David Simon Could Sell A Ketchup Popsicle To A Woman In White Gloves
The man is exceptionally brilliant, so we probably shouldn’t be terribly surprised that he convinced his former employer, The Baltimore Sun, to offer their name as the paper depicted in The Wire’s fifth and final season. Naturally, he gives credit to the publication, calling them “ballsy”, which couldn’t be more fitting.
I, much like every other fan of the series, am glad to see The Wire land the actual Baltimore city paper. The series is founded in gritty, cynical realism; for that reason alone I want to see them stay consistent and not be forced into conjuring up some generic fake name. But because of those qualities I’m surprised The Sun was so eager to loan their name for a very brutal critique. I mean, if they thought an attack from Bill O’Reilly was harsh, they’re about to have ten hours of critical analysis thrown their way. Regardless of how justified, it seems like an ill-advised business practice, to say the least.
But maybe they’re applying the old adage: “all publicity is good publicity” to the decision made here. Still, when we’re in episode six and an editor is forcing someone in middle management to cover the local crab cake cook-off over a triple homicide in the western…well, the people at The Sun won’t be able to plead ignorance.
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