The Wire has started airing on the other side of the pond.  I’m anxious to see how the show is received over there, as it seems to be uniquely designed for an American audience.  So far, the reception has been overwhelming positive.  Here are a couple of articles about it – nothing groundbreaking in terms of analysis, but it’s a development certainly worth keeping an eye on over the next few weeks.

Telegraph UK’s article

Times Online

On our way back from Washington D.C., I managed to convince my friends to take a detour through the lovely city of Baltimore – all because of The Wire of course. We had lunch at Hooters, I saw the big “Dominos Sugar” sign and smelled the Baltimore air.

I also think there’s money in pioneering a “Wire tour” of Baltimore.

Team Teamwork just released a mixtape pitting ‘the street’ against Zelda. I’m not sure that there is anything more ironic than hearing Clipse rapping about cooking crack and keeping “chrome next to his bones” to Zelda’s-64 bit “Lost in the Woods” melody. Luckily, Link doesn’t have to worry about getting rolled out by “nacos.”

01 – Clipse – Virginia (Lost Woods)
02 – Dr. Dre + Snoop Dogg – Still D.R.E. (Getting Treasure)
03 – Jay-Z – No Hook (Meeting the Owl)
04 – Pimp C, Lil Keke + P.O.P. – Knockin’ Doorz Down (Hyrule Field)
05 – Common – I used to Love H.E.R. (Hyrule Market)
06 – Aesop Rock – No Jumpercables (Goron Village)
07 – Edan – Fumbling Over Words (Battle)
08 – MF Doom – Vomit (Horse Race at Lon Lon Ranch)
09 – Spank Rock – IMC (Zora’s Domain)
10 – Slim Thug + Mike Jones – Still Tippin’ (Great Fairy’s Fountain)

Track ten is glorious. It’s all in the game.

It seems that Vice magazine really wanted to drive a stake through my heart on Wednesday. The Wire Season Six

Vice not only tips its hat to The Wire but also raises an interesting point. Could the show accomplish what it has if it were set in the UK?