ShareThisBy TERRY MORROW
"The Wire" returns for a fourth season (10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, HBO), with the point of view changing to four boys in inner city Baltimore.
"We really wanted to reinvent the theme of the show every season," says executive producer David Simon.
"We've always had the idea that there's going to be a new story, a new crew coming in. We're going to be slicing off a different piece of the city. The first year was the law enforcement and the drug war; the second year was the working class and the idea of the death of work; the third season was the political element. And now, it's just quite natural to do schools."
This time, the story will follow the boys through their drug-infested neighborhood and school in West Baltimore. It is based on the experiences of Edward Burns, who became a teacher after serving 20 years in law enforcement.
Nowadays, Burns has moved on to yet another career. He's a writer and producer on "The Wire." Burns' transition from cop to teacher is played out through the character of Prez (Jim True-Frost).
"When you step into that classroom after being 20 years in the street, you think you are pretty tough, and you find out real quickly that you are not," Burn says.
"It's a very stunning change of who you are. And it tests things that nothing else in my life tested. But it's also the greatest thing in the world to teach."
Other highlights for the week of Sept. 10-16 (all times Eastern; check local listings; subject to change):
SUNDAY, Sept. 10
_ "The Path to 9/11" (8 p.m. ABC). Based on the 9/11 Commission's report, this two-part miniseries (part two airs Monday) reenacts events of that fateful day, with Harvey Keitel, Patricia Heaton and Donnie Wahlberg.
_ "The Simpsons" (8 p.m. Fox). It's the closest thing we'll get to a new "Sorpanos" episode right now. Michael Imperioli and Joe Pantoliano are guests for the season opener.
_ "Legends" (9 p.m. Comedy Central). Rodney Dangerfield gets some respect in this celebration of his career.
MONDAY, Sept. 11
_ "The Wonder Pets" (11 a.m. Nick Jr.). Preschoolers get a musical tour of the world in this animated story about saving baby animals.
TUESDAY, Sept. 12
_ "Men in Trees" (10:02 p.m. ABC). Think of this as the love child between "Sex and the City" and "Northern Exposure," with Anne Heche in the Sarah Jessica Parker or Rob Morrow role. There she goes mixing genders again!
THURSDAY, Sept. 14
_ "Survivor: Cook Islands" (8 p.m. CBS). Tribes are divided by skin color. Has this show turned into "The Amazing Racists" or what?
FRIDAY, Sept. 15
_ "Avatar: Secret of the Fire Nation" (8 p.m. Nickelodeon). In the premiere, Aang and friends must go through Serpent's Pass to get to Ba Sing Se. See what you get when you don't stop and ask for directions?
SATURDAY, Sept. 16
_ "Handy Manny" (10 a.m. Disney Channel). Wilmer Valderrama finds work again as the title character of this cartoon.
_ "Katt Williams: The Pimp Chronicles Pt. 1" (10 p.m. HBO). He's a "comic pimp," which means that we're his employees if we watch his standup special.
