Rescue Me this season has hit some very high highs (the Michael J. Fox story arc; Tommy’s ongoing tussle with alcoholism) and some loopy lows (those too-long musical numbers; turning Callie Thorne’s Sheila into a such a nut, it’s hard to believe Tommy finds their relationship worth it).
But last night the series vaulted to the stratosphere once again with the second appearence by Maura Tierney as a mysterious but tough and alluring woman who set nearly the entire firehouse aflame… with desire.
One of the best things about Rescue Me is that, for such an on-the-surface “male” show, it’s always presented a wide range of women, from Andrea Roth’s Janet (a mixture of brutal, brittle, and beautiful) to, more recently, the great New York stage actress Kathleen Chalfant as Sean’s astringent mother.
To this, add Tierney, whom we met last week in the closing seconds of Rescue Me walking fearlessly into a burning building to retrieve a box. This week, her character Kelly visited the firehouse to flirt with Franco (or as she dubbed him, “Pillow Lips”) and banter with Tommy, whom she started calling “Ron Howard” and “Opie.” Tommy, who loves to flop his blond mane around macho-style, was incensed that this woman would compare him to the now-balding Howard’s Andy Griffith Show character.
No matter. He was still turned on by Kelly. Tierney, who used to make exhaustion and despair sexy on ER, really lets loose in these episodes. It’s nearly impossible to upstage the boisterous firefighters in Rescue Me, but she did it.
Watching her, I was reminded once again of the reports that Tierney’s health has delayed the premiere of her new sitcom, Parenthood, and wish her all the best. Because, boy, this woman can explode a scene, again and again.
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If she doesn’t get an Emmy for her arc, I may cry.
Love the fifth season! I have no complaints with the storylines. I thought the musicalnumbers were hilarious, And Sheila’s character is crazy, yet attractive in a seductive way.
An Emmy for Maura Tierney’s story arc? Let’s get a grip on ourselves.
I was about thisclose to giving this show up on my DVR. I was so over the musicals and why has Tommy turned into such a wuss? But with Maura on I will give it another shot.
Huh? Sheila has always been a nut, but this season she’s been mesmerizing, particularly a few weeks ago when she confessed her real feelings about Tommy, Jimmy, and what she’d have preferred to happen on 9/11, and last night when she explained why Tommy should choose her rather than Janet. Oh, and it’s also good to finally understand why things have been turning orange lately.
The last two episodes have really turned the season around. I agree, I am so tired of the Tommy/Janet/Sheila triangle — I instinctively fast-forward scenes with Sheila, she is so grating. Tierney is brilliant and last night’s scene about Sean’s orange skin was priceless.
I think Maura was entertaining, but the writing was still a little uneven to me. Correct me if I’m wrong, but she never gave her name to the guys as she was hitting on them…which is fine, I guess, but it just seemed odd that no one even bothered to ask. Must say I wasn’t surprised that Silletti accepted her number w/out knowing her name b/c that fits his character – but the other guys?? Overall I haven’t liked the way the stories have jumped around certain details, i.e Collen moving in w/Tommy. I mean, when did they even discuss that? And when did Tommy move out w/Lou for that matter? Of course I can incur that since Lou is engaged that Lou’s quarters are a little tight, but it would have been nice if that was mentioned at some point. Season 5 has been doing that a lot lately, I don’t like watching a show every week only to feel like I missed an episode somehow just because there are so many plot holes.
I’ve gotta agree with some of the holes. As far as the Colleen moving in with Tommy, I was always under the impression she already had her own place.
Via, I have to say, I’m with you on this. I cannot love this show more but last night, I was like, wait. Tommy has a new house? Colleen is moving in? What?? But, beyond these holes, this season has been fantastic. And I LOVED the musical numbers. They were hilarious!
Baby carrot!
I hate to break it to you, Ken. But Sheila has always been a nut job. This season has been great and the scene last night with the orange body part was as funny as anything that’s been on TV in years.
Since Sons of Anarchy is beginning on September 8, am I correct is assuming there are only 4 episodes of Rescue Me left this season?
its a little hairy orange cheese doodle!! That whole scene was priceless!
That’s right HulaHoop, this was a 22 ep season and it kicked off the first week of April.
Thanks, I couldn’t remember when it started up.
