User reviews

Denis Leary knows TV. He has been apart of Remote Control, Paramount City and veteran to two awesome comedy specials. Now he moves on to the realm of the sitcom with the job, and unlike many out there today, succeeds. Here, he plays another detective named Mike who has daily troubles and such in the various type of TV land. Often it's funny, even if it sometimes doesn't hit the mark. A good turn though for Leary and company; kudos to Adam Ferrara who has become a regular on O & A and now moves on to acting. A-

When this program first came out a decade ago, it grew on me as one of the best shows on television at the time. My wife didn't understand what I saw in it, finding Dennis Leary too annoying at first (like a number of his eventual fans). It was funny, it was smart, it pushed the envelope, and it dealt with real subjects and drama on occasion in ways that were genuine and not too preachy nor over-earnest.

I was irritated beyond words when ABC canceled it. A few years later I came across Rescue Me, already in its second season, on cable. And as that series progressed, it came to be one of my favorite shows for the very same reasons. And some of the very same cast. And my wife had the chance to let the program grow on her and eventually become one of her favorites.

Now, a decade later, I started re-watching DVDs of The Job, and I'm struck by how much "Rescue Me" is almost a cynical response to network television for canceling "The Job". The cast and crew are heavily the same, even down to characters in one later showing up in the other. And instead of playing an addicted, womanizing, Irish New York City cop who is only best at his job -- Rescue Me is a show about an addicted, womanizing, Irish New York City fireman who is only best at his job.

The writing and situational comedy is as funny as anything on Rescue Me, and characters like Jan (later Laura Miles on Rescue Me) are fantastic in their roles. About the only thing missing in The Job that distinguishes it from Rescue Me is the natural camaraderie of the firehouse kitchen table scenes -- something that naturally developed after 10 years of many of the same actors, writers, and producers working together.

Rescue Me succeeded on cable because it doesn't have the audience share requirements of network television to become an immediate, mass audience hit. But fans of Rescue Me who never watched The Job must see it -- do not pass go -- as the original concept and execution of the very same program.

...it's been three years, and I still miss this show. Watching the premiere of "Rescue Me" on FX last night only reminded me of how badly I miss Leary's NyQuil-addicted cop. No matter what else he does from this point on, I will always measure all shows by "The Job." It's funny how something so short lived can have such an impact - the show constantly comes up in conversations at work and when I'm out with friends. I've yet to find someone who didn't like the show, so I'm not sure how it is the network did.

In the end, it doesn't really matter. Those of us who watched the show can appreciate it for what it truly was - Leary at his best.

Denis Leary can indeed be funny and clever at times and is always likable, but this takes the cake! This show showed Leary's genius.

The Job is set in New York. Leary plays Mike McNeil, a hard-nosed detective who is married, has a occasional drug problem, and has a girlfriend. McNeil has serious attitude. So much he's dripping in it. The precinct is filled with funny, interesting and likable characters besides McNeil. An excellent cast too. All of the episodes in this show are really funny and are addictive. The one liners in this show are everywhere. You'll be in stitches after hearing them and still laugh about them a few minutes after and then some. The cases the precinct deals with are something else to stripper nuns, a bathroom hostage situation, and more are over the top. This show was too good. Could have grown legs to last many more seasons.

The Last Word: A great, fantastic show. I miss this show dearly. All episodes of this show are great. You get even belly-laughs...a lot. ABC made a huge mistake by giving this the ax. Too bad Leary did not revive the show for cable TV. Still, I give this show one of my highest of recommendations. Truly a one of a kind show.

This type of show is not supposed to happen on television. This is the type of edginess usually reserved for independent film. This is what only HBO is supposed to do. Fact is that Denis Leary has managed to come up with one of the best television shows ever, easily joining the ranks of THE SOPRANOS, OZ, ED etc.. Kudos the gang at ABC for showing that NYPD Blue was not a fluke, and to Mr. Leary and his gang for creating a truly unique viewing experience. My only complaint is that the show is not long enough ... an hour would make it better, but I can't wait for the next episode!

