Thinking About Baseball

Share this article

• Tweet

All About

Rescue Me

Get the latest photos, news, and more

Other romantic farewells deftly tied up some hanging story threads, and showcased a sterling roster of too-little-seen performers. Tatum O'Neal, who had virtually been reduced to a walk-on even in the uproarious family AA sessions, got a moment to shine in a hilarious goodbye to Sean. (Sean's comparison of his one-night stand to Julianne Moore and Lucille Ball stands as one of the night's brightest non–Kevin Costner showbiz shout-outs.) Another standout, Cornell Womack, brought about an amicable parting between Franco and Natalie — and stared down a body-painted street artist, to keen comic effect. Also lending a comedic touch: Artie Lange's big-bellied Cousin Mike, who experienced a romantic comeuppance courtesy of a contrite Lou, guilt-stricken over their high-calorie love triangle (and triangle raviolis). Perhaps the most ripely satisfying romantic twist of all, though: Tommy breaking up with, then turning the tables on, Gina Gershon's domineering Valerie. Besides giving Gershon an all-too-infrequent opportunity to ooze sexuality and submissiveness all at once, Tommy's final display of alpha-male testosterone not only brought his old, incorrigible self to the fore but also upended their sparring, role-reversal-driven relationship.

While Gershon et al. delivered solid turns, last night's MVP spotlight arguably belongs to Charles Durning, whose tenure as the Gavin family patriarch seemed to come to a quiet but achingly poignant close. At its best, Rescue Me has always been a trenchant comedy of masculinity, of male competition and camaraderie, and this season's father-son sparring matches, alternately tart and tender, have reflected the show's strengths. (Pa Gavin's passing, it must be said, also stands in contrast to the unsatisfyingly abrupt send-off to the show's other father figure, Jerry Reilly.) Certainly Durning was a commanding presence on the show, and he will be missed.

So where do you stand on the season finale? Did you have a favorite scary-comic moment (the elevator episode, for instance)? Or an especially grating least favorite moment? Do the final plot twists bode well for a reenergized fifth season? And is it time to bid farewell to Denis Leary's misogynistic, race-baiting, stereotype-tossing alter ego, or do you look forward to seeing Tommy Gavin return in all his scabrous glory?