June 13, 2007 9:14 AM
7 reasons to watch 'Rescue Me'
Missing Sopranos and The Shield? Still in the mood for edgy TV in the midst of all the summer reruns and reality shows?
Lisa Bornstein offers seven reasons you should catch Rescue Me, back for its fourth season tonight on FX:
Back for its fourth season, the FX comic drama about New York City firefighters picks up with, as usual, lives in disarray. Tommy Gavin (Denis Leary) was last seen in the house that his lover, Sheila (Callie Thorne), set afire. Now he's trying to prove he didn't set the fire himself, but because she drugged him, he doesn't really know what happened. Chief (Jack McGee) is coming to terms with his gay son and the heart attack that could keep him off a truck. And Tommy's baby? Well, they're not sure whether it's his or his brother's. Sounds like a soap opera, but The Rocky's Lisa Bornstein says there are at least seven reasons you should tune in:
1 Denis Leary as firefighter Tommy Gavin. The most underrewarded man on television, with Golden Globe and Emmy nominations but no win yet. He's gone beyond his caustic stand-up persona to become a true actor with this show. Yes, he's still acid in a solid state, with the dry delivery of rapid-fire stream-of-consciousness, as demonstrated by his response in the first episode this season to a co-worker's inquiry as to his level of stress:
"Yeah, little stressed out. The basketball thing, haven't had sex or a smoke in nine months, and I just found out everybody I know pretty much thinks I'm going to jail. So you know, yeah. Stressed? Yeah. Little bit."
His character (as well as the show) is defined by an old-fashioned Irish-American idea of masculinity: quick to drink, quick to insult and quick to fight. But his fights have included the defense of his family, and his reactions to tragedy, from Sept. 11 to the death of his son by a drunk driver or the murder of his brother. All have been surprising and affecting.
June 13, 2007
9:47 AM
gr8fuldude writes:
Easily one of the best shows on the air, and gets nowhere near the buzz that it should. It is reason alone to have cable during the summer.
June 13, 2007
9:58 AM
Anonymous writes:
Love the show. Really shows the viewers the power and destruction of alcohol. Just watch and look in the mirror if you're a boozer.
June 13, 2007
10:18 AM
Rich hulten writes:
I have known self-destructive individuals and Denis Leary's acting skills are perfect. The perfect "survivor syndrome". It feels wonderful to be alive, yet miserable to have survived his brothers. Perhaps the reason why he hasn't been rewarded for his effort is that it hits too close to home for many Hollywood types that live to excess.
June 13, 2007
11:00 AM
Tree writes:
8dude-
I'm with you on this one. I have my tivo set with a season pass for this show already.
I'll have to check out an episode of Lil' Bush (another cartoon) on Comedy Channel for more Shrub laughs. I think it starts tonight. Now that the NBA finals are over, it's No Sleep to Brooklyn!
June 13, 2007
12:29 PM
Can I get an AMEN! writes:
I've been watching the show since it started. I was interested in seeing Dennis Leary because I always thought he was a great cutting edge comedian.
I was hooked from the first show. Rescue Me is both hilarious and sad,some of the stuff you see on there you haven't seen on any other show.Remember the monkey?
I think FX has 2 of the best shows ever.Rescue Me and The Shield hands down.