January 5, 2024 | Miles Brucker

Serious Facts About The Wire


“The king stays the king". – D'Angelo Barksdale, The Wire

Are you ready to read the baddest and toughest facts about The Wire? Then dig in.


1. Obama gave it two thumbs up

Yup, the former American president Barack Obama loves to watch The Wire. Who’s his favourite character, you may ask? According to an interview with the Las Vegas Sun, it’s none other than Omar, whom Obama described as: “the toughest, baddest guy on the show".

The Wire

2. Omar knew how to dance

Michael Kenneth Williams (who portrayed Omar) may have played a tough guy on screen, but would you be surprised to know he had a background in dance? When Williams realized he was on a troubled path in his youth, he got into theater to break the pattern. Later, he became a NYC club kid and background dancer to many well-known artists. He even choreographed and appeared in the video for Crystal Waters' "100% Pure Love".

30001892677_61aafd130a_o.jpgFlickr

Advertisement

3. The street Oscar

During the filming of a scene, Andre Royo (who played Bubbles) was approached by a passerby, who handed him a bag of drug and told him that he looked like he needed it.

 

Selection_014.jpgThe Wire, HBO

4. The MacArthur Genius Grant

The Wire’s creator David Simon was selected for the honour in 2010 and is one of only two screenwriters to ever receive the prize. The MacArthur Fellows Program is a $500,000 prize awarded annually to between 20 to 40 individuals, who "show exceptional merit and promise for continued and enhanced creative work".

David_Simon_at_the_63rd_Annual_Peabody_Awards.jpgWikipedia

5. Gus who directed these episodes?

Puns aside… Clark Johnson, who played newspaper editor Gus, happened to direct the pilot and the final episode of the show.

Clark_Johnson.jpgWikipedia

Advertisement

6. Best show ever?

It’s a very controversial topic to get into, but many have declared The Wire the “best show ever” at one point or another – like Complex, Entertainment Weekly and Slate. Without an argument, it is definitely one of the best.

Quiz: Saving Private RyanMax Pixel

7. A great catchphrase comes on the fly

The catchphrase “Sheeeeee-it”, uttered by Senator Clay Davis, was not scripted. It was the creative product of Isiah Whitlock Jr. Not bad, not bad at all…

 

Selection_015.pngThe Wire, HBO

8. Yet, no Emmy

Whether it’s the best show ever or not is up for debate, but being one of the greatest television series to hit the screen, it’s a little shocking that it has never picked up an Emmy. Not one. Not even a quarter of one. To compare, Breaking Bad (another amazing show) picked 16 Emmys during its run.

 

The Legend of Zelda FactsShutterstock

Advertisement

9. Hello, spin-off

There was a spin-off in the works during the fourth season of The Wire and it was called – drum roll, please – The Hall, focused mostly on the politics behind the original series. HBO didn’t go for it though. 

Surprised man is looking at side.Ketut Subiyanto, Pexels

10. No fame, no glory

Despite being a fantastic show, The Wire consistently brought in low ratings. The final season ran with an audience of less than 1 million – compare that to Breaking Bad, which reeled in more 10 million viewers for its finale. Yowza!

Cast_of_The_Wire_-_True-Frost_Royo_Sohn_Hector.jpgWikipedia

11. The boys with the scar

The scars on Michael Kenneth Williams and Jamie Hector’s faces are actually for real. Pretty cool, eh?

GettyImages-941602796.jpgGetty Images

Advertisement

12. Minor roles for real criminals and officers

Many of the minor roles on the show were played by real politicians, criminals and officers (much like The Deacon). Some of the real former criminals acting on The Wire were detained by the real officers, who also worked on the show. That may have been a little awkward.

Selection_016-1.pngThe Wire, HBO

13. No repeats

If you watch The Wire from the beginning to the end, you will notice that none of the characters appear in all episodes. You can test this fact out, if you want.

Cast_of_The_Wire_-_Andrews_Boyd_True-Frost_Sohn_Hector_Royo.jpgWikipedia

14. Dominic West thought the show would not last past one season

British-born Dominic West, who played Jimmy McNulty, wasn’t sure if he wanted to commit to a five-year contract – or to living in Baltimore for so long – but his agent calmed his nerves by simply telling him that The Wire will probably be around for only a season. Boy, was he wrong!

Selection_017.pngThe Wire, HBO

Advertisement

15. Slim Shady loves this show too

Eminem is another famous fan of the show, although his favourite character remains a mystery. Maybe Obama and Slim should have The Wire marathons together.

