"Body of an American" on HBO's "The Wire"

[pjhogan]

2 Songs in the Wire Series Finale tonight.

[philipchevron]

Ah this is definitely one of the greatest Amercian Tv Shows, right up there on my list with The Sopranos and NYPD Blue. I have watched all 3 series on dvd so far, 4th one out in March, there's also a great opening sequence in one of the episodes that's set to transmetropolitan, v.funny.

I fucking love this show!

They used "Body Of An American" at a Policeman's Wake scene in the 3rd series and it is a truly inspiring piece of television. The music is played from a cassette deck behind the bar, a very deliberate action [none of the music in this TV show is "incidental"] and all the cop's colleagues sing along with it in lusty, full-throated celebration of the guy's life. It is all the more poignant because the Cop who is waked, Detective Ray Cole, was played by Robert F. Colesberry, who was also the clearly beloved executive producer of The Wire [his name remained on the credits years later] until he died shortly before the third series started filming, giving an added real-life dimension to the scene. I have to say that the sight of a Baltimore bar full of cops/actors of Polish, Irish and African-American ethnicity (just for starters) singing along with what happens to be one of my personal favourite Pogues songs, had me blubbing like a baby the first time I saw it. McNulty is singing my song?? Kima is singing my song??!!

Ever since, when there was a cop's Wake on The Wire, "Body Of An American" appeared, though more briefly, the ritual having already been implanted in the viewer's mind. David Simon, the show's creator, co-producer and chief writer, has noted: "It's not a tradition in Baltimore, but it should be."

You will never quite see America the same way again after you watch The Wire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVznnoptsmM

[Fr. McGreer]

I've just started watching this from the 1st episode - someone involved with the writing/creation must be a fan - two of the detectives partnered are "Polk" and "Mahone".

I'm pretty sure George Pelecanos is a writer on The Wire, and he's a massive fan, loads of Pogues references throughout his books.

http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/fea ... pelecanos/

I'm re-watching the whole 5 series' and can confirm that Polk & Mahone are mentioned.

In Episode 2, series 1, just after Dee and the lads are discussing who invented McNuggets on the sofa in the Projects, it cuts to Daniels and the lawyer lady walking in a corridor.

Lady "Who"

Daniels replies "Polk and Pat Mahone, a couple of drunks from Property".

She says "I don't know them".

Daniels "Why would you? They haven't made a case in 10 years"

Later on, they're mentioned again. Daniels giving out about how useless and drunk they are says "Between them, i don't even have a designated driver"

Case solved. Promotion for me

Maybe i'll make Bishop

[Low D]

David Simon, the show's creator, co-producer and chief writer,

... was sighted by a few of us in the line-up for a Pogues show in Seattle in 2007, calling out a couple goons who were budging ("Hey! These guys are trying to give us the bums rush!")

You will never quite see America the same way again after you watch The Wire.

I've never seen David Simon the same way since that day, he's a personal hero!

[Frances]

I haven't watched the series, though I should. I really liked Baltimore. The last time I was there I had a view of two of the ugliest apartment towers that just struck me as perfectly awful and amazing. It was Two Charles Center http://www.ce.jhu.edu/baltimorestructures/Index.php?location=Two%20Charles%20Center and I would move there in a minute. It really doesn't remind me of any other city. Totally different place.


http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/baltimore-city-street-pod/

Buildings galore:
http://www.ce.jhu.edu/baltimorestructures/Pics.php

[kahaya]

Superb TV show finished the Box Set 2 weeks ago. Everytime a Pogues song is played in the show it make the hairs stand on end. Brilliant just brilliant.