The Peabody Award-winning drama series THE WIRE launches its ten-episode
fifth and final season on DVD for $59.95RRP this 3 February, 2009. Also releasing is the Complete Series box set on DVD for $149.95RRP.
In addition to resolving storylines that have continued throughout the previous seasons, the culminating narrative arc of THE WIRE will reflect on the media’s role in addressing – or failing to address – the fundamental political, economic and socialrealities depicted over the course of the series.
Explains series creator David Simon, “It made sense to finish THE WIRE with this reflection on the state of the media, as all the other attendant problems of the American city depicted in the previous four seasons will not be solved until the depth and range of those problems is first acknowledged. And that won’t happen without an intelligent, aggressive and well-funded press.”
A 13-year veteran of the Baltimore Sun newspaper, Simon decries recent trends in the newspaper industry that have conspired to make high-end journalism vulnerable: out-of-town chain ownership, an economic climate in which the share price of media companies matters more to industry leaders than the product itself and a newsroom culture in which prizes, personal ambition and the cult of the “impact” story has replaced consistent and detailed coverage of complex issues as the primary goal.
Returning cast regulars on THE WIRE include Dominic West, Sonja Sohn, Lance Reddick, Wendell Pierce, Deirdre Lovejoy, Clarke Peters, Reg E. Cathey, Domenick Lombardozzi, Seth Gilliam, Aidan Gillen, Jamie Hector, Michael Kenneth Williams, John Doman, Andre Royo, Corey Parker Robinson, Tristan Wilds, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Jermaine Crawford and Isiah Whitlock, Jr. New cast regulars this season include Clark Johnson (“Homicide: Life on the Street”) as city editor Augustus “Gus” Haynes, Tom McCarthy (“Year of the Dog”) as ambitious reporter Scott Templeton, Michelle Paress as reporter Alma Gutierrez, Neal Huff (“Michael Clayton”) as Michael Steintorf, Mayor Carcetti’s chief of staff, and Michael Kostroff (“The Closer”) as Maury. Supporting cast members this season include Steve Earle, Frankie Faison, Anwan Glover, Method Man, Felicia “Snoop” Pearson and Amy Ryan.
Among the directors this season are series veterans Dan Attias, Joe Chappelle, Ernest Dickerson, Agnieszka Holland, Seith Mann, Anthony Hemingway and Clark Johnson (who directed the first episode of THE WIRE, and also directs its final episode). New directors this season include the husband and wife team of Joy Kecken & Scott Kecken and series regular Dominic West, in his directorial debut. The writing staff of THE WIRE includes David Simon, who penned two books of narrative nonfiction, “Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets,” which inspired the hit series “Homicide: Life on the Street,” and “The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood,” which inspired the Emmy®-winning HBO miniseries “The Corner”; Ed Burns, a former Baltimore police detective and Baltimore city public school teacher, who coauthored the book “The Corner” with Simon; William F. Zorzi, a former political writer and editor for the Baltimore Sun; and Chris Collins, an up-and-coming talent who served as staff writer last season and also wrote the award-winning documentary “Disarm.” Also writing for the series this season are novelists Dennis Lehane (“Gone Baby Gone,” “Mystic River”), George Pelecanos (“Hard Revolution,” “Right as Rain”) and Richard Price (“Lush Life,” “Clockers”), as well as TV veteran David Mills, who was one of the writers and executive producers on “The Corner,” and a writer for “NYPD Blue” and “Homicide: Life on the Street.”
Episodes:
#51 “More with Less” Teleplay by David Simon; Story by David Simon & Ed Burns; Directed by Joe Chappelle.
As McNulty and the detail continue staking out Marlo’s crew, recently promoted Sergeant Carver is welcomed by a cauldron of discontent from officers coping with unpaid overtime. Though he wants to keep his campaign promise to lower crime, Mayor Carcetti is strapped by his commitment to schools, and faces some tough choices. Col Cedric Daniels is forced to reallocate his resources, retaining Freamon and Sydnor for the Clay Davis probe. Meanwhile, City Editor Haynes and the staff of a local newspaper are reeling from corporate cutbacks, losing key personnel from both the metro and international divisions. Still, with the help of reporters Gutierrez, Price and Templeton, Haynes is able to break a front-page story that links a politician to a co-op drug dealer. Proposition Joe, Marlo, Fatface Rick and others meet in a hotel conference room to discuss divvying up drug frontiers across East Baltimore’s county line.
