Check Out HBO’s THE WIRE as a Musical

Aside from the fact it would give series creator David Simon a massive coronary, why can’t this be real? After all, it still deals with “the complex problems inherent in the bureaucratic institutions of the state, but there’s no one to blame because of the vast conspiracy of personal interest that undermines the entire system” (as one catchy song details). If the series can be made into a Victorian novel, why not a musical? It’s even family friendly (“What the frick did I do?” – Jimmy McNulty) and full of the same pathos as the original series (“I’m just a burner they can’t trace me / use me for drug deals then replace me”).

In the end, as Vulture sums up, “If you can avoid interpreting the sketch as an indicator of which Wire alums have made it (Idris Elba and Dominic West, apparently) and which are still hustling for the work, and therefore have to make silly Internet videos that involve standing in a single-file line while singing about bureaucracy, then this is pretty funny.”

Except … where Wallace at, String?

For more Collider coverage of The Wire, check out Matt’s season reviews.