Longread #89 -- The Angriest Man in Television -- 6/8/12

HBO's The Wire has been getting a lot of love this week as this month marks the show's 10-Year Anniversary, and a hilarious mock-musical version of The Wire video was posted online. This longread, published between the show's fourth and fifth seasons, profiles the show's creator, David Simon. There are a lot of great profile-style longreads out there, and what sets the best ones apart is an ability to use the profile to analyze something in a new way or to make a broader point. 

In this case, I think the author makes a number of interesting arguments about the contrasts between journalism and the "reality-driven" drama of a show like The Wire. Many people, including the author, have praised the show for its commitment to trying to faithfully represent Baltimore and cast a light on the range of social, economic, racial, and other challenges there. However, it does seem that people can get carried away with the belief in the show's authenticity and let the lines of fiction and reality blur. This contrast of journalism and drama is especially intriguing given Simon's background at The Baltimore Sun. I've always thought that The Wire had a weak final season, which, is much less surprising to me given the personal context for Simon explained in this profile. 

Simon clearly has remarkable talent, and this profile provides valuable context to understand and interpret his most well-known and celebrated work.

"The Angriest Man in Television" by Mark Bowden

Published in the Atlantic, January/February 2008

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/print/2008/01/the-angriest-man-in-television/6581/

Eric