Don't forget the lover on the side!! She is a 'hottie', Karen Parsons is delicious, she is wonderful, in acting and beauty and style. It's just his Job! HO, well now here is a show that the writing slugs you in the gut and while your doubled over, kicks you in the butt! In quoting Peter's wife,(The Associate/ writer/ Producer) she said when they were watching the 'previews' for up coming 'new' shows at an ABC network party, she looked at her husband after the preview for 'the Job' played and said, "This doesn't look like anything else that is on this network. You guys are in trouble." Meaning, it 'looks' very good! But it's not looking like the regular 'shiny happy people sitcom' fare or over-hair-styled drama that they (ABC) are regularly comfortable putting on the 'Air". From the time I saw this, after the first episode finished, I made sure that I didn't miss that time slot next week. I was instantly addicted to "The Job" Cutting wit and cynicism, outrageous situations, and laughter rolling writers makes this series a Hit!!

Then I felt anger and a feeling of being let down, that the show just sailed off the air. I wondered what executive, made that decision to tear down a major comedy cornerstone for their network?

I talked to other people about it some knowing, some not, but I know that the stupid network didn't promote this hard enough, or I should say visually enough. If they had it would have run at least 3-5 seasons, maybe even six. I just believe that knowing network short comings and being overly subscribing to one 'formula' or another that they missed the boat with this one. There was so much room for expansion, it had barely just begun. The situations were funny and serious, fast and sometimes slow, though not much it kept a good pace. some years later, I finally found it on DVD new for $50.00. To me it would be worth $1,000.00 to have this in my entertainment library. I watched in amazement as I went through both seasons again for the third time on DVD and the ending 'Betrayal' episode, was going into a total serious drama segment with them uncovering a murder victim, it was better than most of the drama 'victim Unit' and 'cop' shows on the air now!!! They went into the scenes as serious as a heart attack and as believable, did so as if not even skipping a beat. Just like it was meant to be serious, I am so impressed with the 'versatile ways' that Tolan and Leary shared in the story-lines and scripts.

In another outrage of the 'entertainment week' I learned that the beautiful wardrobe, of silk ties and expensive suits with pressed shirts and ultra stylish footwear...was all sold to the movie made for cable "In the cut" (2003) for only four hundred dollars, thats it!!!! I'm sick. Did you see what they all wear for each show?? A good over coat alone could run that much.

This was Denis Leary at some of his finest. I recommend this great cop 'dramedy' for East-coasters or wherever you are in this country. I even heard that people from Ireland were joking with Leary the 'Bathroom' episode, repeating lines back to him from that one, because they saw it over there. (****) A Superbly intuitive, comedic New York Leary/Tolan cop Show.

It's 20 years since "The Job" aired on ABC and those dimwitted nitwits cancelled this unparalleled brilliant comedy series after 19 perfect pitched episodes. In my wisdom I bought the DVDs and find the show to be as funny and relevant today. Dennis Leary and Peter Tolan never compromised on their vision. The scripts and the jokes are sharp, fast, sophisticated and hilarious. The cast, oh the cast, so perfect, so completely comfortable with themselves in their characters, convey so much in a smirk, an ebrow raised, a flared nostril. This is one of the best comedies ever produced for American TV. An immediate classic. Subsequently, came Leary's "Rescue Me," but the characters did not have the same depth and most too adolescent for my taste. Nothing comes close to "The Job."

Apparently, the people who put this show together back in 2001 never gave up on the talent and great ideas. Having just recently finished all the "Rescue Me" episodes, I felt like I just lost a good friend or broke up with a girlfriend with no more episodes to watch. Then I came across this old show with Dennis Leary and decided to give it a try since he is usually a great performer. I actually went up against him in audition for "Demolition Man" back in the day before I decided I was tired of going on auditions and set out to make some real money. LOL, My agent told me the job was already his before I even left for Hollywood.

