The American author, journalist, and television writer/producer developed possibly the best series of all time in crime/drug drama The Wire, which is in the top two or three shows Remotely Interesting has ever seen.
Ever.
But he didn't stop there.
The former reporter at the Baltimore Sun city desk was also behind Homicide: Life on the Street in the 1990s, and more recently the stunning HBO mini-series Show Me a Hero, the story of middle-class opposition to public housing in Yonkers, New York.
His output in the last 20 years or so has been sublime.
In August on Sky's SoHo channel (which you have to pay extra for, sadly) his latest production Generation Kill, based on a book by Rolling Stone reporter Evan Wright, will broadcast in New Zealand.
The show is described as a candid look at the first few weeks of the war in Iraq, as Wright is embedded with Bravo Company "as they adapt to their grim and dangerous surroundings with a combination of skill, resolve, subversive humour, stoicism and, occasionally, blind faith''.
Generation Kill was nominated for 11 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning three in 2009 in the miniseries categories.
While the subject matter may not jump out as being terrifically appealing, you can generally rely on Simon to come up with the goods.
Meanwhile, Westside is being really very excellent.
On TV3 at 8.30pm on a Sunday, or 3Now any time, the show is doing a great job of recreating Auckland, and New Zealand generally, in 1981.
Most will know the prequel to Outrageous Fortune stars the deeply wonderful Antonia Prebble and David de Lautour as Rita and Ted West, a dodgy couple of crims during the Springbok tour days.
It is really good New Zealand television.
Loyal readers will know Remotely Interesting cares deeply about Shortland Street, watching it as we do at dinner time, and only missing the bits that happen while we are washing the dishes.
The best thing about Shortland Street is you don't have to see it all, it is so easy to pick up on the storyline if you come in late.
This week, according to TV2, it is judgement day for Kylie (Kerry-Lee Dewing) as she heads to court.
The trial pits sister against sister, when Julia (Jessica Joy Wood) returns to give her testimony in a case in which the quite awful Julia is trying to get the lovely Kylie in trouble for helping their mother indulge in euthanasia.
The mother was very sick, and Julia was a terrible daughter.
There - I said it.
I hope Kylie comes out on top. I'm sure she will.
- by Charles Lougherty
