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Cheers: Clark Johnson's High Wire Act

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Clark Johnson, Brandon Young, Michelle Paress and Tom McCarthy in The Wire by Paul Schiraldi/HBO
Cheers to The Wire for putting Clark Johnson back in front of the camera. The gruffly charming Homicide: Life on the Street vet has spent the past few years directing episodes of The Wire and The Shield as well as movies like S.W.A.T. HBO's brilliant urban drama gives Johnson the best role of his career as embattled Baltimore newspaperman Gus Haynes. That's good news.

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Posted by Bruce Fretts
Jan 14, 2008 7:02 AM
Great actor, great role. I love the newspaper subplot, and how their budgetary crisis mirrors the police departments, as well as the dual desperation to lie and make up a story (the reporter making up quotes and wheelchair boy; McNulty and Lester conspiring to invent a serial killer) to get the job done.

"The bigger the lie, the more they'll believe" - Bunk
Posted by socalj
Jan 14, 2008 9:56 AM
Seeing Clark Johnson on The Wire reminded me how much I miss Homicide. I can't speak yet on whether he is better in The Wire or on Homicide. On Homicide he was always overshadowed by the acting force of nature that is Andre Braugher. I may just have to pull out some of my Homicide DVD's (particularly Season 1) to decide for myself.
Posted by gghwc
Jan 14, 2008 10:22 AM
I don't mean to downgrade Homicide (one of my favorite shows of all time) or Johnson's work on it by saying he's got the best role of his career on The Wire. But it's a pleasure to see him owning the newsroom scenes in a way he never did in his more low-key role as Meldrick Lewis.
Posted by Bruce Fretts
Jan 14, 2008 10:28 AM
If you're a fan of "The Wire," you might enjoy this audio interview with creator David Simon.
Posted by andelman
Jan 14, 2008 12:11 PM
I agree with all the positive take on CJ but I have to disagree with Bruce re: his role on Homicide (also one of all-time favorites)-I think he more than held his own. Check out the scene on Mikey's (my wife and I always refer to Reed Diamond as "Mikey" no matter what the role-I'm betting that nickname came from Johnson)boat where Meldrick talks him out of suicide. Johnson is such an understated nuanced actor that it sometimes takes a second look to appreciate it all. Braugher is a wonderful actor but his fire is no more impressive than Johnson's ice.
Posted by DaMess
Jan 15, 2008 2:50 AM
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