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All the Pieces Matter: The Inside Story of The Wire

Jonathan Abrams (Goodreads Author)

4.30 · Rating details · 4,363 ratings · 493 reviews

The definitive oral history of the iconic and beloved TV show The Wire, as told by the actors, writers, directors, and others involved in its creation.

Since its final episode aired in 2008, HBO's acclaimed crime drama The Wire has only become more popular and influential. The issues it tackled, from the failures of the drug war and criminal justice system to systemic bias ...more

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Hardcover, 340 pages

Published February 13th 2018 by Crown Archetype

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May 12, 2018 Lori rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It made me miss The Wire.

ANDRE ROYO (REGINALD “BUBBLES” COUSINS):

“Not knowing about the addiction, that’s when I started doing my homework.”

“You start doing your homework. It was awesome. It was exciting to find different ways. I found out just talking to people. I talked to a ton of people. This woman named Fran Boyd was out there in Baltimore and she helped me out a lot. She was a recovered addict. She was the one they based the character on in The Corner, the miniseries. She was dope. We

It made me miss The Wire.

ANDRE ROYO (REGINALD “BUBBLES” COUSINS):

“Not knowing about the addiction, that’s when I started doing my homework.”

“You start doing your homework. It was awesome. It was exciting to find different ways. I found out just talking to people. I talked to a ton of people. This woman named Fran Boyd was out there in Baltimore and she helped me out a lot. She was a recovered addict. She was the one they based the character on in The Corner, the miniseries. She was dope. We really hit it off. She had no apologies and took me around all over Baltimore talking to people in the midst of their addiction or coming out of their addiction or fighting their addiction. I was looking for a gimmick. I was just trying to find little movements that I can do that would just automatically go, “Oh, he’s a junkie.” I didn’t find it. Everybody was different. It got me a little scared. They were talking to me like, “Please don’t fuck it up. This is heroin. We’re not crackheads. There’s a difference between a crackhead and a meth head. There’s a difference between a meth head and a heroin addict.” I was like, “Are you fucking kidding me? I watch movies. They all act the same to me.”

DOMINIC WEST (DET. JIMMY MCNULTY):

“I’m from Sheffield, which is quite similar to Baltimore in a way in that it was a formerly industrial powerhouse, but it lost its industry, which happened to Baltimore as well. I grew up in the seventies and eighties, when Sheffield was in economic depression. All the steelworks were closed down, and there was no new industry replacing it. There was a lot of unemployment. It was quite similar to Baltimore, but the difference was that Baltimore was hot and sunny, and so anywhere that was sunny, when you come from England or certainly from Northern England, seems to be incredibly affluent and well off.

When I got to Baltimore and we went down the beautiful row houses and those streets in the hot, bright sunshine and blue skies, David Simon even—lots of people—kept saying, “Isn’t it terrible.?” There’s shooting galleries and there was empty house houses and a bit of derelict buildings, and I thought, No, I think it’s great. You should see Sheffield. I told that story in Sheffield, and it didn’t go down very well.

...more

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Jan 11, 2019 Perry rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: credshelf

"All in the game yo, all in the game."
Omar Little, The Wire, HBO 2002-2008

Bar none, "The Wire" is the finest television series ever: in its realistic portrayal of drug-related crimes from various angles, law enforcement and news media coverage, as well as the greed and apathy in local politics and in its excellent exploration of societal problems surrounding these. This book demonstrates how this 5-year series from HBO was the groundbreaker for the explosion of superb TV drama series in the past ...more

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Dec 10, 2017 Kasa Cotugno rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, subj-showbiz-tv

