FX has decided to end their Rescue Me series after seven seasons and 93 episodes. The show will go out as it began; closely tied to the events of 9/11.
Rescue Me follows Denis Leary as a hard-living New York fireman who balances the challenges of his stressful job and crazy personal life. The series also features the talents of Diane Farr, Adam Ferrara, Mike Lombardi, James McCaffrey, Jack McGee, Tatum O’Neal, Steven Pasquale, Andrea Roth, John Scurti, Daniel Sunjata, Larenz Tate, Callie Thorne, and Dean Winters.
Though it’s still a high-profile show for FX, Rescue Me’s numbers aren’t nearly as strong as they once were. The first two seasons averaged about 2.7 million viewers per episode. The fifth season has been averaging about 1.4 million and 914,000 in the 18-49 demographic. Variety reports that’s a 38% decline from season four.
The drop in viewership likely comes as a result of the show being off the air for an extended period of time. There was a gap of 18 months between the end of season four and the start of season five, largely due to the writers strike. A series of webisodes were released in 2008 in an attempt to bridge the gap.
In February, months before the premiere of year five, FX announced that Rescue Me had already been renewed for a sixth season of 18 episodes.
Of the early renewal, FX’s President and General Manager John Landgraf said, “Rescue Me is one of the very best series on television and a tentpole program for FX. We’re amazed by the quality of episodes for the upcoming fifth season, which are some of the best they’ve ever produced. I believe this show will continue to maintain a level of excellence for several years to come, and we’re thrilled to pick it up for a sixth season.”
Now that the network has seen the numbers for season five, it seems their enthusiasm has waned and have decided to make the next round the show’s last. But, instead of 18 episodes as previously planned, the final group of episodes has been increased to 19. The extra installment will presumably be used to cap off the series.
Rather than airing all 19 episodes together, the new plan is to break them up into two smaller seasons. Season six will air in 2010 while season seven will be held until 2011. Peter Tolan, the show’s co-creator, says the plan is to run the final episodes to coincide with the 10 year anniversary of 9/11.
Of the final episodes, Tolan told TV Guide that Maura Tierney, who’s featured prominently in next week’s season finale, may pop up for the final episodes. He said, “We loved working with her — that was kind of a big deal to get her… She’s got Parenthood, but I think we have a deal where we can use her for four episodes. And since we have that deal, we will take advantage of it.”
What do you think? Will you be sorry to see Tommy Gavin and the other characters go? How would you like to see the show end?
Image courtesy FX.
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The only reason this show isn’t as big as it should be, is because it’s NOT on a major network and it only runs in the summer. It needs to be picked up by a major network and run on a traditional fall schedule. The show is that good. I don’t get it. It’s the only show I watch on FX. If they cancel it, I have absolutely no reason to tune in to that channel. They should really try and sell it to either CBS, NBC, ABC or Fox. There is no other TV program out there right now that even compares to this show. I will be so sad if it doesn’t continue.
I feel FX has dropped the ball on this one! I noticed already they are showing reruns of Sons of Anarchy on Saturday nights. Where were the rescue me reruns!!!!! No promotion ,no reruns, short seasons. FX are you trying to make this show fail. Please! One of the best kept secrets on TV. Before you cancel it at least try to promote it a little better! I have probably brought on more viewers with my talk about it than you have! Really, I also only watch fx for this show. No more if it ends. Listen up big networks, take on this show!
I love Rescue Me! My husband and I watch it all the time. We will be so sad to see it go, however it must be challenging to find new ways to wow us! Thanks for the years of most excellent service. Dennis Leary, my hat’s off to you, and your extraordinary cast. Simply Brillant!!!!!
Being a volunteer fire fighter, and this being the only show on TV that I know of that has fire fighting as a huge part, I’ll be extremely sad to see this show go, like many, I really only watch FX because of this show. I truly believe that you did not push this show enough and that’s why you saw such a drastic decrease in viewers I don’t see commercials for the show as a whole, just for the next episode get Leary on SNL or something of the like and talk about it, maybe it can be like Family Guy and bounce back.
I watch a lot of TV and this is by far the best television show on the are and I haven’t see anthing this good since Six Feet Under and the Sopranos. It makes you laugh and cry. I hope there is a way to save this program. Maybe a letter writting campaign to FX will save this program. Let’s get it going Rescue Me fans!!!!!!!!! It’s been known to work in the past.
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