The Wire's Greatest Strengths Almost Got It Canceled

Prestige television has become synonymous with HBO these days, but some of the network's flagship shows were never guaranteed long runs. The Wire is the best example of this; it's regularly described as one of the greatest television series ever made, even though it spent much of its original run fighting for survival. Despite its acclaim, audiences were initially less enthusiastic about The Wire, and every season was a struggle to greenlight.