Rescue Me shocking death controversy

For weeks I’ve wanted to tell you about last night’s shocking death of Rescue Me’s chief Jerry Reilly. But I didn’t want to spoil you. (You’re welcome.)

Now that you’ve seen the episode, I know you’re as shocked and saddened as I am. Let me put it this way. In the infamous words of Isaiah Washington, “I’m mad as hell.”

Jerry was the heart of the house and a father figure to many of the guys. Why kill him? I suppose suicide makes sense for his character because he felt that without a future in the department, he had nothing. But, this was Jerry, who we’ve loved from the beginning.

I’m mad. I’m sad. And I’m putting Rescue Me on notice! (Yeah, I’m sure their worried.)

Making this story even sadder is actor Jack McGee’s comments to TV Guide about his character’s death. McGee told the publication that he was devastated that his character was killed and blamed it on a unknown rift between him and Denis Leary. McGee said he and Leary were once friends, but that recently Leary did not speak to him off camera. McGee went on to say that he was upset that Leary didn’t tell him about the chief’s death personally.

Leary responded that he doesn’t handle personnel matters. He also went on to say that when someone passes on Rescue Me that they usually come back as a ghost.

Let’s hope that’s the case for the chief. If not, thank you Mr. McGee for giving us one of television’s most real characters. You will be missed.

UPDATE: To see more on this story including an interview with McGee and comments from Rescue Me honcho Peter Tolan, click here.

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