Wood Harris' Thoughts on "The Wire" and Being Snubbed By the Emmys | Jemele Hill is Unbothered

Many would consider HBO's crime drama "The Wire" a classic. The show was praised by viewers but that same praise was not reflected when Emmy nominations rolled around. Star of the show, Wood Harris, reflects on being snubbed by the Emmys in acting categories and why this seems to happen over and over again when it comes to Black TV shows and movies.
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Award-winning journalist and culture critic Jemele Hill interviews the most compelling figures in news, pop culture, politics and sports. Expect unbothered and unfiltered conversations.

[@Aaron-sg8br]

I do agree "The Wire" is the greatest show of all time.

[@Maal7432]

Yup. I watched it earlier.

[@danieldimino4622]

No way man....the wire was grimy gritty and pretty good but it had nothing on the Sopranos Breaking Bad or even Sons of Anarchy

[@reebul8768]

The Wire is sick but Breaking Bad edged it for me a bit.

[@thomasmills339]

It's really not. it doesn't crack the top 20.

[@anthonyfalice2421]

The Wire is definitely the best show ever to me.Because that show was REALITY the sopranos was entertaining but let’s be honest.If that was real life Tony would’ve been at the bottom of a river before season 1 ended.Breaking Bad VERY entertaining but it’s not better than The Wire.

[@MrJreed98]

Social media would’ve exploded the Wire! Look at how Snowfall is being received and the Wire’s writing is leaps and bounds above theirs.

[@wflive21]

I see no lies!

[@AbsolveAsGaad]

Fact

[@Mvs2527]

Time for another "The Wire" rewatch

[@bigpauleemarine3236]

They about to start tapping we own this city GTTF book by the guy who wrote some of the wire

[@GeneSquires]

Wood Harris is literally my favorite actor of all time. All my life he has been that dude. Awesome to see him expressing himself on your platform.

[@MikeNmurdoc]

"I'll fight for people, but I won't fight for trophies" is such a bar!! Wood is a Legend

[@jameshamm1767]

The Sopranos was a nice show. The Wire was and is a masterpiece.

[@iunderstanphotography2780]

props

[@ZChoate]

Take it easy, we aren't making a western here.

[@thomasmills339]

sopranos was terrible. the wire was ok but not great

[@slovell920]

i stopped watching the Sopranos to follow the Wire. i was always a wire fan and I was co-opted from the Sopranos because it was real

[@anthonyhilton1709]

Me personally l had a love hate relationship with the show. Thr show was so real it bought back some bad memories for me. Drug abuse and killings families being destroyed. The images of my childhood home Baltimore Maryland. I smiled and l cried.

[@selenasimmons6653]

I understand that!

[@OmarScruggs]

The kids on season 3 and 4 were the most impressive thing on the wire

[@gretchennesmith9538]

The Wire is and always will be the greatest show of all times. I still don't understand why The Wire didn't win any awards it should have at least won a blue ribbon or something, I mean come on. I haven't seen a show as good as The Wire to this day.

[@blackestvex2921]

I love how he talks about acting in general.....very nuanced. " Avon " is THAT dude.

[@j.ericsandoval566]

The Wire is SO GREAT, know how much?? I’ll TELL you how much. I bought all 5 seasons on DVD as they came out, dig? 2 years ago I had to pack everything and put it all in storage to move from L.A. to Japan. I ended up buying all 5 seasons AGAIN just so I could have my Wire fix over here in Japan after I found out that my Amazon Prime HBO doesn’t work over here. Back home even having it all on DVD I watched it on Amazon Prime too. I was FIENDING for it and now I have it. That’s how good that show is. Ain’t no show ever been better, not before nor since. Great interview. Glad I found it this morning.

[@tariqwilliams8968]

“That’s the thing about blackness it can titled as the GOAT but be snubbed” one of the best quotes of heard about racial injustice ever so glad I found this interview and I agree wholeheartedly GOT got their just due Sorpranos & Sex in the city and etc when you mention all of those shows you mention the wire with it but somehow they never got ONE award smh #WhitePrivilege . Please don’t argue with me either not on this one. You can dislike this comment that’s fine but this cannot be debated. It’s literally a fact

[@christianaayodele]

Greatest television show of all time. Period

[@richardsimpson3819]

The Wire truly a masterpiece period.

[@DRLEWIS]

Sure is

[@shameekgrimes1921]

Mr. Avon Barksdale 😂

[@91toinfinity]

It's 100% racial. A complete slap in the face.

[@tochiRTA]

yet you have so-called hip hop fans who are quick to dickride Kendrick/Kanye about "look how many Grammys" and "Rolling Stone says their shit classic" lol. We been known what it is with White critics.

[@bejoysen4468]

David Simon made a miniseries called "The Corner" about a poor, black family in Baltimore. It won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries. So I doubt the Wire was snubbed b/c of racism. Probably they ignored it because it was too complex/intelligent. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Corner

[@Ryan07_20]

@@bejoysen4468it would’ve been much easier to nominate a miniseries than a full one. And even the corner didn’t get an acting Emmy nomination

[@debiwilliams1588]

Wood Harris- one of the best to grace our screens. He is simply that dude!

