Rescue Me

I am clearly a bit late on this one, but what a show. Not only is Denis Leary a far better dramatic actor than I expected, he actually writes nearly every episode. I guess I missed the memo that this guy is actually more than a B-List comedian.

I started this series three weeks ago and just blasted through over nearly six full seasons in three weeks, and all I can say is what a ride. First of all, this is the second most depressing show I have ever seen (Six Feet Under being the Babe Ruth of television depression) yet somehow mixes in enough comedy and action to keep me from slitting my wrists after a four episode binge.

Secondly, Leary can really fucking act. I loved him in The Ref (watch it every Christmas along with Scrooged, which probably means I need therapy), but I just thought he was being Denis Leary. I had no idea he had these kind of chops. I am a sucker for an actor who successfully conveys emotion without speaking and Leary has mastered this. On top of that he has that rare "Gandolfini" type charisma. He is so likable you actually root for him to get away with cheating on his wife or whatever despicable thing he is up to this week.

Third, it is a show about fire fighters. It is easy to resent most public servants. "This cop gave me a ticket." Or "Those lazy bureaucrats at city hall don't work hard enough." But let's face it, everyone loves a fire fighter. These guys are rushing into a burning building to save people at least a couple of times a year. I have never saved someones life before, and would be thrilled to do so just once before I die. It is a job that is purely about serving your fellow man, it is a beautiful thing that represents the best in man.

Lastly, as someone who has struggled with a drinking problem, this show NAILS it. The longing glances as his buddies play quarters. The excuses as he tries to justify drinking again ("I'm just drinking wine now.", been there done that). And just the flat out insane decisions he makes to feed his addiction. I was actually shocked to find out that Denis Leary is not an alcoholic the way he captures this daily battle on the screen. It is refreshing to see something on television that portrays exactly what I am going through on a daily basis.

If you haven't watched this yet, the first three seasons are streaming on Netflix as I write this. Great cast, (particularly fond of Daniel Sunjata and John Scurti), fantastic writing, and just plain entertaining. Who doesn't want to see a bunch of fire and hot broads?

PS - I would stab you to death for Callie Thorne