April 2010 Archives

I knew every little detail of Treme was going to be dissected by local viewers. Apparently, David Simon also realized this and published a preemptive letter in the Times Picayune about the "Magic Hubig's" before the first episode aired.

Sunday saw the debut of David Simon's latest oeuvre, Tremé on HBO. The following is a collection of my thoughts on the pilot episode and the project overall so far:

• Given the amount of press coverage the show received prior to its debut, I am curious to see the reaction to Tremé from the general public. While I think The Wire was one of the finest shows to ever grace television, it was by no means a ratings success while it was on the air. Critics hailed it; those who watched it regularly extolled its virtues to anyone who would listen; yet The Wire never came close to the ratings of other HBO shows like The Sopranos. With all of the attention Tremé attracted before one episode aired, will those who are not already fans of David Simon's intricate work be enthralled by the pilot and be left wanting more or will they just shrug their shoulders and say, "eh, it's all right, maybe a little talky for me, at least the parts I could understand"?¹
• I am going to admit that I have a bias towards New Orleans. I lived there for several years and am in the process of moving back, so I get a little excited to see it represented in popular culture. I also get a little critical of how it is being portrayed.² From Dennis Quaid's accent in The Big Easy to the gumbo parties in K-Ville, there is just as much fiction out there as there is fact. So far, I have faith in David Simon and Eric Overmyer (co-creator). Just the fact that they have including a Mardi Gras Indian as a character tells me they get it.
• Speaking of Mardi Gras Indians, I will never forget the first time I saw one. I had never heard such a thing existed until I unexpectedly was overrun by a parade one Spring. It is hard to describe the sight, especially to the uninitiated. Well, the scene in the pilot when Albert Lambreaux (played by Clarke Peters) emerges from the darkness in full regalia to recruit a neighbor just about describes it. Simon and Overmyer must have had the same experience I did because they nailed it. They get it.³
• I noticed little references scattered throughout the pilot which I assume only those who have lived in New Orleans will get. I mean, how many people will know what a Hubig's pie is if they haven't spent some time in the city. The look on Creighton Bernette's (played by John Goodman) face when offered one for dessert was so magical.
• Ever since the cast was announced I had been thinking, "Really, Steve Zahn?" I have to say after watching the pilot a couple times, he was very well cast in his role and delivered a good performance. My biggest surprise was how awkward Wendell Pierce felt in the first half of the pilot given he is a New Orleans native. By the end of the episode though it felt like he had found his groove.
• Is it just me or is hard to divorce the actors from The Wire from their characters? Maybe that has something to do with the above.
• I'm starting to think John Goodman could read a phone book and I would enjoy it. In fact, put that on a double bill with Clarke Peters reading the instructions to my microwave and I'd buy a ticket.
• I have to commend HBO for supporting The Wire for five seasons and am overjoyed to hear they have already ordered a second season just two days after the pilot aired. Thank you for supporting good things.