I miss "The Sopranos". It has not been replaced and probably won't be for a while.

"The Wire" is a show I checked out early on due to several of my favorite writers being involved (Richard Price, Dennis Lehane, George Pelecanos). It's pretty darned good. Who knew we would care about Baltimore cops, drug dealers, and gangbangers? There is not a character among them who is held up as heroic but they are all recognizably human. Terrific writing IMO. Take a walk on the shady side.

One great character was Omar. "I robs drug dealers," he tells a judge when asked for his occupation. Everyone in the courtroom laughs. Now there was a moment of truth.