What to Do? What to Do?

This is the first time I've ever recommended a TV show, but I'd walk a mile on my tongue to watch Treme, which begins its second season on HBO this Sunday. Some folks might tell you it's not for everybody, but the exact opposite is true—everyone should watch it. It's atmospheric in a way that gives a keen sense of New Orleans and its people, history, and social attitudes. That alone is a huge accomplishment, and each episode is a series of small, miraculous moments that add up, accumulatively, to the most satisfying hour on television. How could you go wrong with a cast that includes Wendell Pierce, Clarke Peters, and Oscar-winner Melissa Leo? And the music? Don't even get me started on that. I've never watched Treme and thought, "I want that hour of my life back." I can't say that about any other show. If you do one thing this weekend, watch Treme.