There is a quote by one of the actors from the wire towards the end of this book that goes "The show asked a lot of anyone who watched it. It was not easy viewing. It’s hard to make a casserole and watch the wire in the background...". For those of us who followed The Wire from day one, it raised the bar so high that we have found usual fare, say Law and Order, unwatchable. Therefore, it was a surprise to learn the insiders felt the series didn’t take off until the fourth season which almost did There is a quote by one of the actors from the wire towards the end of this book that goes "The show asked a lot of anyone who watched it. It was not easy viewing. It’s hard to make a casserole and watch the wire in the background...". For those of us who followed The Wire from day one, it raised the bar so high that we have found usual fare, say Law and Order, unwatchable. Therefore, it was a surprise to learn the insiders felt the series didn’t take off until the fourth season which almost didn’t get made. The struggles David Simon had with HBO to get the greenlight are wrenching, like a thriller where you already know the outcome, but are shaken nevertheless. Jonathan Abrams has titled the second chapter of this in-depth look over the creators’ shoulders “Like a Novel,” explaining the show’s appeal to those of us whose patience was rewarded multi-fold. When I asked, so many people would say “I watched a few episodes, but couldn’t get into it.” This was a show that required immersion from the get-go in order to make it work for a viewer. That was its strength, its power, and its ability to have such a long afterlife. Using his journalistic skills, Abrams has interviewed many of the participants both behind and in front of the camera. The result is fascinating reading, but only if you’re familiar with The Wire and never tire of reading about it. In fact, if you haven’t seen The Wire, it may be difficult to read this book since there are so many spoilers, plot choices that were shocking when viewed first-hand as the creators intended. We learn of the care taken with every aspect, every frame shot, every careful casting choice (John C. Reilly as McNulty?????) — hence the title, taken from dialogue by Det. Lester Freeman (Clarke Peters): All the Pieces Matter. So many great insights and revelations — Michael K. Williams’ discovery of Felicia “Snoop” Pearson provides a fascinating example of how Baltimore reality was utilized so effectively. The arc of her life story trajectory was changed by a chance encounter and acceptance onto the set. Recognition of the show's excellence has only grown in the almost 10 years since it aired its final season. Never recognized by awards voters, its appeal has strengthened thanks to technological advancements. The experience for many of the participants is evident in this book, in their willingness to be interviewed and to recall in retrospect the ways in which their lives were changed forever. Highly highly recommended.

(As an aside, it is thrilling to watch The Deuce on HBO, with creators David Simon and George Pelicanos examining the history of the porn industry in the 1970’s, to follow closely their novelistic approach and to see some of the actors reborn into new roles.) ...more

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Dec 06, 2017 Biljana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, 2017

All the Pieces Matter is an amazing oral history of The Wire. Jonathan Abrams interviewed most of the key players (David Simon and Ed Burns, the creators of the show; many of the main writers; the key actors, including Idris Elba, Dominic West, Michael K. Williams, and the list goes on) and does a very nice job of weaving their interviews together.

Although the book doesn't cover all of the episodes, it does move chronologically through the seasons and touches upon some of the key happenings beh ...more

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Mar 18, 2018 Josh rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfiction

Fun and readable comprehensive collection of thoughts about The Wire from most of the major people involved. I enjoyed reading it, though I'm not sure it's super vital or especially insightful as a whole. It does provide some good trivia about the show's production and fills in some details on the backgrounds of cast and crew. But also there's a lot of filler that isn't all that interesting, like repeatedly informing the reader how the show is really, really good (like, I know--I'm reading a who ...more

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Oct 11, 2017 David rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-media-theater

If you say you like The Wire, that means you like reading books. That means you give a [bad word] about the human race.

– Andre Royo (“Bubbles”)

A completely enjoyable book by a fan for fans of this hit TV drama. If you haven't seen the series, watch it and love it. If you saw the series and didn't love it, you are dead to me.

The book is formatted mostly as interviews with the cast and crew of the show, with some connecting narrative. I was expecting that there would be some actors, especially those who are big stars now (esp. Idris Elba and Dominic West), who wouldn't give the author the time of day, but he seemed to be able to rope pretty much everybody connected with the show into participating. Everybody connected with the program seems to have a justifiably great sense of pride in their association with this exceptional series, and the recollections – even of the difficult moments – are almost uniformly positive.

