Treme (/trəˈmeɪ/ trə-MAY) is an American drama television series created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer that aired on HBO.

The series features an ensemble cast including Khandi Alexander, Rob Brown, Chris Coy, Kim Dickens, India Ennenga, John Goodman, Michiel Huisman, Melissa Leo, Lucia Micarelli, David Morse, Clarke Peters, Wendell Pierce, Jon Seda, and Steve Zahn, as well as musical performances by a number of New Orleans–based artists.

The show was to focus on the working-class Tremé neighborhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and is smaller in scope than The Wire, which examined an entire city.

[13][11] Overmyer lived part-time in New Orleans and Simon believed his experience would be valuable in navigating the "ornate oral tradition" of the city's stories.

[13] Simon stated the series would explore New Orleans culture including and beyond the music scene to encompass political corruption, the public housing controversy, the criminal-justice system, clashes between police and Mardi Gras Indians, and the struggle to regain the tourism industry after the storm.

[1] Simon also consulted with New Orleans musicians Donald Harrison Jr., Kermit Ruffins, and Davis Rogan, local chef Susan Spicer, and civil-rights attorney Mary Howell while developing the series.

Simon and Overmyer began to assemble a writing staff for the full series,[14] first hiring local writer Tom Piazza, author of the nonfiction book Why New Orleans Matters.

Peters plays Albert Lambreaux, the leader of a Mardi Gras Indian tribe who is trying to bring his scattered people home and revitalize the neighborhood.

[22] Khandi Alexander, who previously worked with Simon on The Corner, joined the project in August 2008 and was cast as Ladonna Batiste-Williams, the ex-wife of Pierce's character and a bar owner.

[25] Kim Dickens, previously of Deadwood and Friday Night Lights, was also cast in February 2009 as a chef with a tumultuous relationship with Zahn's character.

[23][24] Rob Brown was cast in February 2009 as Delmond Lambreaux, a New York jazz musician and son of Peters' character, who reluctantly returns home after Katrina.

[26] Academy Award-winner and former Homicide star Melissa Leo was cast as a civil rights lawyer just before the pilot began filming in March 2009.

[17][27] John Goodman was cast as her character's college professor husband when the show started filming its season order, and scenes featuring him were added to the pilot.

[30] Other musical guests include Soul Rebels Brass Band,[31][32] Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, Donald Harrison Jr., Galactic, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, Deacon John Moore, Rebirth Brass Band, Treme Brass Band,[33] Shawn Colvin, Spider Stacy, Eyehategod, Justin Townes Earle, Sammie "Big Sam" Williams, Aurora Nealand, Jon Batiste, The Pine Leaf Boys, Paul Sanchez, Jon Cleary, Fats Domino, Red Stick Ramblers, saxophonist Joe Braun, bassist Matt Perrine, bassist Ron Carter, The Pfister Sisters (Holley Bendtsen, Debbie Davis and Yvette Voelker), clarinetist Bruce Brachman, bass drummer "Uncle" Lionel Batiste, percussionist Alfred "Uganda" Roberts, vocalist John Boutté, singer/guitarist Coco Robicheaux, pianist Tom McDermott, vocalists Lloyd Price and Irma Thomas and fiddler/accordionist Cedric Watson.

The sequence features more than 80 elements used from film, video, and still photographs, all used from people who lived in New Orleans, including family images from the hurricane.

[37] The second-season opening credits evolve, showing more contemporary video and updated themes that are present in the season, including public housing residents protesting, crime scenes, and the beginning of rebuilding the city.

[37] The third-season opening credits begin showing the revival of the city and the rebuilding, as well as new events from 2007 to 2008, in which the season takes place, including the killing of NOPD officer Nicola Cotton and the NOAH scandal.

The final title card appears newly painted on a white plastered wall, on which actor Clarke Peters provided the hand-brushed finishing touches.

[38][39][40] The New York Times critic Alessandra Stanley viewed the series as a sign of the city's inextinguishable joie de vivre.

"[42] Adolph L. Reed Jr. (professor of political science at University of Pennsylvania) has criticized the series for its clichéd portrayal of the city and the issues around Katrina.

[44][45] The Times-Picayune writer Dave Walker expressed the city's collective sentiment that Treme is "the screen depiction that New Orleans deserves, has always desired, but has been denied.

[86] The sets also include five commentary tracks—"Do You Know What It Means" with co-creators/executive producers David Simon and Eric Overmyer; "Right Place, Wrong Time" with Wendell Pierce, Khandi Alexander, and TV critic Alan Sepinwall; "All on a Mardi Gras Day" with Overmyer and producer/director Anthony Hemingway; "Wish Someone Would Care" with producer/writer George Pelecanos and John Goodman; and "I'll Fly Away" with Simon and executive producer Nina Kostroff Noble.