Alan Sepinwall remains the de facto source for anything David Simon-related. An interview here. The final episode of "Treme" is reviewed here.

I thought Season One went really well. There is a tendency to compare it to "The Wire", but if you shake that notion from your head, it results in a very good ride. I absolutely loved the season-ending episode. David Simon doesn't necessarily bookend the season, but definitely there are at least some brackets, fore and aft. Like a long chapter of a book.

The flashbacks to pre-Katrina were especially poignant, I thought. It took me several seconds to figure out what the hell was going on. But those highlights:

Antoine looked like he had a nice house, even though he didn't have a trombone case back then either. But he had a car! An example of how some people lost a lot, others not so much.

Davis getting on his neighbors for leaving, but realizing that he needed to bug out when he saw how big the storm was.

Creighton joking about how the levees were constructed.

Daymo getting arrested in an almost innocent manner (as the policeman said) without knowing what was about to happen.

LaDonna sensing trouble with Daymo, while the rest of her family was heading out of town.

Sonny and Annie seemingly having a joyous moment or two before the storm.

What I enjoyed about the final episode was:

The season started with a funeral procession, then ended with a second line in the last episode.

Antoine with a definite shoutout to his character in "The Wire". When he described himself as a "cooked fish eatin' motherfucker." Plus, his argument with the cabbie from Episode One made me laugh. I love that guy.

I liked that Janette and Delmond sat near each other in the airport, only to have some random sit in between them. Further evidence this show is not on network TV. Also, Janette's look as she awoke from her nap looking at the city was something. Sometimes you have to relax and drink it all in, wherever you are.

The look on Davis after Annie walked into his apartment was choice. Steve Zahn played that perfectly.

Melissa Leo (Toni) and Khandi Alexander (LaDonna) keep knocking it out of the park every week. LaDonna with her ear to the family vault: "Sounds like every motherfucker up in there's spinning." when she had to write the check for the repairs. And Toni vows there will be no second line at her husband's funeral, because he committed suicide saying "Can't dance for 'em when they quit". Powerful stuff.

I liked the Big Chief struttin' his stuff on Saint Joseph's Day. I understand within his own ranks he lost some people, but I thought there would be more spectators.

Steve Earle had the closing theme and he's as good here, as a musician, as he was on "The Wire". "This machine floats", a shoutout to Woody Guthrie, was on his guitar.

Now I know what comes in a "$40 High Life".

John Boutte, who sings the "Treme" theme had a great line. Davis convinced him to sing a Sam Cooke tune, "Bring It On Home To Me", to Janette, in hopes that she may stay. Davis: "He sounds just like Sam Cooke." Boutte: "I fucking sound like John Boutté!" Hah!

So, we'll see what happens next season. "The Wire" had an evolving cast, so I think we'll see some new people and I would not be surprised if we see more from the police (David Morse's character, especially) and New Orleans newest roof contractor.

Meal of Links

How to take extraordinary photographs. Exposure.

One radio show I thought was off the air was Dr. Demento. Now it is off the air.

Game show hosts who have appeared in movies. Alex Trebek:Superstar.

Gen. McChrystal has got to go. He will fall on that sword some time tomorrow.

Amsterdam now uses "decoy Jews" to stop crime. Hope it works.

Another "Bachelor" or "Bachelorette"couple fails. Why is this show still on?

19 TV episodes largely confined to one location. "Cartwright?"

The rise of the kid flick. You know what that means..."Marmaduke 2"!

Did Manute Bol invent "My Bad"? He may have.

Exercise Yard

Big game for the USA in the World Cup tomorrow morning. Hirsh has the preview.

Final games of the group stage have started. Cameroon and North Korea were the first two teams eliminated.

In: Uruguay, Mexico, South Korea, Argentina

Out: South Africa (first time a host has not advanced), Greece, Nigeria, France





























Well, if you hate the French, this tournament was for you. One player sent home. the captain was forbidden to apologize to the French people by the coach. The team walked out of a training session on Sunday. The Team Director resigned. The coach refused to shake hands with the South African coach after today's match.

A strange trip.

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61 Across: Wordsmith Webster (4 letters) Answer: Noah