RSS
Home
Rescue Me keeps the fire going
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
(1).jpg)
While I love the completely irreverent in-your-face humor that Denis Leary is known for, I wasn't sure Rescue Me would have the "legs" to last on television. Sure, its characters were engaging and the firefighting action was intense, plus the 9/11 storylines were very real, but, at least for me, it was sometimes hard to watch. I found myself having a love/hate relationship as I saw it waiting for me on the Tivo each week. With Denis Leary's character, Tommy Gavin's, out-of-control drinking and erratic behavior (I see dead people), I found myself wincing a lot as I watched. There's the sadistic side of TV watching in that it's almost fun to see people whose lives are more messed up than yours, but his character is just downright bad at times. As viewers, I think there is a part of us that wants to believe that everyone is inherently good, but may be placed in a lot of difficult situations. With Denis' character, although he's funny as hell, it's hard to get to that inherent goodness.
What I can't get enough of, though, is the witty banter and jokes that pass between the firefighters. While you can't be too sensitive, as the dialog is definitely racist, I bust a gut each week listening to them degrade one another. And, in all fairness, they do make fun of everybody, so I guess you could call it equality racism...if that makes you feel any better. There are a couple of lovable idiots on the show, Mike (Mike Lombardi) and Sean (Steven Pasquale), who share "Who's on first?" type conversations that will leave you in tears. Somehow, Sean, who is only slightly less of a moron than Mike, convinces him to do something absolutely stupid each week. In recent episodes, Sean has had to beg his mother and brother to come visit him as he battles cancer. In keeping with characters who are blatantly flawed, Sean's mother didn't want to come because it was too far of a trip! And it's easy to fall in love with the always-self-depracating Lou (John Scurti), who has been taken for a ride by just about every woman on the show, and not in a good way. There are so many great side characters, too, like Tommy Gavin's sister on the show, played by Tatum O'Neal, who only recently gave up alcohol but is now soothing war veterans with sex. I mean, what the what!? And Michael J. Fox has joined the cast this season as Janet Gavin's crippled boyfriend, Dwight, and his character is sad yet absolutely hilarious all at the same time.
The show, now in its fifth season, manages to keep things fresh with its extensive and amazingly talented cast, and new and intriguing storylines, with 9/11 as a running theme throughout the show. There has been a lot of Emmy buzz surrounding this season and, I have to say, I'm not surprised. While I still find myself wincing at some of the uncomfortable situations, like the Gavin's getting drunk and having sex in front of everyone at their daughter's school, I can't help but come back for more.
For more info: Visit the show's web site on FX.com and IMDB.com.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
