treme

This news was expected, but that makes it no less thrilling: HBO has ordered a full season (nine episodes) of “Treme” (pronounced tremmee, according to the Internet’s local Cajun), the David Simon-created series that focuses on musicians in post-Katrina New Orleans.

Simon co-created the project with longtime New Orleans resident Eric Overmyer, after the two former “Homicide” writers had discussed doing a show set in the Big Easy for years…

The “Treme” cast is led by another New Orleans native, Wendell Pierce, and includes Steve Zahn, Clarke Peters, Khandi Alexander, Melissa Leo, Kim Dickens and Rob Brown.

Despite featuring “Wire” alums Pierce [Bunk Moreland] and Peters [Lester Freamon], people expecting the same show will be disappointed, Simon said.

“This is not a ‘Wire’ redo with a New Orleans soundtrack,” he said. “It’s more of a character study looking at people trying to reconstruct their lives after their city has been destroyed and at a city that’s a living, breathing organism.”

Bottom line: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Is it too early for champagne?  No?  Well then, it’s unfortunate that I have no champagne.  I’m even out of champale.  But you can drink cooking wine, right?  Cheers!