SHORT: “More with Less” (Season Five) Citywide budget cuts hit the police hard; corporate downsizing frustrates the staff of a local newspaper.
#52 “Unconfirmed Reports” Teleplay by William F. Zorzi; Story by David Simon & William F. Zorzi; Directed by Ernest Dickerson.
Although he tells Sydnor the Davis investigation could be a “career case,” Freamon keeps a wary eye out for Marlo, who takes care of some unfinished business and strikes a business deal with Barksdale. Carcetti throws the police a bone by removing the cap on secondary employment, sending the detectives into fantasy-job reveries. With an eye on the state house, Chief of Staff Steintorf tries to find good news for the mayor while blaming the Royce administration for the Campbell revelation. Davis turns to Burrell for help with his problem, but the commissioner’s hands are tied. At the newspaper, Executive Editor Whiting outlines a Pulitzer-worthy series in broad strokes, trumping Haynes while liberating the ambitious Templeton. Fed up with broken-down cars and unsolved serial murders, McNulty decides to take matters into his own hands.
SHORT: “Unconfirmed Reports” (Season Five) McNulty decides to take matters into his own hands; Marlo takes care of unfinished business.
#53 “Not for Attribution” Teleplay by Chris Collins; Story by David Simon & Chris Collins; Directed by Joy Kecken & Scott Kecken.
Carcetti’s master plan for the police department is leaked to the press, sending the brass into a panic. Marlo turns to Proposition Joe to help with an enviable problem. Whiting and Klebanow drop a bombshell on the newspaper staff. Michael finds temporary respite from his life on the corner by taking Dukie and Bug on a trip. McNulty shares some inside info with Alma, but her subsequent story doesn’t cause the splash either envisioned. Undaunted, McNulty looks for a new ally in Freamon.
SHORT: “Not for Attribution” (Season Five). Carcetti’s police plans are leaked to the press; Marlo cleans up his cash; McNulty shares his obsession with Freamon.
#54 “Transitions” Teleplay by Ed Burns; Story by David Simon & Ed Burns; Directed by Dan Attias. Campbell tries to smooth out the transitions in the police department. The newspaper scrambles to confirm surprising news from City Hall, but lose out to the TV media in scooping a high-profile Grand Jury appearance. As Marlo tries to win favor with the Greeks, Proposition Joe pays his last respects to a fallen colleague, and prepares to make himself scarce in anticipation of a showdown. Freamon enlists the help of a past partner to help with the investigation.
SHORT: “Transitions” (Season Five) The police brass changes; McNulty and Freamon look for bodies; Prop Joe pays his last respects; Marlo delivers a gift.
#55 “React Quotes” Teleplay by David Mills; Story by David Simon & David Mills; Directed by Agnieszka Holland.
LONG: Marlo forges an alliance with a drug connect, who shows him a new communications trick. McNulty’s case gets increased attention from the newspaper, in large part thanks to the addition of Templeton to the reporting team. Dukie turns to Cutty and Michael to hone his self-defense skills; Clay Davis finds a new ally; Bond raises his public profile; Levy and Herc prepare for litigation; Elena confronts McNulty about his behavior; Bubbles fears new opportunities; Greggs gets some overtime work. Omar shows patience as Marlo throws out his bait.
SHORT: “React Quotes” (Season Five) Marlo’s new alliance gives Freamon and McNulty a fresh lead; the press turns its attention to a breaking story, to Davis’ relief.
#56 “The Dickensian Aspect” Teleplay by Ed Burns; Story by David Simon & Ed Burns; Directed by Seith Mann.
