I just finished watching the entire series of HBO’s “The Wire” on DVD. All five seasons in about three months.
I mention this on The Jam Up blog because, well, “The Wire” is an incredible piece of television that records Jam Ups in progress – and even uses the term on at least four solid occasions that I can recall.
I’ll start by saying “The Wire” jammed me up by being such a good show. I was literally a zombie for three months because I stayed up late to watch episode after episode of this show.
Next, I’ll discuss the three occasions that I recall the phrase Jam Up being used perfectly (credit goes to colleague DT who got me watching “The Wire” and noticed The Jam Up on these episodes before me.) – then I’ll get to some instances where the show gave prime examples (being careful not to give anything away for people that have not seen it.)
Instance #1 – In the third season Carver tells his unit that one of the department’s majors would always have an officer’s back “when you get jammed up.”
Instance #2– In season 4, Body uses the phrase in a discussion with McNulty on a park bench (being vague here so that I don’t give away plot lines).
Instance #3 – A reporter from the Sun complains to Pearlman that the DA’s office didn’t notify the paper about a press conference. Pearlman said she called a reporter and left a message. The reporter tells her that person was no longer at the Sun, hands Pearlman his business card and says “Don’t jam me up like that again.”
I know there’s a fourth one between instance one and two, but can’t recall who said it. I remember laughing though.
So, now the show itself.
* The entire show is based on McNulty jamming up his bosses and going straight to a judge to get a wire tap started. McNulty plays a great Chauncey, and he does an even better job of jamming up the Baltimore Police Department in Season 2 when he makes sure a bunch of murders go up on their board – not the state police.
* Of course, Rawls jams up McNulty too with his new assignment.
* Herc is a good Chauncey too. Herc’s everyday life on the job jams people up. Like when he jammed up the whole unit when he tried to get a desk into the office. He jammed up Randy and Carver in season 4, he jammed up Levy in season 5.
* Freamon jams up Pearlman and Daniels in all of Season 5.
* Carchetti jams up the City of Baltimore constantly in order to keep himself politically solvent. Carchetti also jams up his colleague on the council with his run for mayor.
*Colvin jams up the bosses with his “experiment.”
* Duquon jams up Prez in Season 5..
*The homicide unit jams up Greggs on her first day.
*Bubbles jams up Herc in revenge for Herc jamming up Bubs when Bubs wanted Herc to help him jam up that dude on the street that keeps beating him up.
* Omar’s entire plotline for most of the series is jamming up Barksdale’s crews.
*Clay Davis jams up Stringer Bell on the biz side of life.
Any more you all can add?
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