Back to the show...Well, so far, so good. It is basically the same show as "Rescue Me" but instead with cops. Many of the same actors and the same type of New York humor. I have not finished all the episodes but am happy to have found it. This definitely was the inspiration to "Rescue Me" and I guess after the popularity the NYFD reached a peak, the creators decided to bring new life to their great original idea in "The Job".

I caught a few episodes when they first aired in the UK, but I don't think we got all of them here. I have since found and watched the whole DVD set which I guess is something of a rarity itself now.

I was quite a fan of Leary's 'No Cure For Cancer' stand-up routine before this came out, and this is literally Dennis's on-stage persona from that show, dropped straight into a NYPD cop scenario, and it's every bit as funny as his stand-up show.

The situations that develop around Dennis's character of the self-destructive, hapless Mike McNeil in this show are as side-splittingly hilarious and farcical as they are shockingly dark-humoured. If you like deeply black comedy, and the top-grade situation comedy of classic shows like Fawlty Towers, then you must see this show which perfectly does it all. It's one of the best-kept secrets in TV I know.

... and F you ABC for being so stupid so as to pull the plug on this show. You let NYPD Blue keep on airing when anyone with a quarter brain will tell you that that cop show is out of ammo a long time ago. Maybe this is some warped competition in which ABC brass says "Gee, if NBC can pull the plug on a classic like HOMICIDE, then we should show them and F up the same by pulling the plug on our own cop classic, THE JOB." Well ... a big middle finger to you for being so stupid. To Mr. Leary, DreamWorks, and all the visionaries involved I can only say that it was a pleasure to join you for your (too short) visit and I can only hope that you combine talents again soon ... for someone that can see you for the talent that you are. I will miss you.

This short lived half hour lasted for parts of two seasons. It has been called a Sitcom, but was it really? It had no added sound laugh track. It was not filmed in front of a live audience in order to get their reaction. All incidents portrayed, although some what exaggerated, could occur in one of our big cities.

The attitudes and interaction of characters were the greatest source of both the laughs and the heart of the stories. The characters ranged from being manic (Leary's character) to very lazy, as portrayed by the old,kinda paunchy detective. Whereas Leary was high strung and even overloaded in his life, the other guy would avoid work at all costs.

In our favourite episode, the older detective and his partner are wrapped up in trying to dump off a corpse that they think was dragged into their precinct by an equally lazy but highly conniving detective named Fennessey from an adjacent precinct.

Leary's Detective was burning the candle at both ends.He was high strung, edgy. It didn't take much to get his 'Irish' up.(loose his temper) He was married with family, but also had a girlfriend on the side. He exercised to keep in shape, yet was a chain smoker. It looked as though he was headed for a heart attack. It was only a matter of time.

But,alas! The network intervened and we can only wonder what was in store for this Detective Squad. "THE JOB" got the ax and has not been seen in re-runs or video since. It's too bad. A lot of cops* said the series was closer to real life than one would have thought.

* The author (now retired) is a 34 year veteran of the Chicago Police Department.He served his time in some of the most impoverished,crime ridden neighborhoods in the country, as well as in the Central Business District (The Loop). During his career he was assigned to Patrol Division, Traffic Division, Youth Division and The Missing Persons Bureau of The Detective Division.

I am EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED that ABC canceled this hilarious show!!!! This series was unique, funny, and had a wonderful cast which clicked. It was the only show I looked forward to watching whenever it was on the air. I can't believe that ABC, in yet another DUMB move, didn't consider moving the program to a different time slot, or advertised more!!! They really didn't give it a chance. I wish another network, would pick the show up. I hope that in the near future all episodes of "THE JOB" are on DVD. This show was a real classic, and will certainly be missed by myself and countless others!!!!!!

After just two episodes, Denis Leary's "The Job" has become a must-see part of my Wednesday nights.

