Rescue Me
A reminder that the FX series Rescue Me has just begun its second season. The first episode, “Voice Mail” aired on Tuesday, but will be re-run several times. Rescue Me stars Denis Leary as Tommy Gavin, a drunk, foul-mouthed fireman who has been psychologically crumbling ever since he lost his cousin and best friend on 9/11. Much of it is set in the firehouse, and the sexism and the rampant testosterone are jaw-dropping, entertaining, and scarily believable. Leary’s hair always looks a little too yellow, a little too long and like it’s got a little too much product in it. In spite of the odd hair, it’s a good show. Dark, but not without redemption. The writing is fast and sharp, and I find it exhilarating to see a show built around such a deeply flawed character. And I don’t mind watching Daniel Sunjata, who plays a fireman named Franco, once a week, either.