Third Impressions: Rescue Me

Just days after winning the STA for Best Cable Show for the second straight year, Rescue Me is back for its third season. The main problem with the show though is that it has been so long since the second season ended, about nine months, it’s hard to remember what’s going on with Tommy Gavin and the boys, the minute “previously on” segment wasn’t nearly long enough. In fact, I remember watching Everwood the past two weeks wondering where I have seen Andy’s dad before only to watch the season premiere of Rescue Me to realize he also played Tommy’s dad too.

So once everything started to come back to me, Tommy’s kid was hit by a drunk driver who his uncle then killed in retaliation, the chief had to put his wife in a home, the chick firefighter bolted without a way for Franco to find her, Kenny got conned by a prostitute, Garrity got schooled by Tommy’s youngest, and the probie got kicked to the curb by the fat chick, it was time to kick back and enjoy the best drama on television not named Veronica Mars. So a couple months have passed and Tommy’s soon to be ex-wife still hasn’t talked to him as she blames Tommy for Conner’s death. Then to make think worse, for at least little Tommy, is that it looks like Shelia has lost interest too. But that doesn’t stop her for asking for favors like find out whether her son is having sex and needless to say, Tommy doesn’t handle the situation very well but at least there are a few good laughs at his expense. And since he’s been hitting the bottle again, that means the return of his dead cousin who doesn’t care too much on how Tommy’s handling the situation.

The rest of the boys seemed to be put on the backburner this week getting minimal screen time, but were able to up the entertainment when they were there specifically when the boys leaned that the smoking ban in the firehouse was going into effect much to the chagrin to Tommy and Kenny who apparently didn’t get the memo five months ago. Then Kenny finds a video made by the escort that ripped him off that led to some great scenes.

There was some predictability to the episode, so thanks to the preview that revealed who Garrity’s new girlfriend was, and it wasn’t too surprising to me to find out that Janet’s new beau was as I called it about five minutes in. They aren’t the only one’s who will find new love this season as Oscar winners Susan Sarandon and Marissa Tomei pop up for a couple episodes each. Much like the past two, Rescue Me will likely be the cure for the summertime rerun blues.

Rescue Me airs Tuesdays at 10:00 on FX and if you want to know more about what’s coming up on the show, check out highlights from my chat with star and producer of the show Denis Leary - Tonight the Part of Denis Leary Will be Played by Denis Leary.