Perhaps the most remarkable element of the show is Leary's almost ego-free presence at the center. He co-produces, he co-writes, he stars, and yet the character he creates is, unquestionably, a jerk. He's a caustically funny and charismatic jerk, but he's a jerk nonetheless. Leary is quite aware of this, allowing the other characters to call him on his jerkiness; one actually slaps him.

In a strange way, this liberates the show. We know Leary as a star, and we already like him, so the show doesn't feel the need to prop him up as a fake hero. Leary finds all sorts of nuances, demonstrating that he's a much better actor than anyone gave him credit for being. He finds the laughs, of course -- many, many laughs -- but he also finds a measure of pathos and sympathy in this aggressively selfish and self-centered man.

If I have any complaint about the show, it's that it's too short. Half an hour isn't enough time to truly develop the policework, to set up and follow a complex, involving case. In this, the apotheosis of the television police program, "Homicide: Life on the Street," doesn't need to worry about being unseated from its throne as the best damn cop show ever. Leary's "The Job," though, has much of the same energy, the loosey-goosey character-centered approach and gritty realism of "Homicide," and that's high praise indeed.

That, of course, is ABC's cue to cancel the show as soon as possible, as they did with "Sports Night" and other quality programs. Tune into "The Job," and hope ABC lets it live.

I saw the episodes in Austria and I must say that the German production company made a great job using the best dubbing voices for the different characters. It was a funny show with a lot of real-life stories - unfortunately broadcast in Austria after midnight. I also liked "It's Like, You Know..." which also had been canceled after two seasons. The question in both cases is why? But remember: "Star Trek" was a flop at the beginning and no public broadcaster was encouraged enough to buy "Sex and the City" ... So, what remains of "The Job" is a good memory, a couple of episodes on DVD+R and the hope for a future release on DVD.

It's hard to believe that ABC, a network owned by the Disney Corporation, a network that once harbored television's most irritating character, Steve Urkel, a network that gave birth to long-running entertainment tumors like "Full House," could come up with not ONE of the greatest genre-pushing television shows of all time, but TWO, in a period as short as three years, and cancel them both. The first was "Sports Night" a series that has rightfully been called "one of the greatest things in the history of television;" the second was "The Job."

What IS "The Job?" Is it a sitcom? Is it a drama? Is it a 'dramady?' The answer to all of these questions is 'yes.' "The Job" is all of these things and more, a concoction of acting, writing, and production so perfect, that the very idea that it could come into being so soon after the demise of "Sports Night" practically defies all possibility, and yet it happened. And yet it had a wonderful timeslot. And yet it was canceled.

"The Job" stars Denis Leary in what could have and SHOULD have been his first real niche role outside of standup and performance art-comedy: A New York Police detective named Mike McNeil with a drinking problem, a smoking problem, and a drug problem, who has a wife and kids, but also has a mistress on the side, and a wandering eye. The perfect anti-hero.

Surrounding Leary is an equally-talented cast that comes together just as seamlessly as, again, "Sports Night." Bill Nunn is Leary's partner, Terrence "Pip" Phillips, the good-conscience-with-a-halo to McNeil's horns-tail-and-pitchfork, chiding him for his bad behavior while simultaneously envying him a but. Lenny Clarke delivers his familiar big, goofy police officer role without flaw, often drawing some of the loudest laughs. Diane Farr shows that she has razor-sharp acting skills to go along with her extremely good looks. Adam Ferrara is, as usual, hilarious.

But don't let all the comments about how funny this show is throw you off: as was said, it's NOT just a sitcom. It also carries all the elements more familiar in drama-territory wonderfully.

And just when shows like this were giving television viewers with an ounce of good taste a chance to dance around on TGIF's grave like Evil Homer Simpson, all that "family friendly" programming has to rise back out of the ground like half-decayed zombies and take big, fatal bites out of the skulls of more daring and innovative programming like "the Job," all under the command of Mickey Mouse, Zombie Master.

