Rescue Me

Rescue Me - FX channel
a kate west favorite









In it's fourth season, "Rescue Me" is still as hot as ever. Hot firefighters, hot action and hot dialogue.

Executive Producer, writer and star Denis Leary (pictured above) has created an intriguing look at tough men who live and play hard. His character, Tommy Gavin, is multi-dimensional, talks to dead people and tries to rise above his nature. As do they all. Facing death every other day, these volatile firefighters are in turn crude, offensive, charming, vulnerable and very real. The relationships are basic and everyone is deeply flawed. That's what makes it so fun to watch. Stereotypes are encouraged and often turned inside out until you come to understand the desensitization these guys are subject to. Fire purifies, annihilates, destroys and renews and no one understands that better than these brave men. Noble in battle, they are infuriatingly impossible in daily life. A great contrast. (The intervention scenes are fun family fodder.)

Kudos to Leary for daring to be edgy and for taking such a personal and active creative role. And this season's finale is a killer too, complete with a divine baseball scene. Ah!


Series Directed by
Jace Alexander (17 episodes, 2004-2007)
John Fortenberry (11 episodes, 2004-2006)
Peter Tolan (10 episodes, 2004-2007)
Ken Girotti (4 episodes, 2006-2007)
Adam Bernstein (2 episodes, 2004)
Jefery Levy (2 episodes, 2005)
Don Scardino (2 episodes, 2007)

Series Writing credits
Denis Leary (48 episodes, 2004-2007)
Peter Tolan (48 episodes, 2004-2007)
Evan T. Reilly (11 episodes, 2005-2007)
John Scurti (3 episodes, 2004-2006)
Salvatore Stabile (2 episodes, 2004)
Mike Martineau (2 episodes, 2005-2007)

Series Cast

Denis Leary ... Tommy Gavin (48 episodes, 2004-2007)
Mike Lombardi ... Mike Silletti (48 episodes, 2004-2007)
Steven Pasqual ... Sean Garrity (48 episodes, 2004-2007)
Andrea Roth ... Janet Gavin (48 episodes, 2004-2007)
Daniel Sunjata ... Franco Rivera (48 episodes, 2004-2007)
John Scurti ... Kenny Shea (48 episodes, 2004-2007)
Callie Thorne ... Sheila Keefe (45 episodes, 2004-2007)
Jack McGee ... Chief Jerry Reilly (44 episodes, 2004-2007)
James McCaffrey ... Jimmy Keefe (40 episodes, 2004-2007)
Natalie Distler ... Colleen Gavin (29 episodes, 2004-2007)
Tatum O'Neal ... Maggie (24 episodes, 2005-2007)
Dean Winters ... Johnny Gavin (23 episodes, 2004-2007)
Charles Durning ... Tommy's Dad (21 episodes, 2004-2006)
Trevor Heins ... Connor Gavin (21 episodes, 2004-2006)
Lenny Clarke ... Uncle Teddy (20 episodes, 2004-2007)
Olivia Crocicchia ... Katy Gavin (20 episodes, 2004-2007)
Diane Farr ... Laura Miles (19 episodes, 2004-2005)
Robert John Burke ... Father Mickey Gavin (19 episodes, 2004-2007)
Peggy Scott ... Jeannie / ... (14 episodes, 2004-2006)
Michael Zegen ... Damien / ... (13 episodes, 2004-2006)
Michael Mulheren ... Chief Perolli (13 episodes, 2004-2006)
Ed Sullivan ... Billy Warren / ... (11 episodes, 2004-2006)
Cailin Stollar ... Keela (11 episodes, 2004-2006)
Sherri Saum ... Natalie (11 episodes, 2006-2007)
Milena Govich ... Candy (8 episodes, 2005-2006)
Anthony Mangano ... Bobby Vincent / ... (8 episodes, 2004-2007)
Bernardo De Paula ... Jesus / ... (8 episodes, 2005)


Rescue Me - The Complete First Season Read more!

NASA

a kate west reflection

I was never good at science. I dreaded math class. I ended up a Theater Major (with an English Minor), for God's Sake. So ask me about Shakespeare. And yet I loved scientists. I read as much science fiction as possible and avidly watched every "Star Trek" (you know that many Star Trek fans probably grew up to be astronauts, possibly even cooler than being firemen). So I was excited when I had a chance to visit NASA in Texas ("Houston, we have a problem").

My brother and I took the tour with the tram and drove by several nondescript gray buildings but never got to go inside. Our tour guide would say "and this is where all the moon rocks are processed and other fascinating artifacts from space, but we won't be going in there". This happened a couple of times and all we got to see was a couple of old rockets out front. But then, FINALLY we got a quick trip through Mission Control. The old one. The new one is in Florida, I learned. That part was cool, as was a very short glimpse into some of the astronaut's training facilities. And plenty of time for the gift shop, of course. Houston weather is pretty humid in the summer, so it definitely felt like a vacation and trip to another world.

