Dear all:

Does anyone watch the series, The Wire. I believe it is either on HBO or Showtime. Anyway, though the show is a tad bit edgy, it is an excellent show, and I believe it is up for a few television emmy's, or whatever awards they give to cable televisio shows. The show, for those of you who are not familiar, takes place in urban Baltimore, Maryland, where the Baltimore police officers are trying to fight the drug wars of the area by "wire tapping" various cell/pay phones of young, drug dealers of color.

I personally felt like the show was a tad bit insulting, and my husband and I have often wondered if the City of Baltimore (or a section of the city) is being accurately depicted on this show. Just when my husband and I said, "with all those awesome African American mega-churches (and smaller churches) making such a difference in Baltimore, why aren't any of those churches and/or preachers being depicted on this show as trying to make a difference?" Litterally a week later, a "preacher" character was written into the show.

This past week, to my surprise, a "Rev. Frank M. Reid" character was written on the show. It was not actually Rev. Reid, but a salt and pepper brother who favored Reid. Reid was portrayed as a very "powerful" politician-type preacher who is a force to be reckoned with in Baltimore. Just curious to know if anyone saw the show and what they thought about it. If you haven't seen it this week, it will be re-airing several times this week.

God Bless.

A.J.

-- Anonymous, November 24, 2004

Answers

If I'm not mistaken F.M. Reid III was a special consultant to the hit 80s t.v. sit-com "Amen" starring Clfton Davis and Sherman Hensley. I'm looking forward to seeing this HBO show. I hope I see someone in the credits I recognize. I'm willing to do a little acting if the part is right :-) Thanks for the heads-up! QED

-- Anonymous, November 25, 2004

Yes, Rev. Reid was a consultant to "Amen". Be sure to look for The Wire this week, Brother Dickens. Right behind the Rev. Reid character's desk was a huge "African Methodist Episcopal" logo, which I am sure you will love to see.

-- Anonymous, November 25, 2004

Thank you so much for the information. Unfortunately, I do not have cable, but I will pass your information to others.

Did you know that the church used in the introduction of the Amen television show was Mt. Pisgah AME in Philadelphia? Also, the two people standing outside of church during the opening were actual church members.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2004

Given the AME influence in the development of "Amen" why wasn't Sherman Hensley's character cast as "Steward Frye" as oppossed to "Deacon Frye"? The most casual church goer is familiar with the title "Deacon", not so with "Steward". Seems like a golden opportunity to share AME structure was missed by not using the title steward. The next time I visit Bethel AME in Baltimore, MD I will ask Pastor Reid this question. QED

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2004

The lead character in AMEN was Clifton Davis, he is AME. His sister lives here in Louisville and used to attend one of our local churches.

A.J. thanks for dropping the information regarding the Wire. I am an HBO fanatic and stopped watching The Wire this season. I look forward to catching up on Demand and looking for the FMReid character.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2004

Actually, Clifton Davis is 7th Day Adventist - he earned an M.Div in the early 80's and was Assistant Pastor of an Adventist Church in Southern California for about ten years (if I recall correctly), including while "Amen" was on the air. He has preached several times at FAME, Los Angeles, however, and performed a few "celebrity" weddings there, as well.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2004