The Wire (season 5)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Wire Season 5 | |
---|---|
Country of origin | USA |
Network | HBO |
Original run | January 6, 2008 – March 9, 2008 |
No. of episodes | 10 |
Previous season | 4 |
The fifth season of the television series The Wire commenced airing in the United States on January 6, 2008, and concluded on March 9, 2008; it contained 10 episodes. It introduces Baltimore's media while continuing to examine the Baltimore police department, the Stanfield organization and city hall while introducing the scene and new characters from a fictionalized version of the Baltimore Sun newsroom.
Contents |
[edit] Production
HBO announced on September 12, 2006 that it commissioned a fifth and final season consisting of 13 episodes,[1][2] but which was later reduced to ten.[3] On April 30, 2007, production for Season 5 officially began. Filming wrapped early in the morning of September 1, 2007 and the first episode aired on January 6, 2008.[4]
[edit] Themes
In an interview with Slate on December 1, 2006, David Simon said that Season 5 would be about the media and media consumption.[2] A major focus would be journalism, which would be dramatized through a newspaper modeled after The Baltimore Sun. The theme, according to Simon, would deal with "what stories get told and what don't and why it is that things stay the same."[2] Issues such as the quest for profit, the decrease in the number of reporters, and the end of aspiration for news quality would all be addressed, alongside the theme of homelessness. In the same interview, Simon indicated that no other theme seemed substantial enough to warrant a sixth season, except possibly the large influx of Latinos into Baltimore. He noted, however, that since no writer on the show spoke Spanish or had any intimate knowledge of the city's Latino population, the field work would be too cumbersome.[2]
At the Night at the Wire event on June 9, 2007, Simon stated that Detective Sydnor is the only character who remains morally clean by the end of the show, but not perfectly since "after all, this is The Wire." He also hinted that Mayor Carcetti might make a run for governor, continuing to mirror the current Maryland governor and former Baltimore mayor, Martin O'Malley.
The series will continue the show's examination of the devaluing of human life and institutional dysfunction.[5] The increased scope of the season to include the media will allow this theme to be explored through an examination of "the people who are supposed to be monitoring all this and sounding the alarm — the journalists."[5] In particular Simon has spoken about the devaluing of the reporter in terms of downsizing a newspaper staff and the management expecting to do "more with less" when he asserts that in reality, you can only do "less with less".[5]
The series realism has been reported as being maintained particularly through the accurate dialogue and use of contemporary slang.[5] Series creator David Simon further expanded on the thematic content of season five in an interview with Fancast/Inside TV.[6] Critic David Zurawik saw the unifying theme of the season as "public and private lies", particularly those perpetuated by the media and told by Jimmy McNulty in protest for cutbacks in the police department.[7] TV Guide writer Matt Roush also saw the central theme as lies and characterised it as "deeply and darkly ironic."[8]
[edit] Promotion
A preview for Season 5 of The Wire aired on HBO on October 28, 2007 and was later made available on YouTube.[9] HBO sent critics the first seven episodes on DVD in December 2007.[7][10][11]
HBO's On Demand and multiplatform marketing division approached creator David Simon about producing exclusive on demand content and three short prequel clips were produced that take place prior to the linear storyline of the show.[12][13] The clips were made available via Amazon.com from December 5 and through HBO's on demand service from December 15.[12][13] The first video takes place in 1962 and focuses on the school days of drug kingpin Proposition Joe; the second is set in 1985 and focuses on Omar Little making an early robbery; the third video is set in 2000 and shows the first meeting of Jimmy McNulty (played by Dominic West) and Bunk Moreland (Wendell Pierce).[14] The clips will air after season 5 episodes as they premiere starting January 6, 2008.[15]
[edit] Locations
At that Night at the Wire event, fans were allowed to tour the Baltimore Sun newsroom constructed for the show. The real newspaper allowed the show to use their name but stipulated that no current employees could appear in the series.[5] The newsroom was an entirely built set constructed at the show's out of town soundstage.[5]
