Remote Controlled: Q&A with Mo Ryan

It's going to be a sad weekend for some of us at Channel Surfing. While my cynical side immediately judged melodramatic Packers fans who flocked to Lambeau Field so they could shed tears after Brett Favre announced his retirement, it's a pretty safe bet that I'm going to be bawling like a baby at 8 p.m. Sunday. That's when "The Wire" -- a show I've come to love with every fiber of my being -- ends an unheralded (at least among the public) five season run on HBO. So I guess my priorities are slightly out of whack, too.

Here's a story about the show that appeared in today's paper, with interviews from our wonderful blog used to discuss David Simon's creation and its subsequent legacy. The latest Q&A is from one of our favorite TV columnists and bloggers, Maureen Ryan, better known as "The Watcher" at the Chicago Tribune. If you're into dissecting the medium as much as we are, she's a must on your list of bookmarks. Much appreciation to Ryan for taking time out of her busy week to riff on a variety of topics -- OK, mostly "The Wire."

What are your thoughts on "The Wire" as a series now that the end is near? And have you been able to screen Sunday's finale (and if you have, without spoiling it for a die-hard like me, did the series end fittingly?)

It ended really fittingly. We got to see where most of the characters ended up and there were nice little codas all over the place. Of course not everyone ended up in a good place, but that's "The Wire" for you. It used fantastic characters and great storytelling to tell you a lot of very hard truths -- and I for one am sad it's over.

Do you have any particular thoughts on what the legacy of "The Wire" might be?

It raised the bar for what storytelling could be on TV. It could not only be involving purely on a plot level, but it could actually have a point to make about how society allows certain things to happen, because it's more convenient to ignore the underclass and how they got that way.

Do you think the audience for "The Wire" is the right amount -- that for all the talk about it being underappreciated among the public -- that maybe it wasn't meant for mass consumption, just a passionate core? (And maybe expanding on this idea, is the same true of critically revered, short lived shows, even something like "Friday Night Lights?" Is it frustrating as a critic to see these shows not get more love?)

It is. At the very least ("The Wire") should have won a truckload of Emmys. Who really thinks "Boston Legal" is the better show? Yeesh. But I do think that people expect happy endings, or something less grim, from their TV shows. "The Wire" never gave people happy stories. Happy moments, maybe, but they were precious few. Yet for those who gave it the time, it was absolutely transfixing. I hope its legacy is that TV viewers will do the work and pay attention to shows that really have something amazing to say -- that they'll stay with them and realize their worth it.

What conclusions were you able to reach about the series based on interviews with David Simon? I've always been intrigued by his love affair with Baltimore, a city he depicts in bleak terms, but one that is home to him, and one he cares deeply about. Clearly with this season, he also possesses deep, deep cynicism about the newspaper industry.

I think David Simon is one of the smartest people I've ever talked to. He's a great talker, too, a great story-spinner and a great debater. So it's fascinating to talk to him, and he's clearly passionate about both Baltimore and about journalism. He loved being a reporter and I think it's sad for him to see that world being dismantled slowly. I can relate -- it's depressing to see the state that it's in. But I do think that he basically recreated the Baltimore Sun of 15 years ago on "The Wire," and I'm not sure that's how things are at newspapers today. And I disagree with him on this point -- I don't think the problems facing newspapers are reporters making things up. Sure, that's not great but I think declining circulation, ad migration to the Internet and corporate ownership are much bigger dangers than the few rogue reporters that exist.

Have you ever watched the show while comparing Baltimore's plight to that of Chicago's? I'm guessing the big city, institutional problems Simon addresses are largely the same no matter the zip code.

I'd guess they're pretty similar, but I'm not a cop or a teacher or a politician -- maybe things aren't always as bad as they look in 'The Wire.' I do think that it's possible for some individuals to change society and institutions for the better. Maybe that makes me naive, but I think it's possible.

Is there anything optimistic you can pull from the show?

Hmmm. The show is in large part an ode to friendship and loyalty. And it's deeply compassionate about the less fortunate -- that compassion is one of the big reasons to watch the show.

Favorite moments, messages, characters -- anything that resonates above all?

I do love Omar -- but I think Bunk's my favorite character. Also, the group of four boys they portrayed in Season 4 -- they were amazing actors and that was by far my favorite story line. Oh, I can't forget Bubbles -- another great actor and what a journey he went on.

What are your thoughts on "Lost" this season? Do you get caught up in the minute details of the show, or just watch for the ride, wherever it may lead?

Just loving "Lost" this year and I don't want to know spoilers -- I just want to experience the ride. It's so good this year that I want to be surprised. I'm amazed that after the third season that the show could get so good again. Thank goodness, or this spring would have been so dire!

Your recent piece on "Oprah's Big Give" raised some valid and interesting points about made-for-TV altruism. Did you find yourself wondering whether you were being too cynical about the project, or do you think it's a fair criticism to raise, even in the face of good intentions?

I wondered if I was too cynical, but I've always made it my first priority to be honest. If I felt an uncomfortable feeling while watching the show, I had to think about why and write about that reaction. That's really all I can do -- I really respect that readers may disagree. I know I disagree violently sometimes with critics whose work I really love.

What shows are you looking forward to most now that the strike is over?

The return of TV comedy -- "30 Rock," "The Office," "How I Met Your Mother." We all need a laugh!

Any shows you would recommend that people either don't seem to be aware of, or just aren't watching?

"In Treatment." LOVE it.

Even with reality junk at its height, how you would assess the state of television?

Really good, but I'm sad that "The Wire" is gone -- we're losing "Battlestar Galactica" and "The Shield" within the next year as well. Agggh! I hope some new shows come along that are just as good as these programs were.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com