As mentioned in another review, the book contains a lot of interesting and amusing Wire trivia about prosthetic body parts, discarded couches, and the difficulties that British actors have maintaining their American accents. There's also a lot of more serious stuff about the great efforts the show's creators and staff had to go through to get the show renewed year after year, and about the show's strange afterlife, when it became more popular than during its original appearance, and acquired prestige as President Obama's favorite television program and as the subject of university study.

Random trivia: At Kindle location 3393, actor Robert Wisdom says he had the idea to get the entire African-American cast together for a party and a photo. Wisdom says:

I was inspired by the Harlem musicians photo back in the day. There was a photo where all the jazz musicians of the day came together in Harlem.

The photo Wisdom is referring to is the subject of a great 1994 documentary “A Great Day in Harlem”, and you can view the photo by following the link in this sentence.

Watch the scene from which this book derives its title here.

I received a free electronic galley copy of this book for review. Thanks to NetGalley and Crown Archetype for their generosity. ...more

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Mar 22, 2018 Jess rated it liked it

First, I appreciate the author got amazing access to many of the actors on and the people behind the show. There is a lot of material here for him to work with, and it covers a lot of ground within its 300-plus pages.

OK, that's what I liked about it. What I didn't like? That this book needed an editor, a serious editor who could have asked a lot more difficult questions of the author, his focus, the cohesion of the words on the page, and his overarching points. Like, why do you repeat the exact First, I appreciate the author got amazing access to many of the actors on and the people behind the show. There is a lot of material here for him to work with, and it covers a lot of ground within its 300-plus pages.

OK, that's what I liked about it. What I didn't like? That this book needed an editor, a serious editor who could have asked a lot more difficult questions of the author, his focus, the cohesion of the words on the page, and his overarching points. Like, why do you repeat the exact same idea Andre Royo expresses once, three times throughout the book? Why are you jumping from quote to quote without any concern for continuity or flow or the reader's right to a story that doesn't show so many seams? Did you challenge any of what these people said, or were you just a transcriber? What is the point of the book, other than to shower more praise on a show anyone who picks up this book already feels for it?

It frustrates me that a book about a show by Ed Burns and David Simon would be 'written' (and since the author only writes minor transitions between blocks and blocks and blocks of quotes, that is a term used loosely) by someone with no background in TV or direction or production or acting, little background in journalism beyond sports (basketball), and little obvious respect for the craft of an editor who could have helped the author harness so much more out of the breadth of quotes offered here. To me, that's kind of an affront to a huge point about the show itself: its brilliance stems in part from the depth of experience all the players in it brought to the show, which turned a story that could have been cops and robbers into a visual novel with endless arguments to make, deconstruct, and make again.

This is the book the author wanted to write. Cool. Just don't make it out to be more than it is. It's an ankle-deep, cheerleading dive into a show that deserves much more depth, given the title the book has and the reference that quote makes to a scene that is basically explaining the history of humankind in the form of the age-old game of chess.

So, I'll say something I never say: watch (or re-watch) the TV show. It's better than the book. ...more

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Apr 03, 2018 Eric rated it really liked it

All The Pieces Matter is a good companion recounting of HBO's landmark series The Wire.

Be forewarned: if you have not seen The Wire and plan to, do not read this book because it contains many, many spoilers.

For those that have seen the series, this book offers tidbits about the television show that add background to this masterful show.

Ok, enough of that. If you have not seen The Wire and enjoy exceptional acting and stories, then you need to watch The Wire. Additionally, also seek out about ...more

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Dec 06, 2020 Maedeh (aka Maya) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: film-studies

“The journey through this one case will ultimately bring viewers from wondering, in cop-show expectation, whether the bad guys will get caught, to wondering instead who the bad guys are and whether catching them means anything at all,”
- David Simon wrote in a memo to the president of HBO’s entertainment division, in June 2001.

The rating is not for The Wire series, not to be dramatic but I'd give my life for The Wire series :)))

So this book is basically a collection of interviews with the show's ...more

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Oct 16, 2019 J.M. Hushour rated it it was amazing

"Sheeeeeeeeeit." - Senator Clay Davis.

