The Wire Thread

[hamstrung]

The Wire was HBO too. FX picked it up here.

 

They had Huff too. I liked that but it got canned.

[Hoddy]

Last night was the first time I've ever seen it and I thought it was a very good episode. I didn't always understand what was going on, but as some have said on this thread already, I think that's kind of the idea, seeing as they just dropped you off in the middle of it. Some of the dialogue was excellent and some promising characters with a lot of room for depth.

 

One thought hit me when I was watching this- why can't somebody make programmes like that in this country? Programmes with a bit of intelligence instead of shite like The Bill and generic ITV dramas with Robson Green in? Some writers in this country want bloody shooting.

 

Think it's a bit unfair to slag the writers; there are many, many good drama writers out there in this country working their balls off to get commissioned - a good number of whom have a lot of talent and could bring something different - but, in the vast majority of cases, it's the controllers and the commissioners who opt for the 'safe' option every single time. That's why instead of a brand new angle on a police drama (although some would say why the hell do we need another police drama?) we get 'Holby Blue'. Execs are too afraid that people won't tune in that they have to stick it under the horrid 'Holby' strand.

 

It's also why we get generic dramas with a 'star' attached to it. On that point you're spot on. How many times have we seen soap star 'X' come out of a soap and try to make it as a serious actor using some piss-poor generic drama? In this country it's the actor that peddles the drama whereas it should always be the other way round. Who the fuck knew who Dominic West was before 'The Wire'? Idris Elba? Lance Reddick? They fucking do now.

[RedKnight]

My missus loves The Wire too, but not as much as the Sopranos.

[sh#t waffle]

So does Mrs H

 

Better class of women, I reckon.

 

And Mrs Waffle. She's currently got me watching Underbelly, which her dad told us was like an Australian Sopranos, but better. It is Australian, but the rest is way off. It's not terrible, but it's put together in such an amateurish way, with cheesy music over every single scene.

[hamstrung]

And Mrs Waffle. She's currently got me watching Underbelly, which her dad told us was like an Australian Sopranos, but better. It is Australian, but the rest is way off. It's not terrible, but it's put together in such an amateurish way, with cheesy music over every single scene.

 

I've seen some of that. Saw it when I was over last year.

 

Seemed OK from what I remember. Think it was on here on the "Living TV Australian Crime Drama Starting with U and or cooking/teleshopping" channel a while ago.

[sh#t waffle]

I've seen some of that. Saw it when I was over last year.

 

Seemed OK from what I remember. Think it was on here on the "Living TV Australian Crime Drama Starting with U and or cooking/teleshopping" channel a while ago.

 

It's not awful. It's based on true events regarding some Melbourne gangs, and apparently (ludicrously) it was shown in all states bar Victoria as the trials of those portrayed in the show were going on. It has its moments, but the fucking music (some of which sounds like Enigma) spelling out what emotion I should be feeling for every single scene is doing my head in. The Brits and Australians just can't do this kind of shit like the Americans.

[hamstrung]

It's not awful. It's based on true events regarding some Melbourne gangs, and apparently (ludicrously) it was shown in all states bar Victoria as the trials of those portrayed in the show were going on. It has its moments, but the fucking music (some of which sounds like Enigma) spelling out what emotion I should be feeling for every single scene is doing my head in. The Brits and Australians just can't do this kind of shit like the Americans.

 

True. It all looks amateurish compared to the best American stuff.

 

The Trial was on when I was over. I was watching the show at My dads (NSW) while my brother (VIC) couldn't.

[Anubis]

I don't want to watch Twin Peaks cause it supposedly ends on a cliff hanger. I refuse to watch shows that end on a Cliff Hanger or without resolution.

 

Only because they foolishly didn't greenlight another series.

 

Episodes 2 and 3 of the wire have been excellent by the way.

[Guest The Big Green Bastard]

tried to watch my first episode last night to see what the hype was about, and yes indeed it was very hyped.

I watched about 10 minutes before switching over. I witnessed a really fuk-ugly fillipino parading as a cop with a group of fat lazy cops in a shitty basement office? Even the copiuos amount of swearing did nothing for me and its overuse was tiresome to say the least.

Now i do realise that 'dissing' the wire will get me negged by a few sheep for not toeing the line, but there is no way i will ever watch it again after the image of that filipino woman was burned onto my retinas, what a minger.

[Soleilrouge]

Just watched the last episode of seaspn 4 last night. This show grabs you and throws you around like a drunken Irish husband.

[Section_31]

tried to watch my first episode last night to see what the hype was about, and yes indeed it was very hyped.

I watched about 10 minutes before switching over. I witnessed a really fuk-ugly fillipino parading as a cop with a group of fat lazy cops in a shitty basement office? Even the copiuos amount of swearing did nothing for me and its overuse was tiresome to say the least.

Now i do realise that 'dissing' the wire will get me negged by a few sheep for not toeing the line, but there is no way i will ever watch it again after the image of that filipino woman was burned onto my retinas, what a minger.