ABC should be proud of themselves for bringing this show into existence in the first place, but that pride should be more than obliterated by their decision to heartlessly yank it away just as we were all starting to enjoy it. They should be ASHAMED of themselves for once again caving to the lowest common denominator and dropping this one, as if their treatment of "Sports Night" wasn't bad enough.

Let's hope Comedy Central's weeklong special showings of "the Job" a few months ago were an indicator that Denis Leary took note of what happened to "Sports Night" and was smart enough to get a hook-up for his show with that network as a backup plan. It may be the last chance for cutting-edge shows such as this to protect intelligent viewers from a new wave of Urkels and Tanners sucking (extra emphasis on that) what little brains are left out of television with a bendy-straw.

I hate network TV idiots. The Job is one of the most entertaining TV series ever created, but the idiots pulled it just as it really got going. Denis Leary is hilarious! This series was a great platform for Denis Leary to play the p***ed off guy he does so well (probably 'cause it isn't acting, it's how he really is). The supporting cast was great. I laughed myself sick during every episode. Fortunately for me, I was smart enough to record them, so that I can actually watch them again. The show didn't run long enough to get syndicated release (of course, I'm making an assumption), so if you didn't see it when it ran, you may never get a chance to do so. It's just a shame.

The Job is truly the greatest sitcom I have ever seen, ranking right up there with my other favorite, Mr. Bean. The most amazing thing to me is that with an ensemble of 7 main characters, each is equally interesting and talented, yet totally unique. The way the show intertwines their stories helps make the show that much more interesting. So, I implore you to watch it Wednesday nights at 9:30 on ABC and see for yourself.

Also, ABC seems to be readying the axe to cancel The Job, so to prevent it, give me an e-mail and I can direct you to the petition to save The Job.

Network: ABC; Genre: Comedy, Cop; Content Rating: TV-14 (language, adult content, and implicit sexual content); Available: DVD; Perspective: Cult Classic (star range: 1 - 5);

Seasons Reviewed: Complete Series (2 seasons)

When, as a network, you sign a comedian to a sitcom deal you usually know what you're going to get - a traditional multi-camera sitcom, usually a family comedy, but maybe an office comedy, about the person's life, in which the star is cast in the most flattering possible light. So you have to feel just a little bit sorry for ABC who surely had no idea what to do when faced with Dennis Leary and Peter Tolan's "The Job", a hard to identify single-camera comedy, shot like "NYPD Blue", about a group of bumbling New York police detectives in which the star, Mike McNeil (Leary) is a drinking, smoking, lying, violent, pill-popping, adulterous, infectiously caustic and completely unredeemable character.

"The Job" is an unquestionable cult classic and the kind of thing that deserves to spawn legions of fans. It is unlike anything you will see on network TV with a juxtaposition of comedy in the rigid template of a traditional crime series you won't see anywhere due to how strictly serious networks treat their crime shows. Leary and Tolan have a sharp, unique and fully committed vision for the series. They are doing something different, they are challenging the audience, and they are really daring us to follow his character. These guys know the sitcom and want to break every convention and push it as far as they can. I have heaps of respect for "The Job". Heaps.

Much of what makes "The Job" so conceptually unique also pulls against it as a fully satisfying product. McNeil is an archetypal anti-hero. We love Tony Soprano because is a complexly layered anti-hero. McNeil has no complexity, he is just an A-hole who cheats on his wife (Wendy Makkena) for no reason and jealously spies on his girlfriend, Toni (Karyn Parsons). "The Job" gives us absolutely no reason to pull for McNiel, at all. We wait for the next shoe to drop and maybe see him get his comeuppance. Worse, is the way the rest of the characters just stand around like bowling pins waiting for him to knock them over. That said, Bill Nunn is frequently funny as McNiel's hard-luck, wife-whipped partner "Pip" whose attempts to do the right thing consistently go punished.