Did you know that should be spelled with nine Es? I learned that and a lot of other interesting things from this outstanding book.
But first, let's make one thing clear: know that you are an utter, shameful jackass if you have never watched The Wire. You're doubly a fiend if you don't concede that it is one of the greatest if not the greatest thing ever made for a screen.
If you fit into neither of the above categories of unfettered stupidity, you will love th ...more

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Oct 30, 2017 BJ rated it really liked it

So, I have finished All the Pieces Matter by Jonathan Abram, due out in February. Really, really liked it. (The book is due out in February but in full disclosure I received this eARC from NetGalley for a fair and honest review. Thanks, NetGalley!)

One note for any prospective reader. This is not an introduction to The Wire. Do not read this book unless you have seen the show, preferably to a diagnosable number of repetitions. If you truly love The Wire, you will wallow in the rich detail that Ab ...more

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Feb 05, 2019 Debbie Notkin rated it really liked it

[I would swear I posted a review of this book a week or two ago, but it didn't take, so here's my second try.]

Hardcore fans of The Wire, like me, will appreciate the range and depth of this book (another loan from Kerry). Jonathan Abrams interviewed every principal on the TV show that he could reach--David Simon, Ed Burns, other writers, producers, photographers, and many, many actors. He then stitched the interviews together into a narrative, with short explanatory introductions setting the sce ...more

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Oct 01, 2020 Neha rated it really liked it

[Audiobook] This book was a nice part II to watching The Wire earlier during the pandemic, with Yogarshi . We listened to the book on multiple drives between DC and NYC, and then some. It felt like an experience itself, since the audiobook actually uses different voices/ voice actors for the different characters in the book, and for those behind the scenes (Writers, directors, casting, etc). I highly recommend the (audio)book for anyone who has watched the show, and the show for anyone who hasn ...more

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Jan 07, 2019 Kelsey McKinney rated it it was amazing

When I watched The Wire, I thought “this is a good show”. When I watched the series finale, I thought “this is a great show”. Reading this book, I thought “this is one of the greatest television shows ever”. I loved this book. As a companion piece, it elevated and enhanced the viewing experience. The interviews with the cast and crew shine a light on how the creative choices made both in front of the camera and behind the scenes all supported a larger goal to not only create a damn good televisi ...more

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Mar 02, 2019 Pete rated it really liked it

Great review of the show with all the main players chiming in. Makes me want to re-watch the show.

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Apr 29, 2018 Scott rated it really liked it

A talking-head tome recommended for fans and those familiar with the once-ignored but now-praised 2002-2008 HBO ensemble crime-drama series set in urban Baltimore. Author Abrams did a commendable job of getting quotes / stories / anecdotes from, it seems, nearly EVERY performer and senior production member. (Also, any show that had established mystery writers George Pelecanos, Dennis Lehane, and Richard Price churning out the scripts is certainly okay by me.) It's not an episode or character gui ...more

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Jun 10, 2018 Frank rated it it was ok

Fine. Enjoyable as a walk back through the show but nothing essential -- lots spent on challenges with the execs, and clearly had more access to the behind the camera staff than the actors (who add a lot with what they have). As with 90% of oral histories, might've been better as prose. ...more

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Mar 17, 2018 Ken rated it liked it

Really more like a 3.5 or 3.75. Reading this was a nice way to enjoy The Wire again without watching all the episodes. This book feels more important than it is good, if that makes any sense.

