Lonely Down in the Treme, by Arthur Tebbel – Pop Art #125
April 27, 2011 Arthur Tebbel 6 Comments
Dear Art,
The second season of my HBO series Treme premiered this weekend. While we obviously got picked up after our first season we have gotten far less critical attention than my last effort, The Wire, did. While I don’t do this for the acclaim I’m rather curious as to why this is the case. The show has compelling characters, deals with an important moment in recent American history and focuses sharply on the flaws in urban society. Combine that with an absolutely stellar soundtrack and it would seem to be a no-brainer for a critical darling and a cult following. Why do you suppose this hasn’t developed?
-David Simon, Executive Producer, Treme
David,
Too many black characters. Sorry that’s not fair; you have a lot of white characters too. Too many stories that contain almost entirely black characters. That might not be it either, I mean The Wire had that and people loved that. Too black a city. Nah, Chocolate City comment aside I would bet that Baltimore and New Orleans are about equally black (I will not be looking it up). I think I have it this time, Too many stories that are, thematically, about how this is all basically the fault of white people. On The Wire people could point to the drug epidemic and basically say the problem was bigger than any one thing. The American government (read: white people) basically left New Orleans to die and I’m pretty sure even the intellectual elites, let alone middle America, has no desire to stare that demon in the face. Also, fewer black characters probably wouldn’t hurt.
You also lack a narrative thread that’s easy to follow. If someone asked what The Wire was about you could sum up any given season with the investigation the police were undertaking. It ramped up at the beginning and paid off at the end. Treme is more of free flowing thing. I could tell you what the first season was about but it would probably take at least five minutes. You had a number of characters and their lives touched each other now and again there was no unifying plot. It was more of a bunch of loosely connected meditations on how terrible it was to live through the worst natural disaster in American history.
In the end, it shouldn’t matter. HBO doesn’t care about ratings and the cachet you bring with you as “the guy who made The Wire” is probably enough to keep working there for as long as you want. If I were you I would have a list of really terrible ideas to pitch to any executive who ever talks to you about ending Treme before you’re ready. If you want a couple ideas to get you started I would go with a drama about Shaker Heights, Ohio and their struggle being the only functioning suburb of Cleveland or a sitcom about a gang of marauding bears that run Detroit. Actually you can’t have that last one, I’m going to try and develop that for Fox.
Vinnie Bartilucci
April 27, 2011 - 10:14 am
I think the problem is the same as that of Lost in Space and Gilligan’s Island. The individual episodes may have moments of happiness, but you know there no happy ending coming. You know they’re never getting off that island, you know they won’t find Earth, and you know New Orleans won’t get fixed. So there’s moments of mild smiles, but ultimately depressing. It’s like being happy with the one pound you lost at Weight Watchers, but in your heart you know you’re 378 pounds and will never actually be thin. It Won’t Get Better.
We’re three crises past Katrina now. It’s only been a year since the Gulf mess, and the “How are things now” stories came and went without a single tear being blinked away.
You know what would really flummox people? Have things GET fixed in the show. As opposed to a show that shows how brave people are when things go wrong, how about one where we see how cool it would be if things went right?
Kinda like that gag the Yes Men pulled, have the government send in massive cash, have the construction companies they can make great profits in volume and lower the prices to rebuild, have corporate America realize there are plenty of potential customers down there, and show people what a best case scenario would look like. And none of that “They’re trying to Disney-fy us” crap, have it all go well. people employed, businesses thriving, crime reduced due to the higher taxes being paid, everything.
And then turn to the screen and say, “your turn”.
Whitney
April 27, 2011 - 12:16 pm
Loved Treme Season 1.
Loving it Season 2.
But MOTU says I’m too deep.
Martha Thomases
April 27, 2011 - 1:37 pm
I think the problem with Teme is not only are there too many black people in it, and not only are the white people part of the problem, but also the black people don’t spend their every waking moment trying to gain the approval of white people. They actually have lives that appear to be quite rich and fulfilling and satisfying without us.
How dare they!
(love the show. love the music. love the accents. love the slow roll, just like the real NOLA)
MOTU
April 27, 2011 - 2:26 pm
I have died and gone to Heaven.
I thought I would NEVER hear ‘too many black people in it,’ regarding a TV show made in Hollywood.
Vinnie Bartilucci
April 28, 2011 - 7:22 am
They were saying it about Cosby all along. Right along with the argument that it wasn’t realistic because they were successful and affluent, as opposed to “real” black people.
Reg
April 28, 2011 - 2:30 pm
“The GOP doesn’t like Black People.”
I keed, I keed!