TVSquad

Anna wrote about this a few weeks ago, and for whatever reason, I only got around to watching it this morning. I guess I didn't realize that it was a fifteen minute mini episode. I just thought it was one of those cheesy three minute trailers that are rarely worth watching. Well this was certainly worth checking out because not only is it laugh out loud funny, but it also highlights the great ensemble cast Rescue Me has. These guys mesh well together.

The setup for Rescue Me 2.5 is pretty straightforward. The crew kicked some ass at a recent fire and they're going to be honored for meritorious bravery by the mayor in the morning. They even made the front page of the New York Post. The humor starts right there though. Because he didn't want to squat in front for the photo, Garrity stood to the side and only his left ear made the photo.

So that evening, these "brave" men get spooked when something that The Probie describes as a bear... or maybe a jackal? Coyote? Large cat? Who knows. It's roaming around the firehouse and no one wants to go near it.

The writing and set-up is what really made this so funny though. Simple things like Probie stabbing Sean in the cheek with a fork are worth chuckling over but it's the jokes set up in the first thirty seconds that are really worth talking about. Specifically, Sean mentioning that his family is a family of pukers. If one person starts upchucking, others follow suit. To help deal with his nervousness regarding the beast in the house, Lou starts eating some month old cake. Later on, after the whole ordeal is over, the rotten food makes Lou heave a little. Sean was next to him when it happened so you can guess what took place next. Stuff like that was incredibly well written and laid out.

The highlight scene for me was when Lou and Tommy got themselves locked in a closet. Lou admits that he's afraid of the dark and wants the light on. But Tommy wants it off because he's claustrophobic. C'mon now, that is hilarious. Whoever hatched that bit needs a pat on the back. Regardless, it seems like these six firefighters aren't as brave as the FDNY and the city of New York would like to think.

So if you're looking for something to tide you over until next week's season three premiere (Tuesday May 30 at 10), this certainly fits the bill. Other shows really need to make shorts like this. It goes a long way to rewarding longtime fans and helping to foster new ones. Plus it makes the cast seem a lot more human because there's no way they didn't have a great time putting this together.