Norman Wilson, Mathemetician

I was watching a video podcast of The Wire's Out of Character segment with Reg E Cathay, who plays Carcetti's political advisor on seasons 4 and 5 and he mentioned that his first big break in the business was on a show called Square One TV.

Now me and my brother spent many summers in front of the televion under no adult supervision, so thankfully Square One TV was good enough to hold our attention for a few hours a week. Being the determined Wire freak that I am, it only took me a few minutes to find a Square One clip with my man Norman.

Check it out and thank your lucky stars for Youtubes.

Like Pouring a Forty . . .

So here are some links. Yeah, there are a lot and I kinda promised these yesterday, but the whole Spitzer debacle kinda sent me into a tizzy.

In posting these links I have realized that there may never be another serialized television show that inspires me to live a better life, open my eyes gaze at the world around me. I guess what I'm trying to say is that this may be a good time to start watching The Hills.

NEW YORK MAGAZINE's VULTURE Blog has been the bomb with their coverage throughout the season and Monday morning was no exception. Despite the Eliot Mess.

A nice, clean summary of the finale

The actor who plays a homeless character waxes sentimental on the last nite of shooting the final episode

The Finale's Montage Sequence - with Shot by Shot commentary

Adam Sternberg says - The Wire = The Anti-Sopranos

Is The Wire the greatest ever?

10 Unanswered Questions

I smell a Season 6 storyline . . .

A compilation of quotes from David Simon that shed some light on the finale and what he's up to next

Life After the Wire. Maybe not . . .

MISC

Entertainment Weekly's Top 15 moments. Kinda like Cliff Notes . . .

and EW also says a thing or two about the finale

Even Deadspin has some shit to say . . .

My frmr weekly rag kinda disses the 5th season

Don't forget about the New York Times!

The AV Club interviews David Simon

The AV Club interviews OMAR. FUCKING OMAR MAN!!!!

The Baltimore Sun chimes in on the finale. Uh oh . . . .

Oddly enough, Sunday's Wire party was exclusively White, except for me.

Salon Magazine discusses the finale

These guys respond to the 10 Unanswered Questions. Smartypants.

An interview with O-Dog

David Simon's real-life nemesis

Some kids at USC confirm the WAGSTAFF connection

I would only hope that my enthusiasm for the show here ] would encourage some of you to rent the DVDs (or steal them from your friends, as I did). I know I turned a few people onto the show and I can say that their lives are better for it. And seriously, we need more girls watching this show. I only know of one girl who watches the show. WTF? I was at a party this weekend and another Wire fan said that it's the same reason girls don't like hip hop. Are you ladies gonna stand for that? C'mon girls, show McNulty, Avon, DeAngelo, Bodie, Wallace, Poot, Stringer, the Stevedores, Carcetti, Bunny, Naymond, Michael, Dookie, Randy, Herc, Carver, Daniels, Prezbo, Marlo, Chris, Prop Joe, The Greek, Clay "sheeeeit" Davis, and the Bunk some love.

B5 and I'm outie, 5000.

EPISODE 8 SEASON 5 - "CLARIFICATIONS"

Otherwise known as OMG OMG OMG - Dukie Got a JOB!!!!

Seriously tho, do NOT read any of the posts below if you did not see this week's episode -

NY MAG - Interview with MICHAEL K WILLIAMS

NY MAG - An Obituary For A Character That is NOT NAMED MCNULTY

And did you all watch the Oscars last night? Wasn't Beattie Amy AdamsAmy Ryan so lovely?

FREAKONOMICS and THE WIRE

This is interesting - The NYT Freakonomics Blog has a column entitled "What Do Real Thugs Think of The Wire." Haven't had a chance to read through it, but it looks promising.

NICK DENTON FINALLY MAKES A POINT ON WHICH I CAN AGREE

Nick Denton, Gawker, discusses how this Season's Wire isn't as good as it should be and slams David Simon for turning into a "didactic lecturer." Oh, and there's a possibility of a prequel MOVIE, OMG!!!!!

