The Wire Season FOUR!

TELEVISION Specific Shows
1

03.17.05 | HBO RENEWS THE WIRE, ACCLAIMED DRAMA SERIES FROM DAVID SIMON, WITH FOURTH SEASON TO AIR IN 2006

LOS ANGELES, March 17, 2005 - The critically acclaimed, Peabody Award-winning HBO drama series THE WIRE has been renewed for a fourth season, it was announced today by Carolyn Strauss, president, HBO Entertainment. The 12-episode fourth season will begin shooting in late 2005, with debut set for 2006.

“THE WIRE just keeps getting better, so we’re delighted that David Simon and his team will be returning for another provocative season,” said Strauss. “We share the critics’ enthusiasm for this unique and challenging series, and eagerly await the new episodes.”

Created by David Simon, THE WIRE wrapped its third season last December. The first season looked at the national drug war through the microcosm of a West Baltimore housing project, and the second season focused on a longshoremen’s union and its struggle to survive. In its third season, the drama developed its portrait of a fictional Baltimore by exploring the place of the political leadership in addressing a city’s problems.

With the Barksdale investigation concluded, the fourth season of THE WIRE will expand its focus to include a look at the role of the educational system in an urban environment.

The third season of THE WIRE generated wide critical praise. It was named the best series of 2004 by Entertainment Weekly, which called the show “the smartest, deepest and most resonant drama on TV.” The New York Times observed that the series is “one of the smartest, most ambitious shows on television.” TV Guide hailed THE WIRE as “smart and subtle, yet also brutally powerful,” while New York Newsday declared THE WIRE “the greatest dramatic series ever produced for television,” and Daily Variety called it “brilliant” and “meticulously written, superbly acted.”

THE WIRE was created by David Simon; executive producers, David Simon and Nina Kostroff Noble; co-executive producer, Joe Chappelle; writers, Edward Burns and George Pelecanos.

__________________________________________________ ____________________________

My mind now rests easy - I was getting worried for a second.

2

Just yesterday, I asked in a post if anyone knew what the fate of this show was and now here we go. It’ll be interesting to see how David Simon will be able to give a season free of Stringer, but if ever there was a show where I had COMPLETE faith in the creators, this is that show. Now if only we could get an offical statment regarding a third season of Arrested Development, and my dreams will be nightmare free (though the odds of that show being picked up are alot better then what The Wire was facing.)

3

Quote:
Originally Posted by Desert_Squirrel Just yesterday, I asked in a post if anyone knew what the fate of this show was and now here we go. It’ll be interesting to see how David Simon will be able to give a season free of Stringer, but if ever there was a show where I had COMPLETE faith in the creators, this is that show. Now if only we could get an offical statment regarding a third season of Arrested Development, and my dreams will be nightmare free (though the odds of that show being picked up are alot better then what The Wire was facing.)

I saw your earlier post and thought a new one would do this triumph justice.

Put the WIRE in a time capsule and call it quits - it speaks on so many levels.

4

[Image, link, or media — original content no longer available]

5

just let me know when carnivale is renewed. otherwise i have no reason to keep hbo.

6

[Image, link, or media — original content no longer available]

7

This news seriously made my day. The Wire is hands-down the best show on TV, and as long as they still have stories to tell, it deserves to stay on the air.

I was getting worried about HBO, with their recent productions being all over the map in terms of quality. But renewing The Wire, in spite of its rather poor ratings, ensures that HBO can keep a straight face while using the line, “It’s not TV. It’s HBO.”

Now if they would just stop trying to charge $85+ for the DVD sets, maybe they could build the audience before season 4…

TV often gets equated to lowest common denominator shows, sitcoms like “I’m a Fat Retard Man, with a Hot Genius Wife”, and reality junk such as “America’s Next Burned Out Porn Star”. But shows like The Wire are why TV exists, and why people who think they’re too smart for TV are truly missing out.

Do yourself a favor, watch this show.

8

I agree charging $80 + for 12 episodes is just ridiculous. I got mine on EBAY for much less thank goodness but it does prevent new viewers from loving the show.

9

Quote:
Originally Posted by PloKoon I agree charging $80 + for 12 episodes is just ridiculous. I got mine on EBAY for much less thank goodness but it does prevent new viewers from loving the show.