GettyImages-453048640.jpgGetty Images

16. Only one cop fires his weapon during the entire show

In all of the five seasons, only one officer fires his weapon– Roland Pryzbylewski or Prez. And even he sets off his weapon a total of three times. That’s pretty impressive for a offender/cop series.

Selection_020-1.pngThe Wire, HBO

17. No show is complete without a fat suit

Chris Bauer allegedly donned a fat suit during the show to give his character Frank Sobotka the required “magnitude”.

Selection_021.pngThe Wire, HBO

Advertisement

18. Believe it or not, David Simon had to beg to keep the show going

The Wire was canceled for a time after season 3 and was again at risk of cancellation after season 4. Creator David Simon confessed to Entertainment Weekly that he literally had to beg HBO to keep the show on the air. We bet the execs at HBO are pretty happy they obliged. SIMON-3.jpg

19. No dollar in the swear jar

Omar is the only character to not be guilty of major profanity. Michael Kenneth Williams was even given the green light to omit any swear words that were mistakenly put in the script.

The Wire Facts

20. Omar was based on a real person

It seems unlikely, but it’s true. Omar is based on a real Baltimore drug dealer stickup boy named Donnie Andrews. After turning himself in to authorities, he became an anti-gang mentor to young prisoners and was released early after extensive lobbying by Ed Burns and David Simon. Andrews continued his activism until his passing in 2012.

Donnie_Andrews_crop-1.jpgWikimedia Commons

Advertisement

21. Bubbles was also based on a real person

Bubbles was based on a fella named Possum (real name remains unknown) – a drug-addict, who traded his lock up sentence to become a authorities informant charging $50 to $100 per offender caught. Possum also had a photographic memory and marked his selected targets with hats. Last time criedPexels

22. Can’t end the funny bone

David Simon admitted to adding more humour than he initially intended to make the show more watchable and less depressing. Good call on that!

The_Wire_8187217257-1.jpgWikimedia Commons

23. The Wire had an ancient inspiration

Of course, the series was influenced by the creator’s experiences and the city of Baltimore, but a huge sway for the structure of the show came from something very ancient – the Greeks. In an interview with Slate, David Simon revealed that the makers of the show were really writing a Greek tragedy,but “instead of the gods being petulant and jealous Olympians hurling lightning bolts down at our protagonists, it's the Postmodern institutions that are the gods". We didn’t see that coming!

shutterstock_449142973.jpgShutterstock

Advertisement

24. A drug lord had a role on the show

Of course, he did. Also, an inspiration for Avon Barksdale, Melvin Williams used to traffic drug in Baltimore in the 70s and 80s, raking in hundreds of millions of dollars. Williams was finally detained in 1985 and was sporadically in lock up until 2003. He then went on to play The Deacon in season 3 and 4 on The Wire. You still have to pay the bills somehow post drug-empire, right?

Selection_022-1.pngThe Wire, HBO

Sources: 1234


READ MORE

Awthumb

Things Americans Think Are Normal But No One Else Gets

These everyday activities are totally normal if you call America your home but are considered odd or out of context to any other country on the outside looking in. Take a peek into the bizarre habits and tastes of American culture.
August 15, 2024 JK
Mindtricks Internal

Psychological Mind Tricks That Really Work On People

Applying psychology principles can help you achieve your goals in personal relationships, work, and other aspects of your life. The following "mind tricks" are backed by research studies and can gain you a healthy advantage in various situations—but they should only be used wisely and ethically.
June 11, 2024 Eul Basa
60S Internal

24 Things Only 60s Kids Will Remember

The 1960s were filled with positive energy and new ideas. Iconic bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones ruled the music scene. Bold and innovative fashion trends were embraced by the youth. Significant events like the civil rights movement and rallies for peace marked the era. If you're a '60s kid, these will be all too familiar to you.
June 4, 2024 Eul Basa
Gentleparenting Internal

Gentle Parenting Methods That Confuse Older Generations

When it comes to parenting styles, there is a huge generational gap. As times have changed, so has the consensus on what is best for a child's development.
June 25, 2024 Eul Basa
JFK funeral, Jacqueline Kennedy and her children (left) food tray at a drive-in (right)

36 Things Only Baby Boomers Will Understand

From going to drive-in movies to witnessing some of the most poignant moments in history, these are things that only boomers will understand.
May 14, 2024 Sarah Ng

30 Tips for Aging After 30

Uncover 30 things you should prioritize once you hit age 30. From starting new routines and using new products to specific ways to unplug and unwind, these wellness tips will set you up for success.
May 9, 2024 Penelope Singh