Afternoon Baseball

I watched this show intermittently during its first two seasons, but really have picked up on it this year. It's dazzling in its character contradictions, its guest stars and casting, and the enigma that is Denis Leary's Tommy. I actually thought the Marisa Tomei guest spot made the show wander for a few weeks -- the firehouse guys got little attention, Sheila went a little too nuts, and Tommy turned into a manwhore inexplicably. Took away from the firehouse dynamic, and also, from the Tommy-Johnny-Janet problem.
But the last couple weeks have picked up the torch, with another old firefighter buddy dying, the crew seemingly about to go their separate ways, and Janet pregnant with a Gavin child.
Nothing was crazier or more eye-opening last week than Tommy's monologue at the bar after he basically says he's not paying for $100 worth of Scotch. Especially to get away with it, at least until he leaves the bar. Looking forward to tonight's show.

Anyways, it's just damn obvious FX, for its limited schedule, has the best stuff on TV. The post-Carver saga "Nip/Tuck" picks up when "Rescue Me" ends, and "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia," which finishes its second season Thursday, is the best collection of standalone plot points in standalone episodes that have tied together into hysterical humor as not seen since...dare I say "Seinfeld"?

I'm not even a big TV watcher -- but I find myself making more room for shows than I have in many years.