# Another season of Treme: but why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 2, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-season-of-treme-but-why/675309 "2013-12-02T20:44:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-season-of-treme-but-why/675309/1 "2013-12-02T20:44:02Z")
HBO started a five-episode season last night. Since all the story arcs were pretty much resolved at the end of the last season (and were weak in the first place), I have to wonder why they’re doing this. The music, as always, is great. Last night showed off Trombone Shorty, who, in my opinion, is the best musician to come out of NOLA in a very long time. I’ve seen his act in person and it’s electrifying: big, bold, in your face wall of sound combining jazz, funk and some rock. Here’s [Hurricane Season](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybhhsuuc2ss). ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-season-of-treme-but-why/675309/2 "2013-12-02T20:54:49Z")
Treme has always been a Gnawluns music show with occasional dramatic breaks. I guess there’s 30 more legendary street bands they haven’t given air time to. That, or they owe the platoon of big name chefs another meal scene while Kim Dickens looks out of place. We just got around to the Season 3 opener last night. Nice to see Kim Dickens’ tits again. I think for her next show, she’s scheduled to play a hooker who cooks while writing social satire. It really hasn’t been the same since John Goodman’s character exited. Just that one “Harry… _fucking_… Potter” made the whole first season worthwhile. I predict the series capstone will be Obama’s victory night. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-season-of-treme-but-why/675309/3 "2013-12-02T21:07:59Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > It really hasn’t been the same since John Goodman’s character exited. Just that one “Harry… _fucking_… Potter” made the whole first season worthwhile. He was the best part of the show, and Lester Freamon in those beautiful costumes. I stopped watching after Melissa Leo won an Emmy and gave one of those egotistical self-aggrandizing acceptance speeches. I should stop watching award shows – the winners show too much of themselves sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-season-of-treme-but-why/675309/4 "2013-12-02T21:42:45Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I predict the series capstone will be Obama’s victory night. They showed that at the beginning of last night’s ep. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-season-of-treme-but-why/675309/5 "2013-12-02T21:51:43Z")
I love this series and I don’t need a Why. I’m just happy HBO likes being in the David Simon business and gave him one last abbreviated season to wrap things up. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-season-of-treme-but-why/675309/6 "2013-12-02T22:04:02Z")
I’m surprised it had a third season, since the show has limited itself in time and was about little more than Katrina-rage. They used that up in the first season, and it’s pretty much a dead button for most of the country now, so an endless parade of street band cameos and Kim Dickens’ hooters really isn’t enough to hold things together. Even the Lambreauxs have found happiness and success. Move on. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-season-of-treme-but-why/675309/7 "2013-12-02T22:54:11Z")
[An article from when the fourth season was announced,](http://tvline.com/2012/09/22/treme-renewed-fourth-final-season/) which might help answer the “why” question for you: > [@](#): > > HBO’s Treme, which premieres Season 3 this Sunday at 10/9c, has been renewed for a fourth and final season, series co-creator David Simon announced at a Saturday screening at the Joy Theater in New Orleans. > > Simon and co-creator Eric Overmyer had revealed last October their decision/hope to have Treme run a total of four seasons, says the New Orleans Times-Picayune, which first reported on the Season 4 news. > > The final season, however, will not run as long as previous ones. “HBO, upon viewing the 10 [Season 3 episodes] that we gave them [said] they want to see the end of the story,” Simon said at the Saturday screening. “They fought very hard to give us half a loaf. We’re going to take it and run.” > > UPDATE: Simon tells [HitFix.com](http://HitFix.com) the episode count is TBD, based on how far they can stretch the “lump sum” given them by HBO, but he’s guessing “four to six” hours. > > Though the cast is not contractually obligated to return for the shortened swan-song season, after being approached by producers, “To a person, they all came back,” Simon reported. “We’re happy for a chance to finish the story on our own terms.” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-season-of-treme-but-why/675309/8 "2013-12-02T23:37:33Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I love this series and I don’t need a Why. > > I’m just happy HBO likes being in the David Simon business and gave him one last abbreviated season to wrap things up. I like it as well. Interesting that my wife’s niece, who has lived in NOLA for over 20 years and who is well-integrated with the city and its people, says that most people down there hate it because all it focuses on is the music and Mardi Gras. Since that’s what most people who are not from there think of when they hear “New Orleans”, it seems natural to me for much of the show to be focused on that. They also feel that much of the plight of the hurricane survivors, particularly the poor, has not been given enough exposure.