Conception
Simon has stated that he originally set out to create a police drama loosely based on the experiences of his writing partner Ed Burns, … See more

Institutional dysfunction
Simon has identified the organizations featured in the show—the Baltimore Police Department, City … See more

The Wire employs a broad ensemble cast, supplemented by many recurring guest stars who populate the institutions featured on the show. The majority of the cast is black, which … See more

Critical response
All seasons of The Wire have received positive reviews from major television critics, with seasons two through five in particular receiving near universal acclaim, with several naming it the best contemporary show … See more

Realism
The writers strove to create a realistic vision of an American city based on their own experiences. Simon, originally a reporter for The Baltimore Sun, spent a year researching a Baltimore homicide detective unit for … See more

Season 1 (2002)
The first season introduces two major groups of characters: the Baltimore Police Department and a drug dealing organization run by the Barksdale family. The season follows the police investigation of the latter over its … See more

HBO aired the five seasons of the show in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2008. New episodes were shown once a week, occasionally skipping … See more