TVSquad

Mere hours after the series premiered on the cable net, Showtime has renewed Nurse Jackie for a second season. Why so fast, you might wonder? Well, Showtime could point to the biggest premiere since 2004, but because it was on pay cable the total number of viewers is less than two million. Those are the kind of numbers that would get it canceled on USA or TNT, not to mention ABC or CBS, but for Showtime it's excellent.

Excellent is also what a majority of TV critics and bloggers -- including Jane -- had to say about the Edie Falco dark comedy. Some were more effusive than others, but for all intents and purposes, the press was pro-Jackie from the get-go. But not everyone loved the show. Nurses complained loudly about the depiction of their profession.

Showtime also was wise to market the hell out of the premiere. Through DirecTV, the pilot was blitzed on the 101 channel before it appeared on Showtime. The pilot was also shown on YouTube. All that exposure, including net advertising like crazy, created a buzz for the show that clearly translated into Showtime ratings.

Now the show has been rewarded with a second season. It deserves it because the show is not only entertaining in a horrific, broad way, but it's also a fantastic showcase for Edie Falco. She's not eligible for a Primetime Emmy this year, but watch for her to snatch the gold statuette next year for sure. She can put it on the shelf with the three Emmys she won for The Sopranos.