The actual Washington Post newsroom will also feature as one reporter visits for an interview.[16] The Wire is the first production to be allowed to film at the location, even the film All the President's Men about the paper's role in breaking the Watergate scandal had to build a set to represent the paper.[16]
[edit] Cast
It was rumored in August 2007 that Homicide stars Richard Belzer[17] and Clark Johnson[18] would guest star in the fifth season. Johnson was later confirmed as joining the starring cast to play Gus Haynes,[19] "a city editor who tries to hold the line against dwindling coverage, buyouts, and pseudo-news."[5] The New Yorker described an early scene from the season where Haynes rants about a reporter inserting a charred doll into scenes of fires to eke more sympathy from his readers.[5] Johnson also directed the final episode of the show.[4] Thomas McCarthy will join the starring cast as morally challenged reporter[4] Scott Templeton.[19] Michelle Paress will also join the starring cast as reporter Alma Gutierrez.[19] Previously recurring actors Michael Kostroff and Neal Huff will reprise their roles as defence attorney Maurice Levy and Mayoral chief of staff Michael Steintorf respectively, now as part of the starring cast.[19][20][21]
The majority of the starring cast from the fourth season will return including: Dominic West as Jimmy McNulty[19] with a larger storyline than the fourth season;[20]; John Doman as Deputy Commissioner William Rawls;[19][22] Aidan Gillen as ambitious Mayor Tommy Carcetti;[19][22] Seth Gilliam as Western district Sergeant Ellis Carver;[19][22] Jamie Hector as West-side drug kingpin Marlo Stanfield;[19][22] Domenick Lombardozzi as troubled investigator Thomas "Herc" Hauk;[19] Deirdre Lovejoy as prosecutor Rhonda Pearlman;[19][22] Clarke Peters as veteran Detective Lester Freamon;[19][22] Wendell Pierce as veteran homicide Detective Bunk Moreland;[19][22] Lance Reddick as Colonel Cedric Daniels;[19][22] Andre Royo as heroin addict Bubbles;[19][22] Sonja Sohn as Detective Kima Greggs;[19][22] Robert Wisdom as Howard "Bunny" Colvin;[19][22] Reg E. Cathey as political aide Norman Wilson;[19][22] Corey Parker Robinson as Major Case Unit detective Leander Sydnor;[19][22], and Michael K. Williams as underworld legend Omar Little.[19][22] Also joining the starring cast are Isiah Whitlock, Jr. as corrupt State Senator Clay Davis,[19] Tristan Wilds as Michael Lee,[19] Gbenga Akinnagbe as Chris Partlow,[19] Jermaine Crawford as Duquan "Dukie" Weems[19] and Robert F. Chew as drug kingpin Proposition Joe.[22]
Frankie Faison has reportedly left the starring cast but will reprise his role as police commissioner Ervin Burrell as a recurring guest star.[19][21] Other returning guest stars include Steve Earle as drug counsellor Walon;[19][21] Anwan Glover as Slim Charles;[19][21] Method Man as drug lieutenant Melvin "Cheese" Wagstaff;[19][21] Felicia Pearson as the eponymous criminal enforcer Felicia "Snoop" Pearson;[19][21] Chris Ashworth as former enforcer for the Greeks Sergei "Serge" Malatov; Wood Harris as fallen kingpin Avon Barksdale; Marlyne Afflack as city council president Naresse Campbell;[19][22] and Amy Ryan as McNulty's domestic partner Beadie Russell.[19][21] The return of guest stars from past seasons has been described as a reward to loyal viewers in reviews.[8] New recurring guest stars include David Costabile, Sam Freed, Bruce Kirkpatrick, Todd Scofield, Kara Quick and Donald Neal.[22]
Continuing the shows trend of using non-professional actors and real life Baltimore figures[7] several ex-Baltimore Sun reporters will appear in recurring roles.[5] Rebecca Corbett who was Simon's former editor at the Baltimore Sun and now works at the New York Times will have a recurring role.[5] Writer and former political reporter William F. Zorzi will have further screen time after his season 1 cameo.[5] Steve Luxenberg, the editor responsible for hiring Simon at The Sun will have a role.[5] Simon's wife Laura Lippman will also appear[5] as a reporter in an early scene alongside Michael Olesker, another former Sun reporter.[7] Baltimore attorney Billy Murphy will appear as a lawyer for the character of corrupt Senator Clay Davis and former senator and current radio host Larry Young will conduct a fictional interview with the character.[7] Also former police commissioner Ed Norris will return in his recurring role as a homicide detective with the same name.[7]
[edit] Crew
Creator David Simon will continue to act as the show's executive producer and show runner.[5][22] Nina Kostroff Noble will once again serve as the show's other executive producer.[22] Joe Chappelle will reprise his co-executive producer role and continue to direct episodes.[22] Ed Burns will once again serve as a writer and will join Chappelle as a co-executive producer.[23] Karen L. Thorson will return as a producer.[22] George Pelecanos will produce the sixth episode of the series only - his first production work since the third season.[19][23][24]
