TVision: ‘Rescue’ enters controversial territory

FX has distinguished itself from its cable competitors through a handful of daring, often controversial dramas.

One was The Shield, the now departed cop show that turned that genre upside down and frequently blurred the lines between good and evil to the point where it wasn’t clear who really were the good guys (or if any even existed).

Another landmark work on the network is the legal thriller Damages, fueled by tremendous weekly performances from Glenn Close.

But for sheer shock value coupled with searing acting performances, it’s hard to beat the firehouse show Rescue Me at its best. When the show returns April 7 at 9 p.m., the latest storyline is certain to generate some real heat (no pun intended) as its ventures into the thorny arena of race.

The focus will be on tensions between Tommy Gavin (Denis Leary) and the character known as Black Shawn (Larenz Tate). A scene in the first episode will have Leary’s character turning his fire hose directly on Tate at full blast, something that triggers ugly memories of the segregation era for anyone old enough to remember those days.

”We’re just trying to be as real as we can,” Leary told TV Guide in a story about the scene and episode. “In the firehouse, it doesn’t matter what color or size you are. It’s all about busting balls.”

There are other issues involved in the confrontation, most notably the fact that Shawn plans to marry Gavin’s daughter. Still, few networks would give a show that kind of creative latitude and even fewer programs would dare take a chance with such visually explosive material.

Given Rescue Me’s track record, there should be no doubt that they won’t simply stick something like this into a plot just for effect. Part of the program’s appeal is its willingness to expose both the positive and negative sides of its characters, and not to run away from life’s darker side.

The inclusion of offensive images and content is a tricky thing, but sophisticated presentations deserve the right to explore any and all issues and do it in a manner that makes audiences uncomfortable, yet also makes them think and perhaps even confront their own prejudices.

Most of all, let’s hope that no one responds or reacts to this program without seeing it first, although that’s seldom the case with the hypersensitive crew.

‘Mars’ gets farewell episode

Life on Mars never did gain a foothold on Wednesday nights, and after a decent start it faded so badly that ABC has officially canceled it. But they are giving its fans something a lot of other shows in its situation haven’t gotten, a legitimate ending.

The April 1 edition at 9 p.m. on WKRN-2 will actually tie up all the loose ends according to various trade reports citing executive producer Josh Appelbaum. They’ll even explain why Sam Tyler (Jason O’Mara) wound up in 1973, and also why he came to the 125th precinct.

The show was a major hit in its British incarnation, but ABC’s decision to do some things different for American audiences didn’t pay off either creatively or ratings wise. The only details that have been released so far reveal that Tyler will wind up in another era and also that his character isn’t in a coma, which was the focal point of the British show.

Maybe this will be the beginning of a new trend for serialized and concept shows that depend on building and developing storylines over multiple episodes. Audiences might be more willing to try new shows if they know that at least they’ll get some reward for their patience if and when the program concludes.

‘ER’ concludes

After throwing out the possibility last month that perhaps ER would get yet another season, it’s now a sure thing that it will close up shop after 15 years.

The April 2, two-hour finale on WSMV-4 at 8 p.m. will include another return visit from Dr. Elizabeth Corday (Alex Kingston), who comes back to County General to see her stepdaughter Rachel Greene (Hallee Hirsh).

She’s now a med student following in her father Mark Greene’s (Anthony Edwards) footsteps. It’s Hirsh's first time back since 2004. Former Gilmore Girls regular Alexis Bledel will also be a guest star on this episode.

In addition, Noah Wyle’s character Dr. Carter has a prime role in the last edition of what for many years was NBC’s flagship show, and one of television’s great medical dramas. The show’s fans will get an extra bonus as NBC will air a one-hour ER retrospective at 7 p.m., before the grand finale.