Treme is an American television drama series created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer which begins three months after Hurricane Katrina where the residents of New Orleans, including musicians, chefs, Mardi Gras Indians, and other New Orleanians try to rebuild their lives, their homes and their unique culture in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane.
The series takes its name from Tremé, a neighbourhood in the city of New Orleans. It premiered in the USA on HBO on 11 April, 2010.
Treme premiered in South Africa on DStv's Mzansi Magic channel on Monday 7 March 2011, at 21h30. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 2 premiered on Mzansi Magic on Saturday 17 September 2011, at 22h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 11 episodes in the second season.
Season 1
From David Simon, creator of The Wire and Generation Kill, and Eric Overmyer, writer-producer of Homicide and Law & Order, Treme is set in post-Katrina New Orleans, chronicling the rebuilding of a unique American culture after historic devastation.
Treme refers to one of New Orleans' oldest neighbourhoods, an historically important source of African-American music and culture.
Treme begins in fall 2005, three months after Hurricane Katrina. The drama follows the interconnected stories of several struggling musicians and locals, including Antoine Batiste (Wendell Pierce), a smooth-talking trombonist.
His ex-wife and bar owner, LaDonna Batiste-Williams (Khandi Alexander), concerned over the disappearance of her younger brother Daymo, turns to the local civil rights attorney Antoinette "Toni" Bernette (Melissa Leo) for help.
Bernette's husband Creighton (John Goodman), a local professor, becomes an outspoken critic of the government's response to the devastation.
Steve Zahn plays Davis McAlary, a rebellious local DJ and musician. McAlary's sometimes girlfriend, Chef Janette Desautel (Kim Dickens), struggles to regain momentum for her newly re-opened restaurant.
Elsewhere in the city, displaced Mardi Gras Indian chief Albert Lambreaux (Clarke Peters) returns to his devastated neighbourhood, determined to rebuild his way of life.
His son Delmond, a successful jazz musician, is torn between his family in New Orleans and his life in New York. And talented violinist Annie (Lucia Micarelli) and her boyfriend Sonny (Michiel Huisman), are street musicians in the Quarter looking for their big break.
The series also features real-life musicians Kermit Ruffins, Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John and members of the Treme and Rebirth Brass Bands.
The ensemble cast of Treme includes Wendell Pierce as Antoine Batiste; Khandi Alexander as LaDonna Batiste-Williams; Clarke Peters as Albert Lambreaux; Rob Brown as Delmond Lambreaux; Steve Zahn as Davis McAlary; Kim Dickens as Janette Desautel; Melissa Leo as Toni Bernette; John Goodman as Creighton Bernette; Michiel Huisman as Sonny; and classical violinist Lucia Micarelli as Annie.
Season 2
Season 2 begins approximately eight months after the end of Season 1, or 14 months after Katrina. Ironically, it has become even harder for the musicians, restaurateurs, radio deejays and community leaders we met to survive; two, in fact, have moved to NYC.
Those who remain are coping with high crime levels and dwindling federal support, as the rest of the country has turned its attention on new crises away from the Gulf, which has yet to be ravaged by oil spills.
Still, the proud, even defiant spirit that defines the city lingers among Treme's faithful, who continue to press forward, committed to holding on to their ideal of New Orleans is, and should always be.
David Morse and India Ennenga, both featured in the first season of Treme, become series regulars, along with new cast member Jon Seda, playing Nelson Hildago, who arrives fresh from Dallas to avail himself of the unique opportunities that New Orleans could offer some in the wake of Katrina.
The returning ensemble cast of Treme includes Wendell Pierce; Khandi Alexander; Clarke Peters; Rob Brown; Steve Zahn; Kim Dickens; Melissa Leo; Lucia Micarelli; and Michiel Huisman.
National and Louisiana-based musical performers featured in the second season of Treme include Dr. John, Juvenile, John Hiatt, Lucia Micarelli, Steve Earle, Shawn Colvin, the subdudes, the Radiators, Henry Butler, Wanda Rouzan, Cyril Neville, Christian Scott, Donald Harrison Jr., Ron Carter, Kermit Ruffins, Rebirth Brass Band, Galactic, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Hot 8 Brass Band, Leroy Jones, John Boutte, Paul Sanchez, Glen David Andrews, Susan Cowsill, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Steve Riley, Katey Red, Big Freedia, Sissy Nobby, Ingrid Lucia, Mem Shannon, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, Tom McDermott, George Porter, Evan Christopher and members of the Pineleaf Boys and Redstick Ramblers, among many others.
In addition to Simon and Overmyer, Nina K. Noble also serves as an executive producer. Anthony Hemingway is the supervising producer.
In addition to Simon and Overmyer, the writing staff includes consulting producer George Pelecanos and executive producer James Yoshimura, as well as New Orleans-based writers Tom Piazza, Lolis Eric Elie and Mari Kornhauser.
Noted food writer and author Anthony Bourdain also joins the writing staff this season.
Seasons
Series exclusive to Mzansi Magic
Season 1 (10 episodes)
Premiere: 7 March 2011 | Finale: 9 May 2011 | Mondays, 21h30
Season 2 (11 episodes)
Premiere: 17 September 2011 | Finale: 26 November 2011 | Saturdays, 22h00