Spike Lee’s favourite TV show: “The whole package was very complex”
Spike Lee knows a thing or two about inspiration. The legendary filmmaker is one of the most important Black directors of all time. His films speak about life in African-American communities unlike any others, bringing an irreverent spin to some of the most serious socio-political issues of modern times. From Do the Right Thing to Malcolm X, She’s Gotta Have It to BlacKkKlansman, Lee’s involvement in a project is usually a sign that good things are coming.
The outspoken man from Atlanta has never shied away from revealing his own influences. In a list of his favourite directors, he named the likes of Elia Kazan, Charles Laughton, and Martin Scorsese. Known for taking a comedic view of things, it’s no surprise that Lee is also a big fan of the late comedian Richard Pryor. As an academic, he has taught at major institutions like Harvard and NYU, so he clearly knows a thing or two about the great history of cinema.
He’s also not above looking to the small screen for ideas, highlighting one show in particular as a cut above the rest. “I’m a big fan of The Wire,” he told Vulture in 2015. “It’s epic, you know. Five years, great storytelling, the whole package was very complex.”
Running for 60 episodes between 2002 and 2008, The Wire is a crime drama show written by former police reporter David Simon and former police officer Ed Burns. Set in Baltimore, Maryland, the series tackles a range of issues within the city, most prominently the illegal drug trade. Characters include cops, drug dealers, gangsters, and murderers, with a cast of future stars like Dominic West, Idris Elba, and the late Lance Reddick. Though not a big shit during its original run, legend of the show attracted more and more viewers following its final season. Now, it’s widely regarded as one of the greatest TV shows of all time, home to some of the most flawless episodes in the history of the medium.
In hindsight, The Wire has been firmly placed within the so-called ‘Second Golden Age of Television’. Before the early 2000s, TV rarely attracted big stars or told particularly thoughtful, complex stories. That was the domain of cinema. Then came shows like The Sopranos, The West Wing, Deadwood, and The Wire—series unafraid to tackle major themes and present characters as more than just two-dimensional archetypes. Television was suddenly taken as seriously as film. Big-name actors were lining up for cameos or recurring roles, laying the groundwork for the streaming boom we’re in today.
It’s easy to see why Lee would be attracted to a show like this. There is significant crossover between The Wire and his catalogue in terms of themes, such as intercity life and institutional racism. The show has a majority Black cast, something Lee always pushed for in his own work.
In fact, Lee might have inadvertently given the show its biggest catchphrase. In the movie 25th Hour, Isaiah Whitlock Jr plays a DEA agent called Flood. When he discovers a sizeable array of drugs on the main character’s sofa, he exclaims, “Sheeeee-iit”. This distinctive curse would later be best associated with corrupt politician Clay Davis, Whitlock’s character on The Wire.
