A melancholic, densely interwoven tale of policing in Baltimore, "The Wire" has never had the kind of popular following that propelled HBO hits such as "The Sopranos." Nevertheless, the series, which airs new episodes at 7 p.m. Sundays, has managed to penetrate a wide spectrum of American society, resonating with those intimately familiar with urban poverty even as it captivates viewers far removed from that terrain.

"There seem to be two types of people in the world: people who love 'The Wire' and people who've never watched it," said former White House economic adviser Gene Sperling, who was introduced to the program by his wife, Allison Abner, a television writer. "In my policy head, I've always understood the multiple barriers and obstacles young people in these circumstances face. This made you understand it in your heart, in a way that stays with you."

Fans share a fierce dedication to the drama, which explores the degradation of a community through a broad array of characters from Baltimore's police force and poorest neighborhoods.

Creator and executive producer David Simon drew from his experience as a Baltimore Sun reporter in crafting the story, which follows the machinations of an ambitious reporter in a newsroom led by a prize-hungry editor.