Rescue Me: Uncensored: The Official Companion

Trying to sum up Leary's (and Tolan's) humor is like trying to catch a gas molecule with a fish landing net, just forget it. Ever since season one, my wife and I have laughed, gasped, felt our throats tighten and eyes water, all in a time span of 2 minutes. If you have attention deficit disorder ("ADD" for you smart guys out there), you'll love this insanely-paced show and this book about it. It brings all the great, and not so great, memories of the series first seasons quickly back in focus. While reading it and looking at the pretty pictures, I found myself thinking, "What an incredible roller coaster ride this has been over the years! Look at all that has happened to all these wonderful characters, and how they've developed, good or bad, as time has passed by". The pictures from, and episode synopsis for the first four seasons, is a great review of a wonderful show. Season four had some weaker moments in the writing department, in my personal opinion, (which along with $3.49 and tax will get you a cafe mocha at Starbucks) but happily for me, season five has come back with a real bang! Seeing inside the very closed and private family known as a firehouse, is a privilege very few of us civilians get to see. No, this isn't a realistic depiction of firefighters lives, just some of the flavor of it. It wasn't meant to be another "Emergency" with Johnny and Roy making 99.9% of their saves and never losing a member of their shift. This is Denis and Peter taking civilians idolized picture of firefighters, (oh yes, and Catholics too!) and showing that they are in reality, still human beings with lots of problems like the rest of us. They just don't share them with anyone outside of the firehouse family, because we just wouldn't understand what they are talking about, sort of like listening to Einstein explaining quantum mechanics. "What did he just say?" Humor is reality squared, and Leary squares THAT! Rescue Me is a wild exaggeration of the lives of a special type of people, who are willing to lay their lives on the line for perfect strangers, every time they roll out the station bay doors. Firefighters and Paramedics have feelings and emotions too. And demons. The same as you and me. But they care more about helping others than telling everyone in the world about their own problems, like most of the rest of us. That's what I think Denis and Peter are trying to portray on the TV screen. Bottom line, if you're still watching the show after 5 seasons, buy the book, you'll really enjoy it. In case you are wondering, no, I've never even met Denis, but I really admire the guy for what "The Leary Foundation" has done for our friends in the fire service. And since you're STILL reading this, protect your family by checking your smoke alarms every week and replacing the batteries every October. Stay safe out there.

Leary has done such a magnificant service for our nation's firefighters, he has done what our local and federal governments wouldn't do or weren't funded to do. I suggest that anyone who thinks that his portrayal of a firefighter that uses 4 letter words try to BE a fire fighter who DOESN'T use 4 letter words. You would be called a Saint. Leary is no slouch in the reality department.

A sweet rememberance for any Rescue Me fan! You laugh all over again as you can actually visualize the clip in your head as you read this book.

I have been a big fan of Denis Leary for years. The Rescue Me Show is by far the best thing offered on television these days. Realistic writing, true feelings mixed with shades of insanity make this show the best ever. I welcomed the companion book and found it a hoot to read. Getting the background behind the scene gives one a true understanding from the writers point of view. I got more than just reading the text as the characters jumped off the pages and their voices were heard loudly. I highly recommend buying this book for the Rescue Me fan or for one who wants to experience some real life experiences with a warped sense of humor. Buy this book!!!

Any fan of the show will love this book. It includes everything from the hilarious lines to an episode guide for all four seasons. The preface by Denis Leary is great and gives some insight into how the show came together. It's just the right thing to fill the Rescue Me void until the new season starts!