The Wire vs. Detroit 1-8-7: A Comparison of Networks

The Wire and Detroit 1-8-7 take the same concept and adapt it in two different directions. There are many reasons for this, the initial being network content vs. cable, as well as the show’s need for ratings. For example, The Wire sets itself in the city of Baltimore, and focuses on different facets of life in the city. It deals with issues of crime, violence, politics, journalism, and racism on a realistic level in a city known for its high crime and violence. Detroit 1-8-7 in its first season has largely taken the role that The Wire did in their initial season as well. It investigates the life of the police as they deal with the high rates of crime that plague their city. Unfortunately, where The Wire succeeds at capturing a realistic city with identifiable characters, Detroit 1-8-7 falls into the standard tropes that most shows of its kind do.

                The Wire never dealt with the issue of the Murder-A-Week scenario. Plotlines weren’t begun and ended in the same episode, as the show’s main plot ran over a series of episodes, and in many cases, the entire season. Detroit 1-8-7, as a network television program, must attract weekly ratings, and provide the viewer with a complete storyline in 42 minutes. These result in the issue of having little to no feel of the repercussions of actions that the show’s characters make. They find a murder, investigate it, and solve it by the end of the show. In addition, the tropes they use to make this happen are pulled straight from police dramas dating all the way back to Hill Street Blues. No process is shown, they simply find their “guy,” bring him in, question him for information, and then move on to finding their next “guy.” The Wire never showed any continuing issues of investigation, because it focused on the realism of the police, and crime in general. Criminals weren’t fast talking jerks or angry morons; they were people who came with their own reasons for what they did.

                The overall reasoning comes to the fact that these shows, while both maintaining the premise of dealing with social issues in a debilitated city, have entirely separate demographics and intentions. The Wire was on a channel where ratings weren’t everything, like on network TV. Being on a channel of paid subscribers allowed David Simon, the show’s creator, to push the boundaries and depict a violent, sexual, and racist environment that simply couldn’t be displayed on Detroit 1-8-7. The closest that show ever deals with sex is a wacky side-story regarding who of the detectives who “get it on” in the interrogation room. It’s meant as procedural drama.

                Detroit 1-8-7 fails where The Wire succeeded due to its lack of ambition and commitment to making any sort of real statement regarding the city’s issues. Police procedurals are a dime a dozen in today’s television landscape, and to stand out and make a difference, a show needs to move beyond the standard weekly bad guy, and move on to deeper and more realistic themes.

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work

It's amazing that it took this long for a documentary on Joan Rivers to get made. Her life as an icon for almost 50 years certainly has a large wealth of history to explore, and her personality is well suited to a documentary following the legendary comedian. That's why it's amazing the route that Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work took when creating the penultimate documentary film on River's life. Instead of concentrating on her history, the film looks at her present. It's fitting really, as clearly shown throughout portions of the movie, whenever Joan Rivers is asked about her life as an influence to other comics or an inspiration to women, she also comes back with a sarcastic "Fuck You," referring to her viewpoint that her career is nowhere close to being over. And that's certainly true, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work shows how dedicated and constant Rivers is with her work schedule, and how she'll do anything to remain the staple that she became on the Johnny Carson show. The documentary follows Rivers as she works on television, stage, and screen, all the while masking her constant internal struggle with this never-ending desire to work. Rivers is clearly a complicated individual, she's gone through trauma and struggle that most celebrities, or even everyday people have to face. And it's clear through every scene how much she just wants to remain working in order to prove that nothing can bring her down. From a casino in Wisconsin, to a small theater in London, to the Kennedy Tribute for George Carlin, Joan shows the melding of her on-screen and off-screen persona. On stage she's angry, cynical, brash, and outspoken, but when she's off stage, he persona takes a more serious tone, and the first time you see her cry, it seems like decades of hardship come creeping to the surface, and for one single moment, she's human again.

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work is an amazing glimpse at the unfinished career of a Hollywood icon. People that simply know her from E!, or on awards nights may see her as a spotlight-hungry washed-up old woman, but if anything, this film proves the exact opposite. Her dedication to her craft is something that is unmatched in the comedy industry, along with her desire to be taken seriously as a person. Rivers pioneered the world of female comedians (A term she would despise), and this film at it's utmost simplicity shows that she's never stopped doing so. The film is a glimpse into the world of a person that many may only see from the surface, but Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, is a fantastic glimpse at the life of not only a famous celebrity, but a honest, open, sometimes angry, and hard-working human being.

Cheeseburgers: The Holy Grail of Flavor

Cheeseburgers are the epitome of flavor. They take a mixture of flavors from every main facet of taste and culminate them into a single, delicious sandwich. Its flavor is like no other, as it can incorporate elements of sweetness, saltiness, spiciness, and a veritable sea of flavors and still impress with its result. As the ever-changing sandwich of the cheeseburger can feature so many different flavors, styles, and appearances, it’s hard to dub which location in Chicago truly produces the best. When looking for the pinnacle of cheeseburger flavor, you must consider three facets, flavor, customizability, and price. Locations such as the South Loop Club and Standing Room only offer delicious burgers, but they only come in one combination of toppings. Epic Burger provides a delicious sandwich constructed to one’s desire, but its price is far more than the sandwich is worth. No, the ultimate mixture of flavor, customizability and price goes to the Five Guys Burgers and Fries, the quickly growing chain of burgers that provides the most simple of burgers (always a double patty nonetheless), and asks you to create and customize it. The list of available toppings is more than even the pickiest of burger consumers could hope for. There is no worry taken regarding making a more healthy burger, Five Guys simply concentrates on flavor and asks the customer to go from there. The ingredients are always fresh and delicious, the food is plentiful, and the price is more than fair. Five Guys is the fast food chain every cheeseburger dreams of.