Summer TV: Rescue Me

It's hot. No, really, like....hot. So what better way to spend your day--or at least part of it--than with some summer TV? You may be thinking reruns, but the days of being stuck on the couch in front of interminable Brady Bunch marathons (or, worse, The Brady Bunch Movie) are over. In fact, far from being re-run central, summer's become the time that network and cable channels test out their new series ideas, so lots of the TV is edgier and more interesting than the usual fare.

But who will guide you through the myriad offerings, separating the next Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionare? from more exciting stuff? That, of course, is our job.

Today's offering is Rescue Me, which airs on FX. Now in it's third season, this is one drama that belies its subject matter (the lives of NYC firefighters in the wake of 9/11) by being laugh-out-loud funny at least once an episode. Foul-mouthed, dark, and never afraid to tackle (hilariously, somehow) subjects like homophobia and drug addiction, Rescue Me is totally addictive. The show is attracting more notice this year, with lead actor (And writer. And producer.) Denis Leary garnering an Emmy nom for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series. The show, which this year has featured high-profile guest stars such as Susan Sarandon, also has a tight ensemble cast including Daniel Sunjata (recently seen in The Devil Wears Prada). Today, FX ordered a fourth season of the critically-acclaimed drama, so we'll be laughing (and crying. No, seriously, we've cried) for at least one summer to come.

Rescue Me airs Tuesdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Time (9 pm here). If you want to catch up on past seasons, Season 1 is avaliable on DVD and Season 2 is being released on DVD today. FX also airs occasional Recue Me marathons.