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Back and On Fire: 'Rescue Me' Returns with Extended Fifth Season on FX
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. -- TV's best (only?) blue-collar drama, FX's "Rescue Me," returns for its fifth season this week, 19 months after the last original episode premiered in September 2007. Blame the writers' strike and FX programming strategy for the delay.
When viewers last saw New York firefighter Tommy Gavin (Denis Leary), his father had died in the seat next to him at a baseball game. Tommy, always on the verge of becoming unhinged, reacts angrily while another family member falls off the wagon.
In addition to Gavin family psychodrama -- emphasis on "psycho" -- the show's emphasis remains, as always, on the firefighters in their off hours. Lt. Kenny "Lou" Shea (John Scurti) describes their often profane firehouse conversations as "gripping exchanges of deep thought and personal wisdom." These include debates over whether it's better to lose an eye or a testicle.
Plots this season include a new boyfriend (guest star Michael J. Fox) for Tommy's estranged wife, Janet (Andrea Roth), and firehouse interviews by a French journalist (Karina Lombard) writing a book to be published to coincide with the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
All 22 episodes in this season of "Rescue Me" -- expanded from the usual 13 for a cable series -- will air over the coming 23 weeks with the season finale slated for Sept. 8. A sixth season of 18 episodes has already been ordered.
Normally the series only produces 13 episodes a season but producers are not drained by this season's larger order.
"We're just full of ideas and energized in a way that we haven't been before, which is a shock to us," said executive producer/director Peter Tolan. That bodes well for the new season, necessarily so because some viewers and critics felt the fourth season disappointed. (Tommy threatening the life of a newborn? Really?)
"Most shows have a sophomore slump. We waited, I think, until our fourth year to do it," Tolan acknowledged at a January FX press conference. "Now, a slump for us I don't think is a marked difference in the quality of the show. ... I think it was a lack of focus. That's all."
Leary joked that it was planned.
"I think we did it on purpose so that we could have a [stinky] season and then this season would look so much better in comparison," he said.
One upcoming plot explores the belief held by firefighter Franco -- and shared by the actor playing the role, Daniel Sunjata -- that 9/11 was an inside job. In next week's episode, Franco calls 9/11 "a massive neo-conservative effort that's been in the works for 20 years."
"I think that the way the show addresses the issue is going to be socio-politically provacative," Sunjata said.
As far as limits on the show's often outrageous plots, Leary could think of only one limit imposed by FX executives: His salary.
"I had a crazy idea of getting paid, like, $250,000 an episode," Leary said. "They put limits on that, let me tell you. That's Kiefer Sutherland money right there."
'Rescue Me' When: 10 p.m. Tuesday, FX.
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Copyright 2009 P.G. Publishing Co.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jake Fireman on
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Awesome...CANT WAIT!
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Permalink Reply by FireFighter Roger Hicks on
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i love Recue Me that is a great show i wish it was on everday
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Permalink Reply by Sherry on
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I've waited for this for along time, it was kind of sad that we only had the mini episodes last season but what can ya do. I've got the DVR ready to record this years season and look forward to getting up in the morning and watching it after the little one goes to school. :)
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Permalink Reply by Erick Wendler on
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can't wait till tuesday night got the dvr ready best show ever made
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Permalink Reply by Colby on
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We need more and more stories that portray the job we do day in and day out....promoting it to our youth. It is the BEST profession I have EVER had !
~May God Bless My Brothers !
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Permalink Reply by Ronnie Kessler on
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I guess I have to disagree with everybody. The last thing firefighters need is to be portrayed in the light that this show portrays them. I watched half of the first episode and have had no desire watch any more. Firefighters have an obligation to uphold the highest of morals and ethics. This show is far from that. Maybe firefighters in the bigger cities are like that and have no problem with it but I want no part of it.
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Permalink Reply by John Rulli Jr. on
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Can't wait!!!
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Permalink Reply by revthunder on
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I agree this show does not respectively show the professionalism that this job deserve. This the best job on the planet, yet we would rather support a show that shows the opposite. This just goes to show you where we are today with moral and ethical standards declining, and what do we tell our children who may happen to watch an episode without their parents knowledge. This shows gets pretty close to being a XXX adult video.
I want have no part as well and will let my peers know why.
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