OMAR ILLUSIONATOR

Watch for it . . . .

Rawls and Omar - A Match made in Heaven?

NY Magazine has a few sentences from John Doman - who plays Deputy Commisioner Rawls about the possibility of his character being outed. No spoilers (damn!)

Spiderman Shit

More links:

The Washington Post reports on the wrap of Season 5 - spoilers!

New York Magazine has a little write-up and photos from the Season 5 premiere partay

New York Magazine also has the short film that Seith Mann directed that got him a job directing on the show. Mann recently directed the episode Dickensian. The short also got Jamie Hector his job as Marlo Stanfield.

Also - on newstands now -

Esquire has a nice lengthy essay by David Simon on his time spent at the Baltimore Sun, which gives a lot of insight into the current newsroom plotline

Men's Vogue has a nice photoshoot with Dominic West, Andre Royo and Michael K Williams

INDIE ROCK WIRE

From Stereogum -

"The Wire is the best television program ever, etc. But aside from the acting chops of Steve Earle and Method Man (and seasonal remixes of "Way Down In The Hole"), we have little reason to think about modern music when shit goes down on the corner. Until this week, when McNulty wants to know what his boys are listening to. "It's Dead Meadow, dad. Geez." ("What's wrong with the Ramones?") It's not the LA psych-rockers' first cameo in West Baltimore, either. They were featured last season, and the guitarist's uncle is show creator David Simon. Grab two tunes at The Leather Canary. The new album (check the vid) is out Tuesday. Got dem spider bags, red tops. (via Vulture.)"

Does anyone know when the band made their appearance in Season 4?

Yeah, I've been busy with work and a recent trip to Sundance kicked my ass. I'm two episodes behind, but plan on doing a catch-up this weekend.

FILE THIS UNDER "THE GREATEST THING EVER"

The Wire- Human Giant Crossover

too cool. cannot react. cannot comment . . .

HMMMMM . . .

Here's a weird news item -

R&B superstar Mary J. Blige has been named (along with 50 Cent, Timbaland, and--WTF?--Tyler Perry) by the Times Union of Albany as one of several celebrities who allegedly ordered steroids and other "performance enhancing" drugs through an online Orlando pharmacy. Blige also apparently had at least one shipment mailed to her under the name "Marlo Stanfield," a.k.a. the stoic drug kingpin on The Wire, which shows she at least knows how to have fun with prescription fraud. (Can't say the same for Fiddy, who chose "Michael Jordan." What are you, 8 years old?)

link - via Keith via ONION AV

Yeah, so I watched episodes 1 and 2 yesterday. No comments yet, still coming down from my high.

AND IT DON'T STOP

More links. You have to admit, I am making an effort here, peoples.

Stereogum - Talks about Steve Earle and his involvement in Season 5. Contains even more links to more awesomeness.

The Atlantic - An article by Mark Bowden, the guy who wrote the excellent book Black Hawk Down which I read a few years ago. It's "semi-critical" so brace yo selves, foos. VIA crazymonk.org

LAIST has another interview with an actor on the show - this time its Jamie Hector, who plays Marlo Stanfield. I wish he talked about how Marlo Stanfield is going to go down in flames and the rise of Avon Barksdale and how Prop Joe retires in South Florida or something interesting. Sike, it's a pretty good interview.

The Baltimore Sun pans Season 5. I think this is called a "conflict of interest." VIA Stereogum.com, who woulda thought? C'mon Pitchfork!

INTERVIEW WITH BUBS and MICHAEL

LAIST.com posted an interview with Andre Royo, aka BUBBLES, today. I haven't read it yet, but I'm sure it's FANTASTIC.

There was also an interview with Tristan Wilds, MICHAEL, yesterday. Same website. LAIST is even bookmarked under my POP BLOGS tab in FIREFOX.

Man, it's like I'm sleeping on the job here.

Don't respond to that.