Is there a reason they charge so much? I mean I’d love to have the first two seasons in my DVD collection (as of right now, i just have them all burned to CD) but I’m in college and can’t just go around spending $85 on every DVD that comes out (I could, but there’s always two or three other DVDs i could get instead, and that always prevails.) Until they start puting the extras to back up the price tag, i’m going to have to resort to copying the season sets from my work (now before you attack me for doing this, i purchase 99% of the DVDs in my collection, but damn it HBO get w/ the times, your sexy packages no longer fool me.)

10

Fuck yes. This just made my day as well.

11

Not only do they charge too much (although, The Wire is worth it, extras or no), they don’t get them out fast enough. FX just released The Sheild Season 3, and Season 4 is starting soon (or did start recently, not quite sure), so as a fan, I could be caught up for the new season. HBO doesn’t do this. I got into The Wire late, by watching the first season on DVD, and then I had to wait for the second one to come out, which didn’t happen 'til January. They have plenty of time during the season to work on a DVD set, and have it out at least a month before a new season starts, allowing new fans to catch up, something that’s drastically important with this show specifically. Now, as a fan, I have to wait for Season 3 to come out on DVD, and in a normal rotation Season 4 would probably be starting soon, so I wouldn’t be able to watch that 'till S-3 came out. It’s something that annoys me, and I don’t understand why there isn’t more of a push to get the DVD’s out before the new season airs. Especially on HBO, where they aren’t making money on syndication (for the most part), so they’re just sitting on these titles, when they could be making money on them. If they don’t speed up the process, then they force willing consumers like myself to try and find the episodes in other ways, Torrents and such.

12

this is awesome news. i can’t wait for season 4. the only drawback is that it might spell the end of carnivale. renewing 2 low rated shows might not be in the cards.

13

Quote:
Originally Posted by Desert_Squirrel Is there a reason they charge so much? I mean I’d love to have the first two seasons in my DVD collection (as of right now, i just have them all burned to CD) but I’m in college and can’t just go around spending $85 on every DVD that comes out (I could, but there’s always two or three other DVDs i could get instead, and that always prevails.) Until they start puting the extras to back up the price tag, i’m going to have to resort to copying the season sets from my work (now before you attack me for doing this, i purchase 99% of the DVDs in my collection, but damn it HBO get w/ the times, your sexy packages no longer fool me.)

I agree and don’t fault you for copying them.

14

Quote:
Originally Posted by Desert_Squirrel Is there a reason they charge so much?

I believe it’s HBO’s attempt to compensate for the lack of ratings. They are probably trying to turn the show into a money maker through the expensive DVD’s.

I’ve never really watched the show because every time I try to I come in in the middle of the season and really have no idea what’s going on, so I at some point I’m going to get the DVD’s via Netflix and try to catch myself up a bit. Maybe I can watch the first two seasons before the fourth season starts and just catch up on the third season later.

15

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyle Corkum Maybe I can watch the first two seasons before the fourth season starts and just catch up on the third season later.

Hopefully HBO will release the third season before the fourth comes out, because this show is way too complex to be able to just catch up with later. You’ll probably be able to understand what’s happening, but the experience will be much better if you see all of it. That complexity is what makes the show great, and also why it has shit ratings, sadly enough.

16

Quote:
Originally Posted by shane Hopefully HBO will release the third season before the fourth comes out, because this show is way too complex to be able to just catch up with later. You’ll probably be able to understand what’s happening, but the experience will be much better if you see all of it. That complexity is what makes the show great, and also why it has shit ratings, sadly enough.

That’s why I wanted to wait and why I could never get into it before, but it seems criminal to deprive myself of it if it’s really that good.

17

YES YES YES YES YES!!!

This is awesome news.

I wonder how big a role Prop Joe and Marlow are gonna play this season? With McNulty in the Western District, he may see Marlow’s rise as the next Avon Barksdale.

18

Bumping this for two reasons:

  1. They’re going into production on Season Four shortly and I can’t fucking wait.

  2. Has anyone heard anything about a release date for Season Three on DVD?

19

I can’t really answer your question although I was told it was going to be some time next year.

And sadly, the actor who plays McNulty will not really be involved in Season 4 too much. According to David Simon he’s filming all of his scenes in one go, so it looks like McNulty enjoys his life as a beat cop too much.

20

Quote:
Originally Posted by DrVenkman And sadly, the actor who plays McNulty will not really be involved in Season 4 too much. According to David Simon he’s filming all of his scenes in one go, so it looks like McNulty enjoys his life as a beat cop too much.

I refuse to believe you. I REFUSE!