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.
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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.
NO.NO.NO.!!! sAY IT ISN’T SO!! Just tuned in and TURNED on to Denis Leary and Rescue Me and can’t bear the thought of no more Tommy Gavin.
and yes, thanks to Netflix and Denis Leary AND his firefighter foundation for putting spirit back into my heart. I can only dream and pray that MAYBE a major network would smarten up and pick up Rescue Me. Not everyone has cable.THIS is the BEST reality show EVER !!!
GOOD FOR TV IF THEY WERE REAL LIKE WE SEE ON THE JOB YOU WOULDN’T SEE MUCH INSIDE ACTION FOR IN THE REAL DEAL YOU CAN’T SEE MUCH OF ANYTHING. I HATE TO SEE IT GO THERE MILLION COPS SHOWS FOR EVERY ONE FIRE FIGHTER SHOW THAT NOT RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVERY NETWORK HAS AMERICAN IDOL OR DANCING WITH THE STARS YOU GET MY POINT IT CAME TO A POINT THAT I DON’T TURN ON THE TUBE MUCH ANYMORE. AND A LOT THE PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE STOPPED MOST CABLE CHANNELS RUN INFO SHOW OR SCAMS AS I SEE IT AND I… Read more »
AS A REAL RETIRED FIRE FIGHTER I CAN TELL YOU THIS MUCH IT SHOW THAT WE ARE HUMAN WITH REAL PROBLEMS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. THERE A LOT OF THE THINGS AS FAR AS JOKES AND HACKING ON EACH THAT REALLY HAPPENS JUST LIKE ON THE SHOW.THE FIRES A LAME TO FIRE FIGHTERS BUT THEY ARE
Rescue Me is a great example of the expanding of the ‘Cimema Vertie’ style television shows that are breaking the mold – along with BSG, and several other great shows –
I hate to see Rescue Me – end – especially after seeing Dennis Leary go from such a good comic/actor – to producer/director – and I think it is honestly his – and – some of the best work I have seen on television or anywhere else.
I just noticed on our FX channel that season 6 premier is coming up on Tuesday, June 29th. I thought it was over as Tommy was shot by his uncle in the bar and lay on the floor behind the bar bleeding. What could season 6ths storyline possible be? Now he haunts people or does he somehow survive the shooting? Should be an interesting two years.
I finally find a decent show and they’re going to end it? “Rescue Me” is an excellent show, with amazing characters/actors and story lines. The writers know when a character is tired and they eliminate them in a timely fashion; it continues to avoid “jumping the shark” and brings a new adventure every episode. It’s the kind of show that really could continue on without losing its viewers and it’s hard to imagine it ever really has. I discovered it after Season Five and have watched it via Netflix. It is a television page-turner; I don’t know how I would… Read more »
One more thought…Hey USA network pick up Rescue me! About the only cable channel left that brings good dramas. Not round the clock rerun movies!
I think it is ridiculous that they are ending this show! TV has become such garbage with the stupid reality shows. Whats wrong with great acting and good stories. One issue I have had with FX is the short seasons, long breaks and no reruns of this great show! Please rethink your decisions FX !!!! This is one of only a few shows left worth watching!!!!!!
it’s too bad we still reside in a country so free yet tied together by sinew so shallow & conservative. Rescue Me, Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Nurse Jackie these are the shows that we should be REQUIRED to watch and interpret in school so that we can become a Nation of deeper intelligence, rather than our fat-assed glittering “reality” TV shows that thwart the mainstream and choke original throught from people!
Americans are Morons, D Leary’s razor edged comedy is too much for 90%+ of viewers to comprehend as fast as he dishes it out. Shows like Rescue Me have a built-in half life of reality garbage TV due to the fact that the viewer HAS TO USE THEIR BRAIN! Ouch, Thinking-That Hurts!
Also doesn’t help his cause that we’re living in such soft, Politically Correct times when people’s feelings get hurt when they’re not coddled by the minute. Thankfully I have all the previous seasons dvd’s to fall back on. Thanks for the EXC. RUN, Rescue Me!!
Absolutly … this series is mad like a part of family for me … i almost work as an firefighter and understand a lot of things that happen in Rescue me … nothing all is so “hard” as is shows … but in many things i find myself ^^ So what should be the end …. i think its almost one way , like Cris said … Tommy have to die … but to see him die , i am not sure if wanna see that … maybe it would be better they promise us to make another season and… Read more »
It seems that the major 3 (CBS, NBC, and ABC) networks can have crap like American Idol and Dancing with the Stars and other inane stupid shows which go on forever, but FX had to cancell one of the very few shows that I actually looked forward to each week. The American public truely do not know what good TV drama/comedy is and this is the reason why Rescue Me was cancelled. Also, lets not forget the almighty dollar which is how the networks base whether a show gets canned or not. Because viewer numbers dropped they weren’t making enough… Read more »
In my opinion rescue me is as close to a true firehouse reality show you can get. If it must end I believe that Tommy should die in a fire and be in the viewing watching all his friends and family mourn his loss as he is greeted by his son, brother, father and his fellow fallen firefighters as the ghosts “welcome” him home to where firefighters go. He should first be touched by the words of the mourners then elated by his passing beyond. That would be the greatest tribute we could give to such a troubled soul like… Read more »
I just hope that at least end the show by wraping it all up, like the ghost of tommys family members, the sex afair with his cuz inlaw , his love life with his wife, the love afairs of fellow fire fighters and the daughter that children and families of new york never followed up on while she is traviling with a rich women not seeing her father, and all the other fire fights storys because its not just about Tommy, let the show end with closing all the questions dont leave fans mad and wondering.
I just found out that FX is pulling a boner and dumping FX? Figures, one of the greatest shows on TV. So what if everyone that watches it doesnt have a Nielsen ratings box? It is still super strong and everyone I know watches it and loves it. They should checkout all the “Tommy Gavin” fans on Facebook.
Great move FX, someone with down syndrome must be running that network now.