Political journalist William F. Zorzi will continue to write for the show and guide the political storylines.[5] Acclaimed crime fiction novellist Pelecanos will return as a writer[21] and contribute his seventh episode to the series.[5] Pelecanos' fellow crime novellists Richard Price and Dennis Lehane will also return as writers.[21] Chris Collins will return as a staff writer[5] and will contribute his first script.[23] David Mills will contribute an episode, completing the writing team.[19]
New star Clark Johnson will also helm the final episode after previously directing the pilot.[21] Other returning directors for the fifth season will include Ernest Dickerson, Anthony Hemingway, Agnieszka Holland, Dan Attias and Seith Mann.[21] Series star Dominic West will make his directorial debut.[21] Husband and wife directing team Scott and Joy Kecken are also first time directors on the fifth season.[19]
[edit] Reception
[edit] Critical response
In reviewing the first seven episodes of the fifth season David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun said that while "there is greatness in the seven episodes," the major newspaper storyline "contain[s] nothing that matches the emotional power and sociological insight of the show at its best."[25] Matt Roush of TV Guide favourably reviewed the series calling it "brilliantly bleak" and a "landmark series."[8] Brian Lowry of Variety characterised the series' look at the media as the most realistic portrayal of a newsroom in film and television history.[26]
[edit] Episodes
- See also: List of The Wire episodes
"Series #" refers to the episode's number in the overall series, whereas "Season #" refers to the episode's number in this particular season. All episodes except "–30–" were made available by HBO six days earlier than their broadcast date, via On Demand.[14][15]
Season # | Series # | Title | Story | Teleplay | Director | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 51 | "More with Less" | David Simon, Ed Burns | David Simon | Joe Chappelle | January 6, 2008 |
"The bigger the lie, the more they believe." - Bunk The Stanfield Organization continues to operate despite a year of surveillance by the Major Crimes Unit. Education budget deficits and ambitions to become Governor leave Mayor Carcetti forced to make funding cuts. His broken promises to the police department destroy morale and cause the closure of the Major Crimes Unit. Detective Jimmy McNulty is sent back to homicide and returns to his old habits of drinking and infidelity. Similar cutbacks in the Baltimore Sun newsroom make it increasingly difficult for city desk editor Gus Haynes to do his job but he is still able to break a major story linking city council president Nerese Campbell and drug dealer Fat-Face Rick. Bubbles is recovering from his heroin addiction but is struggling to come to terms with his role in Sherrod's death. Michael Lee continues to work as a Stanfield enforcer and provides a home for his younger brother and friend Duquan "Dukie" Weems.[27][28] |
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2 | 52 | "Unconfirmed Reports" | David Simon, William F. Zorzi | William F. Zorzi | Ernest Dickerson | January 13, 2008 |
"This ain't Aruba, bitch." - Bunk Reporter Scott Templeton submits an unverifiable story about a boy attending the opening day of the Baltimore Orioles baseball season. Haynes is dubious but is forced to run the story by his senior editors. The withdrawal of the police investigation emboldens Marlo Stanfield and he orders several murders and tries to contact international drug trafficking organization "The Greeks". Detective Lester Freamon continues to observe Stanfield even though he has been assigned to the Clay Davis corruption case. Bubbles takes a job at a soup kitchen. McNulty becomes increasingly frustrated in the underfunded homicide unit and takes the drastic step of faking a homicide with the intention of drawing funds to the department by creating the illusion of a serial killer.[29][30] |
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3 | 53 | "Not for Attribution" | David Simon, Chris Collins | Chris Collins | Scott & Joy Kecken | January 20, 2008 |
