Such has been the impact of The Wire that I've tried to keep everyone (not least myself) up to date with what David Simon is doing next. What he's doing next is Treme - a post-Katrina story of a community of musicians trying to rebuild their lives. This is an interesting-sounding scenario, one that fits in with Simon's liking for sprawling urban dramas. The good news is that it has been granted a confirmed pick-up by US pay TV channel, HBO.

Related: Wire creator David Simon chooses 'dream Treme' for new HBO drama | David Simon's Treme takes shape

The Hollywood Reporter, erm, reports that HBO, the original home of The Wire, will show the series in the autumn.

Elsewhere, Deadline Hollywood says that the channel has ordered nine, hour-long episodes and that, already, the local New Orleans press have been trumpeting that the series will be a huge boost to the city's economy and tourist industry. That's interesting because one the issues Simon will be dealing with, he says (along with political corruption and the criminal justice system), the city's struggle to rebuild its tourist industry.

In the HR's article, Simon also says that, "New Orleans is one of the most unique and essential American places, which is also very vulnerable. This is not a Wire redo with a New Orleans soundtrack. 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 a living, breathing organism."