A sitcom based in a NYC precinct focusing on the trials and
tribulations of Detective Mike McNeil (Denis Leary), a pill-popping,
borderline alcoholic politically incorrect cop whose personal life is
in a freefall crises: he's having an affair with a young, black woman
while trying to maintain his marriage and family man status. On top of
the daily stress and rigors of his highly demanding job McNeil tries
to do as little police work as possible in solving crimes while
bantering with his ensemble squad and suspects alike.
Leary - who based his questionable character on technical advisor
Mike Charles, a real-life detective who did likewise for Leary for his
role in the big-screen remake of "The Thomas Crown Affair"
co-executive produced this mold-breaking blend of "Barney Miller"
meets "NYPD Blue" with longtime collaborator Peter Tolan (both now
teamed successfully with the critically acclaimed F/X comedy/drama
"Rescue Me") that aired for a bracketing one season on ABC also with
critical acclaim but yanked far too-quickly before it could establish
a firm audience. ABC should be ashamed.
CRITIQUE
Denis Leary is arguably one of the best stand-up comedians of his
generation - a snarky blend of George Carlin and world-weary Richard
Belzer - with his full-throttle, take-no-prisoners chain-smoking
deliveries to the comedic solar plexus and a gnashing grin to those
who get in his way. In this, his first foray into 'traditional
television sitcom series' Leary fitted perfectly to the short-fused
yet heart of gold schmuck whose comeuppance threatened to occur with
each new episode, and made a unique interpretation of the average NYC
police detective who has seen it all, is fed up and will let anyone
within earshot know it. When I first heard about it in the few promos
ABC dished out I was excited and when I first viewed it became an avid
viewer. However as networks are wont to do as of late, the series
never established a firm footing in the scheduling and in the wake of
9/11 perhaps became skittish that the sitcom didn't appease the
American zeitgeist at the time it surely could've used a balm. But
that was never "The Job"'s intention; it was a comedy - pure and
simple. And a pretty fucking hilarious one at that.
Shot on location in NYC (and its surrounding areas including the set
of the squad in an abandoned school in Jersey City, NJ) with a
single-camera, no laugh track and 'racially balanced' production the
perfectly assembled cast included veteran actor Bill Nunn (perhaps
best known as Radio Raheem in Spike Lee's incendiary "Do The Right
Thing") as McNeil's long-suffering, yet devoted (perhaps too devoted)
married man Terence "Pip" Philllips, the moral center of the
partnership (and the show too boot) who was very in touch with his
feminine/sensitive side (asking his partner if 'these pants make my
ass look fat' to the point of getting out of their undercover sedan
and giving McNeil a good view); fellow stand-up comic Lenny Clarke
(and current "Rescue Me" co-star) as Frank Harrigan, a fat old school
detective buddy and food addict currently living in a spare room of
the precinct due to his wife throwing him out of their home; young
comedian Adam Ferrara as Frank's partner, Tommy Manetti, the gadfly of
the group and sex pervert trying to make a name for himself as a
detective; the Hispanic team of Ruben Sommariba (John Ortiz) and Al
Rodriguez (Julian Acosta) - a Mutt and Jeff duo nicknamed "rice and
beans"; the latter practically a mute to fine comic consequences
(often used as a device for the inner -office gossiping ("well I heard
from Al..."); and tomboyish, one-of-the -guys, ballsy hottie Diane
Farr (late of MTV's "LoveLines" and current co-star of "Rescue Me" as
well), the voice of reason and the sole female dick who matched her
male charges with verbal wit and demeanor, and single mother on the
prowl.
Rounding out the fine ensemble were vet character actor Keith David
as the gruff, no-nonsense and often riled black Lt. Williams (and
replaced fellow vet actor Richard Gant after the pilot); Wendy Makkena
(the "Sister Act" films) as McNeil's unsuspecting wife Karen and Karyn
Parsons as his lively lover, Toni; Janet Hubert-Whitten as Pip's
ball-busting wife, Adina, who clearly hates McNeil and feels he is a
bad influence for her cuckolded husband; and occasionally Rory Culkin
as McNeil's son, Davey.
Leary and Tolan (an accomplished comedy scribe who penned "Analyze
This" and "That" as well as stints on "The Larry Sanders Show" and
"Murphy Brown") scribed 90 percent of the well-written, joke-laden
scripts with deft comic aplomb by not only showcasing Leary's
trademark cynicism but also allowed to bounce off the excellent
comedic ensemble allowing each one to shine in any given show (as any
smart sitcom does).
The series managed to incorporate a plethora of themes including
homosexuality ("Gay") where the crew thinks Frank is gay; anger
management and police brutality ("Anger"); and even cannibalism
("Soup"). Of course there is also the sublime (Frank learning he has a
son in "Dad") to the ridiculous (voyeurism in "Telescope" where
McNeil, Frank and Tommy do a Three Stooges act in their attempt to get
a clear view of an unsuspecting comely neighbor to great extremes).
There are some wickedly funny one liners (like Tommy's in "Soup" to
Frank's voracious appetites in his lame attempt at a new diet: "Nah,
I know you're crazy; it's the breadth of insanity that keeps amazin'
me!") and slapstick aplenty (McNeil is constantly getting his ass
kicked by the most unlikely of attackers).
Among the guest stars included the lovely, shapely Elizabeth Hurley
and Gina Gershon (past co-stars and close buddies off-screen with
Leary) in aptly titled showcases "Elizabeth" and "Gina",
respectively, touching on bodyguards and stalkers/crazed fans; veteran
character actor Zeljko Ivanek ("Homicide: Life On the Streets" and
"Oz"); Ellen Pompeo (currently of ABC's out-of-nowhere smash hit
"Grey's Anatomy"); Scott Wolf; Eli Wallach; and Donald Trump.
First disc is standard framed but the remaining discs are 1.78:1
anamorphic widescreen. Otherwise a typical clear and clean looking
transfer of film-to-tape digital rendering.
THE AUDIO
Offers both 2.0 Dolby Standard and 5.1 Surround Sound Dolby Sound.
THE EXTRAS
Commentaries by Leary and Tolan are offered on 5 select episodes
including the pilot.
Remaining extras are included on Disc 4 which offer an interview
with Denis Leary and Peter Tolan; a gag reel; original
ABC sneak promos; behind-the-scenes footage; on-set cast
interviews and an on-location interview with Tolan.
FINAL THOUGHTS
While there is comfort in the fact that since ABC stupidly
cancelled this above-average cult classic-in-the-making and Leary &
Tolan re-teamed successfully to create "Rescue Me", it still boggles
the mind of the ineptitude of traditional network fare bowing to
idiocies aplenty. Truly deserved another life - perhaps an
unexpurgated turn on say, HBO?
