Treme Spoilers - John Goodman to Get "Cantankerous" in N'awlins

David Simon and HBO are about to lead us again on a dark, urban journey through another troubled coastal metropolis and we've got some deets on what to expect come April 11th.  Hint, it's not The Wire.  Take a look at the latest trailer for Treme and whet your appetite for this forthcoming tale of rebuilding from destruction.

03/17

• The first three episodes are titled "Do You Know What It Means" (4/11), "Meet De Boys on the Battlefront," (4/18), "Right Place, Wrong Time," (4/25).  And randomly, the title of episode seven has also been revealed; "Smoke My Peace Pipe" (4/23). (imdb)
  

• In the pilot episode, we'll meet trombone player Antoine Batiste (The Wire's Wendall Pierce), performing in the first post-Katrina brass band parade.  And we'll be introduced to Batiste's now remarried ex, LaDonna (Khandi Alexander) and her "cantankerous husband, English professor Creighton Bernette" played by John Goodman.  Can't wait to see Goodman get "canankerous!" (TVOverMind)
  

01/10

• HBO has released the official trailer for Treme.  It's eery, moving and rather sparse which seems appropriate for a show about Katrina ravaged New Orleans. (AV Club)
  

• People may be referring to Treme as "The Wire in New Orleans" but don't expect it says David Simon. “In some fundamental ways, Treme is centered on the ordinary lives of ordinary people.  It is political only in the sense that ordinary people find themselves dealing with politics in their own lives,” said Simon.(Creative Loafing)

• Wendell Pierce will play struggling musician Antoine Batiste.  Elvis Costello will be playing himself, a not-so-struggling musician
  

09/09

• David Simon developed the show with New Orleans native, Eric Overmeyer


• Treme is a small neighborhood within New Orleans, and has been historically the home to many of the city's musicians.
  


• The bulk of the cast will portray local musicians.


• Wire-veteran and New Orleans native, Wendell Pierce (The Bunk for you Wire fans) is attached to star.
  


• Like The Wire, Treme will use many local actors and non-actors to fulfill the authenticity of the show.
  


• Local musician, Kermit Ruffins, will appear and play himself. 


• Music legend Elvis Costello is also set for a cameo.
  


• Besides, Pierce, other cast members will include Clarke Peters (also of The Wire), Khandi Alexander, Steve Zhan and Kim Dickens.
  

• Besides some probably pretty great music sequences, Simon has promised, much like The Wire, "Treme would reach beyond the music scene to explore political corruption, the public housing controversy, the crippled criminal-justice system, clashes between police and Mardi Gras Indians, and the struggle to regain the tourism industry after the storm."


• In addition to describing Treme as "The Wire with music," Dominic West )Wire's Jimmy McNulty, describes a few of the other characters we might see in New Orleans, and also that he might take a behind-the-scenes role on set. "There's a very straight-laced gay couple - middle-class suburbanites ­-  who've just moved in to Treme and tell everyone to turn the music down," he says. "I told David I could play that character, but he didn't want me!  "He's promised me one episode to direct, so I'm going to hold him to that. And he might give me a cameo at some stage."