Treme

[nacho]

That sounds good.  I have another bar review cooking... Might work on that tomorrow. 

We caught Treme yesterday.  It is, of course, beautiful.  The whole 80 minute pilot is basically just setting the stage, though.

[Cassander]

So, I threw up a really shitty review.  Not even a review, really.  But the more I mull the pilot over, the more I feel like I might have further little notes to write about the show.  Not in a "wait, that didn't really happen, let me show off my knowledge" type of way, but more like a local's point of view in watching the show.  Being a big fan of the wire as a groundbreaking cop show and admiring Generation Kill for being everything a miniseries isn't supposed to be, I was going to be interested in David Simon's next project no matter what it was.  Having it be a show about the town you live in, well, that's something entirely different.  the show is not supposed to cater to me as a resident, but it is supposed to sort of pass a test of accuracy and respect, which I find interesting. 

that being said, I did agree with some critics who felt like the pilot was basically like having some guy sidle up next to you at a bar and go on and on about his new favorite band or the special aspects of his religion or something similar.  It's a lot to swallow at once.  The Wire did the same thing, lots of references to certain crab cake joints and real cops and real streets, etc., but I don't get the feeling that Baltimore is as self-referential a city as New Orleans.  I could be wrong.  Maybe all metropolis-es are self-referential.  Maybe that's the joke....that a TV show about a self-referential city has to be so insanely background and foreground detail oriented to the point of bewilderment by a casual observer. 

[nacho]

Baltimore is very self-referential.  Though, unlike NOLA, it often feels like Baltimore is artificially that way thanks to David Simon (and other filmmakers like Waters and Levinson) since all the self-referential stuff is usually about their work.  Go to the Diner diner! My favorite bar's by the Homicide building!

But there is still a strong Old Baltimore strain.  The lifers who remember the projects, and neighborhood bars on every block, and can tell from your accent what part of town you were born in. 

[Nubbins]

As much as I loved The Wire, it took me probably 2 or 3 episodes to really get into it... I probably didn't get "hooked" until half-way through the first season, even.

[nacho]

And I think the front page piece is just fine, Cass.  Though you got a comment on the Costello thing...

[Cassander]

Well, I'm sorry for not hearing about every single one of Costello's 500 albums. 

[Cassander]

so Steve Zahn was much more tolerable this week, and was replaced in douche-hood by a street musician.  awesome!

[nacho]

We loved it.  It's weird to watch after you watch Breaking Bad.  I find myself waiting for the episodic cliffhanger where two men dressed as Halloween hurricanes crawl to a voodoo hut and pin up a picture of Steve Zahn or something.

[Cassander]

also, L found a good photograper's site with lots of mardi gras indian portraits if you guys are interested. 

http://www.porche-west.com/store/index.html

In the left hand corner hit "Choose a Category" and find the indians.

[nacho]

So we're loving Treme... And I'm now exploring the world of Ashley Morris (the blogger that Goodman's character is based off of):

http://ashleymorris.typepad.com/ashley_morris_the_blog/2005/11/fuck_you_you_fu.html

[Cassander]

i'm glad you're loving it.  please give us a detailed analysis of what you think, even though you've been to the city several times.  every monday we get together at work and go, "Okay, they covered this this and this, which some of us barely understood.  How is this playing in Peoria?"  we all want to know how it's translating out there.

[nacho]

It's not translating at all, despite being renewed for a second season.  Nobody I know watches it, nor do any of Poppy's friends.  Those who have tried to watch it are instantly lost...either because they haven't been there from the first episode, or because it is a different beast than normal TV.  As far as I can tell, it's one of those critical darlings that nobody watches.  To the point where I wonder if the renewal is, more or less, just White Man's Guilt.

Now...my opinion.  I think it's a masterpiece.  I'm hooked on all the characters -- even Steve Zahn.  I love everything about it.  The credits, and the way it's speaking directly to the audience (there's an exciting sort of spiritual breaking of the fourth wall. No mugging at the camera, just quietly hitting you every once in a while -- e.g. the tour bus a few episodes ago).

It also makes me pine for NOLA.  That love and loyalty for your personal geography is beautifully conveyed.  As is the sense that it's a place -- perhaps the only place in this country -- where Humanity (for all its evil and good) is allowed to blossom.

[Cassander]

It is definitely a David Simon show, for sure.  He's really firing on all cylinders as far as the characters and their portrayal goes.  But it's really hard for me to step back and watch the show as a drama.  It's almost more like watching the newspaper be acted out.  I "know" all of these people.  Well, except for the heroic lawyer, of course.  But they just throw so much information at you it's ridiculous.

I think the problem is that Treme doesn't fit any genre.  It's not an advanced version of a cop show like the Wire, or a subversive version of a war miniseries like Generation Kill.  It's an ensemble drama.  It's about a family, even if all the members aren't blood relatives.  But the family is so wrapped up in their environment that it's insane. 

anyway.  You should visit during Krewe de Vieux, the parade featured last week.  It's a true street parade through the french quarter and rarely family friendly.  Also it's weeks away from Mardi Gras, so the crowd are all manageable locals.   

[nacho]

What are the dates?  I'm in!

[Cassander]

it changes every year. just checked their website....they still have last year's info up.