Tierney was great (as usual), but this may be the first place I’ve ever seen that has claimed this show has presented a “wide range of women.” (Unless, of course, by “wide range” you mean ranging from “rhymes with witchy” to “COMPLETELY insane and cartoonishly rhymes with witchy.”
Don’t get me wrong, I think the women give very good performances (especially Callie Thorne), but a disproportionate amount of the female characters on the show seem to be there just to fawn/fight over Tommy (played by Denis Leary, who also happens to write most of the episodes).
Still, definitely enjoyed Tierney last night.
Tierny has been on for a total of 5 minutes so far! I’m hoping something shakes loose in the final 4 episodes, because so far, underutilized does not begin to describe her time on the show.
“Watching her, I was reminded once again of the reports that Tierney’s health has delayed the premiere of her new sitcom, Parenthood”
It’s not a sitcom, but a drama
The “orange” scene was so funny, i was laughing so hard i was crying
Love Tierney and love this show. Last night’s episode was one of the funniest of the year.
I love, love, love this show. I can sit down and watch and be sure to laugh most of the show. I don’t pick apart what her name is and if she ever said it and when or when Tommy moved out or when Colleen moved in. These guys are good for a laugh especially when they get on their rants about the funniest topics. The show is 45 minutes of entertainment…not a chance to be picky. Save that for real life.
I’m not being picky so put away your claws. I was explaining how certain plot holes can take me out of the moment. If I didn’t love the show I wouldn’t care if the writing was lapse. Those are small examples from this one episode, but this season has failed to even acknowledge Franco’s former fiancee, or the reason she left him – which was because he didn’t fight for his child. These were pretty big issues from previous seasons which have gone ignored.
I’m not saying this isn’t a funny and complex show. I am saying that the characters deserve better, as do loyal viewers like myself.
Crazy Sheila is perfect. Someone give that woman an Emmy NOW!!!
Ken is just finding Sheila to be nuts now? She’s been nuts the entire five years – but in a good way compared to Janet.
I agree completely with d. The actress that plays Sheila is wonderful, especially her interview with the French woman. That was an excellent scene. This is definitely the best show on TV right now.
Not to mention her emotional breakdown at the end of last season when she found Jimmy’s old jacket.
Callie Thorne deserves an Emmy for that performance alone, never mind the fantastic job she’s done the rest of the season.
I was talking about the interview, but it didn’t post fast enough
Ken, why did you delete my post from this morning? There was nothing in it that could have been considered racy. Ridiculous!
Never mind, now it’s back. Sorry, Ken.
The funniest thing ever to me – was last week when the firehouse boys sat down to watch “Dancing With the Stars.” That was wet-your-pants-laughing funny.
Loved,loved, loved last night’s episode. Loved the comment about “baby carrots”. I almost fell out of my chair. It seems that Mike has a few more brain cells this season. Also loved the part when Damien asked Lou to come in to the other room and Lou looked at him with his glasses at the end of his nose. Then when Damien explained why they wanted him he said “why didn’t you say so”. That part cracked me up too.
Thanks for such a great read, Ken! It’s always great to see the most underrated actress in Hollywood getting some of the recognition she so richly deserves. Maura’s brilliant. Can’t wait for her to be 100% healthy and back to work on Parenthood!
I have always been suspect of Shelia’s “no strings attached” relationship with Tommy, which to my way of thinking always had more strings attached than 200 guitars. In last night’s eposide Shelia finally exposed her real claws. The scene was brillant and repulsive as Thorne’s character seductively told Tommy of her true feelings in order to get Tommy to dump his family. A very interesting case study which will surely become much more complicated given Tommy’s macho ego since Tierney has raised the rd flag.
I love Rescue Me for the most part but I am really tired of Tommy being so ridiculously irresistable to all women.
Agree with Pandy because Maura has brought a great missing energy to the show. I love it!!!
This is one of the best seasons of Rescue Me mostly, imo, because of the excellent relationship with Black Shawn and Tommy. Now that Shawn is with Tommy’s daughter, those two together are great. They have great chemistry and when Shawn uses slang that Tommy doesn’t understand or thinks is stupid, the comments Tommy makes are great. I agree about Sheila being such a nut but at least we see more of Sheila than botoxed Janet. Sheila is WAY more entertaining.
I love maura in rescue me
she the best
I LOVE Crazy Sheila. She’s been crazy the entire series….this season isn’t anything new. Callie Thorne is the sexiest actress alive. I can understand how it would be worth the craziness to be with Sheila.