“What Are All These Kids Doing Here?” (with Idris Elba and Jermaine Crawford)

In the end, The Wire offered a glimpse of where society was headed if nothing changed. Clarke Peters and Dominic West discuss Season 5's divisive serial killer story arc, while Andre Royo recalls Bubbles' redemption. Idris Elba and TV critic Sonia Saraiya weigh in on how The Wire never won an Emmy. Author D. Watkins explores The Wire's social impact while David Simon and Ed Burns share their perspective on why the show still resonates so deeply. Lastly, Wendell Pierce sounds off on how one scene, in particular, speaks to The Wire and the state of the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Wire created one of the most complex characters in the history of television in Omar Little, played by the late Michael Kenneth Williams. Casting director Alexa Fogel recalls what made her consider Williams for the role, and Ed Burns remembers his initial doubts and how Williams extinguished them when the cameras rolled. Idris Elba, Andre Royo, JD Williams, Wendell Pierce, Hassan Johnson, Domenick Lombardozzi, Clarke Peters, Karen Thorson and Jermaine Crawford also join The Wire at 20 to talk about the special type of person Williams was, his exceptional talent, their friendships with him, and how his performance added new depth to discussions of masculinity. Rest in peace, Michael Kenneth Williams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Wire has historically been known for its tight-knit family environment behind the scenes. Executive producer Nina Noble attributes their bond to the show's underdog status. Domenick Lombardozzi, Dominic West, JD Williams, and Andre Royo join The Wire at 20 to talk about the frat house environment they cultivated. Next, Karen Thorson and Jim True-Frost recall renting rooms in Clarke Peters's home, a more mature space that he called "The Academy." Finally, Nina, Wendell Pierce, and Dominic remember how the team staged an intervention for Dominic after his enthusiasm lapsed during Season 4. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Wire isn’t exactly a love letter to Baltimore, but you can’t deny the Charm City gives the show its personality and energy. David Simon joins The Wire at 20 to describe how the politics of filming in Baltimore changed over time. Andre Royo and JD Williams recall the day-to-day excitement and challenges of filming on the city’s streets. And Method Man engages in a dynamic conversation with one cast member who was B-more to the core: Felicia “Snoop” Pearson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Casting director Alexa Fogel explains how tricky it was to cast one of The Wire’s lead characters, Jimmy McNulty. We hear from Dominic West, Wendell Pierce, and Andre Royo about scoring their roles and the unique prep work they did to ace their performances. Domenick Lombardozzi and Jim True-Frost weigh in on the precarious nature of the show, which often felt like it was on the verge of cancellation. Producers Karen Thorson and Nina Noble round out the episode with memories of executive producer Bob Colesberry, who passed away unexpectedly between seasons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices