There's some good news in the TV front, at least. As commenter Grotesqueticle noted earlier, HBO has renewed The Wire for a 4th season:
The critically acclaimed, Peabody Award-winning HBO drama series THE WIRE has been renewed for a fourth season, it was announced today by Carolyn Strauss, president, HBO Entertainment. The 12-episode fourth season will begin shooting in late 2005, with debut set for 2006.
...
Created by David Simon, THE WIRE wrapped its third season last December. The first season looked at the national drug war through the microcosm of a West Baltimore housing project, and the second season focused on a longshoremen's union and its struggle to survive. In its third season, the drama developed its portrait of a fictional Baltimore by exploring the place of the political leadership in addressing a city's problems.
Some time ago I mentioned that I would cancel HBO if they didn't renew my favorite show. I have a confession to make: I already canceled it. So sure was I that they wouldn't renew The Wire, I went ahead an pulled the plug. I think I'll manage to live in the interim, however: I'm not missing Deadwood, and Carnivale never did it for me. I'm also still getting caught up with Curb Your Enthusiasm on DVD, and my feelings about Six Feet Under's plot development are already well documented.
As for their other original shows, Family Bonds is interesting only from an anthropological perspective, and Entourage might be watchable if not for the presence of Adrian Grenier, who - ever since the pile of pelican shit that was The Adventures of Sebastian Cole - has been persona non grata on my TV.
But back to the good news:
The third season of THE WIRE generated wide critical praise. It was named the best series of 2004 by Entertainment Weekly, which called the show "the smartest, deepest and most resonant drama on TV." The New York Times observed that the series is "one of the smartest, most ambitious shows on television." TV Guide hailed THE WIRE as "smart and subtle, yet also brutally powerful," while New York Newsday declared THE WIRE "the greatest dramatic series ever produced for television," and Daily Variety called it "brilliant" and "meticulously written, superbly acted."
True words, all. And a 2006 air date means you have plenty of time to check out the 1st and 2nd season DVDs.
PLUS The Wire has that hot guy from that movie...you know...dammit, what was it called? Well, anyway, he's hot.
Dominic West? From Spice World?
Maybe you meant The Forgotten.
I know, I know, the man hasn't made the best choices, movie-wise. But he's STILL HOT. >:|
Thanks for bringing up Curb Your Enthusiasm, Pete. Another one for my Netflix queue.