David Simon on Treme, New Orleans, and the Art of Television

David Simon, creator of The Wire and Treme, discusses the end of filming for Treme's third season in New Orleans. A former journalist for The Baltimore Sun, Simon emphasizes that fiction must be a precise representation of reality, even if it requires 'cheating' to shape a story. He contrasts journalism, where reality dictates the plot, with fiction, where the writer is responsible. Treme, set in post-Katrina New Orleans, focuses on the city's culture and music as a means of recovery. Simon notes that 77% of New Orleans residents were born there before Katrina, a rarity in the US. He calls jazz 'the only true contribution of America to world civilization.' Simon reflects on his career, noting that his shows gain popularity slowly, and that television is entering a niche economy. He admires writer David Milch and says if his TV projects fail, he will return to writing books.