Radio Times

In a recent issue of RT, Michael Parkinson rejoiced in the brilliance of The Wire. Oh Parky, et tu? It's time I admitted that I haven't watched it, I can't get into it and I'm obviously a Bad Person. Go on, feel free to throw things, I can take it.

My days are dogged by The Wire. As I walk along the street, clouds form themselves into the sentences: "Have you seen The Wire? Brilliant, isn't it?" Dogs in packs approach me to bark in unison: "The Wire? Best television drama EVER." If I were a character in a Disney film, little cartoon bluebirds would flutter around my head, trilling: "We don't watch much television, but we love The Wire."

I managed to escape its grubby tentacles for two blessed weeks recently in America, The Wire's home country. No-one talks about it there, probably because they are too busy obsessing on Susan Boyle. (They love her.)

Now I've returned, perhaps I should set up a support group, called something catchy like I've Never Seen The Wire And, Frankly, It's Too Late To Start Now Even Though Yes, I Know, Reasonably Priced Box Sets Are Available.

Or maybe we should be called The Barbed Wires, and meet in secret, sitting in huddles in darkened rooms exchanging stories with one another about how we didn't watch series one, two or three (even though it's currently running on BBC2) and that we'd rather stick with Katie & Peter: Stateside instead, thank you very much.

Perhaps we could go into some kind of reverse rehab, where our loved ones stage interventions as we watch our DVDs of Mad Men yet again (come on, a girl needs her distractions). We'll be forced to sit on our sofas as friends and family members, their faces anxious and tear-stained, plead with us to at least give David Simon's searing exposé of working-class urban American life a chance.

I hope that in my defence I will be allowed to plead that I loved Homicide: Life on the Street, David Simon's forerunner to The Wire. But will that be enough to save me? I doubt it.

Alison Graham is TV editor of Radio Times

**

Do you want to join Alison's support group for non-Wire watchers? Or do you love the show like everyone else? Post a comment below and let us know.

Come on it's the Radio Times, a paper for the coco and knitting brigade. People who cannot get into the wire have a very short attention span and lack the ability to focus on anything other than shows like the dire My Family or Strictly Come Dancing. This is a TV show that should be on prime time but because you actually need a brain to watch it gets stuck on a late night BBC 2 slot.

In a world of unsatisfying fast food TV, The Wire is a grandiose 24 course banquet.No TV series ever set itself so high an ambition or came so close to fulfilling it.The Wire makes all self-regarding British drama look feeble and threadbare by comparison.Plot? Character? Relevance? Its all here,in rich quantity, Programme commissioners and writers should get wise because The Wire just raised the bar another 10 feet.No TV critic should have an excuse for missing it.

Honestly, it took me 2 series to finally get into The Wire. I personally thought that the first two series were the worst of the five, probably because it took me that long to adjust to the 'realism' of it all and because of its uniqueness as a television show. After that, I realised that it's fantastic television. Give it the time and attention it deserves and you will be rewarded eventually.

I agree when on form The Wire is unmissable TV.

The only problem I have is the Mc Nulty char. I find The Wire so much better the less D West is in it.

Its similar to Shameless. At start Frank was a fascinating char but now he is the weakest link in the show. I fear the same is with the McNulty char in The Wire.

Frankly pathetic, either a lame attempt at provoking a response from readers or an admission of poor professional ability. This blog is not even an attempt at a critical analysis of The Wire as a show, whether pro or anti. Nor is it a look at the reaction this programme has created amongst such a large part of the audience. Think, when did a piece of adult television last create the sort of response that has been produced by The Wire? Since the arrival of dozens of channels it was thought this kind of impact was gone forever, The Wire has shown that it is still possible.

So Ms Graham's lame comments have provoked a reaction, but it is more about her competance than about the show.

The Wire is genuinely fantastic, the only downside is that it's made me realise that nearly everything else on telly is pants. I saw that the guy who plays Lester (Clarke Peters) is in Holby City for a month, that in itself is almost enough to make me watch that programme ...but not quite.

nahh

Its a decent series but is not near as good as everyone makes it out to be... with the exception of the character Bunk, he rocked :D

Other people have said it but I really don't know how a TV editor of the Radio Times does not choose to watch this programme. It's a bit like being a classical music critic and not listening to Beethoven or a film critic and never having watched Citizen Kane. However if Alison's intent was to illicit an angry response from the programme's die-hard fans, then she's certainly succeeded in that. Give it another go Alison, watch at least the first two episodes of the first series and I guarantee you'll be hooked.

Having watched all five series of the wire, I can say hand on heart that it is (probably) one of the best TV programmes ever made - and I have been a TV addict for almost 40 years. The other close runners are the Sopranos and Breaking Bad. And my reasoning? I turned on the TV the other day to find series three on and was immediately transfixed - from a programme who's plot I was familiar with and so was watching merely to relish the superb acting and dialogue. Consider it a Charles Dickens novel about urban Baltimore and you are somewhere close. (Mind you I have never watched a single second of 24.... I'm saving it for a rainy day)

Wilful ignorance probably isn't a helpful trait for professional journalists who are paid to know their subject matter.

the wondeful plotlines and script are worthy of 'I Claudius'; simply brilliant

Someone put me onto The Wire about a year ago and I'm so glad they did, without a shadow of doubt its the best TV show I've ever seen, well written, acted and produced, you've never seen it, then then your missing out.... you fools!

The Wire is without a shadow of a doubt the best TV show that has ever been aired.

Even if the subject matter is not your cup of tea, the writing is of an impressively high standard, and the plotlines (stretching across all 5 seasons) are crafted like clockwork.

So many brilliant characters, but my faves are Omar Little ("How you expect to run with the wolves come night, when you spend all day sparring with the puppies?"), and Brother Mouzone ("You're the perfect bait. They will view you as conflicted, you're homophobia is so visceral.").

