Deadline Hollywood’s newest addition Nellie Andreeva reports that just days after the premiere, HBO is bringing David Simon‘s New Orleans drama “Treme” back for a second season.

“Treme already is tracking higher than The Wire,” writes Andreeva, “drawing 1.1 million viewers in its Sunday night premiere, up from an average of 890,000 viewers who turned in for the original airings of The Wire’s final fifth season.”

Excellent news!

This Fishie lived in New Orleans for five years, before and after Katrina, and loved the verite feel of the opener. To capture New Orleans, the “show don’t tell” method of storytelling is essential. Otherwise it’s too easy to get bogged down in cliches. Just get some good locations scouts, stay clear of the French Quarter and show what the real city looks and feels like.

Loved casting Kermit Ruffins as himself. Didn’t like the DJ character. No one in New Orleans would be rude enough to help himself to a $300 bottle of wine without asking. Well, they might, but they would just steal it and not let you know about it. Plus, there’s no way a true aficionado of contemporary New Orleans music would bump Mystikal — who was already in jail on rape charges just after Katrina — out their windows at the neighbors. Master P maybe. Mannie Fresh definitely!

One other point of note, for those interested. New Orleans in the months after Katrina felt empty. It was empty, even in the neighborhoods that stayed dry. Treme’s premeire felt too populated. Things seemed to be in too much working order. New Orleans is always kind of a surreal place, but after Katrina it was like a Miro painting. Not Dali, definitely Miro.