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Sep 23, 2017 Matt Lieberman rated it it was amazing

The Wire has aged remarkably well. Almost 10 years after airing its final episode, the show's themes and subject matter are just as relevant as ever, if not more so. It has also played a huge role in ushering in the era of "peak television" and slow-burning narrative dramas like Breaking Bad and House of Cards. While there are plenty of encyclopedic volumes analyzing episodes and story arcs and critically assessing the show through various academic lenses, there are no comprehensive accounts chr The Wire has aged remarkably well. Almost 10 years after airing its final episode, the show's themes and subject matter are just as relevant as ever, if not more so. It has also played a huge role in ushering in the era of "peak television" and slow-burning narrative dramas like Breaking Bad and House of Cards. While there are plenty of encyclopedic volumes analyzing episodes and story arcs and critically assessing the show through various academic lenses, there are no comprehensive accounts chronicling The Wire's history and production. Jonathan Abrams' All The Pieces Matter: The Inside Story of the Wire adeptly fills this gap, providing an illuminating and insightful oral history of the groundbreaking series. With participation from co-creators David Simon and Ed Burns, studio executives, production staff, and essentially every major actor involved with the show, Abrams is able to cobble together a captivating history of the show that should delight all of its fans.

The book traces the history of the show from creator David Simon's experiences as a crime reporter for The Baltimore Sun through its five seasons and its enduring legacy. Proceeding largely chronologically, Abrams explores the show's influences, its major themes, turbulent relationship with HBO, and more, largely through the eyes of those directly involved with it. One recurring subject in All the Pieces Matter is the show's obsession with realism and the painstaking lengths it took to cultivate it. From the first day of shooting, actors and production staff were taking steps to present an accurate depiction of the streets of Baltimore. Actors such as Felicia Pearson (Snoop) were able to bring their personal experiences into the show and help foster its authenticity, and this verisimilitude actually compelled a real-life criminal in Baltimore to surrender himself to Wire actors portraying local cops, believing he had come into contact with the real deal.

Although this is a departure in both format and subject matter from Abrams' last book (the excellent Boys Among Men about the preps-to-pros era in the NBA), he wrote several definitive oral histories on Grantland about basketball (my personal favorite is his history of the 2005 Pacers-Pistons "Malice at the Palace" brawl). Abrams clearly admires The Wire and writes knowledgeably on the subject, to the extent that I was surprised to realize he basically exclusively focused on basketball during his time at Grantland. Abrams begins each chapter with some exposition but then lets his prose take a backseat, letting the players tell their stories. Additionally, Abrams is able to get his interviewees to open up to him, admitting mistakes and offering candid opinions that greatly enrich the reading experience, and he logically organized his book by keeping things reasonably chronological but diving deeply into particular broader areas when applicable.

Staying consistent with its title, Abrams is able to hunt down virtually every major player involved with the show and the reader discovers the pivotal roles that supporting actors such as Andre Royo (Bubbles) and assistant directors had in the show's success. The only actor with a substantial role missing was Robert Chew (Prop Joe), who tragically died from a heart attack in 2013, and many of his castmates recounted stories about his valuable role as a mentor to younger actors such as the four young teenagers who were central to Season 4. Like many other fans who started watching The Wire after the show's conclusion (invariably after finally caving in after repeated fervid recommendations from friends) and it was strange to see how frequently the show flirted with cancellation. Not just after its languidly-developing first season or the dramatic departure from Season 1 to Season 2, but for virtually each of its 5 seasons (the city of Baltimore compounded matters by threatening to pull the show's shooting permits right before Season 2). Abrams is able to talk with several HBO executives about such matters and get their takes, but their explanations don't make this fact any less mind-boggling.

I have always enjoyed oral histories for their quick pace and colorful insider stories, but I also readily acknowledge their flaws. The two biggest problems with most oral histories is their disjointedness and limited participation. I Want My MTV was a fun read but plagued with random non-sequiturs and James A Miller's mammoth tomes on Saturday Night Live, ESPN, and Creative Artists Agency were generally entertaining but hindered by some key players such as Eddie Murphy sitting out. Thankfully, Abrams is able to avoid both pitfalls through herculean wrangling efforts and adopting a sound structure and format. Sometimes I wish Abrams would chime in a bit more and provide extra background in certain sections, but overall the book flows well, especially given its format. Talking with so many different players allows for multiple perspectives and opinions, and thankfully everyone seems to largely agree on most matters and stories and Abrams is not forced to mediate between multiple conflicting viewpoints. Simon and Burns and the actors (rightfully) are the biggest contributors to the book, but I also liked hearing from writers such as George Pelecanos and Richard Price about their roles in shaping the show.

