Hamsterdam
"Hamsterdam" | |
---|---|
The Wire episode | |
Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 4 |
Directed by | Ernest Dickerson |
Story by | David Simon George Pelecanos |
Teleplay by | George Pelecanos |
Original air date | October 10, 2004 |
Running time | 58 minutes |
"Hamsterdam" (called "Amsterdam" in some releases) is the fourth episode of the third season of the HBO original series The Wire. The episode was written by George Pelecanos from a story by David Simon & George Pelecanos and was directed by Ernest Dickerson. It originally aired on October 10, 2004.
Plot
While having dinner with white friends,
In the Western, Colvin attends a town hall meeting where residents vent their frustrations on rampant crime and the perceived lack of policing. Colvin admits everything they have done has failed; while the residents seem to appreciate his candor, they are enraged that he has put forth no tangible solutions. Later, Colvin looks into working security at Johns Hopkins University following his retirement. When Carver's squad fails to corral the Western's drug crews into Colvin's free zones, Colvin orders school buses to round up the dealers. They are gathered in a school gym and are unwilling to listen to Colvin as he tries to explain how the free zones will operate. Elsewhere, Cutty learns that his landscaping crew is entirely composed of ex-convicts. He approaches Slim Charles, offering himself for anything that pays.
McNulty observes a meeting between
Back at the detail, Freamon admonishes McNulty and Greggs for showing disloyalty towards Daniels by investigating Bell, despite what the lieutenant has done for them. Bubbles reports to the detectives about how Marlo has stayed out of the collaboration between the Barksdales and the East Side dealers. Using the license plate number, they pull up Marlo's criminal record. Greggs visits Homicide to talk to Detective Vernon Holley, who describes Marlo as pure evil. She theorizes that Marlo is working for Bell. Greggs spends a day with Bubbles mapping out the territories of the dealers, learning that they are using disposable cell phones.
McNulty visits Bell's
Production
Title reference
The title refers to the Dutch city of
Epigraph
Why you got to go and fuck with the program?
โ Fruit
Fruit makes this statement in response to Carver and his team trying to move his crew into one of the new drug tolerant zones. This also ties in with Carcetti's announcement of running for mayor in Baltimore, despite his ethnicity, as well as Cutty's difficulty at changing his ways. To a lesser extent, it can apply to McNulty and Rhonda's dysfunctional relationship.
Reception
Darkroom Productions' "Hamsterdam" mixtape series, a collection of work from Baltimore rap artists, takes its name from this episode.
The second soundtrack compilation Beyond Hamsterdam takes its name from this episode.
The term "Hamsterdam" (or sometimes "Hampsterdam") has since been used to characterize districts or regions that are ignored by law enforcement agencies.[3][4]
The episode "The Foot of Canal Street" in the first season of the HBO series Treme contains an inside joke, when Sonny's friends refer to his hometown as "Hamsterdam" rather than "Amsterdam". George Pelecanos wrote this "Treme" episode, and many of the Hamsterdam episodes of The Wire.
Credits
Starring cast
Although credited, John Doman and Michael K. Williams do not appear in this episode.
Guest stars
- Callie Thorne as Elena McNulty
- Isiah Whitlock, Jr. as Senator Clayton "Clay" Davis
- Malik "Poot" Carr
- Chad L. Coleman as Dennis "Cutty" Wise
- Benjamin Busch as Officer Anthony Colicchio
- Jay Landsman as Lieutenant Dennis Mello
- Delaney Williams as Sergeant Jay Landsman
- Richard Burton as Sean "Shamrock" McGinty
- Brandon Fobbs as Fruit
- Anwan Glover as Slim Charles
- Mayo Best as Gerard
- R. Emery Bright as Community Relations Sergeant
- Clarence Clemons as Roman (credited as Clarence Clemens)
- Brandan T. Tate as Sapper
- Maria Broom as Marla Daniels
- Shamyl Brown as Donette
- Brandy Burre as Theresa D'Agostino
- Vera Holley as School principal
- Muna Otaru as college records clerk
- Tony Cordova as Sean McNulty
- Michael Kostroff as Maurice Levy
- Eugene Little as Landscaping boss
- Michael Willis as Andy Krawczyk
- Brian Anthony Wilson as Detective Vernon Holley
Clarence Clemons' name is misspelled as Clarence Clemens in the credits.
Uncredited appearances
- Joilet F. Harris as Officer Caroline Massey
- Ryan Sands as Officer Lloyd "Truck" Garrick
- De'Rodd Hearns as Puddin
- Justin Burley as Justin
- Melvin T. Russell as Jamal
- Edward Green as Spider
- Rico Sterling as Tyrell
- Marc Krinsky as Angelo Martin
- Kay Lawal as concerned resident
- Unknown as William Gant's cousin
- Unknown as Pete Sinopoli
First appearances
- Spider: a young corner boy who is brought into Colvin's pep talk.
- Theresa D'Agostino: campaign manager for Carcetti
References
- ^ "Episode guide - episode 29 Amsterdam". HBO. 2004. Retrieved August 7, 2006.
- The Wire. Season 3. Episode 04. HBO.
- ^ Becker, Sam (April 10, 2015). "What Exactly Are Rand Paul's 'Economic Freedom Zones'?". The Cheat Sheet. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
- ^ Taekema, Dan (January 15, 2019). "What's next now that Hamilton has opted in for legal cannabis stores". CBC News. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
External links
- "Hamsterdam" Archived August 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine at HBO.com
- "Hamsterdam" at IMDb