I must state that if you choose to read my following rant, I want to say that I am intrigued with the idea of the show and really want to like Treme.

I find Treme real to *almost* the point of being credible, but only just. I find the actors straining to depict suffering through prose and music, but it is all too forced, and well.. um contrived. I find Davis particularly grating, and I can’t understand why his character gets any screen time..as he is neither interesting nor compelling and he just comes across as reckless, pathetic, and desperate. Most of the characters appear to me as non-N.O. natives who have swooped down into the ‘Treme’ musical scene and treat it as if it were an artist colony. Furthermore, I really don’t think that Cajuns are as introspective as this show suggests.

This is obvious that David Simon has had a hand in this creation in which he typically depicts the plight of the under-represented, law enforcement, and education in urban areas. ‘Homicide: Life on the Killing Streets’ proved gritty and brilliantly realistic, whereas Treme is well intentioned, but comes across patronizing, and as you suggest a few shades south of reality. By the way, I’m quite impressed with your analogy and resulting analysis, and you presented your claims to a logical conclusion. I’m convinced.