The book is packed with anecdotes and trivia (John C. Reilly was one of the early actors considered for McNulty and actors were often prevented from interacting with their real-life inspirations). Yes, some of the trivia such as Omar being originally intended as a bit player are likely familiar to fans, but the insights from David Simon about his thought process about whether a gay character would fit in his gritty, inner-city world and how actor Michael K. Williams interpreted his role add extra color and new revelations to such stories. There was a period in college where I became obsessed with the show and devoured virtually every piece of content related to the series, which like most pop culture minutia has remained moored in long-term memory and crowded out bank passwords and other far more important information, and the book was still quite revealing.

All the Pieces Matter is designed with fans in mind, chock-full of spoilers and references that will fly over the head of the uninitiated, and it is a treat for those who have watched and enjoyed the series (even if they didn't care much for Season 5, like this particular reviewer). The Wire was one of the greatest television shows ever and All The Pieces Matter is the definitive history it deserves. Not only is it an excellent book, it also inspired me to restart the show on HBO Go with an even greater sense of appreciation for its craft and attention to detail. Perhaps this is a bit pessimistic given we're still in December 2017, but I would not be surprised (or bummed out) if All The Pieces Matter ends up being my favorite book published in 2018.

9 / 10 ...more

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Jan 10, 2019 JenniferD rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction, 2019-books

this is a good companion to the HBO series... i would suggest not reading this before watching the show. there are a lot of big spoilers in abrams' book.

the bulk of this book is commentary from the actors who starred on the show, along with the writers, directors, and producers. it was pretty cool to read their thoughts and feelings about the show, and how precarious production was each season. the wire really took on a life after the series ended, with more viewers discovering it post-productio ...more

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Feb 20, 2018 Andrea rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star

Not long enough. I wish that the author had spent time on stories behind the squad (Lester Freamon, Lt. Daniels).

To quote Andre Royo (Bubbles):

[The audience] appreciated being treated like they're intelligent...the Wire became that show where there was a hierarchy. If you like the Wire it means you like reading books. ...more

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Mar 01, 2018 Sean Tenaglia rated it it was amazing

“All the sudden, The Wire became the show where there was a hierarchy. If you say you like The Wire, that means you like reading books. That means you give a f about the human race. It made you feel like you bettered yourself in the crowd.”- Andre Royo (Bubbles)

Incredible stories from the people who created the most important TV show we’ve seen.

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Mar 27, 2018 Hunter Satterfield rated it it was amazing

I am in the camp that believes The Wire to be the best television show in history.

For those in that camp this is book is a no brainer and should be your very next read.

For those that loved The Wire this is a must read that should be near the top of your list.

For those that haven't watched The Wire, um why? Go watch the show now and then read this book. ...more

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May 21, 2018 Bremer rated it it was amazing

David Simon, a Baltimore Sun reporter, followed a drug-trafficking case in the winter of 1984. Two detectives, Ed Burns and Harry Edgerton, used wiretaps to set up an elusive drug dealer and his associates.

The case involved a trafficker named Melvin Williams. He imported a bulk of heroin into Baltimore over the years as economic opportunities dwindled. While forming an intricate communication system of beepers to work his drug trade, on the surface, he owned a few legitimate businesses and was ...more

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Apr 04, 2018 Riley Haas rated it liked it