LONG: Mystified by Omar’s disappearance, Marlo and Chris ramp up their efforts to locate their nemesis. After attending a sparsely attended waterfront ceremony, Carcetti fires away at a larger press event – and recasts himself as a champion for the homeless. Bunk revisits some old leads in the rowhouse cases, but is frustrated in his attempts to get bloodwork from the crime lab. Templeton looks for a perfect follow-up to his latest, nationally covered story, which has replaced the city’s educational crisis on the paper’s priority list. After the detail gets more manpower, Freamon presses McNulty to get new surveillance equipment, but the resources aren’t as deep as both hoped. Pearlman discovers new clues pointing to corruption in City Hall; Marlo makes new appointments at the latest co-op meeting; McNulty takes a peculiar interest in a homeless man.
SHORT: “The Dickensian Aspect” (Season Five) Templeton makes headlines; Bunk follows up on old leads; McNulty takes an interest in the homeless.
#57 “Took” Teleplay by Richard Price; Story by David Simon & Richard Price; Directed by Dominic West. LONG: An unexpected call puts Templeton back in the spotlight – and gets McNulty more attention than he expected. Bunk bucks at Landsman when ordered to help with the force’s most recent red ball. Omar sends Marlo a message; Carcetti proves he’s still an adept fund-raiser; Carver gift-wraps a witness for Bunk; Bubbles shows a reporter the ropes; Freamon tries to crack a clock code; Greggs prepares for a visit from her son; Michael has a close call; Hayes can’t shake his suspicions about Templeton. Assisted by the top-drawer lawyer Billy Murphy, “cash and carry” Davis makes his day in court a memorable one.
SHORT: “Took” (Season Five) An unexpected call puts Templeton and the newspaper back in the spotlight – and gets McNulty some unwanted extra attention.
#58 “Clarifications” Teleplay by Dennis Lehane; Story by David Simon & Dennis Lehane; Directed by Joe Chappelle.
LONG: Baltimore’s renewed police commitment brings fresh recruits to Daniels and McNulty, starting with Carver. Facing a new political challenge, Carcetti is forced to make dangerous political deals. As the Pulitzer season winds down, Haynes approaches Templeton about his sources. Bunk returns a McNulty favor; little Kenard makes a big score; Dukie finds work; Fletcher continues his interview with Bubbles; Freamon presents his latest plan to a prosecutor; Sydnor uncovers the missing piece to a puzzle; McNulty comes clean.
SHORT: “Clarifications” (Season Five) Bunk returns a McNulty favor; Carcetti is forced to make political deals; Hayes talks to Templeton about his sources.
#59 “Late Editions” Teleplay by George Pelecanos; Story by David Simon & George Pelecanos; Directed by Joe Chappelle.
LONG: With Steintorf ordering Rawls to initiate “creative” remedies for the rising crime rate, Freamon’s vigilance pays off with a promising lead, sending Sydnor and the department into overdrive. Although Daniels is originally delighted, a further probe with Pearlman reveals some troubling source information. McNulty, feeling betrayed, doesn’t feel like sharing in Freamon’s celebration; Michael is suspicious about his latest assignment; Haynes gets some fresh eyes to help with fact-checking; Namond’s debating skills make Colvin proud; Davis points a finger at Levy and the courts; Bubbles recounts a recent temptation overcome.
SHORT: “Late Editions” (Season Five) Freamon’s hard work pays off with a promising lead, though McNulty isn’t in the mood to celebrate.
#60 “–30 –” Teleplay by David Simon; Story by David Simon & Ed Burns; Directed by Clark Johnson. LONG: Carcetti maps out a damage-control scenario with the police brass in the wake of a startling revelation from Pearlman and Daniels. Their choice: clean up the mess … or hide the dirt. With his leads predictably drying up, McNulty asks Landsman to pull police off the homeless case – until a fresh homicide ramps up the investigation. A frustrated Haynes finds his concerns about Templeton falling on increasingly deaf ears. Convinced he has the upper hand but caught in a legal quandary, Levy plays a cat-and-mouse game with Pearlman. Bubbles debates whether to greenlight a newspaper story about his life; Dukie seeks out an old mentor for a loan; Marlo oversees a new co-op order as he maps out his next move. As the officers stage an Irish wake for another dearly departed officer, the seeds of the future are sown throughout Baltimore.
SHORT: “–30–” (Season Five) In the series finale, McNulty and Freamon face the consequences of their actions, while Carcetti tries to save face.