 

Pretty pointless doing what you've done there though to be honest mate, there's no way in the world you're going to know what's going on, it needs to be watched as a whole from start to finish, as others have said - it's like a book - if you just dipped into chapter 3 of a book, read a few pages and then said "what the fuck?!?" and threw it over your shoulder, that would be pretty daft. Although to be fair I have done this several times, especially in English lit.

[Paul]

Pretty pointless doing what you've done there though to be honest mate, there's no way in the world you're going to know what's going on, it needs to be watched as a whole from start to finish, as others have said - it's like a book - if you just dipped into chapter 3 of a book, read a few pages and then said "what the fuck?!?" and threw it over your shoulder, that would be pretty daft. Although to be fair I have done this several times, especially in English lit.

Joking apart, I think I did that with about 75% of the texts on my English degree. Not big or clever, I know - but true. The problem is that lots and lots of classic literature is really, really fucking dull and on a degree course you're expected to rattle through a good three or four texts a week. No way daddio (except on the Gothic literature course where we got to read The Wasp Factory and The Silence of the Lambs - but even then we also had to read The Monk first).

[Section_31]

Joking apart, I think I did that with about 75% of the texts on my English degree. Not big or clever, I know - but true. The problem is that lots and lots of classic literature is really, really fucking dull and on a degree course you're expected to rattle through a good three or four texts a week. No way daddio (except on the Gothic literature course where we got to read The Wasp Factory and The Silence of the Lambs - but even then we also had to read The Monk first).

 

Paul I can't believe (a) you don't like some books and (b) you've cheated.

 

I feel like something just died inside, although I've come to expect this kind of thing in the post 9/11 world.

 

As an aside, I passed my English Lit GCSE with an exam about To Kill a Mocking Bird after never having read the book, however, I did buy a study guide from Smiths the day before the exam, and still remember exclaiming the words: "Ah so scout's a girl!!!"

[hamstrung]

I wrote an uni essay on a Hardy novel based on the blurb and got a respectable 70% or summat.

 

Wish I'd read it now as apparently it had a bit of lesbianism in it.

[Kevin D]

Joking apart, I think I did that with about 75% of the texts on my English degree. Not big or clever, I know - but true. The problem is that lots and lots of classic literature is really, really fucking dull and on a degree course you're expected to rattle through a good three or four texts a week. No way daddio (except on the Gothic literature course where we got to read The Wasp Factory and The Silence of the Lambs - but even then we also had to read The Monk first).

 

I wasn't too keen on the wasp factory, myself. Thought it was really quite mundane.

[Paul]

Paul I can't believe (a) you don't like some books and (b) you've cheated.

 

I feel like something just died inside, although I've come to expect this kind of thing in the post 9/11 world.

 

As an aside, I passed my English Lit GCSE with an exam about To Kill a Mocking Bird after never having read the book, however, I did buy a study guide from Smiths the day before the exam, and still remember exclaiming the words: "Ah so scout's a girl!!!"

I didn't cheat; I just waffled. And got an average degree.*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*But had a great time for three years.

[Guest TK-421]

I really liked The Bridge by Iain Banks. That was back when I read books.

[Mr T]

Section you're spot on about HBO, they are what the BBC should be about. Riskier projects, with a much greater upside, that simply can't be made by channels which rely on advertising as a business model. I fucking abhor what the BBC has become; such a privileged position and yet they show barely anything for it.

[Paul]

Section you're spot on about HBO, they are what the BBC should be about. Riskier projects, with a much greater upside, that simply can't be made by channels which rely on advertising as a business model. I fucking abhor what the BBC has become; such a privileged position and yet they show barely anything for it.

I love the BBC. It follows its remit phenomenally well as a public service broadcaster that has to try and be all things to all people. The sheer breadth of stuff available across its TV, radio and online formats is great. I regularly use the iPlayer to catch specialist radio shows that are on in the middle of the night, there are loads of bits and pieces that it does on telly that are good and the online contect is handy as fuck for all kinds of reasons.

 

What the BBC will never be is HBO. HBO has an entirely different raison d'etre to the BBC, and it can therefore operate entirely without the constraints under which the BBC operates. The pathetic politicking of the mainstream parties in this country means that the BBC - a unique institution in world broadcasting and the envy of virtually every other country - is under threat like never before in its history. I think popular culture in this country would be massively damaged if its charter is seriously fucked with when it's next up for renewal.

[RJ Fan club]

I love the BBC. It follows its remit phenomenally well as a public service broadcaster that has to try and be all things to all people. The sheer breadth of stuff available across its TV, radio and online formats is great. I regularly use the iPlayer to catch specialist radio shows that are on in the middle of the night, there are loads of bits and pieces that it does on telly that are good and the online contect is handy as fuck for all kinds of reasons.

 

What the BBC will never be is HBO. HBO has an entirely different raison d'etre to the BBC, and it can therefore operate entirely without the constraints under which the BBC operates. The pathetic politicking of the mainstream parties in this country means that the BBC - a unique institution in world broadcasting and the envy of virtually every other country - is under threat like never before in its history. I think popular culture in this country would be massively damaged if its charter is seriously fucked with when it's next up for renewal.

