"Mad Men" is great, but it's no "Wire"

 With "Mad Men" returning for its third season, the media is all atwitter about how its "the best show on television." Perhaps. I sure like it.But I'm a strong proponent of "The Wire" as the "best show in television history." Yeah, I know, bold statement, blah, blah, blah.

But never has a show been so consistently smart and well-written -- with an intense expectation that its viewers be engaged. There's no casual watching "The Wire." It's complex plot lines required constant vigilance because the directors demanded the show's viewers pay attention. No flashbacks or cheap tricks for lazy viewers to catch up.

Watching "The Wire" was hard work, and perhaps why it never had huge ratings on HBO. Some say it was because of the mostly black cast, but I think that's being too simplistic.

The great folks at Paste magazine too are fans, and posted this list of "Five Classic Scenes from 'The Wire.' " My five would have a few different scenes but these offer a great sampling of the show's power, diversity and grace. The one included above features two of my favorite characters: Brother Mouzone, a Harper's reading hitman from New York; and Omar, a gay gangster who brazenly steals from other gangsters. It's sacrilegious that no "Wire" actor won an Emmy (only one was ever nominated) but it's near criminal given my belief Michael K. Williams' portrayal of Omar is among the greatest roles in TV history.

Update on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 9:08 PM by Logan Molen

This video below came out of nowhere but is absolutely brilliant. 

"The Wire" as a musical? Nah. .... really? 

It's not quite as smart as the original but seeing familiar faces poking fun at their very serious roles is something to applaud.

The Wire: The Musical with Michael Kenneth Williams from Michael Kenneth Williams