By Kim Gray in Baltimore City
It never fails that when I am in another city and people learn I’m from Baltimore they all
ask me the same question, “Is Baltimore really like The Wire?” I want to point out to them that The Wire is a television program; a dramatization. Sure, we have crime in our city and some areas keep the police more engaged than others, but every corner does not have a drug deal going down. Why do people believe everything they see?
Television was very popular in my house when I was a child. We didn’t even need a clock, we could tell what time it was by the program that came on. The delivery of the TV Guide was an actual event. No one was allowed to touch it before my grandmother had seen it. We could mark off the shows we wanted to watch, but knew whatever she wanted to see trumped any of our programs. Everyone had their own spot in the living room for nightly viewing, with my younger sister seated on the floor directly in front of the set. Her job was to switch the channel to save my dad or grandmother from having to get up. This job resulted in her needing glasses by the time she was five.
Dad didn’t watch many police shows. I suppose he saw enough crime during the day. In fact, he told me some of the programs aired were so bad they should be crimes. “The only show that is even close to how real detectives act is Barney Miller,” Dad said more than once.
This story makes my cousin Brian laugh. Brian was a police officer in Baltimore City for fourteen years, and then went on to become a detective. We have long discussions about
police work, so I asked him how he felt about the way police are portrayed on TV shows.
“I liked the shows Southland, NYPD Blue and Third Watch because they were true to both the personal and professional aspects of police life. Most of the new shows on today are far from realistic,” he answered.
My friend Tom, who is a detective sergeant in the Boston area and has served on the force for thirty one years, enjoys a few of the police dramas including True Detective, which he finds to be pretty accurate. “I watched a lot of police shows as a kid. The Rookies, Police Story and Columbo were some of my favorites,” Tom said. He also noted that many shows today can be misleading. “The CSI series created a false image of our work, especially how evidence is actually processed,” Tom said adding, “The Shield was a show that really kicked cops reputations, but I think Law and Order is a legitimate show.” Both Tom and Brian agreed that Hill Street Blues was also one that stayed close to the actual way police behaved.
When I asked Tom if he thought shows influenced the way the public felt about officers he had this to say: “The public who supports the police will do so regardless of TV shows. There is no show that will change the opinion of those who take shots and constantly criticize us.” Tom’s comment was true. It is hard to change opinions that are already formed.
I have to admit, had I not been raised by a detective I might believe what’s aired on TV. I enjoy watching police and detective shows, though I am more likely to watch Elementary or Castle because I am looking for entertainment not facts. I’ve never seen an episode of The Wire and I’m not sure I want to. When my dad passed away in 2006 I had all his stories stuck in my head, but it wasn’t the same as hearing him deliver them. A couple of years ago I discovered a show on cable called Homicide Hunter. Listening to Lt. Joe Kenda describe the crimes is like having a visit with my dad. If I close my eyes I can almost imagine it is him. Their speech patterns and mannerisms are so similar it amazes me. I look forward to those nights. To me the police are heroes and that’s the way I want to see them portrayed on screen. I know it’s not always a reality, but, after all, it’s only television.
My, my, my…I love that show and Lt. Kenda..my better half calls him my TV boyfriend 🙂
Definitely one of my favorites.
Kim, I laughed at your comment about the arrival of the TV Guide. My mother used to read it aloud to us at lunch! It was indeed an event.
I always wonder if police officers yell at TV cop shows the way my husband yells at TV shows about newsrooms. I know from my work that most writers do want to get the details right and create a story that reflects accuracy in procedure and how police work. It helps to have friends and relatives on the force–and you certainly do!
I don’t think cops yell at the television, at least my dad never did. He just refused to watch it. My grandmother was in charge of the television, the TV Guide and, well the entire house. Those were the days!
Yes, the TV Guide! And changing channels by hand, of course, with a knob that clicked through all three channels (or was it ten?). I don’t watch TV now, but maybe I’d better look for that show.
You should most certainly watch an episode of Homicide Hunter. He is the best!
I don’t remember watching a lot of police shows when I was young. I loved Get Smart and Man from UNCLE. We were not a TV Guide family.
You poor thing! There is always time to catch up! We watched Get Smart and Mission: Impossible. Loved those!
We weren’t a TV Guide family either (that’s what the daily listings in the newspaper were for) but my mother’s parents got it, and I remember pouring over it when I was visiting, thinking it was so exotic.
I like a lot of the shows mentioned, Southland, Third Watch, Hill Street, True Detective, but can also go for the pure fantasy of an Elementary.
The TV Guide was like receiving the Sears Catalogue only it came every week. We sat and imagined all the shows we could watch if only my grandmother’s golden agers club met at night!
Reblogged this on F4l ~ FLECK and commented:
“Is Baltimore really like The Wire?” =)
Just like it! Ha!
I was addicted to “Homicide: Life on the Street”.