 

 

I agree with pretty much all of that. I have no problem paying a licence fee, but do feel the BBC needs to justify it like never before. Its not a case of harking back to the good old days, but I do need to look at what they done well when they held to be the standard bearers.

 

I'd actually like to see them drop a few channels from their portfolio and use that budget and programming to up standards. I don't really see why BBC3 and 4 need be separate channels. You can move the high brow stuff to BBC2, at decent slots, get rid of the masses repeats and mix up the schedules a bit and create a single channel. Same with some of the radio coverage, some of the BBC7 content could go to radio 4, some of the BBC6 music coverage could go to Radio 1 or 2, and get rid of some of the extra channels on radio 1 etc. Use the higher quality content to make a better channel, dump the shit, use the savings to improve or commission better quality programmes.

 

I'd hate for the news and current affairs coverage to slip further in this country. From that point of view I hope they improve their editorial content/influence. I don't want to see Peston, Bose, Robinson et al spouting their take and opinions on things. I want to see them leading their staff/dept by reporting the facts of the case and using their status/contacts to interview subjects at the heart of the story. Not trying to give themselves a guru or tsar status within the profession.

 

Actually I need to get some work done, sorry for the rant.

[Mr T]

I love the BBC. It follows its remit phenomenally well as a public service broadcaster that has to try and be all things to all people. The sheer breadth of stuff available across its TV, radio and online formats is great. I regularly use the iPlayer to catch specialist radio shows that are on in the middle of the night, there are loads of bits and pieces that it does on telly that are good and the online contect is handy as fuck for all kinds of reasons.

 

What the BBC will never be is HBO. HBO has an entirely different raison d'etre to the BBC, and it can therefore operate entirely without the constraints under which the BBC operates. The pathetic politicking of the mainstream parties in this country means that the BBC - a unique institution in world broadcasting and the envy of virtually every other country - is under threat like never before in its history. I think popular culture in this country would be massively damaged if its charter is seriously fucked with when it's next up for renewal.

 

But you can't be something for everyone anymore - what you get is watered down nonsense across the board. It's a classic example of crowding out - the BBC competes with commercial stations, damaging them by using taxpayers money as a subsidy, for similar sorts of programs. So there is no real benefit for the viewer and we get a distorted market. What the BBC should be offering as a public good is the programs the market can't offer but do give cultural value - but they seem to be cutting back on this sort of stuff. For example the Today program has had the number of journalists working on it cut by half - why? They should cut out all the dross, and concentrate on using the unique way they are funded to make long term investments that couldn't otherwise be funded - the iplayer is a good example of this.

[Paul]

But you can't be something for everyone anymore - what you get is watered down nonsense across the board. It's a classic example of crowding out - the BBC competes with commercial stations, damaging them by using taxpayers money as a subsidy, for similar sorts of programs. So there is no real benefit for the viewer and we get a distorted market. What the BBC should be offering as a public good is the programs the market can't offer but do give cultural value - but they seem to be cutting back on this sort of stuff. For example the Today program has had the number of journalists working on it cut by half - why? They should cut out all the dross, and concentrate on using the unique way they are funded to make long term investments that couldn't otherwise be funded - the iplayer is a good example of this.

But this is exactly what I'm on about mate. You are basing your criticism on entirely subjective grounds. The BBC is not just for you or me; it's for everyone. It therefore hits and misses wildly with almost every individual in the country. However, I'd be amazed if there wasn't something that didn't hit the spot perfectly for just about everyone. Certainly, I don't think there's anything watered down about the specialist, niche music programming on the radio channels that I listen to.

 

As for commercial stuff, it's amazing just how often commercial telly, radio and internet follows where the BBC leads. What happens then? They just give up and hand over the reins?

Edited April 3, 2009 by Paul

[WaltonRed]

Paul you are spot on about the Beeb.

 

Its a national instituiton.

[Mr T]

But this is exactly what I'm on about mate. You are basing your criticism on entirely subjective grounds. The BBC is not just for you or me; it's for everyone. It therefore hits and misses wildly with almost every individual in the country. However, I'd be amazed if there wasn't something that didn't hit the spot perfectly for just about everyone. Certainly, I don't think there's anything watered down about the specialist, niche music programming on the radio channels that I listen to.

 

As for commercial stuff, it's amazing just how often commercial telly, radio and internet follows where the BBC leads. What happens then? They just give up and hand over the reins?

 

The way the BBC funds itself: through a statutory tax, means that I get no choice. If I don't like what the BBC is outputting I can't say 'nah I don't want any of that', I have to pay it - therefore it should be accountable, "no taxation without representation".

 

How do you make it more accountable? Well you could split it up and make certain parts of it subscription based - but then you'd lose the radio. I'd prefer it if the BBC simply wound its neck in a bit and concentrated on providing quality and not quantity, where there is a market gap. Otherwise if it pushes itself out too far there will be a backlash and it will get canned and that will be a shame.

[Section_31]

I want more quality from the BBC, the likes of Robin Hood and Torchwood are absolute shite. Robin Hood especially is laughable. Beyond its natural history department - which, despite being the best in the world, has just been raped with funding cuts - there's very little that the BBC has going for it now, IMO, its comedy output is mostly dire too - my family anyone?