Better yet, these theme songs are less reliant on VHS technology. Nostalgia-fueled shows like Yellowjackets, however, prove that there's still room for a fully composed theme song in today's opening credits landscape. While pop songs used to be a mainstay of prestige television themes, the practice eventually went out of fashion, making way for more terse, graphic intros. If not for Kathleen Brennan's mastery of the VCR, Simon had plans to use 'A Common Disaster' by the languid Cowboy Junkies. Simon also recalls that, despite the panic that set in among The Wire's producers as their deadline drew near, the team did have a Plan B. Per Simon, the track captures the ' ubiquitous drudgery and pain' that encapsulates The Wire. As a result, 'Way Down In The Hole' appears on all five seasons of The Wire, with versions by The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Neville Brothers, local Baltimore group DoMaJe, The Wire cast member Steve Earle, and Waits' original, as first heard on his 1987 album Franks Wild Years.

Luckily for Simon, Tom Waits' approval wasn't a question of his disliking the show–he was waiting on his tech-savvy wife, Kathleen Brennan, to work the VCR. They'd still be there now if she hadn't made the call.' Wait until my wife comes home.' And then, the next day, he approved it! So I just imagine those tapes just sitting there next to his video cassette recorder. He says, 'I got the stuff you sent, but I don't know how to work the VCR. She calls him, and he picks up the phone. He either wants to do it, or he doesn't…So finally, gives our post-production producer, Karen Thorson, his number. We mailed him versions of the show, so he could see what the show was about and he could see his song laid in, but he wasn't responding.I don't think Waits ever did anything for money in his life, so it's not like we're luring him in with the money. 'We were getting near our air date and we still didn't have permission. Check out Simon's full recollection below: Wiliams, he was auditioning for a small role in the HBO drama Oz.

' Wait until my wife comes home,' Waits told the white-knuckled team of producers. The first time the casting director Alexa Fogel saw the actor Michael K. ' I don't think Waits ever did anything for money in his life,' says the show's creator of the creeping deadline, ' so it's not like we're luring him in with the money.' As it turns out, Waits had no idea how to watch The Wire on his VHS. In an interview with EW, David Simon says that waiting for Tom Waits' clearance really did come down to the wire, but not for the reason fans might expect.

David simon michael k williams