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Trade News | January 19, 2009 | Comments (21)

One of my favorite TV pastimes is conducting “The Wire” Alumni Watch, which isn’t so much an organized watch as much as it’s me screaming at the TV when I see Vondas and Herc on “Entourage” or Maurice Levy eating some Arby’s. (And don’t get me started on how sad it is to watch Prez shill for Burger King.) I always like seeing them get work, even if it is on understandably lesser outlets than David Simon’s masterpiece.

But Variety is reporting that Idris Elba — Stringer Bell himself — will appear this season on “The Office” in a six-episode arc playing a rival to Steve Carell’s Michael Scott. This definitely puts Elba in the lead when it comes to former “Wire” castmembers working on shows you can be proud of; I was as terrified of Jamie “Marlo” Hector as the next guy, but he went from “Wire” to “Heroes,” which is like downshifting from filet mignon to week-old Pizza Hut dipped in hobo vomit. There aren’t a lot of details yet about Elba’s role on “Office” other than that he’ll be a corporate-level foil for Michael. I’m just happy to see the guy working. And call me crazy, but I’d love it if his character led meetings like this one (no spoilers, dialogue N remotely SFW):

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Err, Amy Ryan was on the Office first. I believe she wins the Wire alumni contest.

Posted by: merle at January 19, 2009 12:40 PM

Adjourn your asses? That does it, I'm watching The Wire.

Posted by: Sabrina at January 19, 2009 12:42 PM

Lt. Daniels is on Fringe, which is no Office, but still a good time.

Posted by: sleater at January 19, 2009 12:46 PM

My dad kinda plays this game too, except that he doesn't really watch television. Usually if a person from The Wire shows up on something I'm watching, though, it gives him a nice distraction from mocking whatever it is that I'm actually trying to watch.

Posted by: Genny (also Rusty) at January 19, 2009 12:53 PM

Aah, damnit. I was hoping Jim would get the corporate job. But hey, it's always great to watch Michael trying to interact with black people.

BOPPITY!

Posted by: figgy at January 19, 2009 12:53 PM

I've been talking about watching 'The Wire' forever, but that scene kinda blew my mind wad. Hello Netflix Queue.

Posted by: adam at January 19, 2009 1:01 PM

Yummy! I wish there was nudity on "The Office."

Posted by: snapnhiss at January 19, 2009 1:18 PM

I can't blame Elba, a motherfucka gotta eat.

Posted by: Pookie at January 19, 2009 1:23 PM

does someone have a link to the Prez BK ad mentioned, I can't find it, and would be interested to see it.

Posted by: e at January 19, 2009 2:28 PM

can't blame Elba, a motherfucka gotta eat.

I know where he could start.

Posted by: jM at January 19, 2009 3:04 PM

Lt. Daniels has been on Lost for a while too.

just puttin' that out there

Posted by: kyle at January 19, 2009 3:20 PM

Sure jM, like most women who claim that they like oral, you keep your mace handy only to spray me in the face just because I'm trying to be a true gentleman and ask you if you want to go get a room so I can taste your juices.

Posted by: Pookie at January 19, 2009 3:37 PM

In other 'The Wire' castwatch:

An episode of 'Life on Mars' I saw had Lester Freamon, Cutty, and Frank Sobotka in it (Frank Sobotka is also in 'True blood' as a fairly regular character); I saw Colvin in a preview for the upcoming show 'Lie to Me'

Posted by: RH at January 19, 2009 4:15 PM

Ok what IS this show? I must watch it. I'm assuming it's not on any regular network because of the language.

That said, I LOVE it when Daryl teaches Michael Scott fake black phrases to use. Or when Daryl talks about all the gangs he's been in, including "the Newsies."

Oh and we do that game with British character actors and such. It's fun! In all of the UK they have only about a dozen well known actors so you end up seeing the same people in all kinds of different shows and movies.

Posted by: Anastasia Beaverhausen at January 19, 2009 7:30 PM

Ok what IS this show?

It's "Homicide"'s kid brother. Literally. Same creator, same town, but on a much bigger canvas, thematically at least. The Baltimore detectives and drug dealers start the series and then move in and out of the foreground as the seasons cover different aspects of the problems American cities have. Since it was on HBO there aren't the language restrictions and the 22-episode format of network TV. More like UK "series" which appeared mostly annually, and were mostly 13 episodes, but weren't tied to a season framework.

This is a pretty funny quote from Idris Elba's imdb page:
"Wherever I go the real hard-core drug dealers come up to me and confide in me. I almost feel guilty turning around and saying: 'Ello, mate. My name's Idris and I'm from London.' I don't want to break the illusion." - On why he uses his American accent when talking to fans of "The Wire".

He is frighteningly convincing as not being from London. Dominic West (anti-hero detective) was for me a bit more like Tim Roth in "Reservoir Dogs". "I can't place it....but sometimes your accent hydroplanes on something".

p.s. BODIEEEEEEEEEE!!

Posted by: Jay at January 19, 2009 7:54 PM

Finally, finally got to The Wire on the ole Netfix queue. We just finished the second disc of Season One.

This means I have seen exactly five episodes. Man alive this shit is good. I'm pleased that I have another four seasons to get through.

It is truly amazing stuff. Stringer Bell is already legendary in my mind, like Hannibal Lecter or The Man With No Name. But after Ep 5 my absolute favorite is Omar. I want to sit on the steps with Omar.

I'm actually fretting about several of the characters I like, because I know a lot of people don't survive and I'm worried that my favorites are gonna die, but I don't know when.

P.S. Don't you spoil me. DON'T YOU FUCKIN' SPOIL ME. Fuckers.

Posted by: Jerce at January 19, 2009 9:33 PM

Now, what I did on a few occasions, which is sorta halfway spoiling, is checking imdb, which will list how many and in which episodes a character appears. Doesn't say someone's dead, but that you'll possibly see them again. What's really nice is that as long as someone's still alive they will come back, even if it's a year or two later. The show doesn't forget anything. They expect you to remember everything too.

Without saying who or what, there's a whole background for a character which is never spoken about and consists of a few seconds in two non-consecutive scenes. Not integral to the plot at all, just brilliant detail.

Just don't look at Wikipedia unless you really have to, you know.

Posted by: Jay at January 19, 2009 9:44 PM

Err, Amy Ryan was on the Office first.

Hopefully Michael and he will have a different kind of relationship. That said, they should still perform a rap together

Posted by: Brian at January 19, 2009 11:54 PM

He is frighteningly convincing as not being from London.

OH MY GODtopus, how did I not know this? Idris with an accent? I am youtubing interviews ALL UP IN THIS BITCH. SWOON.

Posted by: jamiepants at January 20, 2009 3:41 PM

OH I can't even look at him and listen at the same time...It's just tooooo hot.

Posted by: jamiepants at January 20, 2009 3:43 PM

Well, hey, you're welcome!

Posted by: Jay at January 20, 2009 3:58 PM

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