I wish I had more aptitude for that kind of field, but I just don't. I can only admire them from afar. I feel the same way about the United Nations (another fascinating tour), but I have a better shot with them if I join the Peace Corps and exploit my language skills. I hope.

Sigh.

To learn more, check out www.nasa.gov.

Read more!

The Guys

The Guys
a kate west reflection
written by Anne Nelson
directed by Jim Simpson




[Movie poster starring Anthony LaPaglia & Sigourney Weaver]

"The Guys" is both a 2002 stage play and a Hollywood film, both written by Anne Nelson, a journalist hoping to corral September 11 memories and emotions into a fitting eulogy for fallen firefighters. She succeeds in creating a moving story while honoring eight firemen who died on September 11. The film version may be a tad more staged than the play version, interestingly enough, but both are emotionally involving and properly dignified.

New York Fire Captain Nick asks Nelson to help him write eulogies for his fallen men and as a journalist, Nelson feels it appropriate to interview the Fire House. But it turns into more than that and becomes a statement for Manhattan itself, in depicting how everyone in the city learns to cope with the tragedy. That's when she decides to try her hand at playwriting and good thing too. She writes a quiet, but profound piece of contemplation, sensitively portraying the real life rawness of a cataclysmic event that affected us all. And it doesn't hurt to land excellent actors to help it along (Anthony LaPaglia, Sigourney Weaver in the film and Weaver and Bill Murray in the first version on stage and later Susan Sarandon with LaPaglia). There are some slow parts here and there, but the sentiment is real and definitely appreciated.

God Bless America, Broadway and Hollywood.

---

FILM
Cast: Anthony LaPaglia and Sigourney Weaver

NEW YORK PRODUCTIONS
Cast: Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver
"A Gala Evening" fundraiser January 14, 2002, at 7:00 p.m.
at the New Victory Theater 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue, New York
Flea Box Office 212-226-2407

Cast: Anthony LaPaglia and Susan Sarandon
Sets and Lights: Kyle Chepulis
Costume Design: Claudia Brown
at Flea Theater, 41 White Street, New York
contact 212-206-1515 or www.theflea.org.
2/21/02-3/14/02 (La Paglia through March 5th only; Bill Irwin on March 7th)
Mon-Thurs @ 7pm; $55; limited $15 tickets for Firefighters & Port Authority workers
$25 rush tickets sold same day (wait list based on availability)
Last New York performance 12/31/02

"Nick and I weren't supposed to meet. You couldn't create another sequence for his life that leads to me. Or for my life that leads to him. After September 11th, all over the city, people jumped tracks." - Anne Nelson Read more!

Life and Online Dating

a kate west reflection

You never know who's going to end up together. It's not something you have any business sorting out, either. Chemistry and timing play a part, as well as a general outlook on life, love and dating. Life is unexpected. And love can change. Who knew?

The year 2001 changed my entire life, in so many ways. September 11 happened and then the whole world changed, so what did my small life have to do with anything? Well, I still had to live it, when all was said and done. After our national shock, we all had to get back to living our lives. Comedians started being funny again and Hollywood celebrities came out of hiding. And I started online dating. And perceptions and perspectives got small again.

On to major trivialities. Can I work out my own insecurities, while still caring about the state of the planet? Like I said, I had to start living my life again and if the whole country could do it, so could I. It all ties in - for me, at least. O.K. so forgive me. Please. Moment of self-indulgence. But who knows, maybe we'll all learn something together.

Here's the thing about online dating. Profiles don't match. Guys, it's not your fault - I don't match my profile either. Everything on there is true, but you're right this moment building a fantasy in your head, which I just can't live up to - no one can. And I'm doing the same to you. Cyber reality isn't reality at all - it's what we want to have happen and then we're disappointed when it doesn't come true. So I've given up online dating. I know, I know, a lot of you married people you met online, but it's pretty unusual to meet someone perfect from a photo gallery of strangers. What are the odds? And if you've been out of circulation, for oh, say decades, the rules may have changed and it's kind of like starting out all over again. But straight from high school. And who wants to do that? Ugh. Better for real friendships to develop into something else. But who has the time for that in this day and age?

There must be a better way. So we join fun organizations and fitness clubs and try to stick with people we have something in common with. Maybe. The old fashioned way. It may take a longer, but it's a lot less stressful. And all of those how-to dating books don't really help either. It either happens or it doesn't. When we try to force nature, it backfires. Hence, global warming. And bad dates.

So back to the drawing board! And better perceptions and perspectives. And a more serious version of life. Like joining the Peace Corps. Anything to help others and get out of your own head at the same time. Because without a peaceful world, how can we find happiness with each other?

p.s. Firemen are still the best superheroes, in my book (and totally datable). We haven't forgotten you. Believe me. Peace.

www.peacecorps.gov/

MORE Magazine: www.more.com Read more!