"They're dead where it doesn't count." - Fletcher Stanfield turns to "Proposition Joe" Stewart for help cleaning and laundering money while Stewart remains unaware that Stanfield is trying to usurp his connection to The Greeks. Stanfield also places a bounty on information leading him to Omar Little. Cheese gives Stanfield the whereabout's of Omar's advisor Butchie. Chris Partlow and Snoop torture and kill Butchie to lure Omar from retirement. Stanislaus Valchek leaks unmodified statistics from the police department to Carcetti and tells him that commissioner Ervin Burrell is falsifying the numbers giving Carcetti the political ammunition he needs to fire Burrell. Carcetti leaks a story heralding Cedric Daniels as a potential replacement. Daniels is worried that Burrell will reveal his shady past after Templeton invents a quote implicating Daniels in Burrell's departure. McNulty continues to work on his serial killer plan despite warnings from his partner Bunk Moreland. Bunk enlists Freamon to talk to McNulty but is dumbfounded when Freamon offers to help with the plan.[31][32] |
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4 | 54 | "Transitions" | David Simon, Ed Burns | Ed Burns | Dan Attias | January 27, 2008 |
"Buyer's market out there." - Templeton Freamon and McNulty draw more attention to their fake serial killer by sensationalizing the murders. McNulty's compulsive behaviour jeopardizes his relationship with Beadie Russell. Campbell learns of Daniels' history but convinces Burrell to leave quietly with the promise of a comfortable replacement position. Sergeant Ellis Carver puts his principles first in the Western District and his former partner Herc is shamed by his integrity. Stanfield convinces The Greeks to consider him an insurance policy and continues to assimilate Stewart's contacts including Maurice Levy. Omar returns to Baltimore and quickly learns that Stanfield was responsible for Butchie's death. Stewart prepares to leave town fearing reprisal from Omar but is once again betrayed by Cheese and murdered by Partlow as Stanfield watches.[33] |
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5 | 55 | "React Quotes" | David Simon, David Mills | David Mills | Agnieszka Holland | February 3, 2008 |
"Just 'cause they're in the street doesn't mean that they lack opinions." - Haynes Stanfield takes over as The Greeks' Baltimore distributor and is given a phone and a code to use to contact them. Stanfield gives the number to Levy and Herc steals it and passes it on to the police department. Freamon appeals to Daniels for a wiretap but is unsuccessful. McNulty leaks further details of his invented serial killer to the press and the story gains momentum. When Templeton stages a phone call from the serial killer McNulty uses it as probable cause for a wiretap. Freamon sets up on Stanfield's phone while the homicide unit believe they are manning another, disconnected, wiretap of the killers phone. Dukie struggles with bullying and searches for a new path. Bubbles learns that he is HIV negative. State's Attorney Bond announces the Davis corruption case. Campbell convinces Davis to protect his fellow politicians and he embarks on a publicity campaign suggesting that his race has motivated the charges. Partlow sets up an ambush for Omar which he narrowly escapes by jumping from a balcony.[34][35] |
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6 | 56 | "The Dickensian Aspect" | David Simon, Ed Burns | Ed Burns | Seith Mann | February 10, 2008 |
"If you have a problem with this, I understand completely." - Freamon Omar hides and tends to his injured leg overnight and then resumes robbing the Stanfield organization. Stanfield assumes control of the New Day Co-Op, telling the members that Omar was responsible for Stewart's death. Stanfield promotes Cheese, raises the price of narcotics, and suspends further meetings. The police find sealed courthouse documents in Stewart's house and realize there is a leak somewhere. Freamon enlists Leander Sydnor to man the wiretap and realizes that Stanfield is communicating with picture messages and McNulty abducts and photographs a homeless man in order to provide probable cause for picture intercepts. Templeton writes a follow-up story about a homeless Iraq veteran and draws the praise of his superiors, for once including Haynes. Bunk remains frustrated with McNulty's scheme and begins to make progress working his old cases the traditional way. Carcetti delivers a rousing speech about the serial killer and decides to spin homelessness into a core campaign issue.[36][37] |
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7 | 57 | "Took" | David Simon, Richard Price | Richard Price | Dominic West | February 17, 2008 |
