In a time when TV ratings are everything and series renewals can be very tentative, HBO has jumped the gun and renewed its new series Treme after just one airing. It’s a move that’s nearly unheard of in the business.
Created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer, who created The Wire for HBO, Treme is a drama about a neighborhood in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans. It starts three months after the hurricane hit and follows residents of the neighborhood trying to rebuild their lives and their homes. The show stars Khandi Alexander, Rob Brown, Kim Dickens, Michiel Huisman, Melissa Leo, Lucia Micarelli, Clarke Peters, Wendell Pierce, Steve Zahn, and John Goodman.
Treme premiered this past Sunday night with 1.4 millions viewers throughout its different airings. HBO is obviously pleased with that turnout, being that the final season of The Wire averaged just 890,000 viewers. HBO president Michael Lombardo compares Treme to the highly respected Wire, in that they both have audiences that are “so passionate and invested.” It’s his belief that people will become addicted to Treme, and HBO wants to be the type of network that allows that kind of excellence to continue.
 Loading ... |
The connection between Treme and The Wire and New Orleans goes much deeper than just the same creators. The first star to be hired for the series was Pierce, star of The Wire. He’s a native of New Orleans, while Overmyer lives part time in New Orleans, and Goodman is a longtime resident of the area. Whenever they could, casting looked to hire Big Easy natives.
Lombardo indicated that the early renewal of Treme has just as much to do with the ratings success as the series itself. “We’ve seen the first nine episodes; it’s as strong as any show we’ve seen.”
The series will go back into production this fall, with the second season premiering in the spring of 2011, the same time as HBO’s next new project, Game of Thrones, hits the air.
Image courtesy HBO.
Newer and/or Related Articles
-
Treme: Season Three Ratings
Nov 29, 2012 -
Treme: Final Five Episodes to Start Shooting
Oct 27, 2012 -
Treme: Renewed for Fourth, Final Season
Sep 23, 2012 -
Boardwalk Empire, Treme: HBO TV Series Return in September
Jul 12, 2012 -
Treme
Jun 22, 2012 -
Treme: Season Three to Debut in Early Fall
Jun 22, 2012 -
Treme: Season Three Delayed Until Fall 2012
Jan 22, 2012 -
The Wire: Attorney General Pleads for Season Six, David Simon Responds
Jun 14, 2011 -
Treme: HBO TV Series Renewed for Season Three
May 14, 2011 -
Treme: HBO TV Series Returns for Season Two in April
Mar 31, 2011 -
Beverly Hills, 90210: More Spin-off Casting, Another Original Castmember’s Interested
May 3, 2008 -
Where Are They Now? Green Room Chatter for April 7, 2008
Apr 7, 2008 -
Where Are They Now? Some Green Room Chatter for January 18, 2008
Jan 18, 2008 -
Where Are They Now? Some Green Room Chatter for December 7, 2007
Dec 7, 2007 -
The Wire: Previews of the Last Season of HBO Drama
Nov 28, 2007 -
Detective John Munch: A Record-Breaking Character
Oct 25, 2007 -
The Wire
Oct 23, 2007 -
The Wire: HBO Series Cast and Crew Say Goodbye
Sep 5, 2007
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
whatever you do, do not take treme off the air. It is the best show on tv at this time -
June,2011- I think this show could run for years, similar to mash and other’s. It is so real and down to earth. Yes some of the scenes are heartbreaking or cruel, but it is whats actually happening in everyday life. Treme is the voice for many, many people of all ages. I give this show both thumbs up and hope others will join in to keep this show on the air. Thank you for the music, the characters, the plots, and the places i miss seeing .
cdms
I wish they re-run series 1 while they are in the process of producing series 2. I enjoyed ever bit of Treme.
I’m dying for Treme season 2, meanwhile watching season one again. Really sorry about John Goodman’s character, but understand plot concept will focus on other cast members and new characters. I love this show!