Treme

[The Big Ragu]

I wanted to be the one to start the thread. Sorry. :) I know others are looking forward to the premier. One thing that got me watching HBO's inside look/preview is that it is going to get hard to getting used to the actors who played Bunk and Freeman in new roles. I have seen Wendell Pierce and Clarke Peters in other roles, but this is going to be an extended Wire-type-of-series thing. Other than that, I am really looking forward to this. If you described the show the way they have and you didn't tell me it was David Simon, I probably wouldn't have watched (I didn't start the Wire until it was toward the end of the second season and had to go back and watch everything before). But knowing the TV Simon does, I have a lot of confidence that it is going to be thoroughly researched, with good characters and a very well developed plot. Anyone else camped out at home tonight because of this?

 

[YGBFKM]

WTF is it about?

 

[The Big Ragu]

WTF is it about?

The setting is New Orleans, right after Katrina. It looks at one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, which has a rich music history. But with David Simon doing it, I'd expect that there will be diverse characters, their stories will intertwine and it will delve into some social issues.

 

[dreunc1542]

Having finished The Wire last week, about three months after I started it, I couldn't be more excited for this. However, I don't have HBO so I'll be counting on eps being posted online to keep up with it.

 

[Moderator1]

Just set the DVR.

 

[StaggerLee]

Watched it and it was about what I was hoping it would be. I thought they did a great job of recreating New Orleans three months after Katrina. Still iffy on some of the characters (Davis may irk me), but I think it's got potential to be a great series. Hell, the music alone is enough to get me to watch every week.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Right with you, Stagger. I thought it was great, and actually unlike The Wire, it grabbed me right away. Steve Zahn and his Davis character are going to annoy me before this is all over. That guy is all Minnesota and I am just not believing him as anything New Orleans. Plus, he's just annoying as anything. The scene with Elvis Costello seemed forced, too. I'd prefer it if they don't feel like they have to do a lot of that. It was like, "Hey, we can get Elvis Costello, so let's write a scene around him." I guess the idea was that you have those really good musicians and they are so far out of the "mainstream," they have no idea who Elvis Costello is and don't care. But, meh. Other than that, I liked it a lot and yeah, the music in that episode was fantastic.

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

I thought John Goodman was the weak link. I wasn't buying his outrage, but other than that it was damn near perfect. Definitely much stronger and engaging than the first episode of The Wire.

 

[DisembodiedOwlHead]

Right with you, Stagger. I thought it was great, and actually unlike The Wire, it grabbed me right away. Steve Zahn and his Davis character are going to annoy me before this is all over. That guy is all Minnesota and I am just not believing him as anything New Orleans. Plus, he's just annoying as anything. The scene with Elvis Costello seemed forced, too. I'd prefer it if they don't feel like they have to do a lot of that. It was like, "Hey, we can get Elvis Costello, so let's write a scene around him." I guess the idea was that you have those really good musicians and they are so far out of the "mainstream," they have no idea who Elvis Costello is and don't care. But, meh. Other than that, I liked it a lot and yeah, the music in that episode was fantastic.

I think the misfit character is the aim - sure, it could be done a bit differently, but they're obviously going for someone who seems like an outsider. Maybe we find out later he relocated to N.O. and is just a wannabe.

 

[StaggerLee]

Right with you, Stagger. I thought it was great, and actually unlike The Wire, it grabbed me right away. Steve Zahn and his Davis character are going to annoy me before this is all over. That guy is all Minnesota and I am just not believing him as anything New Orleans. Plus, he's just annoying as anything. The scene with Elvis Costello seemed forced, too. I'd prefer it if they don't feel like they have to do a lot of that. It was like, "Hey, we can get Elvis Costello, so let's write a scene around him." I guess the idea was that you have those really good musicians and they are so far out of the "mainstream," they have no idea who Elvis Costello is and don't care. But, meh. Other than that, I liked it a lot and yeah, the music in that episode was fantastic.

I think the misfit character is the aim - sure, it could be done a bit differently, but they're obviously going for someone who seems like an outsider. Maybe we find out later he relocated to N.O. and is just a wannabe.

Not if it's truly based on Davis Rogan, who is a fifth-generation New Orleanian. I know that was the inspiration for the part, but I don't think Steve Zahn is going to do the part justice. Of course, with every "based on a true story" title, there will be some fictionalization.

I went back and rewatched it last night and I liked it better the second time. I think it's because the first time, there's so much to digest, so many characters being thrown at you and so many backstories.

 

[kokane_muthashed]

Already picked up for a second season.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/treme-already-renewed-for-a-second-season,40073/

 

[Steak Snabler]

Right with you, Stagger. I thought it was great, and actually unlike The Wire, it grabbed me right away. Steve Zahn and his Davis character are going to annoy me before this is all over. That guy is all Minnesota and I am just not believing him as anything New Orleans. Plus, he's just annoying as anything. The scene with Elvis Costello seemed forced, too. I'd prefer it if they don't feel like they have to do a lot of that. It was like, "Hey, we can get Elvis Costello, so let's write a scene around him." I guess the idea was that you have those really good musicians and they are so far out of the "mainstream," they have no idea who Elvis Costello is and don't care. But, meh. Other than that, I liked it a lot and yeah, the music in that episode was fantastic.

I think the misfit character is the aim - sure, it could be done a bit differently, but they're obviously going for someone who seems like an outsider. Maybe we find out later he relocated to N.O. and is just a wannabe.

Not if it's truly based on Davis Rogan, who is a fifth-generation New Orleanian. I know that was the inspiration for the part, but I don't think Steve Zahn is going to do the part justice. Of course, with every "based on a true story" title, there will be some fictionalization.

I went back and rewatched it last night and I liked it better the second time. I think it's because the first time, there's so much to digest, so many characters being thrown at you and so many backstories.

I think the Elvis Costello drop-in was intentional, to show that while Davis might talk big about his musical integrity, he wimps out when in the presence of one of his heroes (it speaks to his character's being mostly full of ****). And Costello clearly wasn't buying his line of B.S. about teaching Kermit Ruffins (a real New Orleans musical institution, by the way) "everything he knows."

And by the way, the guy who had the shift at the radio station just before Davis was portrayed by actual New Orleans radio personality Spud McConnell, who among other things, once did a one-man show as Ignatius J. Reilly from "A Confederacy of Dunces." (He was also the Woolworth's manager in "O Brother Where Art Thou?")

Another cameo appearance in "Treme" by a real local was Phyllis Montana LeBlanc as Wendell Pierce's girlfriend. She had a huge role in Spike Lee's "When the Levees Broke."

As for the show as a whole, I liked it immensely. I'm from 100 miles from New Orleans and have spent A LOT of time there, and it seems Simon got it right. Doesn't mean the storylines are going to be great (though I suspect they will be), but it rings true to me.

 

[StaggerLee]

As for the show as a whole, I liked it immensely. I'm from 100 miles from New Orleans and have spent A LOT of time there, and it seems Simon got it right. Doesn't mean the storylines are going to be great (though I suspect they will be), but it rings true to me.

I agree. As someone who grew up close to NOLA and spent a lot of time in the city, I'll probably be as critical about it as much as I enjoy it. Kermit Ruffins is the man, and I think it's great to include some locals instead of going strictly with a cast of characters to play the roles.

Was great seeing Rebirth and recognizing the actual members (with the exception of Pierce), not some Hollywood version of Rebirth. Also good to see it being shot on location.

 

[Moderator1]

Is Julie Smith still writing books about New Orleans? I used to read a series by her that featured a female detective and they were excellent. She has a great feel for the city. I'd love to see her tackle a book on Katrina.

 

[Cosmo]

Just finished watching the third episode, and damn, the ending just kicks your ass. This **** revved up quick. It's a must watch.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Just finished watching the third episode, and damn, the ending just kicks your ass. This **** revved up quick. It's a must watch.

Yeah, that was well done. Sepinwall, among others, noted that the people who "want to see what happened" represent not just the tourists on the bus, but a lot of people who are watching Treme on HBO.

I'm going to make a few predictions here, and maybe some of them are obvious. First off, I'm guessing the season ends with the first Mardi Gras after Katrina.

Albert continues to have trouble putting his tribe back together (because so many members are either gone from New Orleans or dead) and thus has to take on some outsiders/newcomers. Wild Man Jesse's son becomes the new Wild Man. I figure the kid he caught banging his girlfriend in the abandoned bar ends up becoming Albert's protege and serves as his Spy Boy or Flag Boy. Maybe Wendell Pierce and the violin chick wind up in the second line.

As for Khandi Alexander's missing brother, he has to show up again somewhere. Maybe he was the guy Albert beat down for stealing his tools, but that would probably be too obvious.

 

[Webster]

Great show, but it is bankrupting me, because I'm buying all of the music that I hear and which is referenced.

 

[StaggerLee]

Tonight's show was so-so. I'm really not liking the Davis character, and I find myself fast-forwarding through any scene he's in. And the John Goodman character is starting to get on my nerves. Seriously, that whole scene with the Christmas tree, just awkward. He just kinda stared at the tree, put up one ornament, then went back to staring at the tree. His YouTube video and subsequent fame was kinda silly also. I get it, he's pissed off, now move on. If he's just going to be the angry guy the whole show, I'll pass.

I'm anxious to see where some of the other storylines wind up. Tonight wasn't a complete miss, but it was pretty close for me. Felt disjointed, but maybe that's the intent. The music is going to keep me at least scanning through it all season.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Stagger, I kind of agree with the things you said. This is not grabbing me the way The Wire eventually did, and I find myself making the comparison. It's fairly well done, but the characters aren't as perfect, and I think that makes a big difference. The new episode was so-so for me, too, but the music is good and that will keep me watching for a while. I hope the characters and the storyline solidify, though. This is missing the drug dealers-cops-politicians thing that worked so well in The Wire. One thing I noticed is the scenes in New York (with Delmond) in this episode took place in places I know, and they were not the kind of places his character (jazz musician) would just be strolling with his girlfriend or finding a hipster party -- well, not the type Stanley Crouch, Nelson George, McCoy Tyner. ... and Bernie Williams (what kind of party gets all of them in one room?!?!) would be hanging out. The exterior shot didn't fit the party they walked into and it bugged me and the party itself bugged me even more. Unlike the Wire, with the Elvis Costello cameos and sticking those guys in shots (and even sticking David Simon in a shot as the owner or Manager of the Blue Note in the first episode) seemed like they are going for "Hey wasn't that?" moments way too much. I liked that The Wire wasn't that way.

 

[Steak Snabler]

And the John Goodman character is starting to get on my nerves. Seriously, that whole scene with the Christmas tree, just awkward. He just kinda stared at the tree, put up one ornament, then went back to staring at the tree. His YouTube video and subsequent fame was kinda silly also. I get it, he's pissed off, now move on. If he's just going to be the angry guy the whole show, I'll pass.

As with several other characters on Treme, John Goodman's character is based on a real guy, the late blogger Ashley Morris (who was also a college professor):

http://ashleymorris.typepad.com/