodes, 2002-2008)
Seth Gilliam	...	Sgt. Ellis Carver / ... (60 episodes, 2002-2008)
Domenick Lombardozzi	...	Det. Thomas 'Herc' Hauk / ... (60 episodes, 2002-2008)
Clarke Peters	...	Det. Lester Freamon (59 episodes, 2002-2008)
Andre Royo	...	Bubbles / ... (52 episodes, 2002-2008)
Michael K. Williams	...	Omar Little (51 episodes, 2002-2008)
Jim True-Frost	...	Det. Roland 'Prez' Pryzbylewski / ... (50 episodes, 2002-2008)
Frankie Faison	...	Commissioner Ervin H. Burrell / ... (47 episodes, 2002-2008)
Corey Parker Robinson	...	Det. Leander Sydnor (45 episodes, 2002-2008)
Delaney Williams	...	Sgt. Jay Landsman (45 episodes, 2002-2008)
J.D. Williams	...	Preston Broadus (42 episodes, 2002-2006)
Wood Harris	...	Avon Barksdale (38 episodes, 2002-2008)
Idris Elba	...	Russell 'Stringer' Bell (37 episodes, 2002-2004)
Aidan Gillen	...	Councilman Thomas 'Tommy' Carcetti / ... (35 episodes, 2004-2008)
Jamie Hector	...	Marlo Stanfield (32 episodes, 2004-2008)
Gbenga Akinnagbe	...	Chris Partlow / ... (30 episodes, 2002-2008)
Robert Wisdom	...	Howard 'Bunny' Colvin / ... (27 episodes, 2003-2008)
Chad Coleman	...	Dennis 'Cutty' Wise (26 episodes, 2004-2008)
Anwan Glover	...	Slim Charles (26 episodes, 2004-2008)
Michael Kostroff	...	Maurice 'Maury' Levy (25 episodes, 2002-2008)
Michael Salconi	...	Off. Michael Santangelo / ... (25 episodes, 2002-2008)
Tray Chaney	...	Malik 'Poot' Carr (25 episodes, 2002-2008)
Isiah Whitlock Jr.	...	State Sen. R. Clayton 'Clay' Davis (25 episodes, 2002-2008)
Felicia Pearson	...	Felicia 'Snoop' Pearson (25 episodes, 2004-2008)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Greek | Mandarin

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M (some episodes) | UK:18 (some episodes) | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | UK:15 (some episodes) | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Blown Deadline Productions

Trivia:

When Dominic West first auditioned on videotape from his London home, he tried to have his girlfriend read the lines for the other characters in the scene. But her English accent kept throwing him off and he kept laughing. So West performed the scene himself by leaving pauses where the other character's lines were supposed to be. West admits to imitating Robert De Niro for his audition. At first, the producers found the audition tape "weird" and "comic" but they reconsidered when they concentrated on West's performance. When West was offered the role, he became reluctant because the contract was for five seasons. But his agent convinced him that the show would not last more than one. It ended up lasting five seasons.

Goofs:

Continuity: Throughout the series some Officers are shown on both the day, evening and Night shifts in a short period of time, some even within the same day. The Baltimore police department rarely gives shift changes until the next fiscal year.

Quotes:

Det. William Moreland: [repeated line to McNulty] Happy now, bitch?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Tapping the Wire (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Fall

Great story, superb acting, perfect casting, and top notch directing.

For someone that isn't into the inter city 'drug' scene that wants to understand how 'the system' works The Wire is a great series. Drug Dealer/city politics 101. The so called 'good guys' and the 'bad guys' all have an 'agenda' and everyone is part of the 'food chain' that starts with the kids selling drugs in the projects and ends at the highest level of city government. As the series progresses we move up the food chain, learn how each level works and how each depends on the level below. Drugs is the glue that keeps the system together and money is the fuel that powers the entire system.

The acting is top notch and blows away all competition in the genre. Here is hoping for season two as The Wire is right up there with The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, in interesting story line, exquisite acting, interesting characters, and creativeness.

Lastly, the actor who plays Omar, Michael K. Williams, is absolutely great! Why haven't we seen this actor before? Michael dominates every scene he is in.