"They don't teach it in law school." - Pearlman Freamon and McNulty stage a call from the killer to Templeton and send him the photographs to get the picture intercept equipment they need. Carcetti authorizes resources for the investigation and McNulty finally has the funds he hoped for. Bunk interviews Michael about the vacant murders but learns nothing. Omar attacks more of Stanfield's people and damages his reputation on the street at every opportunity. After a spectacular courtroom performance Davis is acquitted of the corruption charges. Kima Greggs reconnects with her ex-girlfriend's son. Haynes investigates his suspicions about Templeton and learns that Templeton has lied about his reporting.[38][39] |
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8 | 58 | "Clarifications" | David Simon, Dennis Lehane | Dennis Lehane | Anthony Hemingway | February 24, 2008 |
"A lie ain't a side of a story. It's just a lie." - Terry Hanning Partlow keeps word of Omar attacking Stanfield's name from Stanfield. Omar's mission is ended when he is surprised and killed by a young drug dealer named Kenard. The Iraq veteran comes forward to complain that Templeton fabricated details of their discussion and Haynes is shocked that Templeton's misconduct involves even this story; Haynes misses the story of Omar's death. Bunk finally gets a murder warrant on Partlow with a little assistance from McNulty. McNulty asks Carver to provide a surveillance team for Freamon using the serial killer funding and with the extra manpower Sydnor breaks the communications code. McNulty cannot stand to see Greggs spending time on the serial killer case and he admits inventing the killer. Russell warns McNulty that she will leave him if his behaviour continues and McNulty comes clean to her too. Dukie finds work with street vendors who collect and sell scrap metal. Carcetti fends off a challenge for the democratic nomination from Prince George's county and is forced to make promises to Davis, Campbell, and a congressman from the county.[40][41] |
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9 | 59 | "Late Editions" | David Simon, George Pelecanos | George Pelecanos | Joe Chappelle | March 2, 2008 |
"Deserve got nuthin' to do with it." - Snoop Freamon tracks Partlow to a Stanfield resupply and makes multiple arrests including Partlow, Stanfield, and Cheese. Carcetti holds a press confernce to celebrate the arrests. Stanfield is suspicious of an informant and orders Snoop to kill Michael. Michael realizes the danger, murders Snoop, and goes into hiding. Suddenly homeless, Dukie moves in with the street vendors. Stanfield learns that Omar used his name on the street and is enraged. Greggs goes to Daniels about McNulty's actions. Bubbles celebrates a sobriety anniversary and reporter Mike Fletcher writes a profile about him. Haynes launches a more thorough investigation into Templeton's lies.[42][43] |
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10 | 60 | "–30–" | David Simon, Ed Burns | David Simon | Clark Johnson | March 9, 2008 |
"...the life of kings." - H.L. Mencken Daniels tells Carcetti that McNulty fabricated the serial killer. Fearing for his campaign, Carcetti orders a cover-up and Daniels is angry but accepts the orders for the sake of the careers of those peripherally involved. Freamon learns that Levy is involved with leaking courthouse documents to drug dealers and tells Pearlman. McNulty and Freamon decide to retire when Pearlman warns them that they are going to be re-assigned to dead-end units. Levy realizes the Stanfield investigation relied upon an illegal wiretap. As part of the cover-up, Pearlman negotiates a deal with Levy; Levy will escape charges for the leak, Stanfield's charges will be suspended and he will go free but be forced to leave the drug game, while the others in custody will plead guilty to the charges. Stanfield sells the connection to The Greeks back to the Co-Op and plans to become a business man. Daniels refuses to falsify statistics to help Carcetti's election campaign. Campbell brings up his past to blackmail him into compliance but Daniels instead elects to stand down and begins a new career as a defense attorney. For their part in the cover-up Pearlman and Rawls are rewarded with promotions; Pearlman becomes a judge and Rawls is made State Police Superintendant. Michael becomes a stick-up artist. Dukie begins using heroin. Carcetti goes on to become Governor, Campbell replaces him as Mayor and promotes Valchek to commissioner.[44][45] |
[edit] External links
- The Wire at the Internet Movie Database
[edit] References
- ^ John M. Higgins (2006). HBO Renews The Wire. Broadcasting & Cable.
- ^ a b c d Meghan O'Rourke (2006). Behind The Wire. Slate.com.
- ^ David Mills. Just to tease you fans of The Wire…. Retrieved on 2007-03-14.
- ^ a b c Wiltz, Teresa (2007-09-03). Down to "The Wire": It's a Wrap for Gritty TV Series. Washington Post. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Margaret Talbot (2007). Stealing Life. The New Yorker. Retrieved on 2007-10-14.
