10 TV Shows That Completely Shifted The Balance Of Power In America

8. The Wire (HBO: 2002-2008)

In the midst of HBO's epic run, which saw such great dramas such as Oz, The Sopranos, and Six Feet Under all premiere in a matter of just a few years, show creator David Simon delivered what was arguably the greatest drama of all time. While The Wire didn't meet the same level of pop culture success as The Sopranos, not finding a wide audience until years later, it did catch the eyes of TV writers and show runners everywhere. A very real look at the street level crime and police politics of inner city Baltimore, The Wire always put story first and stayed true to its characters. The show helped to introduce many TV viewers to Idris Elba, as the Luther star played Stringer Bell before eventually moving on to larger film credits. The show was made up a collection of interesting characters, absent a true lead, much like Simon's earlier Baltimore cop drama Homicide: Life On The Street. You can argue that Jimmy McNulty is the show's lead, as he is one of only a handful of actors to appear in every episode, but in truth, McNulty was more an embodiment of what the show was about than he representing a lead to be focused on. The sustaining acclaim for the show no doubt helped to influence NBC's decision to green-light SouthLand, another ultra real cop show that was initially cancelled after only seven episodes, then resurrected on cable (TNT) where it lived on for four more years. And unlike other HBO hits, such as Sex and the City, which become less relevant with time, The Wire continues to gain popularity years after its exit from HBO's schedule.