[@TheLarryjohnson187]

Wood Harris have another potential classic on his hands with the BMF show coming out this year

[@terencethomas5063]

Yeah I'm so looking forward to the Bmf show , I'm from the Atl

[@TheLarryjohnson187]

@@terencethomas5063 yeah I stay Atlanta. They have been shooting the show in Atlanta and Detroit. It's going to be dope

[@chriswil5919]

@@terencethomas5063 Meech and Southwest T from Detroit and and most of The Real Bmf is also ,Jus sayn #Detroit

[@LegacyBridge]

Great interview!

[@Osafresh94]

The Wire 10x better than sex in the city

[@brit-ta-ni]

I’ll STILL take a Wire “something.” We want to catch up with Avon.

[@alikathiphopoprah5507]

Just watched this series 2021......great acting and writing

[@oldwalt4645]

Season 4 of the Wire is hands down the best season of a show I've ever seen in my life.

[@weggro]

Ive watched the wire 7 times and its just as good each time.

[@AP-ld2qv]

The fkn best..... J Hill and W. Harris Dopeness

[@Acinc-lr2jp]

I think it would still have impact! It's content and story is still relevant! He’s right it would have gotten huge exposure today with social media.

[@isaiahwatson9824]

I hope this BMF story can bring the same magic as the Wire.

[@saxmanphd]

Still the 🐐

[@warrenjackson8777]

The Wire,although the technology used in it to help build the case against the antagonists,is a timeless story of a city and its inhabitants. I've watched the entire show during the original airing,and now with streaming services and all,another 3 times. And like Wood Harris said about Blackness being snubbed, The Color Purple has always been a true show of Hollywood's attitude towards Blackness. 10 nominations, and not one winner. Directed by a white Jewish man and celebrated as "Hey it was really good! But just quite not great" by Hollywood...until that same director made Schindler's list and won for best picture and best director for a story about the Jewish experience.

[@barbarareed7437]

I totally agree with you on that

[@gerrig1868]

Black award shows mimic what occur on the Oscars Emmys Golden Globe if a popular black actor makes a movie the award automatically belongs to them content does not matter. People winning image awards for roles that simply are not positive images simply because they are in the top tier of Hollywood. We have award shows that really aren’t ours.

[@veshaw.]

The Grammys,Emmys,The Oscars were not made with us in mind just like most everything in this country we need our own

[@musement7446]

when i saw above the rim this guy became my fav actor before that other guy

[@latroyaltaylor8985]

I was just watching Above the Rim yesterday on Netflix.. Yep I liked his character on that too even though he was a mean bully 🤦🏾‍♀️😂😂

[@iunderstanphotography2780]

Sopranos was a great show; excellent acting, incredible actors, and an insight into whats behind the Mobster lifestyle we saw in movies like Goodfellas and Casino The Wire was the exact same thing, BUT... there has NEVER been a show or movie like the Wire. A movie that damn near teaches a course on the creation of the plight of drugs and crime in America and EVERY hood! It covered every facet of life Police, Government, Media, Schools, neighborhood etc in a depth I have NEVER seen sidebar- 5:00 this is a class rant. I love how Harris expresses himself

[@selenasimmons6653]

Wood has a point about having a character killed...it is good for a career...while I barely watched the Wire b.c at tht point I was "Baltimored out" ( ROC, Homicide: Life on the Street, The Corner I watched all of these faithfully) The Wire was a wonderful show tht should've won all kinds of awards...But if it's any comfort, Tremé David Simeon's other HBO show based on real life & ppl didn't win much either...and it had a chance at not only Emmys but Grammys too...so apparently, these folks don't care for real life or real music...

[@Chris-ir8yy]

Im glad Wood brought up Season 2. That's what hurt the show. But the fans brought the Wire Back. A lot of fans got caught up on the box dvd sets back then. Im sure Blockbuster and Hollywood vid brought that show to life. The Wire was SO COLD people watch the marathons over the holidays with the family. I lived in Bmore. The Wire could definitely happen today. With all these riots and shootings...TOO MUCH MATERIAL. Like I said, Wood is good at playing WOOD. Jemele got something going here.

[@johnduckett99]

The Streets is The Streets, Always. 👍 DUCKSTRONG 💪 💯

[@dacoldest3896]

The wire is the GOAT and Omar shouldve had his own show but they killed him :/ and Michael k williams definetly deserved a award

[@christopherharris6176]

I wonder what the wire would be it is was out now

[@terrencewilliams8739]

You should interview my homie Antwan Glover aka Slim Charles in the Wire and HBO Show Duces plus multiple movies and the leader of DC's number 1 Gogo band in our city Backyard Band look him up he has a great story

[@latroyaltaylor8985]

I noticed a few characters from the wire on that show The Duece: Slim Charles, Chris, D'Angelo, and Cheese... They all were Pimps 😂 except Slim Charles.. I loved that show but it was so underrated.. I also saw that documentary about DC gogo music culture..I never knew Antwan Glover was from DC.

