We had that fight again. We keep having that fight, and so we had it again, because we can’t not have that fight. Yup, it’s time for another edition of: How can David possibly think that people don’t know this piece of pop culture history?
In previous installments, David tried to insist that people wouldn’t get a freakin’ South Park reference, didn’t recognize Quantum Leap, and somehow didn’t know who Steve Martin is. He also confused Hannah Montana with an adult film actress.
And yet, earlier this week, I wrote about a quote from an analyst on China and deputized The Wire‘s Stringer Bell, played by globally famous man Idris Elba, to carry said quote. Alas, David had the gall to not only insist that people didn’t know who that was, but also to insist that I was in a bubble! Let’s tell him he’s wrong and make him stand in his wrongness and be wrong.
As a little backstory here, I did tell Peter to do the Stringer Bell image from The Wire and include the quote, but when David saw it first it was just the image:
Did my pulse rise a little when I saw this? Not so much, because I knew it was coming. I could imagine the argument, but I think the argument was worth it.
Just in case you were not aware, that is Stringer Bell, the #2 in Avon Barskdale’s drug operation in David Simon’s gritty crime drama series The Wire, which ran for five seasons on HBO. It is, arguably, the show that kicked off the current run of more novelistic, long-form prestige/Golden Age Of TV-type shows. It’s a series about institutions and what it takes to survive and change in an increasingly complex Late Capitalist society.
That’s not the hed we went with (Hed = Headline), but I’m fine with that.
How is it that a man who basically grew up Amish Lite could possibly know what Americans do or do not know? Make it make sense.
“Looking at the viewership numbers” I think means that David looked at the ratings, which is roughly like looking at the Ferrari 458 and going “Look at how many people bought this car, no one knows what it is.” The show was on HBO in the aughts! Close to 5%? FIVE-FUCKING-PERCENT?
Fun fact, when we write stories we definitely think about who may or may not read them and where those stories might play. Some stories do better on Google Discover or social or Google News or Flipboard or wherever. A little tweak to a headline or a topshot can make a story reach a bigger audience in one of those places, though sometimes we know a story is just for us and write zany headlines.
Poor Thomas, he’s just trying to do his job.
I should write a news play! Also, half the cast is British! Idris Elba and his main rival, Detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), are both British. Also, Tommy Carcetti (Aiden Gillen) is like Irish or something. What’s the deal?
I’m not going to touch The Sopranos take, but I do think The Sopranos is a little overhyped.
I am not in a bubble! You’re in a bubble!
So, first it was 5% of people would know who it is and here I get a little upgrade to 20%, but he’s not even sure of that. Here comes Peter with the revised topshot:
First, c’mon. Second… c’mon. Third, that’s a good topshot.
Oh David. DAVID!
It’s true! Idris Elba did build Ford cars. TMYK.
The idea that people don’t know who someone is because it’s on an old show does not hold up in the age of streaming.
Fucking got him!
Ok, I guess I didn’t get him. But my point is made.
Wait, David watched BET when he was younger? Should I try more 227 jokes?
Aaaand here comes Peter to ask us to do our jobs because we’ve been doing this for an hour.
This is where I need you, dear commenters, to help David understand how wrong he is (or how wrong I am, but that seems unlikely). More than half of you in the Discord indicated that you, in fact, do know who Stringer Bell is. And even provided this gold:
Tiziano is a Galpin employee who sometimes shoots videos for us.
Quantum Leap is famously a show about the past! Grrrr…
Shieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeettttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
Idris Elba is one of the few actors I can identify, and I’ve heard of The Wire, but I never watched it and I couldn’t tell you the plot or name any of the characters. That said, movie stars swearing is something I can get behind.
I absolute never side with David on these things because he is usually just flat out wrong when it comes to the cultural zeitgeist, however I think he’s kind of right on this one.
Based on the commentary herein it seems I am far from the only unwashed heathen that hasn’t seen “The Wire” and didn’t grok the meme.
Ditto. I’m aware the Wire exists, but I couldn’t name a character or point to a face in it to save my life. Big whiff on that reference.
I’m with David on not being familiar with the wire. I think I have watched only 2 or 3 things from HBO, and one of those if 1.5 seasons of Game of Thrones in college.
When this show was on I didn’t know anyone with HBO, only a few friends had anything beyond the most basic of cable.
With all that – I knew that was a pop culture topshot because I have seen all the SNL based topshots. I have no idea if it would drive new traffic from a news site – which I think was Davids point. Everyone here was probably going to click the article anyway.
I have never seen The Wire (just not my jam)
Despite this, I know roughly half the cast, their roles, and the general plot of the show.
Yes David, it was wide reaching.
What does DT think?
Okay I revisited the aforementioned picture. I recognize the African American gentleman from severs shows. I have never seen the white guy who I assume is Itchy Elbow?
Neither of those guys is Idris Elba. The topshot for this article isn’t the topshot they’re taking about in the article. Reading is hard, but try to keep up.
I think it’s time for a new prescription, or maybe you just need a nap.
This is how cultural osmosis happens. I see a quote I don’t know, I click because Idris Elba (duh!), and today I learned about Stringer Bell.
90% of my knowledge of either The Wire, Sopranos and (up until last year) Game of Thrones was acquired this way.
Pop culture might bring lots clicks, but curiosity (and Idris Elba) probably bring even more!
My opinion is that fretting over whether most readers will relate to a pop culture reference is unnecessary.
Have a funny pop culture reference that not everyone will get? Use it and maybe post a link to a clip so that people can get some context as many do in the comments.
Readers will click on a post whether they relate to the reference or not (as long as the subject of the article is compelling).
Who has complete knowledge of all of pop culture from the 80’s up to today?
I’d argue that it is a very small % of people in this (or any other) readership.
Did I get the reference to The Wire? Who cares?
If Staff is having fun with a reference, so will we.
If auto correct doesn’t recognize it, and in this case it doesn’t, it isn’t common knowledge.
The problem is (as they stated) depending on the story and what algorithm picks it up, the pop culture reference at the head of the article can have a major impact on clicks.
I see your point. I typically visit the site a couple of times per day simply based on routine rather than accessing an article via another source, so algorithms don’t determine what I see.
That said, the pop culture reference at the head of the article in question was text photoshopped onto an image, so I’m not sure how an algorithm would be able to pick that out. I could be missing something, I admit.
The title of the article, “How Mexico Could Help China ‘Demolish’ The U.S. Car Industry” makes no pop culture reference.
Apologies for parading my ignorance, if that’s what is happening. :shrug:
Nah, its not that the algorithm is gonna recognize the text (although with AI advancing, maybe it can? Maybe soon? Dunno)
Its that the algorithm is gonna serve up the article and typically the lead-in picture (Look at google news for examples of what I mean) and that lead-in picture is gonna get recognized by the person the algorithm is trying to get interactions from.
The site doesn’t need to use algorithms to snag you, its already got you visiting. However there are plenty of people out there that don’t have exposure to it and its those people that the algorithm is trying to latch onto.
That make sense?
It does. Thanks for the civil discourse! 😉
Stringer Bell like David I have NFC, I don’t watch TV except when walking by.
Google Lens recognized him and gave me lots of references that I didn’t pursue.
I click the content on the site for a look at the text anyway.
Idris Elba : YES. 100%
The Wire : Aware it was a critics’ darling, have never seen (and i do watch HBO)
Stringer Bell : unfamiliar; woulda guessed that’s a young(er) actress…
The quote : nope, no recognition
My anecdotal experience above as well as many comments here lead to…
Verdict : David > Matt