The Wire is President Obama‘s favorite television series. He praised the show for its distinct approach to institution dysfunction, surveillance, social commentary, visual novel, and realism. The Wire is characterized interweaving story arcs and complex characters. The central character of the series is Baltimore. A unique choice by series creator, David Simon was to deviate from basing his show in New York or any other major American hub. The critical acclaim and educational appeal (university courses centering on the show) have turned The Wire into a contemporary classic.