I travel a lot and download full seasons of stuff to watch whilst away and have (unfortunately) run out of seasons of The Wire, West Wing and Sopranos - having watched each through on a couple of occasions

Any shows in the same genre (drama) which are as smartly or cleverly written which you'd suggest? I tried Boardwalk Empire but it just didn't click for me - maybe I need to try it again if it gets any advocates

Mad Men - excellent
Breaking Bad - excellent
Deadwood - excellent
The Shield - OK, nothing like The Wire though

Does it have to be contemporary drama?
How about Game of Thrones, Walking Dead, Spartacus?

Just to say, Spartacus is back with (A)Vengeance and is as bloody, violent and and sexy as ever.

Another vote for Breaking Bad.

Yes, definitely try out Breaking Bad. I would also recommend Dexter!

c'mon.... Boardwalk Empire.... IMHO.. as good as The Wire

Boss-Chelsey Grammars new show, he is Chicago mayor, very good.

Weeds-hbo show, some great seasons and some not so great but fun generally.

News Radio-old sitcom but if you liked Phil Hartman as I did, this was a very funny show.

Mash-sure, been there, done that, but its been a long time since I watched them all.

Taxi-again, not genre you are looking for but one of the best sitcoms ever and always funny to rewatch these shows.

Another vote here for Mad Men - I can't say enough good things about that show.

Although I do not watch it, I know enough people who are die-hard fans of 24 to mention it as well.

Yeah - I sorted of flirted with Mad Men, maybe worth another try

24 was just the most annoying load of cobblers in my mind.....great concept in theory but the "damn, another crisis 55 minutes after I solved the last one by killing the baddie / disarming the warhead / saving the cat from the tree" was like fingernails on the blackboard to me!

I know you were asking about drama series, but just in case you would consider comedy, Modern Family is hilarious. Only a 30-minute show, but sometimes it's nice to enjoy a whole episode of a show on DVD in only 20-ish minutes. Also, 30 Rock and Curb Your Enthusiasm (if you enjoy Larry David's Seinfeld-esque sort of "random" humor) are pretty good, in my opinion.

High marks also for the miniseries Band of Brothers and John Adams.

and along these lines (while I agree whole-heartedly with these suggestions)

The Borgias
Dexter
The Tudors
Oz (from HBO)
True Blood
Stargate-SG1 and Stargate Atlantis -- both with a decent number of seasons and smart enough to keep focus

New shows I love that are in their first season:
Once Upon a Time
Grimm
Pan Am

...and I hear Homeland (also from Showtime) is supposed to be pretty good.

I recommend against:
Falling Skies (it just sucks)
Caprica (it was canceled before it began, thus you commit to it and then it's over... like Firefly)
Stargate Universe (was supposed to carry on the Stargate franchise, but it just blows, like what "Enterprise" did to Star Trek)
The Killing (American version just is a yawner)

P.S. I watched the pilot of "Touch" with Kiefer Sutherland and I'm hooked. Can't wait for more episodes.

__________________
I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies. - Pietro Aretino

Well if you liked The Wire, then I HIGHLY recommend The Shield, to me it's the best show after The Wire and perhaps Boardwalk Empire....

Anyway, I recommend The Shield, OZ, Boardwalk Empire and Breaking Bad.

You can't go wrong with these shows!

BBC also has some great programming - Sherlock and Downton Abbey!

Why does it have to be a US TV series?

Coz I watch UK TV at home so know what is good and nobody else counts

I am currently watching Dexter, it is really good.
Breaking Bad, can't wait for it to start again.
First season of American Horror story, watched it and liked it, a bit strange.
Grimm, my sister likes it and I watched two episodes while visiting her.
Boardwalk Empire, I watched the first season when it started in the States and loved it, couldn't wait for Sunday night

My vote is for Damages with Glenn Close and Ted Danson -- great legal thriller. Show started out on FX cable station, then went to Direct TV. Not sure if it is downloadable...

For great dialogue humor -- Royal Pains on the USAnetwork

My vote is for Damages with Glenn Close and Ted Danson -- great legal thriller. Show started out on FX cable station, then went to Direct TV. Not sure if it is downloadable...

For great dialogue humor -- Royal Pains on the USAnetwork

Mad men
Six feet under
The good wife
Homeland
Modern family
Necessary roughness
Episodes
Downton Abbey

Also check out Southland.