Most of the respectably cast throw themselves head-long into this endeavor. From an ensemble of Diane Farr, Lenny Clarke and Adam Ferrara (both in goofy over-the-top sitcom mode), John Ortiz and Keith David (who has given the same hilarious what's-the-matter-with-you performance since "There's Something About Mary"). Their characters are given the attention that would be satisfactory in a sitcom, but for a show that is so heavily reliant on dialog driven gags and character bits they are underdeveloped. Leary and Tolan bread-and-butter is to give their characters trivial, selfish nonsense to argue over amid the serious nature of their job (which for the most part is only mentioned in passing, although severed appendage stories are plentiful). They have taken something that would otherwise be called "Seinfeldian" and made it completely and totally their own style, stamped and patented with this show.

I've actually watched "The Job" twice now. Once during it's broadcast and again, in it's entirely on DVD and I still can't into the show. The self-contained 22 minute running time doesn't do the series justice. The stories are tiny, resolved in maybe 3 scenes and serve as a clothesline for the more fun conversational bits. They feel stripped down, emptied out and lacking substance.

"The Job" does eventually pay off its dividends in a final 3 episode story arc that begins with McNeil telling Toni's parents a spectacular lie. The series ends on a satisfying note with a gripping and perfectly constructed montage that puts every character in their rightful place. It seems to have found itself, a well balanced rhythm, and a multi-episode story construction that does the characters justice. And then the show was canceled.

* * * / 5

For one who never watches sitcoms, I love this show. I haven't heard much buzz about it and I'm fervently hoping that it does not get axed. It's got great acting and it's refreshingly irreverent. It's a network sitcom, but feels more like it should be on HBO. It's a comedy but isn't afraid to take on serious issues and be dramatic for a moment. And thankfully, it doesn't rely on a laugh track. I cannot convey how great this show is and how much I'm hoping that ABC does not cancel. Please watch the show and tell your friends. We need more programming like this on TV.

This was one of the funniest shows on tv. It was a real shame, that it did not continue. ABC had a real hit and did not realalize it. It had a perfect cast working together. The show was always a topic at work during the week. ******Bring the series to DVD********

Excellent police dramatic television series. "The Job" is very realistic and its characters are very charismatic and "human", especially Mr. Bill Nunn a seasoned and veteran actor. It's a rarity that a local TV network has had a hit series which "The Job" is. Only one problem--the show is too short. There isn't much else to say because "The Job" says it all. . . . Hats off to Denis Leary and crew!

Denis Leary is Mike McNeil a hard-drinking, pill-popping, womanizing, NYPD detective in this short-lived off-center comedy that lasted only 19 episodes. Which is probably just as well since it paved the way for the much funnier, more complex, and well-rounded later series "Rescue Me", what with a lot of the writers, actors, and creators making the jump to that FX show and whatnot. Diane Farr ALWAYS grated on me in both shows, it's not the type of show that you can watch all in one sitting either, the stories are too self-contained for much of the series, and the first mini-season is better then the second season. The main role does seem pretty tailor made for Denis Leary's talents and he's the best part of the series. It's a humorous show, but never a laugh out loud one.

My Grade: C+

Complete Season DVD set Extras: Commentary by Creator/actor Denis Leary and co-creator Peter Tolan on "Pilot", "Bathroom", "Gina", "Gay", & "Barbeque"; Interview with Leary & Tolan; gag reel; Promo spots; Behind the scenes footage; Cast Interviews; & on location Interview with Peter Tolan

To me, the style of this show is ala Law & Order. You know the humor I'm talking about? When the two lead cops are trying to out-dry-wit each other? The Job is pretty much just like that, only it's always just like that. Not much drama, unless it's the setup for some more humor. Amen to the producers for leaving out that $%@#ing laugh-track! I -- yes, I -- will decide what is funny and what is not. My only complaint is that the story lines are a bit "flighty." They don't ever seem to wrap anything up, and they don't finish last week's story this week. Things are just left hanging. But hey, that's the way they want it, that's the way they write it, then that's the style of the show. If they made it EXACTLY as I'd want it, then every darn show on TV would be Seinfeld. Hurray for the varying styles on TV! I like The Job.