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!

I only have room for Life on Mars personally. I've experimented with The Wire, and found that actually, I don't give a monkeys about 'long drawn out plots', 'superb writing' or 'gritty realism' (which can arguably be found in both). And American urban life really doesn't matter two pins to me. I care about being entertained, and Life on Mars wins that battle hands down. So yes, I can totally understand the frustrations of those who are sick to death of people talking endlessly about how brilliant The Wire is. A clue: we don't care. Life does go on without it!

After hearing about the Wire for a long time then discovering the DVD's I then found out what the fuss is about. Maybe the attraction to Americans is that most of the main parts are played by actors from over here or gang kids that the producers found. Does the Wire mean that american actors will now appear in Casualty or Holby City? Or even Coronation Street.

Don't waste your time - The Wire is beyond boring. They spend entire seasons on stories that can be wrapped up in less than one of their hourlong drivel

I too avoided watching The Wire for a very long time and all I can say now is that I wish I had watched it sooner. It is absolutley, without doubt, one hundred percent wonderful television. Anyone who is putting off watching it because of how good other people have told them it is really need to just get over themselves and dive into Season 1 as soon as possible. Guaranteed to be hooked within a few episodes and watching all 5 seasons in close proximity to each other.

I still think she is awesome and I don't think anyone else can do the job as well as her. Can we meet her???????????????????

A (usually incisive) journalist writing a few hundred words of waffle about why she doesn't watch a certain TV programme, padded out with unfunny 'witticisms', and the answers it has prompted, exemplifies the pointlessness of blogs in general. We must all -surely -have something better to do than this.

What? You haven't watched the wire? Yet you claim to be a professional tv critic? Do yourself and us a favour by finding another job - and perhaps even doing it properly.

You've got to have some sympathy for the plight of the TV critic, sitting through gargantuan amounts of TV they don't even like. I think this is why Alison is so critical of some TV and as for the wire, being on every day is too much for me even though I love it (got up to the end of the second series recorded and then I'm buying it on DVD boxsets). Alison's blog posts are always a good read even though I hardly ever agree.

I think Alison is just being provocative and we've all fallen into the trap me included. I suggest we boycott Alison's blogs and post no comments until she writes something worthy of the Radio Times as it used to be.

The Wire is the best thing since sliced wholemeal bread, but I still watch Casualty. See, not so smug, he says smugly.

I agree with Alison, but I have actually tried to get into the wire. Unfortunately because it is on late at night, I end up missing bits by falling asleep. I don't seem to be able to get the hang of the characters.

The Wire is a slow burner; its pace is startlingly laid back compared to shows like Lost or BSG or, really, anything else out there. It's testament to how confident the show is in itself that it does this. And is it justified? Most certainly, yes. The Wire, quite simply, is one of the best written television shows the US has ever produced, period. It's brilliant, and it's quite unlike any other cop show I've seen before. In all its five glorious seasons, The Wire encompasses so many of the complexities of the drug trade and police enforcement - from the pimps and addicts, to the politicians, the corner kids, the drug barons, and, finally, to the police themselves; it's an amazing accomplishment in that respect. It's also extraordinarily clever, witty and well-paced, and it gave us the marvellous Bunk, Stringer Bell and (how could I forget?) Clay Davis, among many notable others.

Although everyone is entitled to their opinion, Alison, you should at least give this another chance. Otherwise, you risk the chance of missing out on a fantastic, brilliant piece of television.

Why don't you like the Wire? Your article is one long moan about not being able to like the Wire. This is not criticism! Just moaning. I like it because it has realistic characters, charismatic actors, and great plots. I could moan about critics not doing their job, but the Wire is all about supposed authorities not doing their jobs. And 'real police' don't moan, they get on with policing. See … the Wire teaches you how to live a better life! That's art, that's great art. It's making me play 'real critic'. Get with the game, watch it yourself, become real.

I know it must be difficult to think up something new to write every week but isn't it scraping the bottom of the barrel to tell everyone you don't watch 'The Wire' - who cares. 'Radio Times' is getting more like a Chat type women's magazine every week. Nothing wrong with those magazines of course but it's not what I want in a listing magazine where more depth is required.

well its only alisons opinion on the program and thats what she gets payed to do.. tell you her opinion! and i like alisons bloggs they are well good!! and also iS there anyway me and my friend could meet alison? or go on a tour of radio times? .

The Wire should be flattered. A battering from you usually indicates that a programme is definitely worth watching. I suppose it comes down to taste.

I'm with Alison G on this. I did watch the first series (with subtitles), but to my shame - well according to the "Wire-ists" that is - I didn't enjoy or appreciate it one bit. It is not the best thing since sliced bread and why do the fans seem to denigrate other TV dramas - especially the UK ones! What a smug lot you are.

Let me get this straight... Ms Graham is the TV critic for Radio Times but she flippantly informs us that she can't be bothered to watch at least one episode of a series that virtually everyone agrees is one of the best we've ever seen and probably will see for some time to come. There's something not quite right there. This from the same person who couldn't be bothered to sit through an entire episode of Flight of the Conchords before completely panning it. It would be educational if Ms Graham could supply us with her top 10 tellie programs currently on the box and then we could judge a little more accurately where her tastes lie and whether we should even take her opinion seriously.

This is pretty much the way I feel about sport, so I can totally understand this (even though I'm a big fan of the Wire).

I avoided The Wire for a long time because of all the people telling me how good it is. Since watching all of it, i'm ashamed I was so contrary. It is the greatest television drama there has been and i'm jealous of those who get to experience it for the first time. I love Mad Men as well, but The Wire is simply on a different level to any current drama.

You watch The Royal but not The Wire - you should be ashamed of yourself.