Last week, while speaking to some cast members from “The Wire” in front of the Justice Department, Attorney General Eric Holder praised the acclaimed HBO series and jokingly asked that creator David Simon make a sixth season of the show. It’s a story that I didn’t cover, because I don’t consider lighthearted off-the-cuff remarks to be news — not when there are exciting new YouTube videos of dogs that I need to review.
But David Simon, being David Simon, responded in his usual self-serious manner:
“The Attorney-General’s kind remarks are noted and appreciated,” he wrote. “I’ve spoken to ["Wire" co-creator] Ed Burns and we are prepared to go to work on season six of The Wire if the Department of Justice is equally ready to reconsider and address its continuing prosecution of our misguided, destructive and dehumanising drug prohibition.”
Simon further claimed that the government’s current anti-drug policies are “nothing more or less than a war on our underclass”. [Digital Spy]
Oy. I mean, yes, drug laws are unfairly severe, and they disproportionately punish and imprison the poor. It’s a very serious matter, and at a certain level I’m impressed with Simon’s integrity and dedication to his beliefs. On the other hand: Dude. It was just an off-hand compliment to your TV show. Let’s not kid ourselves about some magical utopia where drugs are legal and “The Wire” runs in perpetuity and my girlfriend is a bisexual lingerie model, okay?
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Omar dead. Marlo runs free. Herc never got punished for fucking people over several times (just ask Randy). McNulty no longer a cop? Fuck any idea of season six, because it would be the worst ever.
Maybe David Milch will give me another season of Deadwood if I reconsider my policy on beating whores.
I just learned the difference between compliment and complement. Thanks, Matt.
Kangol caps on pudgy white dudes = awesomest fashion statement EVAH.
David Simon helped create the greatest tv drama in American history…and ever since then he’s done everything he can to sound like a complete douchebag.
Complain that Treme is too slow? YOU just aren’t smart enough to understand it.
Complain that Treme is preachy? YOU just don’t understand life down in New Orleans like Simon does.
Talk about how much you like the Wire? Well now is an excellent time to bitch about drug policy in America because that’s what the show is really about and if you were just trying to watch a great show then clearly YOU failed to understand that the show was meant to shake the pillars of power and get everybody to love David Simon’s farts.
Grow up asshole, you’re a TV producer not Jesus.
As a sidenote: TV Producer Jesus would have never canceled Arrested Development.
I like the subtle cat Photoshop the most
Sure, legal drugs would definitely improve conditions for the inhabitants of Baltimore. If they survive.
@LastTexansFan- That is true. Praise be to TV Producer Jesus.
A real life Hamsterdam!
Hey David, maybe you should literally nail yourself to a cross made out of wood from a meth lab oppressed by the dehumanizing Drug Gestapo. That way, you don’t have to be a self righteous, condescending martyr in name only.
Just remember. Nail your feet in first because once you get that first hand down, the rest is going to be a bitch.
Fuck everybody in here hating on David Simon. Notice he only says shit like this IN DIRECT RESPONSE to someone talking about his show. He’s not constantly in everybody’s face, as some people seem to be saying.
I’d imagine Simon is frustrated for the following reason: If you like and appreciate The Wire, as Holder clearly does, then you have to understand the total failure of the War on Drugs. There’s no way you can take that show and its realism all the way into your soul, but still think the War on Drugs is winnable. So when Holder jocks The Wire, he’s actually admitting his own hypocrisy.
By the way, a combat vet Marine was killed in Arizona a few weeks ago by the Police, when they served a no-knock drug warrant on his home. He was charged with nothing. He was convicted of nothing. They just went ahead and shot him. So, yeah, it’s not like this situation isn’t urgent, ya know? Simon’s been watching this shit go down for 20 years, so it’s not that surprising that he takes every legit opportunity to talk about it.
Hey Wiseman, here’s a life lesson for you: being right or on the right side does not excuse being a douche.
Oh the Cursor, Are you mad that you aren’t smart enough or even patient enough to understand Treme? Sounds like your a bit bitter.
I hope not, because it would be unwise for you to rage against one of its creators just because he’s right about something, but according to you is still an asshole/douchebag. So thats where we are circa 2011. If your right about something you can’t even have an ounce of indignation without having your argument dismissed because you’re all of a sudden a douchebag. We are screwed. No one can be right and angry, because the moment you do so you become subject to damnation from Web nerds.
God Bless America!
I’ll say it again, being right is no reason to be a egotistical douche. Take Kid Ory for instance.
Is there a Kid Ory or is it just OG Wiseman straw posting? The world may never care.
Leave it to someone with “OG” and “Kid” as their title to bring a bazooka to a tea party. You do realize you’re doing the exact same thing we’re making fun of David Simon for doing, right?
Upon re-reading the article I realize that I am still 1) right about the dangerous territory we are in as a culture in response to important debates, 2) not OGWiseman, although I appreciate his take and 3) an honorary member of the douche bag club (of which David Simon is President).
Long Live The Douche Bag Club!
YEAH!