There's something different about Rescue Me this season that we can't quite put a finger on.
Maybe it's the complete creative rejuvenation of the show after a long, 18-month hiatus. Maybe it's the addition of the shockingly grotesque, wheelchair-bound Dwight, played brilliantly against type by guest star Michael J. Fox. Maybe it's that the show returned its focus to 9/11 and its lasting effects on the firefighters. Or maybe it's just because Season 4's look at a sober Tommy Gavin was a bit of a stinker.
If you ask Rescue Me's creators, they'll agree with most of all of that.
"We work in a vacuum," star and co-creator Denis Leary says. "It's impossible to tell what the audience or critics will think. Last season, we investigated places that we had to go, specifically with Tommy being sober. But it's not until it's out there that you get the reaction where people go, 'Y'know, it's really dark.'"
But dark isn't the word co-creator, writer and director Peter Tolan would use to describe Season 4. His word? Letdown. "The fourth season had its pleasures, but it was certainly not up to snuff, in my opinion, with what we had done in the previous years," he says. "We just sort of lost focus, the stories weren't as solid, and the storytelling, I thought, was a little weak. And many people noticed it. Because of that, I said to the guys that when we come back, we have to come back firing on all cylinders — we have to come back at 150 miles per hour and not stop."
And that's what they've done. This season ...
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On this fair St. Patrick's Day, we thought we'd share a list of Irish people we'd love to share a pint with.
Conan O'Brien
If Ireland could choose a poster boy or goodwill ambassador, we would nominate Conan O'Brien. He's got the trademark Irish red hair, blue eyes, freckles and dazzling wit. He also proved he can hold his own making and imbibing Irish cocktails when he raised a glass with Martha Stewart last St. Patrick's Day. Sláinte! Read the rest of our list including videos after the jump!
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Season 5 of Rescue Me has yet to premiere, but fans of the FX hit can already look forward to Season 6. The cable network has renewed the Denis Leary show for an 18-episode sixth season.
"Rescue Me is one of the very best series on television and a tentpole program for FX," said FX president John Landgraf. "We're amazed by ...
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The fifth Fashion Rocks event has signed one fiery hostRescue Me star Denis Leary will wrangle musicians designers and the celebs who love them at the annual event held at Radio City Music HallBeyonc Justin Timberlake Fergie Mariah Carey and Chris Cornell are among the stars slated to perform at the concert ticket proceeds will raise money for Stand Up to CancerFashion Rocks airs September 9 at 9 pmET on CBSWhat do you say do you think Denis Leary when you think fashion What will he be like as a host for Fashion Rocks Nina hammerling Smith
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Cheers to Rescue Me for firing up the funny with its summer minisodes. Denis Leary's FDNY dramedy has grown increasingly grim over its four seasons — does every other guy (cousin, son, brother, father, Chief) in Tommy Gavin's life have to die? So the shorts' lighter tone comes as a welcome comic relief, whether they're about Garrity struggling to give up sugar in the face of Lou's famous donuts or Tommy's erotic dream proving that three's company but four's a crowd when Probie joins the action. The minisodes may run only a few minutes each, but they pack more fun than two grueling hours of America's Got Talent. • Share your own raves and rants about other shows on the Reader Cheers & Jeers discussion board.• We may feature your Cheer or Jeer on TVGuide.com or in TV Guide magazine!
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