[@latroyaltaylor8985]

Man if anybody should've been killed off it should've been Marlo's sinister ass. But I understand the point he's trying to make... Plus I was hurt when the killed off Omar in that unexpected way 😞

[@jstorm416]

The King stay The King!!

[@1300mikehoward]

Unlike Snowfall, the Wire shows a more detailed depictions of the drug trade on all levels. Simon provided the life of a corner boys from the steps to the streets, addiction, to the end of prison or death. Then bringing in new characters to replace others as people do in real life when living that lifestyle. Plus the characters from Snowfall don't have any swag or charisma that make you want to be that dude. I hope they turn it up in the last season.

[@kermitsmith6848]

🐐🐐🐐!!!!

[@thejames6461]

It would be like Power

[@raoulhery]

We need Idris Elba next. Let's see if Jemele brings on all her Stringer Bell F boy moments

[@tyroneallen6237]

This brother is so grounded in reality and that's something to be proud of navigating the hollyweird lifestyle salute to you Wood Harris

[@CRUSHENGLISH]

Season 2 is to The Wire, that License to Kill was to the 007 franchaise...Brilliant. Season two sews up a lot of what was to follow in the following 3 seasons.

[@briannicepianoworship8944]

The Wire vs Power Book 3 Raising Kanan

[@tourepelham8300]

You famous now

[@user-fl2nk1le9d]

Great show an this pretty Lady asked Great questions. Too cute❤

[@sbandy1278]

The 🐐

[@sbandy1278]

@anonymous bailey This gotta be a KD burner account

[@thomasrideout6811]

Real Nice Jemelle Is That WOMAN Real Talk And Wood Harris Is That DUDE

[@MichaelChiklisCares]

The Wire , Sopranos and The Shield, watched all 3 at the time.

[@juanroman2036]

The sopranoes was good but the wire was great ❤from WV dc area wood played that role 💯

[@mefirst2576]

hey weren’t ready for y’all

[@tourepelham8300]

Wire. Was great. Was the best

[@RossAndrew-vc2fo]

Not sure about the snub about blackness Wood. I simply don't know. But late 90s early ) 00s black actors were at the peak in Hollywood. I just think The wire was just forgotten because it is so dense. It takes a few episodes to get in to. Every actor Black or white in The Wire is incredible. YOU personally should have been nominated for The Wire. There were so many.

[@wesgreen826]

Janelle you I have a project in the making it's a true story six-and-a-half years I truly would love to have Wood Harris play the lead he is one of my favorite actors and nobody wants to bring up next day mail I love with Daenerys I love this so I can be able to talk to you when you could send it to him or I could talk to him the name of the pilot I was only doing you

[@alikathiphopoprah5507]

Keep pushing......

[@mikecooper3epstudios]

Paid in full - the wire - remember the titans

[@willgee7777]

The was dope, but a lot of people made it dope, not just black people, the older you get, the more you can appreciate the show

[@thomasrideout6811]

Jemelle Hill Is That WOMAN Wood Harris Is That DUDE

[@thomasrideout6811]

😊Jemelle Hill Is That WOMAN & Wood Harris Is That DUDE

[@algeronbradley4936]

Damn you are a good journalist damn good girl.

[@eugenefrazier4039]

Nobody should have won best supporting...remember the titans

[@daem1962]

Wood aging himself 😭 ‘vine star’?

[@NateFikru]

Season 5 was mid

[@jamesolivier4297]

It's behind snowfall now

[@sugebtw1124]

Lol yea ok...Franklin Saint wouldnt be a top 15 character on the Wire

[@jamesolivier4297]

@@sugebtw1124 i know I know I'm offending myself with this opinion but this is how I feel now

[@oneshoe7146]

All these awards, trophies and accolades are merely man-made constructs. Simply meaningless if you think about it. Who’s approval do we need...?

[@amelieviennot5570]

Not smart at all to try to explain the no nomination issue by a simple ''because we^re black''... The wire went much much deeper than that. That would be more interesting to talk with the producer of the serie

[@smannp]

If The Wire came out today. It would be greater with 2 strong gay characters. All the seasons of the Wire was Magnificent.

[@prettytony1978]

Power was nothing but the wire revamped. Ghost character is nothing but a more advanced Stringer Bell.

[@rbgrbg8780]

Power wasn’t even close to the Wire. Nothing about that show is authentic and believable. It was all over the place. Beside the drug dealing it was nothing in common with The Wire. The writing, character development, and authenticity of that show hasn’t been matched since.

[@christianaayodele]

Blasphemy

[@christiansoldier77]

The Wire was garbage It didnt deserve to win any Emmys Especially not up against the Sopranos

[@bigghoww]

You're entitled to your opinion. No matter how stupid.

[@JPW3]

This is a silly opinion, but free country.

[@Maal7432]

😂 Please.

[@jduwayne1]

@Christian Soldier: That’s your opinion No Matter How Dumb it is!

[@SupportGamin2024]

Troll