The Wire - best TV show ever?

I've finished watching Season 1 (courtesy of Tracey Paul, for which thanks again) of The Wire. http://www.hbo.com/thewire/

Now, I admit I was a little slow to get into it (about 3 whole episodes, in fact), but it speedily grew on me. It's another police procedural, with a good ensemble cast - in Baltimore this time. No big name stars (well, not that I'd heard of anyway).

I found the language pretty inaccessible (though I could always see how West Wing watchers who aren't political junkies would find the references to continuing resolutions double-Dutch).

Early worries that the characterisation was two-dimensional evaporated over the series. Some of the hard-arsed cops turned out to be people - some of the real bad guys had souls too - but the writing is convincing rather than just trite.

I understand that later series move away from the investigation/the streets - which will be interesting to see. Series two now on order, of course.

Best TV show ever - well no, of course not - it ain't the West Wing.

But right up there with Hill Street Blues, St Elsewhere, LA Law, ER, Twin Peaks (controversial there, eh?) and The Sopranos - yep, certainly is. Great theme tune too - still humming it.