Note: This is an oral history of how The Wire got made. You should only read this if you have seen The Wire in its entirety. The spoilers in this review concern the show, not the book.
I loved Abrams' oral histories for Grantland but it might have been partially due to the fact that they were some of the first oral histories I had ever read. I feel like Abrams' strength with those was getting the story of a very specific event (or a series of events) from the mouths of those involved and presenti Note: This is an oral history of how The Wire got made. You should only read this if you have seen The Wire in its entirety. The spoilers in this review concern the show, not the book.
I loved Abrams' oral histories for Grantland but it might have been partially due to the fact that they were some of the first oral histories I had ever read. I feel like Abrams' strength with those was getting the story of a very specific event (or a series of events) from the mouths of those involved and presenting it in such a way that it was compelling (sometimes even tense) even if I specifically didn't care about that particular event (or series of events). I'm not sure the process works as well with a 60 hour program, which could use a little more criticism than what is usually provided by oral histories. This is a work of art we're talking about, not an event.
The book is very effective at showing us the human side of the making of the show - I learned so much more than I knew about the individual actors and what they went through making the show and I learned a lot more about the actual process of making of the show than I knew (and I've watched the DVD commentary tracks for all but season 5, I believe). If you are looking for a behind-the-scenes history of The Wire then you will not be disappointed.
Where the book fails, I think, is in examining the show as art. Abrams' assumes its greatness as do almost all the participants. (The one person who doesn't is Ed Burns, which is fascinating and could make for a very interesting story.) I have seen the show multiple times. I know it is mostly great. But I also value different perspectives and would be far more interested in a look at the show that delves a little more deeply into why it wasn't popular in its day, or why/how it got some bad reviews, and stuff like that. (Nearly) Everybody here is in love with the show, and that makes sense, but I would have liked a little more outside perspective.
SPOILER
This is particularly true when it comes to Season 5. To the extent that they discuss the massive problem that is Season 5, they discuss it in terms of Simon being accused of being bitter about his former employer. As someone who has watched that season twice, I find that a very odd thing to focus on. I found the media angle to be more compelling than the other part, namely when the show Jumped the Shark by having McNulty invent a serial killer. While Ed Burns was off location scouting for Generation Kill apparently his dictum that everything had to be real was totally forgotten. This is a huge flaw and makes it hard to recommend the fifth season to everyone. But it is only ever briefly mentioned; it's like he didn't ask anyone about it. Why not?
I enjoyed this. I enjoyed learning about the show's evolution and I especially enjoyed learning about casting decisions and how the experience affected the actors. But something is missing and that is a critical engagement with the actual show. ...more

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Jul 31, 2018 Fryeday rated it it was amazing

This book does an awesome job of truly highlighting 1) the importance of The Wire, 2) the brilliance of The Wire, 3) the resilience of the writers and specifically the creator and 4) the dedication of the actors, but also the real life issues actors deal with as it relates to working in the industry.

I really don’t want to watch any entire tv series anymore. Like I don’t want to start a show from the beginning that’s not actually just starting. I don’t want to go back and watch a show that’s alre This book does an awesome job of truly highlighting 1) the importance of The Wire, 2) the brilliance of The Wire, 3) the resilience of the writers and specifically the creator and 4) the dedication of the actors, but also the real life issues actors deal with as it relates to working in the industry.

I really don’t want to watch any entire tv series anymore. Like I don’t want to start a show from the beginning that’s not actually just starting. I don’t want to go back and watch a show that’s already 5, 6, 7 seasons in. That is not what I want for my life, but dammit if this book doesn’t have me seriously thinking about re-watching The Wire. This book gives The Wire so much necessary context. I already think I got the show in a different way because I was able to binge it. I imagine watching the show while it was on air could’ve occurred like a real leap of faith in certain ways because it’s such an intelligible look at the construction of a city. I think I would’ve missed it watching week to week and honestly I didn’t get it as fully as it could’ve been gotten even bingeing it.

From my perspective, I honestly don’t think many of the actors really knew what they were building and even some of the writers. I think the actors were working on it incrementally just as a certain audience was watching it and they admittedly didn’t understand the structure and couldn’t see the whole story, which I think the creator really wanted anyway. There’s a lot of looking back and thinking like “Dang... that’s what was happening.” I hear that specifically in Dominic West, Andre Royo interviews and even Idris Elba actually. The book does an interesting job of contrasting the actors needs to work consistently in the industry, but also be recognized for the work they’re doing on the show with the creator who just wants to tell the story that is the truest for him. The creator has that singular focus. He’s not thinking about how this show will catapult the actors’ careers or even if he or they will win awards. He just wants to tell a story, which I think is why The Wire is constantly discussed as the best show on television.