- ^ One on One with David Simon. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
- ^ a b c d e f David Zurawik (2007). Fact and fiction, down to The Wire. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
- ^ a b c Urban Renewal for L&O and The Wire. TV Guide (2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
- ^ Preview of The Wire Season 5. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
- ^ Charlie McCollom (2007). "The Wire" returns. San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
- ^ Kevin Thompson (2007). Merry Christmas to me! "The Wire" comes early!. Palm Beach Post. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
- ^ a b Andrew Wallenstein (2007). HBO's "Wire" plugs in VOD vignettes. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
- ^ a b Sean O'Neal (2007). HBO offers free "Wire" prequels. A.V. Club. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
- ^ a b Oscar Dahl (2007). HBO releases three prequel videos for "The Wire". Buddy TV. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
- ^ a b HBO'S 'The Wire' Preps Back Stories: Three short films will precede launch of fifth season in January.. EUR Web (2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
- ^ a b Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts (2007). The CIA Has A New Man On a Special Mission -- to Hollywood. The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2007-10-20.
- ^ Oldenburg, Ann (August 5, 2007). Belzer character Munches more scenery. USA Today. Retrieved on 2007-08-08.
- ^ Just to tease you fans of "The Wire".... Undercover Black Man (February 28, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-02-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah About the Show. HBO (2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
- ^ a b HBO Re-Hangs 'Wire' in January. Zap 2 It (2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Kelly Jane Torrance (2007). Tuning In. The Washington Times. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u HBO's Award-Winning Drama The Wire Returns to Movie Central and The Movie Network For a Fifth and Final Season. Movie Central (2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
- ^ a b c Season 5 crew. HBO (2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
- ^ The Wire season 3 crew. HBO (2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-14.
- ^ 'The Wire' loses spark in newsroom storyline. Baltimore Sun (2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-30.
- ^ Brian Lowry (2007). 'The Wire' gets the newsroom right. Variety. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
- ^ "More with Less". Joe Chappelle, Writ. David Simon (story and teleplay), Ed Burns (story). The Wire. HBO. 2008-01-06. No. 1, season 5.
- ^ The Wire episode guide - episode 51 More with Less. HBO (2008). Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
- ^ "Unconfirmed Reports". Ernest Dickerson, Writ. William F. Zorzi (story and teleplay), David Simon (story). The Wire. HBO. 2008-01-13. No. 2, season 5.
- ^ The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Uncomfirmed Reports. HBO (2008). Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
- ^ "Not for Attribution". Scott and Joy Kecken, Writ. Chris Collins (story and teleplay), David Simon (story). The Wire. HBO. 2008-01-20. No. 3, season 5.
- ^ The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution. HBO (2008). Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
- ^ "Transitions". Dan Attias, Writ. Ed Burns (story and teleplay), David Simon (story). The Wire. HBO. 2008-01-27. No. 4, season 5.
- ^ "React Quotes". Agnieszka Holland, Writ. David Mills (story and teleplay), David Simon (story). The Wire. HBO. 2008-02-03. No. 5, season 5.
- ^ The Wire episode guide - episode 55 React Quotes. HBO (2008). Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ "The Dickensian Aspect". Seith Mann, Writ. Ed Burns (story and teleplay), David Simon (story). The Wire. HBO. 2008-02-10. No. 6, season 5.
- ^ The Wire episode guide - episode 56 The Dickensian Aspect. HBO (2008). Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
- ^ "Took". Dominic West, Writ. Richard Price (story and teleplay), David Simon (story). The Wire. HBO. 2008-02-17. No. 7, season 5.
- ^ The Wire episode guide - episode 57 Took. HBO (2008). Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
- ^ "Clarifications". Anthony Hemingway, Writ. Dennis Lehane (story and teleplay), David Simon (story). The Wire. HBO. 2008-02-24. No. 8, season 5.
- ^ The Wire episode guide - episode 58 Clarifications. HBO (2008). Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
- ^ "Late Editions". Joe Chappelle, Writ. George Pelecanos (story and teleplay), David Simon (story). The Wire. HBO. 2008-03-02. No. 9, season 5.
- ^ The Wire episode guide - episode 59 Late Editions. HBO (2008). Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
- ^ "-30-". Clark Johnson, Writ. David Simon (story and teleplay), Ed Burns (story). The Wire. HBO. 2008-03-09. No. 10, season 5.
- ^ The Wire episode guide - episode 60 –30–. HBO (2008). Retrieved on 2008-03-10.