The Triangle

Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: MCT Campus Set in Baltimore, Md., HBO's successful crime drama "The Wire" draws to a close with its fifth and final season.

Media Credit: MCT Campus Michael C. Hall and his wife attend the 2005 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Hall was nominated for an emmy in 2002 for his role in the HBO drama "Six Feet Under."

HEADSHOT BY A
HOPPER

Now that everyone's caught up to episode eight of "The Wire" (On Demanders are a week ahead), we can safely pay our respects to Omar. There was never any question of whether or not it would happen. Omar had to go.

With a name that big and many enemies, he couldn't survive on the streets of Baltimore anymore. If Omar came back, he wasn't to leave but in a casket.

But while his death was a fait accompli, the question of how Omar would go out remained much in doubt. Once again, Simon and company pulled it off brilliantly. There was no blaze of glory, no final stand. Omar came back for revenge and left headshot by a hopper.

His death was an afterthought, ignored by the newspaper -- and if not for an observant morgue attendant -- mislabeled and forgotten in the afterlife.

"THE SHIELD" FALLS BACK

Hal Boedeker at the Orlando Sentinel is reporting that the final installment of FX's flagship series, "The Shield," has been bumped from its slated Summer slot and won't return until next fall as "[FX] will present "Dirt" and "The Riches" in the spring and "Rescue Me" and "Damages" won't be back until next year … so FX wanted to save something for fall."

CARVING UP "DEXTER"

Obviously this is wildly disappointing, but it's tough to argue with FX's strategy. But with the pickings as slim as ever, "The Shield" would have been real nice right about now.

Supposedly the news that an edited version of "Dexter" is airing on CBS is getting people riled up.

Obviously it pissed off the PTC, but in this case -- or every case if you subscribe to my line of thinking -- who cares? Censorship only matters if the work being censored isn't available in its original state elsewhere.

Perhaps a more substantive issue is that of the show's integrity. But again, I don't get the concerns. What does it matter when the original is still on Showtime and you can get the DVD of season one for about $30?

If the neutered version succeeds on a network that has about 15 versions of "CSI," kudos to Showtime president Robert Greenblatt for making Showtime a more valuable commodity. If it breeds a generation of Robin Hoodesque serial killers, all the better.

But as long as its potential marketability doesn't compromise the artistic freedom over at Showtime, I'm at a loss as to why anyone would pay any mind to what happens on CBS.

"BIONIC" BUST

Coming into the season, I was head over heels for the pilot of "Bionic Woman." Two episodes later, I can't see through all the yolk splattered on my face. The show went from a promising thriller to a painful experience that resembles a bad soap opera.

So I for one am happy to put our tumultuous relationship with the news that the show has officially been canceled. While there was never any doubt, it's like that warm feeling you get when a divorced is finalized.

PLEASE, JUST STAY IN VEGAS

Upon the news of its cancellation, "Las Vegas" fans have started a save-our-show campaign titled "Operation Baby Booties/Socks." I understand it's frustrating to have a show get canceled on a cliffhanger, but "Las Vegas?" Seriously? Where were these people for the shows that actually deserved the help ("Arrested Development," "Firefly," "Freaks & Geeks," etc…)?

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