The book also does a decent job of letting us in on the other areas of production like director, cinematographer, etc.

If you’re a fan of the show, if you’re a writer, director, cinematographer, definitely read this book. ...more

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May 16, 2021 Karl Ocampo rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Hats off to Jonathan Abrams for weaving all the interviews and creating this book for The Wire fans like me. I'm sure it was difficult to go through all the transcripts and reach out to all these people. I respect him a lot.

Like Abrams, I was a late The Wire convert. I remember watching it for the first time in college. My ex-boyfriend was an HBO hoe and asked me countless times to watch it. (He also introduced me to Jonathan Abrams and all the dope writers in Grantland like Shea Serrano and Jas ...more

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May 29, 2018 Peter Knox rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction, 2018

You already know if you’ll enjoy this book; did you love watching The Wire?

Then you’ll love reading this brisk expertly produced oral history of everyone involved.

It’s like hanging out with all the characters again (like Lester Freemon bought a house with no TV and had actors living with him over the years they filmed). You understand how everyone’s contracts were up after each season didn’t get renewed, Simon had to go to bat for another, and everyone had to come back.

The Wire was a family an ...more

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Mar 22, 2018 Chris Witkowski rated it it was amazing

I am a Wire junkie, believing the show to be the very best thing I have ever seen on TV, so when I read about a book that told the complete story of the HBO acclaimed series, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. The author interviews every person involved with the show, the writers, producers, directors, actors, cinematographers, you name it, each and every one has something fascinating to say about their role in the show.

We learn of David Simon's and Ed Burns' intent when writing the show, t ...more

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Mar 24, 2018 Ben Beard rated it really liked it

Shelves: film-history

The Wire isn't just the greatest show of all time, it is one of the greatest feats of storytelling, period. No other story has explored an entire broken societal system from so many vantage points with such human, interesting characters. Many people have said it is more like a book than a TV show, and if that were true I think it would be on the shortlist to be considered the quintessential Great American Novel. So uh, yeah, you can say I am a fan.

I am not a fan, however, of oral histories. Thi ...more

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About Jonathan Abrams

Jonathan Abrams

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JONATHAN ABRAMS is an award-winning journalist who has covered the NBA for ESPN’s Grantland, The New York Times and Los Angeles Times. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California.

Books by Jonathan Abrams

Boys Among Men: How the Prep-to-Pro Generation Redefined the NBA and Sparked a Basketball Revolution

The Come Up: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-Hop

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Quotes from All the Pieces Ma...

“Richard Price: One of my favorite things that David (Simon) did - one of the sentimental tropes - is that if you take a kid on the street corner, and this kid is dealing and he's holding together the business, he's got the inventory, he's got sales, he's got police pressure, he's got higher-ups pressure. If this kid can keep numbers in his head and make money, they say, "Well, if this was a white kid and you put him in Wharton and he came out, he'd be running the world." What David did, and it's very sentimental to say that, but what David did, he took Stringer Bell - and of course you'd see Stringer Bell in a corporate setting - he took him to the cleaners, everything but his underwear robbed. I loved that, because everybody wants to feel good and say, "If you took this young kid," but no. It might be true if the kid was born in another body, in another world, but he wasn't. There's a ceiling. There's a very low ceiling. (207)” — 1 likes

“Opportunity is what these kids lack," Burns said. "The path is the corner or the stoop. We're talking about these kids here on the corner. They don't have advocates ... Corner kids, there's nobody rooting for them. You have to change that world, and where you have to start is ages zero to three. That's the most formative years of your life, and you're not even in charge of it. You got to go back and you got to create institutions that give that child the dignity, the self-respect, the love that he or she needs to go out into the world. (221-222)” — 1 likes

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